In the everyday world of SBA financing and working capital loans, the average business owner is not looking for more difficult decisions to make. As a result, thoughts of “it is time to fire your banker” rarely become an action item. For most small business owners, the idea of firing their banker has probably never occurred to them, and most are likely to view their banker as one of the family.

Banks are just not what they used to be (as most of us have by now realized). In a manner similar to many automobile manufacturers that are now a tarnished and shriveled version of what they once were, it seems like almost overnight most banks have lost our confidence. In this shifting reality, business owners are now forced to adapt quickly to a changing environment for small business loans. Candidly speaking, even if their commercial banker is their best friend, small business owners are increasingly realizing that they must look out for their own best interests because it is unlikely that their business banker is up to the task anymore.
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Trying to recover from the damage the recession inflicted on your wealth? Consider these 10 steps back to financial health.

1. Hedge Against Higher Taxes. When it comes to reducing your taxes, the standard advice is to defer income into future years and accelerate expenses. But this logic only applies when tax rates are stable or falling. Even if Congress does nothing to impose new taxes, the Bush administration tax cuts will expire at the end of this year, pushing the income tax bracket and the top rate on dividends to 39.6 percent, up from 35 percent and 15 percent respectively. The top capital gains rate will Read the rest of this entry »

Women in Small Business know how to stretch a nickel. It’s like second nature. Finding sales, coupons and freebies are essential to keeping her overhead low and profits high! Here are a few sites that offer free business forms for the aspiring business woman:

1. Free Business Forms from www.freebusinessforms.com: These attorney reviewed printable forms are specially formatted so you can fill them out by hand when printed. some of the free business and free legal forms you can download free of charge.:

* Employment contracts
* Employee handbooks
* Business contracts
* Business letters
* Business reports
* Promissory notes
* Lease forms
* Bill of sale forms
* Financial statements
* Confidentiality agreements
* Power of attorney forms
* Living will form
* Security agreements
* Debt collection letters
* Will forms
* Security agreements

2. FormNet FormNet® is a tool designed to save you the time and expense of creating business documents from scratch. You can download and customize each form according to your needs, and immediately put them to work in your business–all for free. They include:
Accounting
This category covers a variety of financial functions–from financial statements and bookkeeping to expense reports and accounts receivable.

Collection/Credit
These forms are designed to help you gather the information you need to extend credit to a customer and to help you notify your clients or customers of their debt to you.

Franchises
Make the right franchise choice with these easy-to-use forms that help you evaluate franchise options.

Human Resources
Hire, manage and motivate your employees more effectively with this collection of useful forms.

Insurance
Protect your business with forms that help you manage your insurance and risk management needs.

Inventory
Use these downloadable forms to track your inventory and accept or reject goods as they come in.

Leasing
If you lease or manage property, these forms will help you get your paperwork in order.

Legal
This wide variety of legal forms on everything from contracts to business structure and corporate governance will aid you in your day-to-day business.

Marketing
Get a handle on your marketing efforts, including customer surveys, target market research and market cost analysis, with this collection of forms.

Office Management
These easy-to-use forms will help you with the day-to-day duties of running a busy office.

Purchasing
Formalize your purchasing process–and make sure you’re not wasting any money–with this smart set of forms.

Sales
From price quotes to commission summaries, these forms will help you perform any of your sales functions.

Shipping
From shipping to delivery, you can get your shipping process in tip-top shape with these forms.

Starting a Business
These forms will help you gather all the data you need to get your new business off to a good start.

3. Office Depot: Free Downloadable Business Forms. These documents are free to download and customize for your own professional use. They include:
* Asset Protection
* Business Finance
* Compensation and Benefits
* Employee Management
* Firing and Termination
* Government Contracting Forms
* IRS Tax Forms
* Marketing
* Recruiting and Hiring
* Starting Your Business
* State Tax Forms
* Worker Safety
* Vehicles and Equipment

4. SmartBiz.com – Download a large selection of free business forms to help you get the most out of your business. Categories include Business Finance, Employee Management, Compensation & Benefits, Marketing, Recruiting & Hiring, Worker Safety, Vehicles & Equipment.