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FSBO (For Sale By Owner) is becoming a popular way of selling homes. Many people that choose this means to sell their home are wanting to avoid real estate commissions. Others have tried realtors and have decided that they can better sell their home or property.

If you have decided that you want to sell your home FSBO, you have to realize that you are going to have to market your home as a realtor would. This means that you have to use the same real estate marketing methods that a realtor would. This means that you will have to commit time and effort to the endeavor.

You’ve come to the conclusion that FSBO is the way to go. Your’re ready to put your home or property on the market ‘for sale by owner’. You’ve priced your home competitively and appropriately for your local market. How are you now going to market it so that you get the exposure to attract potential buyers and make the sale?

You will need to go through the same steps and marketing techiques that any real estate agent would use. Here’s the techniques I would recommend:

For Sale By Owner Signs

House signs are the first place to start. Signs can be made locally or often bought at hardware stores. I would spend the money to have your own personal sign made. It will pay off if done right.

While realtors place signs with the name of the agency and the phone number of the listing agent to contact. FSBO signs should read like the headline of a good advertisement. ‘Your Dream Home is Now For Sale’ or ‘The View from Your Future Home is Spectacular’. You should catch the immediate attention of drivers-by and make them interested in seeing your home for themselves. This sign should play on the emotions of the potential buyer.

The phone number on the sign should be prominent and large enough for visitors to read from the road. It should be prefixed with a statement like: ‘For more information on this wonderful home, call 555-5555′. Set up a phone number that is separate from your normal phone number and specific for the purpose of selling your home.

Buy an answering machine that has caller id so that you can capture the name and phone number of potential buyers. The message should tell the caller to leave their contact information so that you can get back to them at the earliest possible moment with complete details on the property. If you have your home on the internet, you may also give them the URL while their awaiting your return call. This website can also be listed on your FSBO sign.

Classified Ads

A classified ad in your local newspaper for your FSBO property is a good investment. These are generally inexpensive and have a high return on investment for gaining leads to potential buyers. A short ad, also reading like a good headline, and run a number of times will serve you best. The same information that is on your house sign, phone number and website listing should accompany the ad.

Magazines and Community Publications

Many communities have ‘For Sale by Owner’ magazines which are placed in shopping malls, gas stations, and outside of grocery stores. These are similar to the homes magazines that real estate agencies advertise listings in.

These ‘For Sale by Owner’ publications will cost more than a classified ad but have the advantage of having photos of your home and a more detailed listing description. I would advise that your ad be different and unique from the normal listing if possible. Some publishers have set rules on what they allow.

Use these ads to emphasize the benefits of the home and not just the features of the house like the number of bedrooms and baths. Answer the question of what’s in it for the buyer. Give your special phone number so that you can collect contact information on the prospect.

Brochures

Brochures or one-page flyers are one of the best means the sale by owner has at their disposal to advertise their property. These can be put in a bruchure holder on your FSBO yard sign, on bulletin boards in local neighborhood shops and restaurants, and given to parties that espress an interest in buying your home.

Brochures are your ticket to market your home the way no real estate agent will. Don’t make your FSBO brochure look like the typical listing advertisements. Here again, think outside the box and make it more of a personal sales letter.

Emphasize the benefits of the home. The view, the convenience to shopping, schools, and workplace. Note the special features that place your home apart from others in the neighborhood. When describing the rooms, draw attention to the details like the solid oak floor or the woodwork. Write to the prospect like you are writing to a good friend.

Keep your brochure holder filled at all times. don’t get annoyed when nosey neighbors pick up your brochures. Mor often than not, your neighbors know friends that they wouldn’t mind living next door or close-by. And their friends will usually be able to afford a house in your neighborhood. Be sure to step out and tell them to pass the brochure on to someone they know.

Pass out the brochure freely to prospects that look at your house. This will insure that they will remember the home. After all, they are most likely looking at more than just your property. Color photos will aid in this.

