Credit card processing costs can add up but cannot directly be passed on or down to customers. While business owners should include the cost to process credit cards when determining fees, they cannot surcharge customers for using credit cards -- at least in most scenarios.

A construction cost estimator knows that there are a lot of expenses that need to be tracked when estimating a job. Many people who have been in the industry for a long time have always relied on pen, paper and a calculator to estimate a job. The size of the contingency should be based upon the size of the job. If all goes off without a hitch, there will be an excess of funds to use for addition work or anything else the client wants to do.

What are you paying for when you set up a merchant account to process credit cards? We give a detailed explanation of the fees you will see hitting your account!

The new Blackberry 8100 Pearl cell phone is one of the smallest, sleekest cell phones ever made.

One of the most powerful business marketing tools out there is on paper. These include pamphlets, portfolios, and business cards. Using all of them is a plus, but business cards remain the cheapest (and arguably most important) way to market your business.

In a newspaper report by The Straits Times (attached below), it was reported that ComfortDelGro has submitted a position paper to the Ministry of Transport, giving their two-cent worth on how the public transport industry should be structured. Two specific suggestions are given: to merge with rival SMRT to create one big giant transport company, or to have two separate companies with different areas of expertise – one running buses while another operating trains. (Note: It should be quite obvious that SBS Transit will be the natural bus company and SMRT will be the train company).

For some, putting together a home office is as simple as purchasing a laptop and having a free outlet. They can work anywhere. For others, it isn't quite that easy.

Exactly how much do you really know about business security? Do you feel that you're careful at work with electronic files? Some of your everyday tasks might be the cause of a data breach. A stray or lost laptop, word documents, spreadsheets and leaked customer information over email can cause financial and reputation problems to your company. To further your knowledge about how you and your company can play an active role in creating a security plan, take this quiz to test your security knowledge.

A different approach to the forex market and its increasing popularity

When writing a business email, you should format it like a normal business later.

Do your clients take more than 30 (or even 60!) days to pay your A/R? Learn how to finance your company with A/R financing.

An organization that has a large number of employees and a steady flow of cash will benefit by becoming a nonprofit corporation. Incorporating will save employees from paying the debts of the organization, and will increase the organization’s chance of getting government funds.

Plastic corrugated and lean manufacturing go hand in hand...find out how!

A desk name plate furnishes a professional appearance to any place of work. It perks up the desk and workplace setting. Desk name plates are customized or personalized, so that the customer can choose his own design and description. Desk name plates vary from one customer to another not only in name, designation, logo and address, but also in design and texture. The text of a desk name plate could vary from one line to three lines. Lines may include only the customer’s name, or everything from the customer’s name, designation, and his company’s name and logo. In some cases desk name plates also contain different floral designs. A desk name plate is useful not only for offices, businesses, and stores, but also for houses of worship and wherever else it is considered necessary.

New SEC rules for easy-to-find, easy-to-understand executive compensation disclosures will have potentially huge ramifications on business environment, internal culture and corporate reputations.

When a businessman from the audience asked Bill Gates the secret of success the great tycoon presented a five-point master formula of success: 1. Passion, 2. Intelligence, 3. Integrity, 4. A Good Team, and 5. Leadership. Now from whom can you learn better than the Bill Gates?

Learn the secrets of the packaging industry that most people don't know about!

Competition is always in your face. You are Defending too much. But that could be counter productive. Be prepare to attack also.

The author cautions business people about paid experts who use scare tactics to prolong the work.

Describes the originations of FICA, and how it breaks down on your pay check.

Only in America could billions of dollars be made selling weight loss products to people who need to shed a few extra pounds. In a world full of starving people, Americans seem to have emerged as a nation of overfed, under exercised fatties who can’t put down that bag of potato chips, stop eating that ice cream or refuse that second (or third?) helping of pasta.

Deck fasteners are screws especially manufactured to fasten the many soft, thin planks of a wood en deck in place. Wooden decks must be able to withstand many different kinds of weather and corrosion, and so deck fasteners must be able to stand up to these elements just as well.

Discusses seven pricing pointers you need to be aware of before setting your pricing.