Accounting News and Notes

Knowing the Ropes of Getting Your Business Started

 Gwinnett County along with the state is updating its Business License and Registration rules to ensure that all local business owners are indeed legal residents. From now on, when business owners apply for a business license they will be required to establish proof of citizenship and residency. The mailing address for the office is PO Box 1045, Lawrenceville GA 30046. The office is located on the 3rd floor of 750 South Perry St suite 300 in Lawrenceville. The office issues occupation tax certificates (business license) for businesses located in unincorporated Gwinnett County. If you plan to locate a business inside the city limits of a Gwinnett municipality, you should contact the appropriate city government.

Gwinnett CPA Shows How to Resolve IRS Tax Issues 

IRS rules are set out to assist those who are attempting to comply and to encourage all of us, either willingly or not, to file and pay our just and fair taxes. Tax laws, though complicated to the lay person, are often confusing.  A CPA can help people navigate through the tax maze by making the complicated easier to understand. By seeking and following the advice of a trusted professional we are able to comply with tax law with the least amount of pain and aggravation. By not filing returns, not paying amounts owed when due, and attempting to tackle complex tax issues, we do not have the skill or wisdom to adequately address, many fall prey to our general inability to understand all of the nuances involved. A Good CPA can help address and solve tax issues.

Tax Problems

The best first issue is to review the reasons for the assessment. Many times during this process it is discovered that it is not a payment issue but the original returns filed need to be amended. After the determination of a just and fair tax, one can begin to adequately assess and make arrangements for the monies due. Great care should also be taken during this time to ensure that all payments and credits have been properly applied to the balance owed

Trust Fund Monies

In the event your business has employees or collects sales tax, the monies withheld from payroll and sales taxes collected are technically withheld “in trust.” As such they have legal exposure to both the company for payment, as well as those personally responsible parties who knew about and controlled such payments. A responsible party is generally defined as those who were most/responsible for payments that would well extend to check signers, accounts payable, officers, and financial staff. This assessment is for one personally who collected trust monies which they unduly did not remit to the appropriate taxing/legal authority. As these monies are withheld in trust, they do not belong to the company/business. Both the IRS and individual states take a very dim and stern view of all those who unduly use their money. A 100% penalty may be assessed to the responsible parties making them personally responsible for any collected and unpaid trust fund monies.

If a business is not able to pay its staff payroll taxes/remit collected sales taxes as due, it is a clear warning side that the business model is upside down. Though most times it would indicate that the margins of a business are not adequate to support the business’ present staffing levels and overhead, it could also be an indicator that the business is not properly leveraged/financed.

Installment Agreements

The IRS will work with taxpayers to pay the monies owed over time. This option requires the taxpayer to file a form requesting that a specified amount be paid monthly over time. The IRS then has to accept the plan prior to it becoming effective. Though this is a practical way to address a larger balance over time it does not stop the assessment of penalties and interest which will continue to accrue until all monies are paid in full. Thus, it is most advantageous to consider procuring the funds from other sources as these finance/carrying charges are usually much less than that of the Internal Revenue Service.

Failure to File Penalties

Failure to File Penalties are assessed in addition to normal penalties and interest for those who do not make their payment and filings on a timely basis. Please be reminded that an extension does not allow a taxpayer to pay at a later date, as income taxes are generally due and payable as they are earned. However, a situation is greatly exasperated when a taxpayer does not file their taxes on a timely basis. Thus it is financially most advantageous to file a return even if a taxpayer does not have the monies to pay a return as the monies become due.

John Dillard is an author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (a Christian CPA firm) and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/  

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!” 

Preparing the S Corporation Income Tax Return K-1 A Guide How to Guide to Prepare a K-1 

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Payroll Administration, Bookkeeping.

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond. 