And, don’t forget your co-workers. Give them your brochures too. After all, you find it convenient to live in your home and they know it. You work with them and you can afford to live there. Most likely, they have friends that would find a similar living arrangement pleasant. Ask them to pass on the brochure if they know someone looking for a great home.

The Internet

You can’t ignore the internet when you’re selling your own home FSBO. The internet has become an important search option for potential home buyers.

There are several internet websites that will allow you to post your FSBO listing. These will vary in price and options for your listing advertisement. Some will allow you to post photos and update information on your personal ‘open house’. You’ll find that prices range from $25 per month and up. Be sure to research your options carefully.

You can also put up your own listing website to refer prospects too. Just like with your brochure, make this website more of a personal sales letter and include a form to capture contact information for further follow-up.

Be sure to pay for your website to be hosted. For some reason, free websites don’t gain the attention from prospects that true websites do. Hosting can vary from $3.95/mo to $19.95/mo. You don’t need much from your website so go with the cheaper package as long as it will allow you to post a contact form on your site.

Open Houses

If the above suggestions don’t market your home quickly and produce a sale, you still have the option of hosting your own open house. In many localities, home sales by owner are boosted by having an open house. If you are in a hot or cold market location, this can be an excellent tool for selling your home.

Of course you will have to advertise that you’re having an open house. This can be accomplished using any of the above techniques. Some local newspapers have a special section in their classified ads just for open houses. Be sure to place a large sign on your lawn the day you are having your open house. This will give notice to others of the event as well as allow people to find your home easily.

The above suggestions should make it easier to sell your home quickly. It takes time and some money to market you ‘For Sale by Owner’ home. But you will save money on realtor commissions and have more control over your transaction. Be sure to check out the laws in your area and the forms you will need to close the deal.

Jim Bruce is a direct response marketer who advises real estate agents and home owners wanting to sell their homes FSBO. More information on marketing real estate and using direct marketing techniques for this purpose can be found at http://www.realtormarketinginfo.com

The number of couples choosing bed & breakfasts for their honeymoon is on the rise. Perhaps it’s the high cost of gas and airline tickets forcing couples to consider celebrating their love closer to home or maybe it’s simply that the word is out that B&Bs are travel’s best kept secret. For those who never considered or who don’t understand the intimate personalization of creating honeymoon memories at a bed & breakfast, BnBFinder.com, a leading online bed & breakfast directory, puts to rest 10 common myths about honeymoon romance at B&Bs.

Myth #1: B&Bs Are Cheap And Second-Rate
Fact: While there are many values offered by bed and breakfasts that can make them an economical alternative to other accommodations, B&B guests find upscale amenities such as luxury linens, fresh flowers, fine china and gourmet candlelit breakfasts – amenities and special touches not found even at higher priced hotels.

Myth #2: Breakfast Is Family Style With Other Guests
Fact: Many bed and breakfasts have restaurant style seating so you and your sweetheart can have a romantic dining experience at a table of your own or breakfast in bed, usually without the expense of room service! At the Deerhill Inn (West Dover, VT), the Wine, Dine & Romance Package includes fresh flowers, champagne and chocolates waiting in your room upon your arrival, dinner for two and a full country breakfast served in bed the next morning.

Myth #3: Shared Bathrooms
Fact: A long believed myth about bed and breakfasts is that guests must share common bathrooms. It’s time to uncover the truth! According to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, 95% of inns include a private bath and many now offer private in-room Jacuzzis for two.

Myth #4: Bed And Breakfasts Are Only For Older Couples
Fact: In a recent poll, innkeepers reported the average age of honeymooners is between twenty and thirty. Inns across the country are welcoming honeymooners from recent high school graduates to great grandparents, so there is something for everyone!

Myth #5: Limited Privacy
Fact: Many bed and breakfasts maintain a quiet, romantic, mature atmosphere for their adult guests and often have policies prohibiting children. Innkeepers have also taken into account thin walls and squeaky staircases by soundproofing, remodeling and updating older homes.

