If you are a small business owner and you have reached a point where you can no longer pay your creditors, then you might be going into bankruptcy. This is a situation whereby your liabilities are more than your debts and you find it extremely hard to balance your books of accounts.

Bankruptcy implies a lot of things but the best thing is that it happens to many people and therefore many ways have been devised on how to deal with it. I know insolvency is a word that sends chills down the spine of many people because it is associated with property loss, stigmatization as well as discrimination.

While it is true that it will publicly be known that you can are insolvent, no one should discriminate you on this basis. So what follows after your small business has been declared bankrupt? Probably you are faced with the question whether you should file a case or not. It is advisable to consider all the other available alternatives and only go for this if all else fails.

You will most likely have to hire the services of an attorney. Although this calls for extra expenditure, it keeps you on the safe side because an attorney will not only represent you but will also advice you on the best way forward. He will be in a position to explain to you why it is more advisable for you to file for insolvency under chapter 11 or under 7 and not any other chapter. This way, you will be more informed and you will avoid bad risks.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Bankruptcy. For More Information On Small Business Bankruptcy, Read More Of His Articles Here SMALL BUSINESS BANKRUPTCYYou Can Also Add Your Views About Small Business Bankruptcy On His Blog Here SMALL BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY

Copyright (c) 2008 Frankel Desdunes

Starting a new business venture is never easy. Still every day people pave out their own paths to success in the business world. It seems that there always is a big hurdle for anyone who is making the decision to take the dive to start his or her business, but the obstacles and concerns can vary among individuals. If you have a family, starting a new business can be risky business. You may worry that if the business fails, then your family will suffer. You might also wonder if you have enough business knowledge to succeed. Selecting an appropriate business niche may be a big concern, as you try to find a business segment that is not already oversaturated.

You may ask yourself if you will have enough money to keep your business afloat during those first trial months. Another huge challenge may be to target, attract and retain customers. These are just a few of the worries that may enter your mind as you pursue the path of an entrepreneur. The greatest hurdle to overcome is in making certain that these worries do not stand in the way of your business goals. Before taking that first step toward starting a new business, you should look at the bigger picture over the long term. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and neither is a successful business. Naturally, there will be challenges, along with those days when it may seem easier simply to throw in the towel. But the key to success is in not to give up, but rather to move past the hard times. It is true that you certainly must consider the risks of starting a new business. It is not a choice to be made lightly. However, you should not allow yourself to become discouraged easily and then give up your dream of starting a new business. If you are aware of the kinds of challenges that lie ahead, it becomes easier to take that first step towards starting a new business.

Starting a new business will empower your life and bring opportunities that you may not even imagine. You must be motivated to succeed. If you have the determination to reach your business goals, you can take that first step to planning and then launching your new business. You must want to achieve your goals and cannot give up no matter how difficult the road ahead.

It takes hard work to launch a new business. In those first months, you may put more time into your business than you ever put into your old career. Fortunately, the end results can be well worth both the work and risks involved. It is easier to overcome that initial hurdle if you are ready and willing to put in the time and the effort. Failure must not be an option in your mind if you want to run a thriving business.

You really can create a new business and have the potential to be highly successful. The first step is in recognizing that although the path may not be easy, the opportunities may be endless.

Frankel Desdunes is an Online Network Marketer with over 6 years of experience under his belt. He knows that “cold calling leads” are a thing of the past. Frankel is dedicated to showing other’s how to use the leverage the internet to maximize their business. He is one that knows that not everything needs to be conventional when it comes to running a business. Frankel’s business organization continues to grow on daily basis. To learn more about what Frankel is doing to take his business to another level Click Here: http://www.mypath4success.com

You have done your research on the various life insurance products available, and you are now ready to sit with an Insurance Agent or Financial Representative to assess your needs, but where do you start? There are so many agents, offices and firms, how do you know who can help you? Which company do you go with?

First thing first, regardless of which agency or representative you eventually choose, you need to know that they are licensed properly for the insurance products and financial services you seek.

An Insurance Agent starts out by obtaining their “Life, Health and Annuity” license for the state they practice in. This allows them to sell term and whole life insurance, health insurance and fixed annuities.

They agent also needs to obtain their Series 6 (securities) license in order to sell mutual funds, variable life insurance and variable annuities, or any other investment vehicle that houses mutual funds.

It would be safe to say, that most Insurance Agents who are associated with large Insurance Firms or have their own free-standing Insurance Agency, have these two licenses in order to sell the wide variety of products these offices offer to satisfy all your needs.

But you should still do your due diligence and ask if their licenses are up-to-date and that they have not let them expire; as these licenses require a certain amount of additional education and certification every 2 years to keep them current.

It is also good to know if they have earned any additional designations. A person who takes the time to learn and grow within their own industry is a person who has chosen this as their life’s career. And you can feel confident that they will be specialists within the Insurance and Financial field, and will be around for years to come.