Gwinnett CPA Teaches Living in Faith

Faith on Trial…Living in Faith; Not Fear

Developing faith without fear is not an easy process. We all get caught up in the daily routine and the “me” world and the thought of doing anything without a little apprehension just seems irrational at best. However, I have learned by stepping out in my faith, God gives me the courage, the strength and the support to overcome my fears, my doubts and my apprehensions. I have seen it most in my career paths.

I am a CPA and have been for more than twenty-five years. For many years, I worked for the big corporate firms and soon realized that it wasn’t for me. I have been running my own small practice for 18 years. It has provided me with so many opportunities to meet people, to get out in the community, to travel and live a comfortable life. I was breezing along and my company was very successful under John C. Dillard, CPA, however, God wasn’t quite satisfied with my content, comfortable life and position and challenged me. In 2004, he encouraged me to step out in my faith and walk the walk. For so many years I had kept the same clients, frequently gaining new clients and they didn’t have to meet any criteria, nor did I, except that I had to be honest, and good at what I did. For God, that wasn’t enough. I changed the name of my firm to His CPA, P.C. and held my breath. I knew God would provide in the end, but I really was quite nervous, waiting to see what would happen with the new name and the philosophy, “serving Him by serving you…one tax return at a time”. I lost some clients, offended some clients and had others who questioned my move. And I had clients seeking me out because I had been brave enough to step out and lay my faith out there for the world to see. I would love to say that the overall reaction was an abundance of new clients, but that wasn’t the case. However, I did begin to notice that the new clients I was getting were those who God had placed in my path for one reason or another. Since 2004, I have shared many things with my clients and feel like I know each of them on a different level than I ever would have if I had not changed the name and not stepped into my faith. Christians are so open when they walk into a place and find that the person they are talking to is on fire for God. They want to share, they want to talk, they want to let me in and they want to discuss my faith and theirs. When I look back on that move now, I wish I could say I dove into it headfirst without a thought simply because that is what God wanted me to do. That is not true. I had apprehensions, doubts, fears, questions but I knew that this was what God wanted me to do and I was in no position to question or decline his command.

That same year, my wife and I took a cruise – a cruise that would forever alter my spare time. I felt an urge to write. Not just an urge to write but to create. I know, not the kind of thing you would decide to do while sitting on a beautiful ship with your mate overlooking a vast expanse of beautiful blue water and taking in all the beauty of God’s creative artistry. But one of the talents God alone has blessed me with is exhortation so write I did and in April 2004, my first Christian fiction novel was published. We were thrilled and I was halfway through my second one when God all but opened the bible to me and said, “Study Nehemiah, learn from Job – develop a relationship with them based on your own experiences, trials and tribulations and then share. Hence, the Inspiration Series was created. After several months of prayer to discover what it is God would have me write, I opened my Bible to the first page of the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament and there I discovered fresh revelations of which I had never before heard or seen. Discovering God’s grace and compassion, I studied and as God divinely guided my hand, I wrote A Voice of One and how Nehemiah, a layman, steps out to accomplish great things in God’s name.

I, on a much smaller scale, had experienced my own Nehemiah moment. Just as Nehemiah was able to look after those about him, so are we called to help those about hurting and us who are in need. I have learned by being bolder in my faith it is easier to be who God has always made me to be. My own Nehemiah story began with my heart open and breaking and I had been in prayer and mourning for two plus years and my heart was burdened by God to help the oppressed. At the time, Georgia law did not require perpetrators of serious/felony crimes against individuals to compensate their victims for the resulting medical and counseling care resulting from the offense. It is here when God burdened my heart deeply. In December 2004, I learned California had a law on the books requiring the perpetrators of serious/felony crimes to pay for the victim’s medical and counseling care. When I heard the news, my heart was burdened for the people of Georgia and I set out to find out what it was God would have me do. I cast fear aside and stepped out with nothing but my faith and took this issue to the legislature of Georgia. I knew I was to see if a law might be passed to protect the people of Georgia. Within a week of God telling me to march, I was able to obtain a meeting with a Georgia Senator and within sixty days of my defining prayer, the proposed law and I were in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The law was unanimously agreed to by the committee and went to the Senate floor where it passed by a vote of 47-1. The law got stuck in the Georgia House of Representatives. During this time and afterwards I felt led to continually contact and lobby the Georgia Governor’s office although I was afraid those contacts were falling on deaf ears. I continued on in obedience, action, and prayer and felt God’s continued leading. To begin the 2005 Legislative Session, Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue sponsored the Crime Victim Restitutions Act of 2005, which set up a procedure for notification, and reimbursement by the perpetrators of the victim’s medical and counseling expenses. Eighty six percent of Georgia’s State legislature voted in favor of the bill with Governor Purdue signing it on April 11, 2005, and becoming law on July 1, 2005. I tell this story not to take any of the glory for myself, but simply to show that turning it over to God, having faith and overcoming fear, allows you to accomplish even the mightiest of feats.