Myth #6: Fattening, Unhealthy Breakfasts
Fact: Since breakfast is a highlight of most B&B stays, mention any special dietary preferences when booking an inn. Many inns are adjusting their portion sizes and now serve healthy dishes such as fruit, oatmeal, and low-fat or low-carb items. Enjoy the fact that you are eating a delicious breakfast that the chefs pride themselves in (innkeepers are usually happy to share their signature recipes with you to make at home).

Myth #7: B&Bs Are Just A Room – And Boring
Fact: On the contrary, many bed and breakfast inns provide activities for their guests, free of charge, or have deals with local vendors to offer guests discounted rates. Because of their size, bed and breakfasts are able to offer individualized activities and personal service. Depending on the time of year you plan to visit, there will be an array of things to do. Biking, skiing, golf, tennis and boating are just some activities that can be personally arranged by the inn.

Myth #8: Only Breakfast Is Served At A B&B
Fact: Don’t let the name fool you! Even though they are called “bed and breakfasts” many inns offer lunch and dinner à la carte. For a romantic twist, ask the innkeeper to pack a picnic lunch for you to take on your day trip. The Inn at Thorn Hill (Jackson, NH) includes a picnic lunch with their Ultimate Relaxation Package (the package also includes spa treatments, breakfast in bed and more!)

Myth #9: Spa Services Are Not Available At Small Inns
Fact: Bed and breakfasts offer a multitude of additional services. For the ultimate honeymoon experience, inquire about spa services offered at many B&Bs. Some inns offer special pricing packages at local salons and others offer spa treatments onsite. The Barley Sheaf Farm Estate & Spa (Holicong, PA) offers a unique spa experience. The private in-suite treatment rooms offer guests the opportunity to experience the exceptional natural herbal spa treatments in the privacy of their own suite.

Myth #10: B&Bs Don’t Offer Discount Pricing
Fact: Many bed and breakfasts offer special honeymoon packages. Celebrate your special occasion at the Brierley Hill Inn (Lexington, VA), where you can stay in one of their luxurious suites, each with whirlpool tub and fireplace. Their honeymoon package includes a chilled bottle of champagne (or sparkling cider), a delicious wine and cheese basket, as well as fresh flowers in your suite. Your breakfasts will be candle-lit, at anytime you choose with full silver service by the fireplace in the dining room.

From chocolate and roses to spa treatments, inns put together packages to entice every taste and personality. If it’s gourmet food and wine, couples massage, and your own private suite in a stunning location that most appeals, there is a Bed and Breakfast inn that can fulfill your every desire. You and your sweetheart can decide together whether you want to get out for a horse drawn carriage or sleigh ride or just soak in a private in-room Jacuzzi tub then snuggle under the covers with milk and freshly baked cookies. You may want to frolic in the colorful leaves around in a historic Northeastern manor house in the fall, burrow in a cozy, secluded mountain inn in winter, go baroque in a frilly Victorian to celebrate spring, or venture to a beachside or waterfront inn for fun in the summer sun. Depending on your budget and time available, you may be delighted to discover a very special inn close to home offering you an affordable, but no less wonderful honeymoon escape.

B&Bs, often considered Travel’s Best Kept Secret, can be found in directories such as BnBFinder.com. Find your perfect honeymoon getaway using the BnBFinder Bed & Breakfast Advance Search, which features 26 search options. The personalized service you will receive when staying at a bed and breakfast is sure to make your honeymoon a memorable event that you will cherish forever.

Allison DeCongelio is the Marketing Specialist for BnBFinder.com, a bed & breakfast directory that provides gift certificates and listings for thousands of B&Bs and Inns worldwide.

And Bed and Breakfast Gift Certificates are the perfect gift to say “thank you” to parents for their help with the big day!

The northernmost island of Hawaii might not be the most well-known, but a little time spent investigating it will surely prove that it is worth a visit. From mountainous parks to stunning beaches, Kauai offers ample opportunity for hiking, sailing, surfing, whale watching, or simply relaxing with the help of a cool breeze and a tropical drink.

