Software of the Month Club 1996 May/Software of the Month Club 1996 May.iso/mac/ISO9660/ZIPFILES/SBA962.ZIP/HELP.SBE

Text File | 1996-02-15 | 14.6 KB | 552 lines

@H001
      "NEW" SELECTION
       ──────────────
Includes summary of signifi-
cant law/tax changes, in ad-
dition  to  program enhance-
ments since  the last quart-
erly  update release  of the
SMALL BUSINESS ADVISOR, plus
improvements now in process.

@H002
The "DATA" selection: Used to
allow you to enter data about
your business, or planned-for
business.  The program refers
to this base information when
performing certain analytical
functions.   You may also use
this menu selection to change
the data previously entered.

@H003
"INDX"  selection  allows you
to scan thru the alphabetical
topical index to locate a key
word that describes the topic
you wish to explore,  such as
FICA TAX. When you have found
the topic you want, press the
<Enter>  key to view relevant
information on that subject..

@H004
    "KEY" MENU SELECTION
The "KEY"  selection lets you
enter  a key  word or  words,
regarding a  subject on which
you want information. A quick
search of an  extensive index
will be made  for the approp-
riate  text files,  which the
program will display for you.

@H005
Select  the  "TAXES"  Submenu
to perform  "quick and dirty"
tax calculations. It includes
current personal income tax &
corporate income taxes. Also,
you may compute estate  taxes
(federal)  on taxable estates
of varying  sizes,  utilizing
different assumptions.

@H006
   "TEST" MENU SELECTION
This selection  will give you
a brief self-test under which
your answers to a  series  of
multiple-choice questions are
evaluated  to give some sense
of whether you're well-suited
to attempt to become  a small
business owner/entrepreneur.

@H007
   "SCRN" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
This menu  selection lets you
choose  any of  a wide  range
of color and texture combina-
tions  for the  title bar and
background of the  Main Menu.
(Select COLOR first--F5 key).
Hit <Enter> to see next color

@H008
   "USER" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
Press <Enter> now if you wish
to page through the  "On-Disk
User Manual" for general help
regarding the use of the pro-
gram.  If you have the PRINT/
SAVE  utility, you  can print
out any or all of the manual.

@H009
   "XPERT" MENU SELECTION
    ─────────────────────
Press <Enter> now  to consult
with the "Expert" in question
and answer style, regarding a
number of  complex questions,
such as whether or not to in-
corporate,  whether to deduct
home office expense, etc....

@H010
   "MONY" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────

This menu selection (which is
about MONEY) will provide you
with information on  the sub-
ject of  obtaining  financing
for your small business.


@H011
   "ENTY" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
This menu  selection offers a
wealth of information to help
you decide  on which  kind of
legal form or entity you will
choose for your business. Key
words are highlighted for in-
stant cross-referencing....

@H012
   "PLAN" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
This menu selection  lets you
review  and create,  and,  if
desired,  print  out a  short
written business plan for the
business you are starting up.
You may  save this  worksheet
on disk for  later revisions.

@H013
    "MARK" MENU SELECTION
This  menu  item  allows  you
to review and create, and, if
you desire, print out a work-
sheet on the marketing feasi-
bility for your product.  You
may save the  worksheet  that
you created on disk for later
revisions, when convenient...

@H014
   "HIRE" MENU SELECTION
This menu item will allow you
to review and create, and, if
you desire, print out a work-
sheet  on personnel  policies
that you will  adopt for your
business.   You  may save the
worksheet that you created on
disk for subsequent revision.

@H015
The   "BUY"   menu  selection
will provide you with textual
information and advice on how
to go about buying a business
that already exists,  as well
as  pros and cons of starting
starting a new  business from
scratch versus buying an  ex-
isting business operation.

@H016
   "TRAP" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
This menu selection will give
you a list and discussion  of
a number  of the more  common
traps and  pitfalls which you
need to beware of if you pur-
chase an existing business...


@H017
   "FRAN" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
Choosing this  menu item will
provide you  with some of the
pros and cons of getting into
a franchise operation,  along
with questions you should ask
yourself and  the franchising
company before doing so.

