TRUTH While incorporating your business will help protect you from lawsuits and from having your personal property seized, there are more benefits than that. The tax savings can be quite significant.

MYTH With attorney’s fees, CPA’s fees, additional income tax returns, and forms I have to file quarterly, it’s just not worth it. I won’t really save any money.

TRUTH Every case is different; however, most small businesses will more than make up $1500 - $2000 it costs to incorporate within first six months to one year. Also, most small businesses will save about 50% on taxes after they incorporate. (A qualified CPA will be able to look at your books and give you a more accurate figure.)

MYTH I’ll have to hold meetings and keep lots of records that I don’t have time to keep.

TRUTH Not if you register as a "closed" S-Corporation. This means you have waived requirement to hold all those meetings and keep all those records.

How Do You Get Specific Details?

Contact a qualified CPA in your local area. He or she can give you detailed information on how much it will cost to set everything up, and - most importantly - how much you will save in taxes.

Incorporation is not something to be afraid of. In fact, if you’re one of many who will save 50% off your taxes in next year, it’s something to go after with a vengeance!

Diane C. Hughes * ProBizTips.com

Since retaining a professional opinion survey firm can be very expensive, you may well conclude that you and your PR staff can interact with members of your target audience and ask necessary questions. And I would agree.

Among questions: What do you know about us? Have we ever worked together? Was it a positive experience for you? Did you ever have a problem with our people? Watch for evasive or hesitant answers and, especially, for negativities such as inaccuracies, misconceptions, false assumptions or rumors.

The data you collect lets you set your public relations goal. For example, clarify that misconception, correct that inaccuracy, kill that rumor dead.

You are a manager fully aware that every good goal needs a good strategy to show you how to reach that goal. When it comes to matters of opinion or perception, you have just three strategy choices: create perception where there may be none, change existing perception/opinion, or reinforce it. But take care that strategy you select fits nicely with your new public relations goal.

Now it’s message time – special words you will use to alter what you discovered some of your target audience members have come to believe. This corrective message is crucial to success of program and, all at same time, must be clear, believable and compelling.

The next step truly can be called “special delivery.” Here, you take steps to get your message before eyes and ears of your target audience. Communications tactics will handle that chore for you, and there are dozens of them available like newsletters, brochures, press releases, media interviews, emails, facility tours and lots of others. Be sure that tactics you select have a track record of reaching people like those who make up your target audience.

Your two-part bottom line? A workable and comprehensive public relations blueprint that (1) assists you as a manager in creating external audience behaviors you need and (2), in so doing, helps you achieve your department’s business, non-profit or association objectives.

end

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to managers about using the fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit:http://www.prcommentary.com