The South Shore tends to attract the most visitors, as this is where the calmest water and highest density of resorts can be found. Due to Kauai’s location, it experiences the most powerful waves of any of the Hawaiian Islands so swimmers are advised to practice caution. Lifeguards can be found at many of the most beautiful beaches, however, so travelers should not be deterred from spending some time in the water.

The North Shore is a bit more rugged, and offers the most breathtaking views on the island. Cliffs tower above the shoreline, making this a great spot to travel to by car. Here also is the quiet town of Hanalei, which was the arrival point for the area’s first settlers. Citizens of Kauai are proud of their heritage, and many museums and cultural festivals celebrate their ancestors and traditions.

Once you’ve decided to spend some time in Kauai, you’ll need the perfect place to stay. On an island vacation, visitors often hope to balance peace and privacy with comfort and access to standard amenities. With this in mind, it would be wise to look into a vacation rental, which would allow for the best of both worlds.

Picture a two-bedroom villa nestled at the feet of the Makaleha Mountains, with a citrus orchard just outside the window and a nearby stream that will lull you to sleep at night. A short walk will lead you to a waterfall and cool mountain breezes, and just a bit farther down the road you have easy access to the sandy beach and salty waves. A quick drive will take you to an array of shops and restaurants, but don’t forget about the barbeque grill located on your villa’s deck that is just waiting for you to prepare a leisurely meal at home.

When traveling with the family, it makes sense to look for accommodations that truly accommodate. A day at the beach will certainly produce sandy clothes, hungry kids, and the desire to find a cool and shady place to relax for a while. What could be better than returning to your beachside condo that has plenty of beds and sofas, a washer and dryer, and a fridge stocked with the sodas and snacks that you picked up earlier at the grocery store? Once everyone is refreshed, just head out the back door for more beach time. Such a set-up will surely make your trip to Kauai relaxed and memorable.

Vacation rentals exist in all shapes and sizes. Couples will find plenty of romantically secluded cottages, and larger groups can reserve a place big enough for everyone to be together without getting on each other’s nerves.

HomeAway.com provides hundreds of vacation rental listing located all over the world, including plenty in lovely Kauai.
For a wide variety of Kauai Vacation Rentals, visit HomeAway.com.

The Hawaii State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:

Department of Taxation
Withholding Tax
P.O. Box 3827
Honolulu, Hi 96812-3827
808-587-4242
www.state.hi.us/tax/tax.html

Hawaii requires that you use Hawaii form ‘HW-4, Employee’s Withholding Exemption and Status Certificate’ instead of a Federal W-4 Form for Hawaii State Income Tax Withholding.

Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Hawaii cafeteria plans are: not taxable for income tax calculation; taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are: not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Hawaii supplemental wages are required to be aggregated for the state income tax withholding calculation.

You may not file your Hawaii State W-2s by magnetic media.

The Hawaii State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Unemployment Insurance Division
830 Punchbowl St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-586-8970
http://hawaii.gov/labor/

The state of Hawaii taxable wage base for unemployed purposes is wages up to $30, 200.

Hawaii has optional reporting of quarterly wages on magnetic media.

Unemployment records must be retained in Hawaii for a minimum period of five years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.

The Hawaii State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Enforcement Division
830 Punchbowl St., Rm. 340
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-586-8777
http://hawaii.gov/labor/wsd/index.shtml

The minimum wage in Hawaii is $6.25 per hour.

The general provision in Hawaii concerning paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer is one and one half times regular rate after 40-hour week.

Hawaii State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire. The employer must report the federally required elements of:

• Employee’s name
• Employee’s address
• Employee’s social security number
• Employer’s name
• Employer’s address
• Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

This information must be reported within 20 days of the hiring or rehiring.
The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.
There is a $25.00 penalty for a late report in Hawaii.

The Hawaii new hire reporting agency can be reached at 808-692-7029.

Hawaii does allow compulsory direct deposit except for State employees hired after 7/1/1998.