After completing my first inspirational book, God introduced me to Job and again, I found someone I could relate to with my experiences. Life is fraught full of paradoxical horrors bringing forth both excruciating physical pain and deep emotional sorrow, and Job’s story shines a light of what faith without fear is all about. Job loses everything in his life, both mentally and physically. He was challenged at every turn and yet discovering that God never left his side & believed in him during his darkest times. Despite ravenous trials, which arrive in quick succession, Job never deters in his faith choosing to believe God would ultimately redeem him. Job lives his life in pursuit of God while doing His work.

I learned to lean into the pain by seeking God’s will to overcome all that comes my way. In learning more and writing about Job, I was inspired and motivated to great expectations, heightening and growing in my faith and my relationship with God by leaning on him during life’s fiery trials. God does not promise that our life will be easy but he does say that with him our yoke will be light. And that became very evident to me in November 2004. Maybe you have already dealt with your life’s biggest challenges, or perhaps you are in the midst of one right now. Over a several month period, each bit of news I was to receive brought me another step closer to what I felt was life’s end. In the fall of two thousand four, I began to experience a bit of discomfort in my lower abdominal area. I shared with my doctor the nature of my discomfort and the side effects and symptoms I had been experiencing. My doctor immediately referred me to a specialist who took exhaustive x-rays, sonar tests and cat scans, concentrating on my abdominal area. With each appointment, prod, and procedure, I became more and more concerned as to what the doctors were looking for and why they were so worried. My doctor never mentioned any particular disease but I knew he was screening for cancer. The end of November found my wife and I talking one morning as we readied ourselves for the day ahead. Within just a few moments the phone rang with the doctor confirming my steadfast belief and worst fear, I had cancer!

Due to cancer’s aggressive nature, the surgery was set for late the following day. The surgery went well with the surgeon explaining what he had done and his belief that the procedure had been a success. I immediately began twenty radiation treatments, designed to eradicate any cancer cell remnants, which might still remain in my body, spanning over a period of five weeks. As the treatments wore on, I became increasingly more fatigued and often would have to rest for several hours after a treatment to regain my strength. Along with the exhaustion, I also found myself extremely nauseous to the point it was debilitating, making every muscle and joint in my body wrench in pain.

Finally, the treatments were over and my physician advised that I might continue to feel tired and nauseous for some time due to the lingering effects of the radiation. Though we knew the symptoms could worsen, they soon were far more difficult than we expected. Though I began to struggle more each day, I continued to believe in God’s sovereignty and ability to guide me through this. I also thought my ordeal would soon be over and my health would quickly begin improving. Hoping to have an additional cat scan and blood work soon to ensure the cancer’s blight had been completely removed from my body, I waited, ready for God’s and the physician’s proclamation of my healing.