@H018
    "NEG" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
This  menu option  offers you
practical advice on negotiat-
ing the acquisition of an ex-
isting business, including an
allocation for tax  purposes,
non-competition covenants and
other useful tips.

@H019
   "CLOS" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Discusses various legal & tax
matters you  need to consider
before and after closing  the
purchase of an existing busi-
ness, to protect yourself for
tax and liability purposes.


@H020
    "INTX" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides  you various inform-
ation on income tax  require-
ments  for the  various types
of legal entities & regarding
estimated income tax for such
entities. (Federal and state)


@H021
   "WITH" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
This menu  selection  reviews
requirements for  withholding
income tax from the wages  of
your employees--Forms,  dead-
lines for depositing the tax,
registering  as an  employer,
etc....

@H022
   "FICA" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
Use this  selection to review
basic  information  regarding
FICA (Social Security) Taxes,
including  current tax rates,
withholding requirements, and
possible  strategies for cut-
ing your FICA tax liability.

@H023
   "UNEM" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
Gives you basic  requirements
for federal (FUTA) and  state
unemployment tax filings, tax
rates, etc., plus some advice
on how to keep down your  tax
rate under state law....


@H024

    "S/E" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
Describes basic tax rules for
calculating, paying, & avoid-
ing (if possible) the federal
tax on self-employment income



@H025

    "EXC" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
Provides you with  summary of
the main federal excise taxes
that most  small and  medium-
sized businesses need to know
about....


@H026
   "SALE" MENU SELECTION
    ────────────────────
Gives general information  on
sales and use taxes that  may
apply to  your business,  de-
pending on the nature of your
business and the states where
you operate....


@H027
    "PROP" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides general  information
regarding state & local  real
and  personal property taxes,
as applicable  to businesses,
and regarding tax to be with-
held when  buying real estate
from non-U.S. persons.

@H028

    "INFO" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides helpful  information
regarding Forms 1099 and sim-
ilar tax  information returns
commonly required to be filed
by businesses.


@H029

    "LIC" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
Describes federal,  state and
local  licensing requirements
that may be applicable to you
or your business, occupation,
or profession....


@H030
    "NAME" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides you with information
on legal &  practical aspects
of choosing a trade name, the
need to register a fictitious
or assumed name, and benefits
of  obtaining protection  for
trademarks or trade names.

@H031
    "COMP" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides background  informa-
tion on legal requirements of
Worker's Compensation laws in
most of the major states, and
the need for employers to ob-
tain such insurance coverage.


@H032
    "WAGE" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
This menu selection  provides
you with information on  wage
and hour laws, including  the
minimum wage requirement, the
need to pay overtime  in cer-
tain situations, and restric-
tions on hiring child labor.
@H033

    "OSHA" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Offers information on  health
and safety regulations of the
Occupational Safety &  Health
Administration as they affect
typical small businesses.....


@H034
    "EBP" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
Provides discussion of  legal
requirements under ERISA that
apply to  almost all employee
benefit plans,  including the
rules regarding reporting and
disclosure....


@H035

    "FAIR" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides guidance with regard
to anti-discrimination  laws,
which  apply to all  but very
small employers....



@H036
    "IMMI" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Tells you about procedures to
follow  when hiring  ANY  em-
ployee, under the Immigration
Reform and Control Act, which
went into effect in 1986, and
which prohibits the hiring of
illegal aliens....

@H037
    "SEC" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
Offers  guidelines to a small
business that wishes to avoid
legal liability when  issuing
stock or securities in a  new
corporation, under the secur-
ities laws and regulations.


@H038

    "EPA" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────
Provides general advice about
possible exposure to environ-
mental cleanup liability, EPA
air quality operating permits
and other federal environmen-
tal laws and regulations.

@H039

   "LEASE" MENU SELECTION
    ─────────────────────
Offers a checklist  of things
that you need to consider be-
fore entering into a business
lease agreement....



@H040

    "ACQ" MENU SELECTION
     ───────────────────

This menu selection gives you
a checklist of key items that
you need to consider when you
acquire an existing business.


@H041

    "EVAL" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────

Provides a  checklist for the
evaluation of a franchise op-
portunity.