Hawaii requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:

• Gross and Net Earnings
• pay period dates
• payment date
• itemized deductions

Hawaii requires that employee be paid no less often than semimonthly; monthly if union contract or director of labor relations allows..

Hawaii requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed seven days; up to 15 if the director of labor relations allows.

Hawaii payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay immediately or the next working day if immediately is impossible. The next regular payday if suspended due to a labor dispute or temporarily laid off.

Voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday or by mail if employee requests it; immediately if one pay period’s notice is given.

Deceased employee’s wages up to $2000.00 must be paid to the surviving spouse or adult children (in that order) within 30 days. Conditions require an affidavit of relationship and a receipt.

Escheat laws in Hawaii require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.

The employer is further required in Hawaii to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of five years.

Hawaii payroll law provides for a maximum tip credit against minimum wage of $0.25.

In Hawaii the payroll laws covering mandatory rest or meal breaks are only that minors under 16 must have a 30-minute meal period after five hours of work.

There is no provision in Hawaii law concerning record retention of wage and hour records therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA guidelines.

The Hawaii agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:

Child Support Enforcement Agency
Department of the Attorney General
601 Kamokila Blvd., Ste 251
Kapolei, HI 96707
808-587-4250
http://hawaii.gov/ag/csea
.
Hawaii has the following provisions for child support deductions:

• When to start Withholding? first pay period within 7 days of mailing
• When to send Payment? Within 5 days of Payday.
• When to send Termination Notice? Immediately
• Maximum Administrative Fee? $2 per payment
• Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.

Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business”.

For Professional Payroll services at a Budget Price go to http://www.PayrollonaBudget.com a Paperless Payroll Company.

Go to http://www.CustomPayroll.com For a full service payroll service bureau with CPA’s on staff.

See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners “Heartbeat of America” television show on the websites linked above.

How can we think about language as we use it in business so that we can use it more effectively?

First, let’s consider the purpose of our language acts in business. Without attempting to make an exhaustive list, we might notice that we use language to:

– make an offer (advertise, market, invite).

– negotiate and affirm agreements (form alliances, close sales).

– make requests (asking for sales, support, partnerships).

It is easy to see that we could not be in business for even one day without making offers, requests, and promises. In fact, this is one of the problems of being in business: We use language so often and so unconsciously that we do not notice whether or not we are being skillful. Indeed, until a problem shows up we may not even realize that skill is possible and needed. Notice, then, that the problems you encounter in your business (or career, or marriage, etc.) are often signals that are inviting you to enter into a more skillful conversation.

This notion of problems as invitations to greater skill is good news so long as we have a way to respond to the invitation. We need to notice enough of the structure of language that we can learn as we speak and listen, just as a golfer might watch a pro’s swing so that s/he can copy it during her/his own game.

These are the distinctions that I’ve found most helpful. Every request, offer, or promise in business or out must have all of these elements in order to be complete. What’s more, each of these elements needs to be aligned with your purpose and must be expressed in a way that connects your reality to the reality of the people with whom you communicate.

-- Speaker, the one who makes the request, offer, or promise.
 -- Listener, the one to whom the request, offer, or promise is made.
 -- Future action, what is being offered, requested, or promised.
 -- Time, when the future action will take place and/or be complete.
 -- Conditions of satisfaction.
 -- Presupposition of competence. Speaker and listener are presupposed to be able to follow through.
 -- Sincerity. Speaker and listener are presupposed to be sincere.
 -- Background of shared obviousness. Speaker and listener share enough mutual unspoken context that they will interpret requests, offers, promises in the same way.
 -- Something missing. The request, offer, or promise addresses a concern, a need, or a possibility that is not currently taken care of.

At first blush, some of these distinctions may seem obvious, even trivial. Yet how often do we make offers in business without really knowing who is listening, hoping that someone will pick up our offer and respond without taking care to make sure that they can hear or that we are speaking in the language of the ones who are likely to hear?