The cancer surgery behind me, my radiation treatments complete, I was ready to begin life anew. Ready and poised to take on life’s 9/11’s; I looked forward to the day when the doctors would announce the successful elimination of the cancer from my body. My ordeal had already spanned several months and I was preparing for what lay ahead. I know my cancer was God ordained and therefore part of my destiny. However as time wore on, my health did not improve but quite the opposite. It soon got progressively worse as I waited, anticipating the moment when the tide would turn and my health would improve. But as I would soon learn, that was not going to happen anytime soon. Through a series of events, I ended up in the hospital in February with diverticulitis (a disease that in essence shuts down your colon) that just about killed me. I was in the hospital for a 4-week period and there were times we didn’t know if I would ever leave. As I lay in the hospital bed, I saw God work in so many ways and help me overcome my fear. Though in pain, I was in great peace knowing that I was as ready as any man could be to go and be with my Heavenly Father. Over the four-week period, I had an opportunity to witness to doctors and nurses and any one who came into my room. Without me even being aware, God was in my room every step of the way and while I didn’t always feel it, others did and many nights my wife and I lay awake talking of our faith, our walk with Christ and many, many prayers were said in the quiet darkness of my hospital room. My overall stay at the hospital turned out to be five weeks and then I had to return 6 months later to finish the operation. It was a very trying time for my family and for me, but by turning it all over to God and relying on my faith and not giving into my fear, I was able to gain strength and a deeper relationship with my Father. I have never seen a firestorm with fire falling from the sky as the one, which occurred in Job’s life, but I have watched events occur in my life and others that felt the same way.

I have always tried to live in my faith. I have always had confidence and a sense of “Why not me?” But it is only through God’s grace and mercy and love that I have been able to simply forge ahead, taking whatever comes my way and dealing with it in a way that I think God would direct me to do. Having faith without fear is not an easy place to be, but it is definitely the most rewarding place. Full of blessings, failures, surprises, miracles, highs and lows – but having faith, sharing faith, taking on the world with God at your back – that helps ease the fear. I learned that whether serving in your family, your work, or globally, God has a task for you and he will always give you the tools you need to complete that task. By faith as small as that of a mustard seed, you can step out of the relative safety of your present position, and watch God guide and measure your steps. Seek after God with all your heart. Seek his ways allowing him to guide your very steps along your journey. By beckoning to the great helper, the Holy Spirit, we are able to tap into the strength of the Lord, one that surpasses all understanding and live our faith without fear.

John Dillard is an author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ (a Christian CPA firm) and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ 

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!”

Preparing the S Corporation Income Tax Return K-1 A Guide How to Guide to Prepare a K-1

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Payroll Administration, Bookkeeping.

Serving Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta,  Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Walton, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Henry, Newton, Bartow, Walton, Rockdale, Barrow, Spalding, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Newton, Paulding, Spalding, Walton, Henry, Paulding, Douglas, Coweta, Canton, Covington, Douglasville, Druid Hills, East Point, Forest Park, Griffin, Lithonia, Mableton, McDonough, Milton, Mountain Park, Newnan, Powder Springs, Stockbridge, Union City, Villa Rica, Winder, Woodstock,  Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Marietta, East Point, Gainesville, Snellville, Buckhead, Buford, Peachtree City, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Decatur, Conyers, Stone Mountain, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Lake Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond.

The Gwinnett Business Journal…News for Gwinnett County’s Entrepreneurs

For those in business and those who are thinking of setting up a new business in Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett Business Journal (GBJ) is an invaluable source of information about the business climate in the region. Proving since its inception, the Gwinnett Business Journal remains a unique publication geared towards the business owners of the county. Working hand in hand with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, GBJ-TV and the Gwinnett County government, the GBJ offers a seamless but independent look at what affects you personally as a resident and the business climate alike. The GBJ excels in the coverage of:

-Top Stories. Covers articles from store openings to staying connected via telecommunications with the troops in Iraq.

-Business Briefs. News ranging from the Gwinnett Gladiators to new jobs and companies relocating to the region.

-Business Success Stories. Articles about Gwinnett top business owners and employers who have run the table on success.

-Growing Gwinnett and its Infrastructure. Details news about making Gwinnett Transportation safe, new roads and proposed development.

