The Hometown Treasure January 2011 | Page 22

January 2011 DOLLAR$&$en$e by Devon Weaver, Keeping Tabs Accounting Just As Valuable As Your Personal Credit Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure As a small business owner there are few things more valuable than your personal credit score. A good personal credit score gives you the ability to obtain credit and loans for your company, and makes it easier to obtain the vendor relationships that are essential to operating your business, such as with utility and leasing companies. Of course, if you focus on building your business Tax Corner · Tax Corner · Tax Corner · Tax Corner Expanded Adoption Credit The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance on the expanded adoption credit included in the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act raises the maximum adoption credit to $13,170 per child, up from $12,150 in 2009. It also makes the credit refundable, meaning that eligible taxpayers can get it even if they owe no tax for that year. In general, the credit is based on the reasonable and necessary expenses related to a legal adoption, including adoption fees, court costs, attorney’s fees and travel expenses. Income limits and other special rules apply. credit you can leverage two credit scores and profiles at the same time. A business credit report and score are just as, if not more, valuable to a small business owner than their personal credit score. Another valuable asset is your network. Whom do you know? The more you network and have the opportunity to meet others the more you build your sphere of influence. Your friends and acquaintances have the ability to connect you with potential investors, bankers, clients, vendors, and future employees. Don’t neglect your networking opportunities. Attend as many seminars, events, and get-togethers as possible. The final asset as valuable as your personal credit score is the relationship you have with your banker. In the last 10-20 years banks moved to a computer-driven model that took the decision process for approving loans and credit for businesses away from the bankers. In the last couple of years more and more banks have added relationship bankers in an effort to rebuild relationships with the small business owner. Take advantage of this relationship as much as possible. Consider taking your local banker to lunch. (Of course, it’s best to make sure your lender is small businessfriendly before you waste $30 buying a banker lunch, only to find out that they can’t help you.) Fully State Inspected Custom Butchering & Processing of Livestock $30 Butchering • $ .35/lb. processing Call ahead for earliest dates available. 409 South Railroad Street LaGrange, Indiana 46761 (260) 499-3400 Mon.-Fri. 8 am-5 pm; Sat. 8 am-12 noon $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ CA$H! $ Quick Sale - Fair Price $ $ $ 260-768-3100 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Page 22 I Buy Houses Emma Warehouse M-F 8-5, Sat 8-1 • 5995 W. 200 S. 260-593-2769 Building Supplies, Cabinets, Hardware & More! * Doors * Floor Covering * Gifts/Cards * Furnaces * Screws/Nails * Stoves * Trim * Tubs/Showers * Water Heaters * Windows We have 4x8 sheets of underlayment in stock!