Perfume seller Jacqueline Tran of San Jose discovered the hard way that trademarks can be the most valuable asset a company owns. Wanting to cash in on the popularity of online commerce back in the late 1990s, Tran set up several Web sites using versions of the words “perfume” and “bay” as domain names. When she applied for a trademark for Perfumebay with the United States … [Read more...] about Trademarks: Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset

It’s time to bring public charter schools to the forefront of Nevada education. Battle-worn and born of hardy pioneering stock, many of Nevada’s chartered public schools are emerging as successful, avant-garde educational models. The growing popularity of charter schools in Nevada and nationwide is testimony to parents’ desire for quality education options for their … [Read more...] about Nevada’s Education Vanguard: Expanding the Development of Charter Schools

On the heels of the Southwest Exchange Corporation litigation, the Nevada Legislature has moved quickly to reduce the risks associated with 1031 exchange accommodators. Exchanges are highly regulated for qualification as a tax deferred exchange under the Internal Revenue Code, however, state regulation of exchanges has been limited or non-existent. Prior to the new regulations, … [Read more...] about 1031 Exchanges In Nevada: Is It Safe To Go Back In The Water?

“We have always done it that way!” is a statement heard all too often when asking why an organization does things the way it does. The fallacy in that approach is obvious when considering that a successful business operations, like anything else, must adapt with the times, and to continue to do things as before can have huge repercussions. Surprisingly, the insight originates, … [Read more...] about “We have always done it that way!”: It’s Time for Change

As Governor, I pledged to Nevada’s families and business owners that I would keep their taxes low and affordable. Doing so will ensure that businesses and consumers are not forced into shouldering the burden of runaway government spending. In the Nevada State Legislature, in Congress and now as Governor, I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensure that taxpayer dollars are … [Read more...] about How will Nevada benefit from lower taxes and fiscal policies? Low Taxes and Responsible Fiscal Policies: Path to Nevada’s Future

Whether a business is seeking funds for working capital, equipment or inventory, construction, or for any other reason, a lender will assess credit worthiness based on five factors known as the “Five Cs of credit.”  These are: 1. Capacity to pay bills and repay the loan through a comparison of revenue against reoccurring debts; 2. Collateral as security for the … [Read more...] about Smooth Sailing with Financial Lenders: Understanding the Five Cs of Credit

More than 5,000 Nevadans are members of the National Guard or Reservc, and most have full-time jobs in the private sector. Now that more than half of our active-duty military forces come from Reserve or National Guard units, reservists are dealing with problems they didn’t have in previous years. They are facing deployments that can last up to two years, and they may be sent … [Read more...] about Guard and Reserve Member Employees: Are You Complying with the Law?

There has been a steady evolution in the workplace in terms of how businesses regard diversity. Historically, diversity was associated with affirmative action plans requiring some businesses to hire and promote under-represented groups of women and minorities. The goal of affirmative action was to assure that the workforce demographics of businesses were representative of the … [Read more...] about Diversity in the Workplace: A Broader Scope

Minority-owned businesses are an integral part of Nevada's economy. Last year, $1.8 billion worth of services were purchased from minority-owned and operated businesses, according to the Nevada Minority Business Council, an organization that pairs minority-owned businesses with corporations. Here's a look at some of the state's minority business owners and their companies. … [Read more...] about Minority-Owned Business: Achieving the American Dream

The mortgage industry took a turn for the worse last year, as many people were forced to foreclose on their new homes and mortgage companies were compelled to close their doors. Foreclosures contributed to near-record-level inventory in a housing market that, recently, had so few homes available for sale, new listings often ignited bidding wars and residential developments had … [Read more...] about Mortgage Brokers: He Said, She Said

Quick: what’s a six-letter word that if you use over and over, might just win you the most important elected office in the free world? That magic word is … change. Give yourself a gold star if you guessed correctly. It is the word that is on the lips of every major presidential candidate this election year. Whether they’ve been in office for decades, or around politics only … [Read more...] about The Change Dynamic: Simply Political Strategy