How often do we fail even to be speakers? ‘My work speaks for itself,’ asserts the artist, unable to see that for most listeners a different kind of speaker must deliver the message. ‘I want to build my business through word-of-mouth,’ declares the coach or therapist, unaware that there must be a speaker delivering the message for word-of-mouth to begin.

You are invited to review the distinctions above. Make a study of one or two that seem to you so obvious as to be marginalized in your awareness. Write the names of these ‘trivial’ distinctions on your calendar or carry them in your wallet. See if you can notice where they might be important or missing your own speech and that of others.

Molly Gordon, MCC, is a leading figure in business coaching and personal growth coaching, writer, workshop leader, frequent presenter at live and
virtual events worldwide, and an acknowledged expert on niche marketing. Join 12,000 readers of her Authentic Promotion ezine to grow your strong business while you feed your soul, and receive a free 31-page guide, ‘Principles of Authentic Promotion.’

The Dolly Parton song goes : Get up in the morning, Stumble to the kitchen, Pour myself a cup of ambition, Yawning, stretching, tryin’ to come alive.

Many of us go through that familiar grind in the morning. We head on down to the office and work till it’s time to go home. By the time we’re home, the kids are fast asleep. We have time for a shower, snack and some TV before it’s lights out and you repeat the whole cycle again.

That’s great if you really love your job and you’re getting your fair share of the perks that come with your job. Many people don’t have it so great though. Their bosses are less than understanding, they have to put up with unreasonable demands, deal with angry customers and at the end of the month, their take home pay is just barely enough to cover their family needs. They yearn for a better way to make a living, but they just don’t have enough energy to do work out their dreams.

Everybody complains about their job but we seldom think that we can actually change things. We’ve been conditioned from our childhood to get a good education, then a good job and to work our way up the ladder. Nobody ever taught us that we could BUILD our own ladder instead of climbing up someone else’s ladder!

Here are some tips how you can use your time at your current job to build your own ladder and make yourself rich:

Get good at your job

Learn new skills. Attend that extra training. Go the extra mile. If there’s something you can improve, get the right training and improve! Do it with two things in mind – that you will get better for your current job and that you will eventually use it in the future for your OWN business.

Do your homework.

Be realistic. If there’s something you’re passionate about, find out more about it and how people make money doing it. Ask people, visit the library, scour the internet. Confidence comes with knowledge and experience. Build on your knowledge first. Experience will come.

Network

Get to know people and their business. This includes your bosses. The more people you know, the higher the possibility that something will come your way that you can do to make money for yourself.

Save your money.

Always be prepared that opportunity may knock at your door at any time and when it does, you may need that extra cash to help you start your own money making venture.

Think out-of-the-office

Don’t bring your work and its problems home. Give your best at work but when you leave your office, start thinking about YOURSELF and how you can make YOURSELF rich!

Walk the talk.

Most people talk about escaping the rat race and being their own boss but never do anything about it. Don’t wait until there’s a crisis to start your money making business. Do it freelance, part-time, anytime, but do it.

Now the ball’s in your court folks. Do yourself a favor and take a good long hard look at yourself and what you’re good at. Build on your strengths and find out ways you can make money from those skills. As you climb your full-time corporate ladder, there’s no reason why you can’t start building your own freelance business and your own ladder to riches! Let your freelance or home business be a natural progression of who you are and what you’re passionate about. If you ever get laid off, and your corporate ladder suddenly disappears, you’ll have your own personal success ladder to climb. Your freelance business might just make the difference between financial security and desperation.

Andrew Shim is the owner and editor of PositiveMoneyIdeas.com a website which offers FREE Money Making Ideas for those interested in starting their own freelance or home based business. Visit his Work At Home Make Money Blog at HomeWithAndrew.com.

Play is quite funny to adults because it is free of purpose. To play is to allow yourself the chance to explore and show things without fear of judgement. If adults played more often the world might be a less stressed place.

