Add You - Business

Easy Fund Raising For Today
There are hundreds of great ways to make money with fund raising, yet many people struggle to find one good idea. There are many easy fund raising ideas, but some are simpler than others to make your next fund raiser win. This article will look at some easy fund raising projects you can try.Car Washes Are Not DeadOne easy fund raising event that you can put together is a car wash. Now before you say that this fund raising idea is not a new idea you need to hold on. Instead of holding the car wash at the local gas station, school or church parking lot. Why not go to the homes and wash cars. Your youth group or even adults could go home to home and raise money washing cars.Let the Community BidWhat about doing some yard work for an easy fund raising event? You could get your youth group to hold an auction for labor hours. Each person bids so much per hour to have a group of kids to come and do yard work. This can be a very easy fund raising event to hold. You might need to supply some wheel barrows, shovels, lawn mower and few other yard tools, but the rest would juts require some sweat.If you have a group of people who are responsible enough to host a nice dinner you could hold a fancy restaurant fund raiser. This type of fund raiser may not be an easy fund rising event, but it can be very fun and raise allot of money in the process. The idea is to go and prepare meals for a family, but not just any meal. This would be a five star treatment and a large ticket meal. For $200.00 a family of 4 could get steak, and the fixings, plus dishes done and all catered to them.You can find many

Some budget online printers offer "soft proofs" which are merely PDF proofs. While this approach can work well, everyone involved in the approval process has to have their monitor calibrated so that everyone is seeing the same thing and can truly compare apples to apples.

Some printers force you to go through their special file submission process, so the printer's pre-press system is actually able to check your files automatically and make sure they are compatible with their plate system. While a bit more time-consuming to the designer and sometimes requiring the downloading of "client" software, this approach can alert the designer of any problems before you go to press.

Making changes

It happens to all of us--something slips through the cracks and a mistake is found just before a project is scheduled to hit the press. Even after a client h

Inventory Control: Can You Afford Not To?
Inventory control is the most basic form of protection that you should have in your retail establishment. If you have people come into your location, then you need to make sure they are not leaving with anything that they should not be. But, many business owners do not know the right way to handle inventory control. There are various methods that you can use and they all work well in their specialties. If you have had enough with shoplifting, employees stealing or other loss prevention issues, then it is time to consider a reliable inventory control system.First, take a good look at your options. There are several options in front of you as well. For many, a simple security system of some sort can be installed. For others, you can count on using a security team. Regardless, there are many options out there that can help you with your inventory control issues. But, how will you choose the correct one for your specific needs? Here are some things that you need to consider.• While you will want to consider several systems, you’ll want to examine just how each one works. What is needed? What area is covered? How well does this type of system fit your specific location? • Next, consider the various problems that may happen with the inventory control system. Do you need monitoring by a person? Do they record tape? Do they provide for some sort of alarm when something goes out of bounds? • Next, consider how difficult these will be to use for your employees. • Will it help in prevention of employee theft as well? • Lastly, you will want to consider the overall cost of the inventory control system as well as the amount of money that it can save

If you talk to printers and designers and you will hear horror stories from both about files that will not work no matter how they are saved, software version incompatibilities, proofing and printing problems, general miscommunication and more.

Not only can pre-press problems cause delays in printing which may bring a marketing plan to a standstill, but finger-pointing and the stress can turn a pleasant, creative experience into the project from hell.

The role of the designer

Designers are hired primarily to create effective, attention-getting designs and to produce pre-press files that printers can use to mass-produce brochures, publications and the like.

Designers are also responsible for bridging the world of the commercial printing and design, helping the client through the complex world of printing specifications, paper selection, soft and hard proofs and getting ink on paper.

With so many robust graphic design tools on the market such as Adobe Illustrator, Quark XPress, Adobe InDesign, Coral Draw and others, to name a few, creating pre-press files that work flawlessly with any commercial print shop should be a piece of cake, right?

Well, yes—and no. While many of today's design and pre-press tools are first-rate, they are only part of the overall print production process. It's really up to the designer to make sure all parties involved in any given printing project are all on the same page.

The importance of communication

When working with clients, my approach has always been to establish early on in the project what printer will be involved in reproducing the project. Having worked for several offset printing shops early on in my career, I learned that there is always a right way, a wrong way and their way. While the printing industry follows general guidelines and while most printing companies have similar internal pre-press operations, every shop is a little different in their approach and workflow.

If possible, I try to have a conversation with the client's printer right away to determine what pre-press programs they support in native format and what are alternatives to supplying the native files. If my client does not have a printer he or she wants to work with, I will suggest a printer who is a good match for the type of printing needed, and someone I have worked with before and have a working knowledge of or experience with.