-Real Estate Trends and News. A detailed Monthly Report on all substantive Real Estate News, which will be useful for business owners and developers alike.

-Rainmaking/Marketing. Tips and techniques you can use to enhance and broaden your marketing efforts.

-Business Idea You Can Use. Includes current and state of the art business practices and information to enhance the practical concerns of every business owner.

-Financing & Legal Issues. Information on your local banks and their economic condition as well as articles on how to ensure you have adequately insured your home.

-Working and Living in Gwinnett. News ranging from fitness tips to new surgical procedures available to ensure you are in tip top shape.

-Local Events. News about what new events upcoming and how you and participate. A great place to let others know what you and your business are doing.

In short the Gwinnett Business Journal is a must read for all who are intent on making a difference in the community and for entrepreneurs who chose to do business here. To maximize your business efficiency I suggest you both subscribe and to visit the on-line version often at www.gwinnettbizjournal.com  For those who have specific needs and those doing specific research, using the Search the Site function available on their web-site will be an invaluable tool.

Written by John Dillard CPA of His CPA at 770 814 9304 and visit www.HisCPA.com  At His CPA we march to the beat of a higher drummer where we put the “Golden Rule” to work each and every day by “Serving Him by Serving You…One Tax Return at a Time.” We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Incorporation in GA, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Payroll Administration, Bookkeeping.

We serve clients that are located in Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond.

There is an upcoming bond issue concerning the Gwinnett County Schools on February 5th.  Many of us will be going to the pools to pick our presidential nominee and we need to get out the vote to continue SPLOST. This past November Gwinnett County Board of Education approved a calling for voters to evaluate a General Obligation Bond referendum on the upcoming Georgia Presidential Preference Primary. If it passes, Gwinnett voters will authorize the School Board to sell $750 million in tax-exempt, General Obligation Bonds. The repayment of the bonds will be paid off using the present personal property millage rates.

The Gwinnett County School system is facing a funding crisis and our school board is offering a direction to its voters to meet that crisis head on.  Voting yes on SPLOST will help keep Gwinnett’s school progress on track. Since July 1, 2007 thirty new schools have been built providing over 2000 new classrooms.

In the last decade, funding for the ever-expanding Gwinnett school age population has been met with both property taxes and monies from SPLOST.  But growth in Gwinnett county’s population has far exceeding the schools growth and the school board is suggesting the bond issue continue so that they can meet the demands of the growing population by constructing new schools and adding on to existing ones. To read more about the program visit www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Keeping this program in tact depends on you. Please vote to continue school funding with school bonds.  Our children’s education depends on it!

Georgia CPA on Worsening Drought…Tracking Rain and Georgia’s Lake Levels

Although there has been a general lessening of the lack of rain in recent months, the drought continues and even worsens. To date no substantive proactive directions have been taken to both lessen the use of water, to plan for management of our present resources, and to set up procedures and policies in place to ensure that we do not ever find ourselves in this situation again. We need a public outcry from all citizens to contact their elected officials now to help them know we are not satisfied with our present situation and are determined to see that it does not happen again. We need policies today which stress the vitality and livelihood of people rather than mollusks. Though we always need to pay attention to special interest/need groups we should ever determine that the needs of a few will not outweigh the needs of many. Though we all have rights and valid expectations we should never expect those to be give up or surrendered to others without our consent or valid and wise discernment.

To stay abreast of Georgia’s lake levels you can visit the National Weather Service Forecast Service web site where at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/html/rrm.php There you can monitor and review lake levels which are updated every twenty four hours, full pool levels, rainfall in the areas listed. Though we often discuss oil as our biggest need and worry, if we were to be honest, we would soon find out that it is water. Also at the National Weather Service’s web-site you can find satellite and radar images, current forecast, and even articles on weather safety. For the sake of all and the continued economic viability of our region we need action today.

John Dillard CPA of His CPA PC  (a Christian CPA firm) is an author and Certified Public Accountant (All Rights Reserved). To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/ and for his latest book Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s: Job’s Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/ 

“Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!”

