New York SBDC Research Network

In certain instances, section 5-a of the Tax Law requires businesses that are awarded contracts with New York State to certify that they are registered to collect New York State and local sales and use taxes (sales tax) on sales delivered to locations within New York. The purpose of section 5-a is to ensure that contractors do not get state work unless they, their affiliates, and their subcontractors making sales of tangible personal property or taxable services are registered to collect New York State’s sales tax. This means that certain businesses, including in some cases out-of-state businesses not currently registered to collect New York State sales taxes, will need to register for New York State sales tax purposes. This bulletin explains the general rules related to the certification requirements for contractors and their affiliates and subcontractors. For more detailed information on the contractor certification requirements imposed under section 5-a of the Tax Law, see Publ

The SBA Office of Advocacy study, The Geography of Employment Growth: The Support Networks for Gazelle IPOs , identifies specific states with the strongest support networks for companies to launch Initial Public Offerings (IPO). To create a fast growing company or gazelle, it takes an Entrepreneurial Support Network (ESN) including skilled labor, capital, customers, and suppliers. According to this study, ESNs with the necessary strength to launch an IPO are predominantly found in California, Massachusetts, Florida, New York , and Texas. However, one city stood out as an entrepreneurial hotspot despite the absence of an entrepreneurial support network. Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to numerous medical instrument companies and claims 10 percent of the IPOs for this industrial sector. “We are a nation of innovators, and our entrepreneurs excel at the highest standards. The IPO process is a completion of a major financial milestone in a company’s development, creating more jobs and

Someone posted this question: "I have a client who has a business with 24 employees. She wants some employees to work more than 40 hours, but can't afford to pay overtime wages. Does anyone have experience with labor laws for these types of businesses? Is she right that she can't have people work more than 40 hours? Any insight or direction you have would be welcome." Here are a couple sources of information- Overtime pay An employer who requires or permits an employee to work overtime is generally required to pay the employee premium pay for such overtime work. Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek of at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) , which prescribes standards for the basic minimum wage and overtime pay, affects most private and public employment. Further - Compliance Employees of firms which are not

vol. 32, no. 5 The June edition of The Small Business Advocate spotlights new Advocacy research on the geography of fast-growing firms and IPOs. It also features a firsthand account of successful high-tech manufacturing in Idaho and Washington State, the May small business safety and health roundtable, and Advocacy staff news.

Those of us in the payments industry may often think “electronic is better,” but there are still those who prefer paper. Specifically: checks. 91 percent of U.S. consumers use checks, which is more than any other form of payment?1 In fact, the average U.S. consumer writes over five checks per month for retail payments, and 22 percent of total U.S. non-cash payments were made by check in 2010.2 However, checks often shift risk and hassle onto merchants who have to transport them to the bank, deal with bounced checks and worry about fraud. Luckily, new advances in check acceptance technology make it safer and easier than ever before to include checks as a customer payment choice. These technologies provide merchants with more secure and convenient options when deciding whether and how to accept checks. More from ASBDC HERE .

The Small Business Quarterly Bulletin, First Quarter 2013 shows small businesses across America trending up, along with the economy as a whole. Should you need further information, please feel free to contact Brian Headd at (202) 205-6533 or advocacy@sba.gov.

Google+ Hangouts will feature daily tips for small business owners from major tech leaders and social media companies WASHINGTON – As part of National Small Business Week, June 17-21, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a series of Google+ Hangouts featuring an exciting lineup of social media companies, mentorship organizations and distinguished experts. All Google+ Hangouts will start at 4 p.m. EDT and can be watched live at: • www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek • www.youtube.com/sba • http://plus.google.com/+sbagov Small business owners can tweet questions for the panelists using the hashtag #SBW2013. No prior registration is required to watch. Topics and panelists include: Monday, June 17: Getting Started with Social Media – 4 p.m. EDT Panelists from Twitter, Google, Constant Contact, and W20 Group will hang out. Bill Murphy Jr., author and columnist for Inc.com will moderate. Tuesday, June 18: Managing Your Business’s Online Reputation – 4 p.m. EDT P