Using PDF files

In the "good old days" we either submitted to a printer the "native" files or we could submit PostScript files which would contain all the font outlines and layout information, independent of the program used to create the document. But even this approach had it's share of film and plate output problems and if changes needed to be made to the file, the printer had to contact the designer and have the original file corrected and a new PostScript file generated and sent to the printer.

PDF files potentially can serve as a way to give the printer one file to print from without worrying about fonts, support files, or the printer having the latest versions of the document software, etc. By far the biggest advantage is that both clients and all involved in the project can use Adobe Reader to view and print the project, whereas PostScript files were far less portable and often you didn't know there was a problem until film or plates were produced.

All PDFs are not created equal

While we live in a world of Adobe PDFs which at first seem to be the perfect solution to printing companies having to keep up with all the various pre-press programs available today, there are different types of PDF files and they are not always the best approach.

I have been working with the Adobe Creative Suite for some time now and it is relatively easy to create different types of PDFs. Depending on your needs, you can create a client proof or a printing file.

For example, you can export a PDF from InDesign as a Print PDF, Screen PDF, Press PDF and you can customize the PDF with various options when you save it. With so many options, what is the best way to save the file for your commercial printer?

The answer is, you have to talk to the printing company you will be sending files to—never assume anything, and always assume that every printer have slightly different requirements.

Using "Native" Files

Some designers find it easier to send to their printer the original InDesign, Quark XPress or other layout program file, along with support files. The biggest reason for doing this is that if the client indicates a change to the printer's proof, the printer can make the required change (as long as the overall design is not changed or copy is not reflowed substantially), instead of the designer being a part of the process.

If you have ever had a project fall victim to Murphy's Law ("if something can go wrong, it will") and have experienced working with a printer where no matter what fonts you sent, their system didn't want to print your file right, you may want to consider sending the printer InDesign or Illustrator files where the type has been converted to outlines. While this eliminates any font issues, it creates an extra step and if changes to the file need to me made, the designer will have to have a version of the file with all the type intact.

In some cases, a printer may want your native files instead of PDFs.

Working with the printer

It's always best to work with an offset printer you have some experience with so you know up front what to expect in terms of proofing, file approval and for dealing with problems that may arise.

Having some previous experience with a "can do", problem-solving printer can be great when you have a project that pushes the limit of your pre-press and printing knowledge. While printer's may not have a "graphic designer" on staff, they always have several people who are very pre-press savvy and who work with the challenges of trapping, file problems and the like on a daily basis. These professionals can be a great resource for you and will often provide some advice and feedback on a project for free.

You get what you pay for

It seems that everyone today is offering rock bottom four-color printing online and it can be tempting for designers and clients to want to go for the lowest possible price advertised. But be careful, often the prices quoted online are not complete quotes—you can end up spending a lot more on a project for proofs, folding, shrink wrapping and other details you assume will be included—which are not.

Make sure the proof you receive is representational of the project. Some printers provide a "digital" proof, generally an ink jet proof that may or may not be calibrated to their presses. If your project has critical color or you client insists on a proof that will be used by the pressmen to match to, make sure the proof you receive to sign off on is a quality proof.

Making changes

It happens to all of us--something slips through the cracks and a mistake is found just before a project is scheduled to hit the press. Even after a client ha

Branding Advertising Agency
Branding used to be a fancy business word, but it is becoming more and more used in everyday business meetings. Finally! For decades, big corporations have used in-house, very well paid brand managers - someone in charge of managing everything that relates to the brand, including design, package and partnerships. You've heard enthusiastic talks about branding, but you are still not sure if you should get a brand management plan going for your business.Do you need one? Any company with the intention and potential to become or to remain a top competitor in its field needs to develop a sound branding strategy. And that's where the brand agency comes in. If you have a small or medium size business, you may not be able to pay a high salary for a full-time brand manager. If that is your case, you can benefit from working with a brand agency, and gain access to brand management consultants, plus an entire creative team available to work in various projects - from graphic design to web design, Internet marketing, advertising, media planning. Instead of working with multiple vendors that are unaware of your branding needs, you work with one single partner dedicated to create a stronger, more valuable brand.Can I fire my marketing team? No! Some people think a brand agency would do away with marketing jobs. In fact, your brand agency would not replace your marketing department, but work with your marketing and sales people to provide them the tools they need to market your services more successfully, while advancing your business image.How much does it cost? Working with a branding agency is surprisingly affordable. Think of this: how much it would cost, per year, to have an in

in the project what printer will be involved in reproducing the project. Having worked for several offset printing shops early on in my career, I learned that there is always a right way, a wrong way and their way. While the printing industry follows general guidelines and while most printing companies have similar internal pre-press operations, every shop is a little different in their approach and workflow.

Using PDF files

All PDFs are not created equal

The answer is, you have to talk to the printing company you will be sending files to—never assume anything, and always assume that every printer have slightly different requirements.

