New York SBDC Research Network

The history of cannabis and all its medical uses has varied from appetite stimulants to helping in chronic pain and even treating nausea and vomiting. The most recent researches now say it helps in treating symptoms of AIDS, the disease that kills 1 out of 4 people age 13 to 24 . Looking on medical marijuana now in the United States, it’s been spreading to be now legalized by 23 states for medical use only. In 2015, New York state legalizing medical marijuana use to

DMV.com has ranked and reviewed every DMV agency website to find the best of class for its  2015 State DMV Website Rankings . All the websites were graded using a comprehensive scorecard that evaluated the design, usability, content and online services. These top ten sites represent the highest standard in government motor vehicle and licensing websites. #2 New York D U S C Score 20 16 38 20 94   The NY DMV website has recently received a significant update which significantly improved the usability and aesthetics of the site. With a great dropdown navigation this site is a great example of functional and efficient design. The New York DMV website is very user friendly with a forms search application that is quite handy and a conveniently located "Save time, do it online" button.

It’s time to get health insurance covered for 2015. The final Open Enrollment deadline to sign up for 2015 coverage is February 15. If people miss that deadline, they will likely have to wait to sign up for coverage until the next open enrollment season, with coverage starting in 2016. Small business owners who want to purchase coverage for their employees through the SHOP Marketplace can continue to enroll beyond the February 15 deadline since enrollment in SHOP is year-round. Both the individual and SHOP Marketplaces can be found at HeathCare.gov .

Gain insights about how to estimate your start-up costs, which will help you determine what financing you may need to get off the ground, what it will take to reach your break-even point and manage cash flow once you’re up and running! How to Estimate the Cost of Starting a Business from Scratch How much will it take to start that new business you’re thinking of? Use these simple steps to develop a good estimate. You don’t get to know for sure, but if you have the discipline to break things into meaningful pieces, and then research each of the pieces, you’ll have a good idea. How to Guesstimate Your Starting Costs  

U.S. business spending on new and used structures and equipment rose 4.5 percent, from $1,423.6 billion in 2012 to $1,488.2 billion in 2013, according to the latest economic data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. These findings come from the 2013  Annual Capital Expenditures Survey , which provides statistics on capital spending for new and used structures and equipment by U.S. nonfarm businesses with and without paid employees. This survey, conducted annually since 1994, is an integral part of the federal government’s effort to improve and supplement ongoing statistical economic programs.

No doubt, there are probably quite a few regulatory and administrative items on your new business checklist – getting a permit, registering your business name and more (check out these 10 steps to starting a business for a useful reference point). One of the key requirements for most new businesses (or businesses that are restructuring) is obtaining an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, from the IRS. Here’s what you need to know about EINs and how to go about getting one for your business. An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies your business for tax purposes. Think of it as the business equivalent of a social security number (although it shouldn’t be used in place of it). As a business owner, you’ll need an EIN to open a business bank account, apply for business licenses and file your tax returns. It’s a good idea to apply for one as soon as you start planning your business. This will ensure there are no delays in getting the appropriate licenses or financing

From SmallBusinessNewz : No matter how small or "old fashioned" a small business is, it is vital that the owners stay informed of technology advancements because it impacts consumer behavior. A few of the technology trends to keep track of in the coming year Internet of Things. Wi-Fi technology will soon take everyday items like appliances, TV sets, and more through the next wave in connectedness: The Internet of Things, or IoT . The general concept is that all of these IoT-enabled will create a "smart" network all on their own by pinging off of each other.

The Office of Advocacy released Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories, the annual snapshots of state-level small business activity. The profiles report on the number of small firms, employment, and owner demographics. They also list each state’s top small business industries by number of firms and number of employees. The profiles cover the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States. They also provide limited information on the U.S. territories. In addition to the profiles, detailed state data is available on Advocacy’s website. To access the book of all small business profiles or any of the individual states, visit www.sba.gov/advocacy/small-business-profiles-states-and-territories-2014 . For more information about the Office of Advocacy, visit our website at www.sba.gov/advocacy or telephone (202) 205-6533. 

Find MANY informational links to ACA program , including: Affordable Care Act Legal Guidance and Other Resources Health Care Tax Tips, Flyers, Publications, Trifolds and Additional Materials YouTube Videos, Podcasts and Webinars Social Media News Releases Fact Sheets Legal Guidance – Announcements Legal Guidance – Regulations and Treasury Decisions Legal Guidance – Notices, Revenue Procedures and Revenue Rulings

 The U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposal to clarify federal contractors' requirements to prohibit sex discrimination. The recommended changes would revise the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' guidelines to align with laws, court decisions and societal changes since they were originally issued in 1970. "Our sex discrimination guidelines are woefully out of date and don't reflect established law or the reality of modern workplaces," said OFCCP Director  Patricia A. Shiu . "We owe it to the working women of America — and their families — to fix this regulatory anachronism so there is no confusion about how federal contractors must comply with their equal opportunity obligations."

