During his first state visit to the United States in September, Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed a range of global, regional and bilateral issues with U.S. President Obama. The leaders’ discussions included their joint vision for an international agreement on climate change that will be concluded in Paris this December. The state visit was followed by...

Even years after the dot-bomb explosion, new Web sites spring up offering products and services from second-hand motorcycles to personal dating services. And why not? Compared with the cost of writing and paying for an ad, sticking it in a newspaper and waiting for results, selling on the Web is pretty irresistible. If your company has...

Documenting business travel expenses causes administrative headaches for employers and employees alike. Typically, employees are required to collect receipts as they travel, noting the time, place and business purpose of each expenditure. They then must submit monthly expense reports that are subject to approval of their supervisors. Sometimes, administrative delays occur if documentation is incomplete or...

For federal income tax purposes, an unincorporated joint venture or other contractual or co-ownership arrangement under which several participants conduct a business or investment activity and split the profits is generally treated as a partnership. This general rule applies even if the joint venture or arrangement is not recognized as a separate legal entity (apart from...

Many small businesses prepare — and regularly update — a strategic plan, but many overlook this important task. Whether your business falls into the “have” or a “have-not” category, a strategic plan can be an invaluable resource to help your company accomplish its ultimate objectives. And part of this process involves having a succession or exit plan....

If you are about to ask for a business loan, expect to deal with the issue of covenants — constraints lenders impose on your company to keep it operating within specified financial ratios and to prevent it from taking certain actions. These clauses are meant to help the lender mitigate risk and get its money back....