Using "Native" Files

In some cases, a printer may want your native files instead of PDFs.

Working with the printer

It's always best to work with an offset printer you have some experience with so you know up front what to expect in terms of proofing, file approval and for dealing with problems that may arise.

You get what you pay for

Making changes

It happens to all of us--something slips through the cracks and a mistake is found just before a project is scheduled to hit the press. Even after a client h

Tips for Conducting an Effective Employment Search
The task of doing an employment research can be a daunting experience for many reasons. Fortunately, doing an employment search online is now easy with the help of Craigslist and other websites. If you want to extend your search, then you should start with these sites. You can then consider the many kinds of networks that fit your skill sets, income needs, and other particulars.You have to realize that this quest can get intense. You can be overwhelmed by the agencies, advice, and attitudes that you encounter on an employment search. Luckily, you can “narrow” your search and make your efforts pay off.You should find job boards that have updated classified for employment in your area and in major companies you might be interested in working with. You should also consider your area of expertise and find companies who employ your type. You can also visit their help wanted/employment search/seeking XYZ pages.For example, you should look for journalist, press, news, magazines, and periodical ads if you are a journalist. Websites such as NewsJobs.net offers postings for NewsJobs in the U.S., NewsJobs in Canada, and NewsJobs in the U.K.Remember to be as be as thorough and thoughtful as you can, when you do an employment search on a major search engine. You have to pay full attention if you are typing in different and varied words and phrases when, you do an employment search online. For example, you should look for more than just carpenter jobs if you are a carpenter.Try to type in all the variations you can think of for the word carpenter such as carpentry, builder, building, construction. Do the same with all the different words you can think of for jobs like

far the biggest advantage is that both clients and all involved in the project can use Adobe Reader to view and print the project, whereas PostScript files were far less portable and often you didn't know there was a problem until film or plates were produced.

All PDFs are not created equal

The answer is, you have to talk to the printing company you will be sending files to—never assume anything, and always assume that every printer have slightly different requirements.

Using "Native" Files

In some cases, a printer may want your native files instead of PDFs.

Working with the printer

It's always best to work with an offset printer you have some experience with so you know up front what to expect in terms of proofing, file approval and for dealing with problems that may arise.

You get what you pay for

Making changes

It happens to all of us--something slips through the cracks and a mistake is found just before a project is scheduled to hit the press. Even after a client h

Payroll Tax Troubles - Employment Taxes Gone Bad
Payroll tax disputes can destroy a small or medium business and have a disastrous effect on business owner’s personal finances. This article will provide a general discussion of the typical payroll tax controversy and some tips on how to address payroll disputes.Payroll taxes disputes often arise when businesses fail to timely file employment tax returns (such as the Forms 941 or 940) and/or when businesses fail to timely remit their employment taxes to the IRS.In either case, the IRS will assign the matter to a Revenue Officer. The Revenue Officer’s job is to interview the taxpayer and third parties in order to (1) collect the tax return and payment in full or (2) gather enough evidence to pin the trust fund recovery penalty on as many individuals as possible.The trust fund recovery penalty is the mechanism whereby the IRS sidesteps the protections of the taxpayer’s legal entity to impose a personal liability on each individual who could have seen to it that the taxes were paid. The IRS refers to these people as “responsible persons.” The penalty imposed on “responsible persons” each individual is equal to 100% of the unpaid taxes at the time that the Revenue Officer assesses the penalty.There are a number of court cases which specify who is and is not a “responsible person” for purposes of this IRS penalty. A number of cases have even held that persons who are the CEO of the company may not be the “responsible person” in some circumstances.Taxpayers who find themselves subject to this penalty will want to hire an experienced tax attorney immediately. In many cases the tax attorney may be able to convince the Revenue Officer that the ta

changed or copy is not reflowed substantially), instead of the designer being a part of the process.

In some cases, a printer may want your native files instead of PDFs.

Working with the printer

It's always best to work with an offset printer you have some experience with so you know up front what to expect in terms of proofing, file approval and for dealing with problems that may arise.

You get what you pay for

Making changes

It happens to all of us--something slips through the cracks and a mistake is found just before a project is scheduled to hit the press. Even after a client h

