News & Reviews

Marking yet another step in the long journey toward a paperless society, the IRS will soon require businesses with more than $50,000 in calendar 1995 payroll taxes to submit their payments electronically. Using the IRS's new Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), taxpayers can electronically transfer funds--over the telephone, via personal computer, or through their banks--to cover incurred federal payroll and business tax liabilities.

In compliance with 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) legislation, which requires the IRS to electronically collect 94 percent of all business taxes by 1999, more than 1.2 million businesses will be required to begin filing electronically at the start of 1997. By January 1, 1999, all businesses with employment taxes over $20,000 must begin depositing electronically as well. If your business is one of those required to convert to the new electronic transmission format at the start of the new year, you should receive an IRS notice and enrollment form. The IRS encourages business owners to enroll before November 1, 1996, though, as processing can take up to 10 weeks to complete.

There are some important things to keep in mind: Even if your payment threshold drops beneath the $50,000 mark, once you've filed electronically, you must continue to do so and cannot revert to the old paper coupon method. Also, while the IRS does not charge for the Automated Clearing House (ACH) electronic processing, your bank may. Consult with your bank to determine the amount they charge (if any) for the transactions.

Affected taxpayers with additional questions, along with those who would like to voluntarily convert to the new electronic submission format, can contact the EFTPS Customer Service Center for more information. In the Northern United States, call (800) 945-8400; in the Southern United States, call (800) 555-4477.

Home Team Advantage

Do nightmares of cluttered stacks of papers prevent you from fulfilling your destiny as a successful homebased entrepreneur? Alice Bredin's The Virtual Office Survival Handbook: What Telecommuters and Entrepreneurs Need to Succeed in Today's Nontraditional Workplace (John Wiley & Sons, $16.95/paperback, $29.95/hardcover, 800-225-5945) provides an in-depth guide to developing your own productive homebased workplace.

With experts predicting that, by the year 2000, 40 percent of the workforce could be working in some type of virtual office--"any worksite outside of the traditional office in which people still do the work associated with a traditional office"--Bredin's book is a must for anyone considering an alternative workplace. From "how-to" tips for choosing the right equipment to legal and financial laws, the easy-to-read, informative guidebook provides aspiring entrepreneurs with helpful hints, strategic "dos" and "don'ts," and witty anecdotes.

If you're wary of being trampled by technology, Bredin's tips can help you tame the virtual beast. --Allyssa Lee

Business As Usual

There may be cause to reconsider the speculations you've heard from political pundits about the impending presidential election's impact on the future of small business; after all, if you really want to know what the horse thinks, why not get it straight from the horse's mouth?

Here's what "horses" across America are saying: A recent national survey of 1,197 business owners revealed that the election's result will likely have little effect on the day-to-day operations of most small businesses.

"Right or wrong, many business owners believe the outcome of the election will not significantly affect the key factors that can make or break their companies--taxes, money supply, trade policy, government regulation and health-care costs," says Donald J. Fletcher, president of George S. May International Co., the management consulting firm that conducted the survey.

Interestingly, however, only 14.5 percent of the business owners surveyed said they plan to forego voting this year. The remaining 85.5 percent will check their apparent indifference at the door of their local polling booth.

Q&A

Q: I am a new subscriber who's interested in finding some more information about the mobile massage industry. Where can I get detailed information on how to start this kind of business? Where can I get preliminary training? Do I need a certificate or license to practice? Can I get a certificate through a correspondence course, and if so, where can I apply for it? Does this type of business require a lot of start-up capital? Can you help me? I appreciate your help.

Ramon A. Moreno

Ft. Bragg, North Carolina

A:Provided by Katie Armitage, executive director of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a national association dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of massage and bodywork.

Our association offers detailed information about entering the massage industry through a variety of publications. Our Touch Training Directory ($15.95) lists over 600 schools throughout the country and the world. It also provides information about starting a career in this industry, including regulation and licensing requirements, listings of the many associations geared to the industry, and descriptions of the variety of massage and bodywork therapies.

Correspondence courses for massage training are difficult (although there are a few), because massage requires "hands-on" education. Specialized training is available at the Skilled Touch Institute of Chair Massage (800-999-5026) and the Seated Massage Experience seminars, presented by Touch IV Productions (800-868-2448). These programs sometimes offer training at different locations throughout the country. Many other schools offer on-site training as part of their massage therapist curriculum.

Providing on-site corporate massage offers an excellent income opportunity with a modest investment. On-site corporate massage is usually a 10 to 20 minute "stress buster" which relieves tight neck, back and shoulder muscles resulting from stress and tension. Hourly rates for the service range from $40 to $60 per hour, with about four to five massages per hour. One or two sessions per client per week are typically performed, with stress-reduction benefits being cumulative.

The costs involved with starting a mobile massage business vary. There will be expenses associated with your training, possible licensing and registration costs (some states require testing--at an additional cost--prior to issuing a license), and the cost of your equipment (such as an on-site massage chair, lotions, oils, etc.).

For more information about ABMP, or to order Touch Training Directory, call (303) 674-8478, or write to 28677 Buffalo Park Rd., Evergreen, CO 80439-7347.

Q:For some time now, we have pondered the idea of starting our own business. Since we are both avid fishermen and enjoy fish aquariums, we came up with the idea of a combination fishing bait shop and aquarium, but we don't know where to start. Do you have any information on who we could contact to get information on starting inventory and equipment?

Mark and Phyllis Hayne

West Terre Haute, Indiana

A:Provided by Geri Mitchell, director of communications for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council in Washington, DC.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) is the pet industry's legislative watchdog and, in its mission of education, information and advocacy, is the clearinghouse of information on the pet market. Available (for a nominal fee to cover postage and handling), are various information packages on industry statistics, resources for suppliers of fish (and all kinds of pets), products, demographics, instructions on how to reach regulatory agencies, trade publications, trade associations and trade shows.

PIJAC also publishes a series of animal care reference manuals for pet retailers and conducts animal care seminars and co-sponsors retail merchandising seminars around the United States. For an order form or membership information, contact PIJAC at 1220 19th St. NW, #400, Washington, DC 20036, or call (202) 452-1525.

Hot To Buy Hot To Sell

By Deborah Richman