“The economy is improving but a lot of merchants are still struggling,” says Nate Hirshberg, Harbortouch marketing manager. “This is what we came up with to help out with some extra capital.”

The Harbortouch Business Upgrade Contest begins today. To enter, simply post a video on YouTube explaining why your company needs an upgrade (be creative!). Then complete a brief entry form at http://www.harbortouch.com/contest/.

In addition to the $10,000 prize, Harbortouch will waive the $69 per month service fee on a Harbortouch POS system for one year for the winning business.

Contest ends August 15, 2013.

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The corporate board is still very much a men’s club, according to Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, author of The Board Game: How Smart Women Become Corporate Directors (Angel City Press, $25).

I recently talked to Betsy about her well-researched and interesting book, which features stories about 58 female directors—plus advice and strategies for how you can land a seat on a corporate board.

JA: What inspired you to write this book aimed specifically at women when there are other books out there on how to land a seat on a corporate board?

BBC: As the owner of a retained executive search firm, I hear this question more than any other from women: ”How do I get on corporate boards?” So I wanted to inform women how to make strategic choices at all stages of their careers in order to position themselves to be considered–because waiting until one retires from work is not the time to look for board [seats].

Boards want directors who have active and robust networks of current business contacts—not directors who are already retired, unless they are former CEOs. Executive women are realizing that serving on boards is another way to earn money in their later careers, and women executives have developed valuable expertise to help companies of all sizes, public, private and pre-IPO.

Getting on one’s first board is the toughest hurdle for a woman—once she has served on one board, she becomes in a sense “pre-approved” to serve on others. So my book describes the landscape, the new rules of the game, and the stories of 58 current women directors who reveal how they made it to their first corporate boards.

JA: Do you think more companies today are open to having female directors?

BBC: It’s a business issue now—[once] Credit Suisse announced its research results last summer (August 2012). That six-year global study revealed that companies with women on their boards out-perform those that don’t have women. [Change is] also fueled by the research that Catalyst and other respected organizations have done for years showing shareholders and institutional investors are now pressuring corporate boards to perform well.

Having more women on boards is now seen as critical to better performance. So for the first time, I think companies with no women on their boards may become targeted by their investors who will see them as not enlightened and not forward-thinking—and ultimately an unwise investment choice.

JA: What prevents companies from having more female directors? Sexism? Lack of experience?

BCC: Lack of open seats is the primary limiting factor. As retirement age for every board member approaches, boards should be insisting that women candidates be required to succeed outgoing directors. And the lack of term limits is another key factor allowing aging board members to serve decade after decade—some as many as 40 years or more. Many serve beyond board retirement age of 72, up to age 75.

There’s a lack of succession planning on boards. These are all symptoms of inertia and doing things the traditional way when long-term corporate leaders (mostly men) named their friends to lucrative board positions. The pipeline is now bursting with women executives who have the essential experience to add value to corporate boards.

JA: Do you think the “old boys” network’ deliberately prevents boards from inviting more women to serve?

BBC: Yes, I think the “old boys” network prefers the comfortable status quo of having only men on boards. Men want to name their friends to corporate boards, because they know and trust them, and because they want their friends to benefit from the annual director compensation of cash and stock. However, many women in my book point out that once men actually experience having women on boards, they find out it’s not so bad. Women bring added value and perspective, and are willing to ask the uncomfortable questions when perhaps men don’t want to appear to challenge the CEO.

JA: What’s the best advice you have for a woman who wants to serve on a board?

BBC: Dedicate yourself to a career-long pursuit to get on to corporate boards in your mid-career (your 50s). With that goal in mind, make career choices along the way that will build your experience and perspective needed to guide companies wisely.

Throughout your career, become involved with nonprofit organizations where other board members serve on corporate boards, and impress those board members with your expertise. [You should also] become more visible—internally at the company where you work, externally on city, county and state appointments to commissions, and on university and hospital boards. Develop visibility through your trade associations and the trade media.

Guard your image and reputation judiciously. Make sure Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media only have your best photos and career achievements. Learn the dynamics of serving on a board—from committee structure to Robert’s Rules of Order and the covenants of serving on boards—because boards want new members who already understand board dynamics and don’t need on-the-job training. Attend corporate board training programs like Stanford, Kellogg, UCLA and USC and “OnBoard Bootcamps” with Susan Stautberg, founder of the global network, Women Corporate Directors.

To order The Board Game, call: 855.966.3694.
For more interviews and videos about successful women visit: http://www.fabulousfemalenetwork.com

UPDATE
Miss Speed Rack USA Winner Announced
By Jane Applegate

A few weeks ago we told you about the contest for the fastest female bartender in America. After a boisterous night of drink-making at a nightclub packed with 250 fans, Eryn Reece, a bartender at New York’s Mayahuel and Death & Co. was named Miss Speed Rack USA 2013.

