Oct 13
Many small businesses attempt to save taxes and employee benefit costs by classifying their workers as independent contractors. When business owners classify workers as independent contractors they do not pay the employer’s share of Social Security and Medicare costs, state employer taxes, state unemployment insurance taxes, and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Independent contractors also do …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/10/irs-amnesty-regarding-independent-contractors-deserves-analysis/
Sep 22
Solyndra was a manufacture of solar cells based in Freemont California. In August & September 2011, Solyndra ceased all business activity, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and laid off all employees. The federal government is Solyndra’s largest creditor, having made the company a $535 million loan guarantee. The interesting thing about this loan is not …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/09/535-million-u-s-loan-to-solyndra-was-predicted-to-be-a-failure/
Aug 29
When major entertainment personalities are on top of their game, it is often hard to foresee a time when funds may not be as abundant. When that time comes, one might look back and wonder where all the money went. Or even wonder if they had received all the money they were promised. Unfortunately, the …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/08/dear-licensees-with-audit-rights-time-is-not-your-friend/
Aug 09
Longtime employees are often loyal individuals who enjoy their job. However, this broad generalization may cause employers to elevate the level of trust put in such employees and fail to protect themselves from someone who knows the business so well that they know just how to exploit it. Regardless of the relationship you think you have …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/08/embezzlement-at-the-house-of-twain/
Jul 08
Another Ponzi scheme has been uncovered. While the perpetrators are not exactly Bernie Madoff, they did manage to bilk over 40 “investors” out of approximately $4 million. As is common with Ponzi schemes, the victims were concentrated within a tight social network which offers the illusion of trust and the insinuation that the members are …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/07/ponzi-scheme-at-the-local-pta/
May 19
Through proxy statements, shareholders get a one-per-year glimpse at pay and perks of top executives. In addition to multimillion dollar pay packages, executives sometime receive outrageous perks. These funds are being paid for with shareholder money. Based on a compilation created by Kiplinger, here is a list of some of the more outrageous perks given to …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/05/how-much-are-outrageous-executive-perks-costing-you/
May 18
In monetary terms, the biggest decision made by the Supreme Court in the current session is a case that they decided NOT to take. On March 21, 2011, the Supreme Court denied certiorari of a Ninth Circuit ruling made on September 3, 2010 in re: F.B.T. Productions vs. Aftermath Records. Absent a settlement, the case …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/05/perhaps-2-billion-owed-under-music-contracts/
May 16
Los Angeles City Controller, Wendy Greuel, recently conducted an audit of seven Los Angeles city departments relating to city-owned cell phones. Greuel found that the city wastes about $1 million per year on nearly 12,000 city-owned cell phones. Greuel’s audit revealed: The city did not have any central management of cell phone contracts No one …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/05/city-of-los-angeles-wastes-1m-on-cell-phones/
Apr 19
Licensors whose assets are in particularly high demand may be able to negotiate unusually favorable contract terms. Hiring a skilled lawyer to negotiate the terms of your license agreement will help ensure you get the best deal possible. But those efforts may be wasted if there is no one confirming that those terms are followed. …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/04/the-hardest-fought-license-terms-may-be-the-least-likely-to-be-in-compliance/
Apr 15
There are many often repeated tales of the federal government being taken advantage of by vendors, such as the Department of Defense’s $640 toilet seat and the National Park Service’s $797,400 outhouse. Therefore, it’s a pretty good bet that if a vendor you are considering is on the federal government’s vendor blacklist, they might deserve …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/04/get-the-benefit-of-the-government%e2%80%99s-experience-when-selecting-vendors/