When babies and children play they are not concerned about learning particular skills, they are just expressing themselves and having fun. But researchers tell us that play is an essential part of growing up. It leads to children being able to communicate, express themselves and concentrate which is fundamental to getting on in the world.

Children play because it helps them to make sense of the world around them. Researchers have also found that it does not matter where in the world children are, they still play in similar ways. But play does develop differently in different cultures as children begin to understand values and the rules of particular societies. So play will change as a baby’s society changes.

Encourage children to play because it is the one time in their lives when they can truly be children. And it is wonderful to see and learn from.

Nursey Toys Guide for further information and advice about playing with babies from birth to two years old

The Georgia State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:

Department of Revenue
Withholding Tax Unit
504 Trinity-Washington Bldg.
270 Washington Street
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-417-2311
http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/withholding.shtml

Georgia requires that you use Georgia form ‘G-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate’ instead of a Federal W-4 Form for Georgia State Income Tax Withholding.

Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Georgia cafeteria plans are: not taxable for income tax calculation; not taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are: not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Georgia supplemental wages are taxed or a graduated rate

Annual wage Rate
Under $8,000.00 2.0%
$8,000.00 to $10,000.00 3.0%
$10,000.00 to $12,000.00 4.0 %
$12,000.00 to $15,000.00 5.0%
over $15,000.00 6.0%

You must file your Georgia State W-2s by magnetic media if you have at least 250 employees.

The Georgia State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

Georgia Department of Labor
Unemployment Insurance Division
148 International Blvd., N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30303-1751
404-656-3122
www.dol.state.ga.us/em/

The State of Georgia taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $8500.00.

Georgia requires Magnetic media reporting of quarterly wage reporting if the employer has at least 100 employees that they are reporting that quarter.

Unemployment records must be retained in Georgia for a minimum period of four years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.

The Georgia State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:

Department of Labor
148 International Blvd., N.E., Ste. 276
Atlanta, GA 30303-1751
866-487-9243
www.dol.state.ga.us/

The minimum wage in Georgia is $5.15 per hour.

There is also no general provision in Georgia State Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer.

Georgia State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehires. The employer must report the federally required elements of:

• Employee’s name
• Employee’s address
• Employee’s social security number
• Employer’s name
• Employers address
• Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Plus

• Date of Birth
• UI ID# of UBI ID#

This information must be reported within 10 days of the hiring or rehiring.
The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.
There is a written warning for a late report in Georgia.

The Georgia new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 888-541-0469 / 404-525-2985 or on the web at https://newhirereporting.com/ga-newhire/default.asp .

Georgia does allow compulsory direct deposit but the employee’s choice of financial institution must meet federal Regulation E regarding choice of financial institutions.

Georgia requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:

• Employer
• pay rate
• hours worked
• itemized deductions

Georgia requires that employee be paid no less often than semi-monthly and at even intervals. There is an exemption for officials, superintendents and department heads.

In Georgia there are no statutory requirements concerning the lag time between when the services are performed and when the employee must be paid.

Georgia has no general provision on when terminated employees must be paid their final wages.

Deceased employee’s wages up to $2,500.00 must be paid to the designated beneficiary, surviving spouse or children’s guardian (in that order).

Escheat laws in Georgia require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.

The employer is further required in California to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of ten years.

There is no provision in Georgia law concerning tip credits against State minimum wage.

In the Georgia payroll law there is no provision covering required rest or meal periods.

There is no provision in Georgia law concerning record retention of wage and hour records therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA guidelines.

The Georgia agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:

Child Support Enforcement
State Department of Human Resources
2 Peachtree St., N.W. 15th Fl.
404-657-3851
http://ocse.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-OCSE/

Georgia has the following provisions for child support deductions:

• When to start Withholding? 14 days after order is mailed
• When to send Payment? Two days of Payday.
• When to send Termination Notice? ‘Promptly’
• Maximum Administrative Fee? $3 per payment ($25 for first one).
• Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.

Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business”.

For Professional Payroll services at a Budget Price go to http://www.PayrollonaBudget.com a Paperless Payroll Company.