Here are the most common designations:

CFP — Certified Financial Planner

CLU — Chartered Life Underwriter

ChFC — Chartered Financial Consultant

As far as which company you choose to go with, is entirely up to you. Some people want the comfort of knowing all their products are with the same company, and that that company has the strength and longevity to stand behind what they sell. The financial representatives and advisors for these large insurance corporations typically sell only the proprietary products, as their pay structures mandate them to do so. The benefit to this is that you know you are getting a solid product backed by a solid company. The down–side is that they are usually not able to offer a wide variety of products for the sake of price comparing.

Others like the idea of a smaller Insurance office because you are able to develop a much more personal relationship with your Agent, and they can cater more to your individual needs. The products and services that they offer are still backed by large insurance corporations, so need to worry about the financial stability of the products you purchase, but an independent financial firm, since they are not associated with any one proprietary company, are able to offer a larger variety of services for the sake of product and price comparison.

When it comes to choosing the right life insurance company, or agency; know the facts. And by knowing a little bit about the professional services that each agent can offer, and knowing what type of business you feel most comfortable with, you will be able to move forward and feel secure with the insurance and financial protection you ultimately choose for you and your family.

*** This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not replace discussing your individual needs with your local Insurance Agent or Financial Representative.

After securing her position as a Top Seller in the Insurance and Financial Industry over the course of many years; Christee Fontanez shifted her focus several years ago to internet marketing and advertising. She combined both professions and now works to assist English and Spanish speaking consumers find an Insurance Agent or Advisor to help them secure their family’s financial freedom regardless of language preference.

For FREE resources visit http://www.mediadvine.com or http://www.seguro-insurance.com

Is your business in financial trouble?  Considering that the economy is in a recession, many people are having problems with their finances. If you do not sell a product or a service that is in high demand during tough times, then it is most likely that your business will see a significant drop in revenue if you do not change your approach. When jobs become scarce, people become extremely reluctant to spend money. Instead of helping to keep the economy rolling, individuals decide to hold onto their cash, which puts other people out of a job. It is a vicious cycle.

If your business is one of those that is contemplating filing bankruptcy, you should first consider the other options. Restructuring your business to make it more profitable, hiring an outside financial accountant, and liquidation are all options that should be considered before you make a trip to the bankruptcy court. Even your creditors would prefer that you explore all other options before you file as bankrupt.

When a company files for bankruptcy, they can file for either Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is in place for either businesses or individuals who are unable to pay back their creditors in any way and need to liquidate their assets immediately. This type of bankruptcy is known as straight bankruptcy. It is often the last resort because every non-exempt asset is immediately in possession of the court, everything is sold off, and the revenue generated is split among your creditors. In all likelihood, there is nothing left over for you once your creditors are paid.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy, though not ideal, is still a better option than Chapter 7. It involves the reorganization of the business so that it can continue operating and pay back its creditors on a different time schedule. The bank assigns a person to your case who is to work with you on reorganizing your business plan. Their job is to help you stay in business while giving you a structured way to pay back your creditors in full. The majority of Chapter 11 bankruptcies do not work, however, and these companies end up filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the end. 

Just another creative writer talking about anything and everything under the sun!

Proverbs 24:27 ¶Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field and afterwards build thine house. Darby

Proverbs 18:9 ¶He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

The principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group..Ethics..Wordweb

America, for many fulfills these ideas for many who come here. America has been from the start a multi-cultural project. Groups of people from many nations such as Britain, France, Spain, Italy, and others made up this New World. The main idea was to find a quick route to Asia. Asia was the place for riches obtained in the trading and transporting goods. These goods were taken from the point of origin to the home country of the ship. As America, grew, the business people here wanted freedom from the tyrannical rule of the foreign powers who wanted to keep grip on this New World. Thus, the idea of Multi-culturalism was born. This idea being that several different cultures (rather than one national culture) can coexist peacefully and equally in one nation.

America has not only shown that this can exist. She has shown it to flourish, though business ethics have changed from the infant it was in the beginning. Once a Plantation owner could have slaves. Using them in business was considered fair and equal. However, even then some people hated slavery, people aside from the slaves themselves. . As the people of this nation grew in ethics, they realized such avenues such as slavery was wrong. Although, Abraham Lincoln did abolish slavery, it took many years for the full realization to take hold. Today, in the high rise of power and prestige you will find many whose roots date them to slaves.

Within the confines of many larger cities are conclaves of multi-culturalism. You have “little Italy”, “Chinatown”, and many others. All people from differing nations that bring them one desire. That is to make a better life for them and their families. When doing this, they all agree to one thing. That is the Ethics of America. To do and follow our laws. To live peaceable with each other and live freely. This Multi-culturalism is what makes America what it has become.

The problem we have in the midst of business ethics and ethnicity is when the total framework of America’s business’s is changed for one group or individual. This is seen by the legislation that is being hammered out for illegal aliens. Most of which we have seen on the news is Mexican, South American, and speak Spanish. This is not the case. For history proves that Chinese have been smuggled into America since the early goldrush and the building of the railroad. Also let us not forget the Cubans, and those boatloads of Vietnamese. All these wanted to migrate to our country. Live a free life and do business. The legislation and recent debates, however, focus on one group alone. This is wrong.