@H042
    "START" MENU SELECTION
     ─────────────────────
This menu selection gives you
a business startup checklist,
tailored  to your  particular
situation based on the infor-
mation  you entered previous-
ly using the "DATA" command.


@H043
    "CTRL" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides an internal controls
checklist to help  you deter-
mine if your small business's
internal  financial  controls
are adequate to  reduce risks
of employee fraud, etc.


@H044
    "FLOW" MENU SELECTION
     ────────────────────
Provides a checklist  of ways
to control  and maximize your
business's cash flow, and why
adequate cash flow management
is crucial to the success  of
most businesses.


@H045
   "INDEP" MENU SELECTION
    ─────────────────────
Checklist of factors IRS uses
in determining whether a wor-
ker will be considered an in-
dependent contractor or  will
be treated as an employee for
FICA and w/h tax purposes.


@H046
   "DISAB" MENU SELECTION
    ─────────────────────
Checklist that should  always
be filled out by an employer,
when making  decision whether
or not to  hire a person with
a disability, under the Amer-
icans with Disabilities Act.


@BEGIN
01 View summary of recent law changes included in this quarterly revision of SBA
02 Enter DATA by answering questions about your business, for startup checklist
03 Select the INDX command to scan thru a subject matter index & select a topic
04 Enter one or more KEY words and the program will search for relevant info
05 Do tax planning calculations:  Estate TAXES, individual or corp. income tax
06 Hit <ENTER> now to give your self a TEST of your entrepreneurial abilities
07 Press <ENTER> key to change the color and/or texture of the menu screen
08 Load USER's Manual from disk to see helpful info on operating this program
09 Use program's eXPERT systems features for consulting help on complex subjects
10 The MONY selection provides general information on sources of financing
11 Pros & cons of incorporating, partnerships, etc. (With hypertext feature)
12 Follow the outline for writing your own business PLAN, then print out or save
13 MARKeting feasibility worksheet, ready for you to fill in and print out
14 Personnel policy checklist and worksheet, ready for you to fill in and print
15 Tips and suggestions for BUYing an existing business, vs. starting a new one
16 Common TRAPs and pitfalls to avoid if you buy an existing business
17 Advantages and disadvantages of FRANchises; and franchise evaluation checklist
18 Suggestions for successfully NEGotiating the purchase of a business
19 Checklist of items you need to be aware of when CLOSing a business purchase
20 Income tax basics--Personal/corporate tax rates, Fed. and @STATE
21 Summary of income tax WITHholding and tax deposit requirements
22 Basic information on FICA (Social Security) tax rates and withholding
23 Summary of FUTA (Federal UNEMployment Tax Act) provisions and tax rates
24 Explanation of the Federal self-employment tax law and current tax rates
25 General summary of Federal EXCise taxes and typical state excise taxes
26 Information on state SALEs taxes, with emphasis on @STATE
27 General summary of PROPerty taxes in @STATE
28 Guidance to Federal tax INFOrmation return compliance regulations
29 Summary of Federal and state LICensing requirements for businesses
30 Advantages/requirements for registering your business NAME or trademarks
31 Information on Workers' COMPensation law requirements in @STATE
32 Basic requirements of minimum WAGE, overtime pay, and child labor laws
33 Federal Occupational Safety & Health Act regulations affecting most employers
34 Summary of ERISA reporting and disclosure rules for employee benefit plans
35 Legal prohibitions on discrimination in employment practices
36 Federal IMMIgration law requirements that apply when you hire any employees
37 Guidelines for avoiding civil or criminal liability when issuing SECurities
38 Federal air quality, Superfund, and other environmental laws & EPA regulations
39 Checklist of items to consider before you sign a business LEASE of real estate
40 Checklist of considerations for ACQuiring an existing business
41 Checklist for EVALuating a franchise business opportunity
42 Hit <ENTER> to view a customized new business STARTup checklist for your firm
43 Checklist of basic rules for establishing adequate internal financial controls
44 Checklist of ideas for maximizing your business's cash FLOW
45 Checklist of factors for determining if a worker is an INDEPendent contractor
46 Employer ADA checklist (use when interviewing job applicant with a DISABility)