Go to http://www.CustomPayroll.com For a full service payroll service bureau with CPA’s on staff.

See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners ‘Heartbeat of America’ television show on the websites linked above.

No matter how long you’ve been in business, one of the quickest ways to start getting referrals from your network and to get out there in a BIG way, is to start telling your Centers of Influence (COIs) what you’re up to in a face-to-face meeting. This can be in addition to sending them the introduction/update letter and can be either in a cafe or at their office (where they happen to have their Rolodex handy).

Centers of influence are people who like and respect you, and who come in contact with enough people on a daily and weekly basis to be able to regularly refer you to the right people. They are some of the most influential people you know, natural networkers who seem to know everyone, ‘bridgers’ who love putting people together, just for the fun of it. (Sometimes we call these people ‘the mayor’ because they just seem to know everyone!)

Just one meeting with some of these COIs over coffee or lunch (your treat), on a regular basis, will start revving up your reputation and referral engines. People will start hearing about you and you’ll get new clients this way quickly. It’s just another way to educate your environment about what you’re up to, but with very targeted individuals.

Dan Sullivan, The Strategic Coach™, describes Centers of Influence in an article on ‘Referability’:

‘By focusing on relationships, you multiply opportunities for yourself and your business. The secret is to provide extraordinary service to an inner circle of high-quality clients and centers of influence. They, in turn, become marketers for you, through referrals to other individuals like them. By doing this in a systematic fashion, you will be able to create an unlimited high-quality market that is immune to the ups and downs of local and national economies.’

Your Client Attraction Assignment:

Make a list of the 20 most influential people you know. These are usually natural networkers who run into lots of people and would be happy to tell others about you when appropriate.

Call five of these COIs this week to set up coffee or lunch in the next two weeks. Do the same the following week, and so on. Educate them on what you do for clients, your system, and who your Ideal Clients are. Ask who they know that fits the bill. Collaborate, brainstorm, and of course, offer to do the same for them.

Repeat quarterly (and put it as a recurring appointment in your calendar). How’s THAT for a client attraction system?

© 2006 Client Attraction LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Expert, is founder of the Client Attraction System, the proven step-by-step program to help you attract more clients, in record time and consistently. To learn more about Fabienne’s Client Attraction Home Study System, sign up for her FREE client attraction tips and no-charge teleclasses on attracting more clients, visit http://www.ClientAttraction.com.

Americans are ridiculed around the world for our attention to cleanliness. Recently some natural health experts have suggested that the growing problem of childhood asthma is directly related to our obsession with clean homes and a handful of studies seem to confirm their suspicions. Are these claims founded in truth or are they the result of “experts” deliberately misinterpreting data? Here’s what we know for sure:

• It’s true that childhood asthma is more common in the US than some so-called Third World countries but it’s also true that the staggering infant mortality rate in those countries means that many Third World children simply don’t live long enough to develop the symptoms of asthma.

• It’s also true that our immune systems need a certain level of germ exposure to develop fully but that exposure need is easily met during normal daily activities. (In fact, the birthing process exposes infants to a number of germs.) Unless your child is living in a bubble he’s getting all the germs he needs to develop a healthy immune system.

• Asthma is far more common in impoverished children than in middle-class or wealthy children and the number of childhood asthma cases in the US has risen right along with the number of children living in poverty. If cleanliness was really a factor we should be seeing a rise in asthma across the board and not just among those least likely to practice good household cleaning habits.

• All major asthma organizations, and the experts who work there, promote household cleanliness as a first-line defense against asthma and other allergic conditions. They all tell us that regular dusting and vacuuming go a long way toward removing allergens from our homes.

Given what we know about asthma it’s clear that cleanliness is an important part of living with asthma and not, as some claim, part of the problem.

Lisa Barger is a traditional naturopath specializing in natural health education. To learn more about Ms. Barger’s belief in ‘Empowerment through Education’ or to take a free online natural health class see her website, http://www.LisaBarger.com