More than 200 bartenders competed for the title last week. Ten finalists and six wild card winners shook and stirred their way through complex cocktails at the Speed Rack National Finals held at Element Night Club in New York City.

The judging panel, featuring cocktail world luminaries Julie Reiner of Clover Club and Flatiron Lounge, “King Cocktail” Dale DeGroff, Audrey Saunders of Pegu Club, and celebrity pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini, rated each drink based on prep time and accuracy.

Miss Speed Rack USA receives an all-inclusive trip for two to France. While there, she will visit the Cointreau distillery and attend the Cointreau Bartender Academie. Reece also won a five-day scholarship to the BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource) group’s training program.

To date, Speed Rack, which was created by produced by nationally acclaimed bartenders and industry ambassadors, Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix in conjunction with event coordination by Claire Bertin-Lang of CBLLC and videos by Le Jit Productions, has raised more than $150,000 for cancer charities.

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HopeMob’s initial plan to help is simple. They’ve partnered with Convoy of Hope and are going to raise $15,000 in 7 days. Why 7 days? In these first 7 days the town of Moore, OK will be consumed with clearing out destruction and accessing their needs. Once those needs are known, Convoy of Hope will be able to give them the funds to help them rebuild.

Convoy of Hope has served more than 55 million people throughout the world through international children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing. Year after year, they are lauded for their effectiveness and efficiency in mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers for community outreaches and during times of disaster response.

A mob of kind-hearted strangers are banding together to raise money and awareness on HopeMob, the first site of its kind. HopeMob is exactly what it sounds like – a mob of people bringing hope. The revolutionary part? It’s the first site in history to offer fee-free fundraising. While most sites charge between two and 15 percent service fees, HopeMob is not charging anything to users and, additionally, they are covering the transaction fees by going out and fundraising on their own from corporations and foundations.

Please visit the fundraising page and donate today. https://hopemob.org/s/1ka-emergency-relief-for-oklahoma-tornado-victims.

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Do you use mobile marketing to reach your target customers? Do you rely on your smartphone or tablet apps to keep your business running smoothly? Then you’re in step with the majority of small business owners, according to a recent survey by Constant Contact.

The survey found the most common mobile tools entrepreneurs use to run their businesses are:

• 82 percent use a calendar/time management app.
• 74 percent use a customer communications app.
• 52 percent use a GPS and mapping app.
• 44 percent use an accounting/invoicing app.
• 44 percent use an app for industry news/information consumption.
• 29 percent use a travel planning app.

How about marketing? Mobile devices including tablets and smartphones, mobile optimized websites and text message marketing are all methods that small business owners are using. However, small business owners are easing in to mobile marketing by starting in their comfort zones. Specifically, 97 percent of small companies that use mobile marketing are using mobile social media, and 71 percent are using email marketing. Just 17 percent use location-based marketing tools such as Foursquare and only15 percent use text message marketing. In other words, small business owners are more likely to adopt desktop-based forms of marketing to the mobile platform rather than focus on inherently mobile marketing tools.

That’s still a start, and it’s better than the holdouts in the survey are doing. Of the 34 percent of small business owners not currently using mobile marketing, 65 percent don’t plan to start. As Americans grow increasingly wedded to their mobile devices, this could be a huge mistake.

How do you know if your customers will respond to mobile marketing? You don’t until you try. While many of the respondents in the survey say they aren’t using mobile because customers aren’t asking for it, a better approach is to think about how you buy products and services, look for restaurants to visit, or search for information online. If you’re most likely to grab your smartphone to do any of the above, then you’d best believe your customers do, too. If you don’t use your smartphone, ask others in different age groups and demographics what they do.

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Comprising the top 10 percent of franchise concepts doing the most to recruit and train America’s veterans as business owners, franchises on the list range from restaurants to truck-based and home-based opportunities. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting owner-operators with military experience.

“We have overwhelmingly found today’s returning veterans to be highly skilled people with excellent operational skills that apply well to business ownership. The independent thinking required in today’s military, combined with an emphasis on processes and systems, makes veterans a perfect fit for franchising,” said Jon Rucker, Military Programs Manager for Snap-On Tools.

“According to the SBA, one in four returning veterans are interested in starting their own business, but they are often unclear where to begin the process,” said Sean Collins, a Navy veteran, Vice President for Victory Media and director for G.I. Jobs. “The list is a transparent resource for active service members and veterans to compare franchise opportunities.” It tells veterans exactly what incentives each franchise offers and how many veterans are already on board.

The 2013 list was compiled after polling thousands of franchises. To view the list, visit www.militaryfranchising.com, where you can also use the Matchmaker Tool to find the right franchise opportunity for you.