We advise clients on: IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, Tax Problems, Incorporation in Georgia, Corporate and Personal Income Tax Returns, Part-time CFO, Virtual Controller, Business Planning, Payroll Administration, Bookkeeping.

(Proudly Serving Gainesville and Hall County for Over Twenty Years)  

If you build it they will come. The Gwinnett County Government Court system has its own special web site with a plethora of useful information you will want to come back to time and again. By visiting their web site at http://www.gwinnettcourts.com/#home/ you gain great insight into the Gwinnett County Court system as well as many free resources.

Material on how the traffic court process works as well as the magistrate and civil courts can be easily gleamed from the easy to follow prompts. There you can also discover information on Parenting Seminars, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Filing Continuances, Garnishments, and a wide variety of legal forms can be easily downloaded. You can also gain assess to Legal Assistance for Victims, the Sex Offender Registry, Partnership Against Family Violence and many other valuable resources and materials. You can also read about important changes regarding changes which are effective 1-1-08 for handling of child custody changes as well new requirements affecting both parties to a child custody case.

At His CPA we serve clients that are located in Atlanta GA, Gwinnett County, North Fulton County, DeKalb County, Hall County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Forsyth County, Hart County, Jefferson County, Duluth, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Milton, Norcross, Snellville, Roswell, Buford, Cumming, Grayson, Hartwell, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Loganville, Lilburn, Dunwoody, Gainesville, Decatur, and Beyond.

In 1953, the SBA (Small Business Administration) was formed to help aid with the needs and development of small business. To that end, in 1957 the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) was legally formed to give teeth and action to the original needs and intent of the SBA’s original incorporation. Specifically formulated to provide resources to U.S. small business, the SBDC has formal training programs, advisers, and experts who are readily available to assist those in need. At their web site http://www.sba.gov/index.html you can gain information on starting your business, writing a business plan, financing, entity choices, permits & licenses, leases, employee management, taxes, insurance, forecasting, and much much more. At their web site you will also be able to locate an office nearest you, find out how you can apply for financial, technical, and disaster assistance in addition to OSHA and IRS forms. The mentoring services of your local SBDC representative are paid for by your tax dollars and their mentoring fees and guidance are available for your utilization with many of their services being provided for free of charge. The SBDC is a resource that I highly recommend to all who are starting their business or are looking for guidance on small business issues.

Gwinnett continues to grow at astounding rates. Combing a diversification of industry and peoples Gwinnett’s political, economic, and overall quality of life issues continues to make it a favorite place to live. Home to three of Fortune 1000 Top Companies, Gwinnett’s infrastructure continues to make it a national favorite. Now home to some estimated 739,000 residents with a population greater than that of four of our states. According to the U.S. Census, Gwinnett County has almost doubled each of the last three decades and has a median household income of $66,036 vs. that of the U.S. of $48,775. There are many factors which positively contribute to Gwinnett’s growth which include many overall business, economic, and demographic issues.

To learn about local taxes and special tax incentives including occupational tax rates and their 23% decline since 1996 and the 100% Freeport Exemption for Unincorporated Gwinnett County in addition to Duluth, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, and Buford, and many more valuable news visit http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/Taxes-Incentives.incentives.0.html

To learn about Gwinnett county demographics by city and by zip code visit http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/Economy-and-Demographics.demographics.0.html Here you can learn by city or zip code the numbers of white and blue collar workers, those who drive alone to work vs. those who car pool, the number of households by income level, the number of automobiles per household, the number of households and the numbers of people broken out by age and gender, the average median age, the projected population in the year 2012, the amount of education obtained for those 25 years and older, martial status, and the present number of households and and their 2012 projected totals. In short, almost everything a new business owner would want to know.

For detailed leasing and sales information by county sorted by city and type including break outs of industrial, land, office, and retail space  you can also visit http://www.gwinnettchamber.org/fileadmin/files/sites/properties.html to learn about what is presently available.