Small Business Taxes: The Virtual Workshop was designed to help the new business owner, understand and meet federal tax obligations. This workshop is constructed so that the first three lessons... What You Need to Know about Federal Taxes and Your New Business, What You Need to Know about Schedule C and Other Small Business Taxes and Tax Forms; And How to File and Pay Your Taxes Electronically are for everyone, no matter what kind of business you have or whether you have employees. Then, in What You Need to Know When You Run Your Business Out of Your Home and How to Set Up a Retirement Plan for You and Your Employees, there will be discussed some information that may be relevant to you now-- or that may become relevant once your business has become established. The final four lessons... What You Need to Know about Federal Taxes when Hiring Employees or Independent Contractors, How to Manage Payroll so You Withhold the Correct Amount from Employees, How to Make Tax Deposits and F

the Office of Advocacy released the Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act FY 2014. The report is a requirement of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), which directs the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to monitor federal agency compliance with the RFA and report on it at least annually. This year’s report finds that the Office of Advocacy’s efforts at ensuring RFA compliance helped save small entities at least $4.8 billion in first-year regulatory costs in FY 2014, while ensuring that agencies were able to meet their regulatory goals. The report and research summary are available HERE on Advocacy’s webpage .

The Office of Advocacy has released the January 2015 issue of The Small Business Advocate newsletter . This edition features a roundup of the new leadership of the Congressional small business committees. The message from Chief Counsel for Advocacy Winslow Sargeant details his accomplishments during his tenure at the Office of Advocacy. In addition, a recent SBREFA panel on infectious diseases submits its final report to OSHA. The newsletter can be found on Advocacy's website here .

The 25 Most Popular Passwords of 2014: We're All Doomed Well, that's an article title that caught my eye immediately.  I also thought that my passwords were not the best ever based on what tech friends have recommended.  Then I read this article.  Here are the top five used. 1. 123456 2. password 3. 12345 4. 12345678 5. qwerty My all time favorites on the list is trustno1 and letmein.  There are also the weird ones, like monkey and master.  Ultimately, if you are using any of these passwords, go change them.  Now.

Did you know that there are more international students in the United States from Asia than any other continent? Or that China alone, excluding the rest of Asia, sends more students to the United States than the rest of the world combined? SEVIS by the Numbers is a quarterly report using data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which SEVP uses to track and monitor the status and activities of nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors who enter the United States. The report highlights key SEVIS data in an engaging way to illustrate trends, values and information on nonimmigrant students studying in the United States. SEVIS by the Numbers Provides Comprehensive Data on International Students  - Highlights from the current report, with a link to download the current report. Student and Exchange Visitor Program Reports  - Archived reports.

Sorry, folks, I don’t have any cake to share for this celebration, but don’t let that stop you from participating in Data Privacy Day. There are practical things you can do today, and every day, to protect your personal information. Here are a few scenarios where people may share more information than they intend. Scenario 1: At the coffee shop, you decide to use an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot to check your bank balance with an app. More from the Federal Trade Commission .

Branding experts often advise businesses to choose a brand name that describes their product or service — PlumbingMasters, for example, or Gianni’s Pizzeria. From a legal standpoint, however, these kinds of names aren’t likely to receive significant trademark protection under federal law. If you’ve been struggling to land on a brand name, consider these tips to come up with one that’s both memorable and can receive significant trademark protection. Brand names that are clever, memorable, and original have much more robust trademark rights than ones that are simply “descriptive” of the goods or services you provide. Read more from BPlans

By Jennifer Kimmich, owner of the Alchemist Cannery, a brewery in Vermont. For nearly 30 years, I have worked in the service sector and in this time I’ve worked alongside the most dedicated, hardworking people I will ever know. These are the folks, many of whom are single mothers, who keep our businesses running day in and day out, cleaning our hotel rooms, working our front desks, and ringing up our coffee and gas in the morning. These are the hardworking Vermonters who, like all workers in the United States, need paid sick time. Years ago my husband, John, and I decided to offer paid sick days to our employees. To the surprise of many small business owners, it was one of the best business decisions we have ever made. See more in the US Department of Labor blog .

Look around you. Most of today’s top presenters and entertainers are boring people with predictable schedules and habits: -George Carlin was obsessed about not repeating the same joke -Jerry Seinfeld practiced his first Tonight Show bit 200 times -Nelson Mandela loved his 5 a.m. walks -Tony Robbins engages in a writing session for 3 hours every day The best presenters are boring people. And, you can be great as well if you decide to be boring. More from Slideshare .

There is much written about what it takes to be a successful business owner. Passion, focus, and persistence show up again and again as traits you must have if you want to be an entrepreneur. However, we've uncovered some additional behaviors that don’t traditionally go along with the busy life of an entrepreneur but that can be of great benefit. Here are five traits of successful entrepreneurs that might surprise you. 1. They say no Read more at BPlans