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Sports teams huddle to strategize, inspire or celebrate. The same is true for my company’s team at Petra Coach – and should be for yours.
But Andy, are you telling me to schedule another daily meeting? I don’t have time for that. Is it really that important?
Well, if you value fostering alignment and creating accountability, the answer is YES. It is that important.
The most efficient and effective huddle includes the entire team and follows a set dialogue.
Here are four topics I suggest:

1. What’s Up? — This is where each team member quickly shares anything of relevance to the team — relevance being the key word. Share “wins” from the day before, newly approved projects, positive client feedback, beneficial team resources and tools.
2. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Updates — This is the opportunity for team members to report their progress towards individual and company quarterly goals. If a team member sets a quarterly goal of bringing in 25 qualified prospects and has currently met 15, he or she would bring this update to the huddle. This creates an environment of accountability because standing no one wants to stand in front of teammates and report incomplete goals.
3. Stuck or Needs — At this point, team members can bring up a project or task they can’t move forward on without someone else’s collaboration or assistance. The team member who is stuck must tell the other team member directly and specifically, what they need and by when. The stuck is likely to get “un-stuck” much sooner when the entire team is in the know.
4. Top Priority — In the final round of huddle, team members announce one item on their to-do lists they WILL complete TODAY. It’s important to emphasize the use of “I will” versus “I’ll try” or “I’m supposed to.” This ensures the important is not derailed to the urgent.

Staying on topic is crucial to the success of team huddles. This mini-meeting should only last about 10 minutes. That doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun. Share a video clip, play some tunes, read a client note, create a company cheer, or share thoughts and quotes from the prior day.

I work regularly with Legal Monkeys, a medical records collection firm who recently incorporated music into their morning huddle. “Our meetings used to have no energy and now there’s no doubt that starting the meeting with music sets a positive, upbeat tone. You have to start the day off on the right foot. Music does that for our team,” said Corey Cormier, managing partner and product innovator at Legal Monkeys.

The folks at Legal Monkeys take their huddle playlists seriously. They recently designated a team DJ and created a Twitter account where team members can post their huddle song selections alongside special huddle hashtag #monkeykickstart.

So spice things up. After all, huddle should inspire your team, not suck the energy out of them.

Andy Bailey built and sold a multimillion-dollar business and is now lead entrepreneur coach with business coaching firm Petra and president of Nashville’s EO chapter. Reach him at andy@petracoach.com.

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• 41.4 million people were 65 and older in the United States as of July 1, 2011, up from 40.3 million on April 1, 2010 (Census Day).
• In 2011, seniors accounted for 13.3 percent the total population.
• By 2060, the population of people 65 and older is projected to reach 92.0 million.
• Seniors would account for slightly more than one in five U.S. residents at that time. Of this number, 18.2 million would be 85 or older.
• By 2060, the youngest Baby Boomers will be 96 years old, and there will be 2.4 million baby boomers left.
• In 2056, for the first time, the population 65 and older would outnumber people younger than 18 in the U.S.
• In 2050, nearly 17 percent of the global population will be 65 and older, up from 8 percent today.
• In Europe, people 65 and older have outnumbered those younger than 15 since 2005.
• 16.2 percent of people 65 and older were in the labor force in 2011, up from 12.1 percent in 1990. These older workers numbered 6.5 million in 2010, up from 3.8 million in 1990.
• 44.3 percent of those work full-time, year-round.
• 58 percent of people 65 and older were married in 2012. 26 percent were widowed.
• 80.7 percent of those 65 and older owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2012.
• Florida has the highest senior population of any state, with 17.6 percent
• of its population 65 and older in 2011.

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Sales of organic goods are soaring. And while it’s not just organic food that consumers are embracing, food and beverages are a big part of organic products’ growth. According to Laurie Demeritt, president of market research firm The Hartman Group, and despite a report released early in 2013 which said organic food was no more nutritious than “regular” food, consumers will continue to buy organic products because of the “other quality and health notions [organic] represents, like authentic, pure and, most importantly, the halo of being free from negative ingredients.”

The Organic and Natural 2012 report, released a few months ago by The Hartman Group, says more than 50 percent of consumers eat organic because the food doesn’t contain “pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives and antibiotics.”

This sounds like great news for owners of restaurants, catering companies and health and food stores, but organic, as I said, is about more than food. Another new report, this one from the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) 2012 Organic Industry Survey, shows organic sales reaching $31.5 billion in 2011, a  9.5 percent overall growth in revenues from 2010. And yes, food and beverages account for the overwhelming majority of sales-a little more than $29 billion, led by meat, fish and poultry sales with 13 percent growth.

Clothes, household products (such as cleaning products, sheets and towels), cosmetics and other non-food organic products also did well, boasting sales growth of 11 percent to $2.2 billion (compared to 5 percent growth of similar non-organic products).