Ethics for many business’s are regulated first by what is legal and what is illegal. A quick search on Wikipedia with the word Ethics, will provide a glimpse into this world. Revealing the hidden dangers that have been in the news. From Martha Stewart to WorldCom, we have seen ethics in motion. The ethics of some in business have been seen as illegal by those in the legal area’s. Thus, the people in power who ran the business schemes under cloak and danger were held accountable. Thus ethics are related to legality in America. The enforcement of which cover all Ethnics and races who do business in this country.

Moreover, we find Ethics and Ethnicity relating to World issues as well. This is on the forefront of many discussions today. One example is found in Denmark where just this issue was pursued “Ethics and Ethnicity”. A forum by a major Denmark university conducted a seminar in 2005 on this. Their basis for doing this and reasoning stated:

Since moral decision making fundamentally has to do with how we should treat each other, a unifying goal of the seminar group will be to understand and critically evaluate how cultural and racial affiliations influence the reasonable and unreasonable expectations we have of each other.

This points to the need to discuss the distinctive obligations of students, faculty, administrators and other staff within academic institutions, in terms of their similarities and differences, regarding potential areas of conflict as well as social enrichment stemming from our encounters with people ethnically different from ourselves. The implications for our participation in the larger international community of which we are all inescapably members also will be explored, along with the recurring moral theme of the contribution to be made by institutions of higher learning to the improvement of relations among all peoples of the world. www.think.aau.dk/default.htm

Furthermore, the drive line that connects many nations today is commerce. Commerce is business, and business is propelled by people with ethics from all ethnic tribes in the world. As a result, nations, ethnic tribes, and peoples traverse the world doing business. The one avenue that all people have in common is business. That is the ability to do something to make money or barter. This translates in being able to provide for your family no matter whether you live in India, China, or America. Today, however, America still is the Grand Lady of this enterprise called Commerce. Within the Commerce you will find Multi-culturalism. The foundation of this commerce is also Ethics and Ethnicity. Without rules, regulations, and laws, the whole system would not work. It must work for all cultures, races, and Ethnic tribes.

As we look at this Ethnicity, we also find the threats. The first and paramount threat to the Ethics and Ethnicity is terrorism. Muslim’s who are totally against this kind of thing. For them, trade and commerce are the enemy. It’s paramount provider is always seen as the USA. Who is their enemy, of course. The ethnic tribes who are terrorist come from many different countries. The one link for all of them is their aberrant desire to follow Jihad against all enemies of Islam. As a result you can see this attack against the warlords of commerce and trade. No matter what Ethics you have, when you face a harsh enemy like death, life is seen as paramount. This is the reason terrorism targets the business sector. To shut down this pipeline of commerce will shut down America and the industrial nations for sure. The main target, however, seems always to be America. The USA is the leader in purveying commerce. Ethics or not, the ethnic terrorism will find a way to bend your will to his or destroy you. This is also seen in many of the oil producing countries, especially in Africa where Terrorists have shut down pipelines of oil. As well, it can be seen in Venezuela’s dictator and his hatred for the USA and its government. Within all these scenarios are ethics. Ethics that face society and declare I will destroy you if you do not bend to my wishes.

What happens if this Ethnicity and ethics come to America? What happens if groups pop up and cannot get along with each other? Will business end? It is true, that if we cannot live peaceable, then business is the first to go. America has enjoyed a long history of peace in its borders with the exception of the Civil War, the Indian Wars, and other clashes. When the Civil war was going, business was virtually stopped down south. After the war, the whole south was destroyed.

Today, America has her Ethics, but within this is the desire to keep the global business going. Facing this, are those who want to destroy this business climate and trade we know as commerce. It is kept alive by the ethics of ethnic tribes all over the world. Many of whom live in America.

Ethnicity and Ethics. We see when good people say a bad thing is okay, such as Slavery, it is not morally ethical. Society accepted it, then decided it was wrong. We also see bad people who foment hatred and death through terrorism. Their ethnic backgrounds are from all over the world. These have ethics that declare destruction, war, and hatred against society in general. Business’s who come in contact with this later group will face a hardened foe willing to destroy to get their way. But for many in America, no matter the Ethnic background, ethics are the foundation of what they do. No matter the race, the tribe, religion, for the most part, they walk the path of ethics that American business has presented. To do things in a fair way, to do it well, to be honest, and follow all the laws of the land. The only people ‘who violate this’, are those who are greedy and dishonest. The ones who cling to power and prestige. These hold that money and fame are a higher goal than any moral ethic. For them ethics cannot get in the way of what they want. Just like terrorism, they destroy to obtain.

Dana G Smith is a Writer, Author of the Book D Day for America ,is the Watchman of http://www.wingswatchman.org