If you sell (or plan to) organic goods, remember consumers have high expectations of your business. They assume you’re going to be more transparent than other companies, so be sure to offer details about the products you sell. Marketing is critical. Whether you own a restaurant or spa/salon, if you sell organic products, make sure to tout it in your marketing materials.

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Audits have long struck fear in the hearts of taxpayers, but are especially daunting for small business owners who have more financial variables to manage. In fact, a recent Zogby survey of over 500 small businesses found that over half of respondents cited “anything to do with taxes” as the number one stressor of their business.

What should you do in the event of an IRS audit? Cloud accounting software provider Xero asked partner accountants Jody Padar, CEO of New Visions CPA Group, and Bruce Phillips, managing member Harshman, Philips and Company, for their top tips.

Don’t Panic:  As daunting as an audit may seem, it is really not a catastrophic situation in the works.  If you run a legitimate business, an audit is more of an inconvenience or annoyance than a crisis.  Xero Partner accountant Jody Padar explains, “There are many different types of audits. More than likely small business owners will get what is called a ‘Correspondence Audit’ which is the lowest level audit from the IRS.  The IRS sends the taxpayer a written request for additional information about a specific item or issue on a specific tax return. If the taxpayer can produce sufficient evidence to resolve the issue, the procedure is closed.”

Respond Quickly: Just because audits are unsettling does not give you license to brush it under the carpet.  The sooner you address the situation, the sooner it’s over.  But do it in a timely fashion, because lagging does not look good in the eyes of the IRS.

Don’t Go Alone:  It is always a best practice to retain professional advice when served with an audit.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a tax attorney.  It can be a CPA and EA (Enrolled Agent) or (theoretically, but not recommended) a family member. Basically, you want to have an intermediary between you and the government.

Know Your Story:  An audit is simply the IRS wanting to understand your methods and hear the story of how your business operates. However, be strategic in how you tell your story so you don’t unintentionally raise any red flags.  Rely on your tax professional to help you position your story. In many cases your tax professional will present it to the IRS and you won’t even have to be in the room.

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The best business credit card to look for is one with great rewards, so that it provides capital for you to start your business and also helps cut costs by giving you a little something extra back.

“We used those rewards to further our domestic and international partnerships,” Zoldan said. “With the airline travel, cash back and discounted hotel stays available through the rewards program, we were able to fly anywhere within or outside the country at minimal cost, allowing us to follow up on business leads and build a great relationship network.”

Here are some suggestions for great rewards cards based on how you will be using the credit card:

Best card for office expenses: When you are first starting a business, one of the most important hurdles to jump is setting up your office, which can be expensive. Getting a business credit card that rewards you for spending money on office expenses is a good way to cut some of the costs of setting up your business.

The Chase Ink Cash Business Card offers you five percent cash back on office supplies, cable, Internet and telecom. It also offers two percent back on gas and dining, which is good for a small business that travels a lot by car or has a lot of client meals. In addition, you get one percent cash back on all other purchases. You also earn $200 when you spend your first $3,000 in the first 3 months. The card has no annual fee.

Best card for all other expenses: Some businesses don’t need to set up office space or may prefer to spend their capital on other expenses.

“We used the cards to finance initial orders as we built credit and terms with vendors,” Benz explains. “Our company also used credit cards for advertising like Google pay-per-click, giving us an initial boost of new customers and business.  It was like a small line of credit, without the hassle from a bank.”

In this case, it’s a good idea to look for a card that has a good cash back percentage for all purchases. The Capital One Spark Cash for Business card offers two percent cash back on all purchases, as well as a $100 bonus if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. The card has no annual fee the first year, but it is $59 every year after.

Best card for business travel: If your business requires a lot of traveling, it might be a good idea to get a business credit card that lets you earn miles. The Capital One Spark Miles for Business lets you earn two miles for every dollar you spend. There is no annual fee for the first year ($59/year after that), and you can redeem your miles for any airline at any time. The card also has no foreign transaction fee, so it’s good for international travel as well.

Best card for big spenders: If your business is already established or you plan on spending a lot on your business card, consider the Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN. The credit limit on the card can go into the six figures and they have over 40 membership rewards and features that include $200 annually for incidental airline fees from a participating airline, access to several airlines’ airport clubs, 24/7 concierge service to help with entertainment and travel planning, no limits or expiration on your points, and you can earn up to 10 points per dollar if you shop their Membership Rewards site. However, be warned, this is a charge card, so you must pay off your balance each month, and it does have a $450 annual fee.

Jeff Hindenach started his career as a journalist for the San Jose Mercury News and the San Francisco Examiner. He is currently an Editor with NextAdvisor.com, a leading consumer and small business information web site. He specializes in credit monitoring, legal services and security software. 

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