Medical Billing - GX0 Record Fields 28 Through 37
There is a big misconception about medical billing and the people who do the billing. The layman thinks that these people have no special skills and are just your everyday run of the mill office person. This couldn't be further from the truth. A medical biller needs to be extremely sharp with all the rules and regulations attached to medical billing. And when it comes to billing oxygen claims, it is even more critical that the biller be on the top of his game. In this installment on medical billing and the electronic transmission of claims using NSF 3.01 specifications, we're going to continue with our review of one of the most complex CMNs in medical billing, the oxygen CMN, or GX0 record. We pick up our review with field number 28.GX0 field 28, positions 263 - 265, is the portable oxygen flow rate. This field only applies to a patient who has been given a portable oxygen device. This field tells the carrier what the oxygen flow rate is, in liters per minute, for a portable oxygen system. If this is entered, the therapeutic purpose of this device must be explained if the patient cannot get the same benefit from a non portable system. This must be entered in the GX1 record in field number 6.GX0 field 29, positions 266 - 280, is the ordering physician ID. This is the ID number of the physician who ordered the patient to be put on oxygen.GX0 field 30, positions 281 - 290, is the ordering provider phone number. This tells the carrier the phone number of the physician who prescribed the oxygen. This is required so that the carrier can call the physician in case there are any questions about this claim. Unfortunately, because of all the red tape with oxygen c

g online and it can be tempting for designers and clients to want to go for the lowest possible price advertised. But be careful, often the prices quoted online are not complete quotes—you can end up spending a lot more on a project for proofs, folding, shrink wrapping and other details you assume will be included—which are not.

Making changes

It happens to all of us--something slips through the cracks and a mistake is found just before a project is scheduled to hit the press. Even after a client has signed off on a design project and released the files to the printer, the proof comes back a few days later from the printer and either a mistake needs to be corrected or something needs to be changed. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.

If you send your printer a PDF file to proof and plate from, and the client makes changes to the printer's proof, you will need to go back to your original files, make the changes and submit new PDF files to your printer.

Most printers will not charge for submitting a second file and creating a second proof, but many do. Be sure to make sure you date the new files or rename them so there will be no confusion between the old files and the new files. Recently, I sent updated files to my printer and they failed to use the latest version.

Luckily, I had sent the updated file via e-mail and had changed the file name to reflect the fact it was the latest version. The printer admitted they made the error and they reprinted the brochure project at their expense, but having a clear paper trail made this a painless process for me and for my client.

If the client requests a change that the printer will make to the pre-press files, make sure your client is aware of any additional charges involved. Clients have a way of remembering the exact amount they were quoted for printing and assume the price is all-inclusive.

Ten Tips for near "fool proof" printing:

1) Send a hard copy. Send your printer an ink jet proof with all crop and bleed marks, instructions and a mockup showing folds, scores, etc. While it is easy to send files via e-mail and FTP, there is no substitute for a mockup or proof with clear, written instructions.

2) Communicate with your printer before starting. Talk to your printer before designing your print project to make sure your design is well within their capabilities. If you have never worked with a particular printer before, find out what size presses your project will go on and make sure you talk through the project with the printer, anything that may be out of the ordinary.

3) Understand your printer's pre-press workflow. Make sure you understand the printer's pre-press process and what types of proofs are available. Not all proofs are "color correct" so make sure the color proof you receive is a fair representation of what to expect the final printing to look like. Keep in mind that clients may not understand the differences between a proof on ink jet paper and what ink on paper will look like. Sometimes proofs appear more color saturated or have more contrast than the actual printing and clients may be disappointed if they compare the proof to the final printing.

4) Review printer's proofs carefully. After your client reviews the printer's proof, even if they sign off with no changes, take a few minutes to review the proof and make sure it reflects the latest version of the document. In the rush to get a project to the printer and scheduled for press time, mistakes can happen and old files can be copied t CD Rom or uploaded to the printer.

5) Proofread behind your client. While most designers require that the client assume all responsibility for proofing a project, it can be helpful to have someone not familiar with the project to read it over. Sometimes a glaring mistake can be found very easily and corrected before it becomes a major disaster.

6) Check printer's proofs for correct folding and assembly. Make sure the printer's proof you receive scores, folds and trims correctly. If your brochure has a fold in panel that is supposed to be a certain width, make sure it is as it should be, and not an arbitrary or commonly folded size.

7) Allow a reasonable amount of production time for your printer. When working with tight delivery deadlines, make sure you allow the printer enough time to produce proofs and to receive files and schedule printing. Actual printing schedules tend to change day to day, so the final delivery date may not be exactly what was quoted originally. Working with printer you have experience with, you will know if the delivery date they give you and your client is something you can bank on, or not.

8) Drop ship a partial order when necessary. If you need to get printing to your client for an event, consider sending a partial order via overnight delivery so they can have some of the order right away and the balance in a day or two.

9) Have a "Plan B" ready. Be prepared to deal with problems that may occur, especially if you are rushing a project to meet a client's deadline. Printers are generally very customer service minded, but are human and sometimes things go wrong. Simply blaming someone else for the problem will not help to resolve it. Our role as designers is often to assist with resolution of problems, so keep a win-win solution in mind and make sure a client is aware that setting unrealistic deadlines for printing is often a recipe for disaster.

10) Create a paper trail. Make sure you communicate with all parties involved—both the printer and your client. If possible, send your client carbon copies of e-mails you send to the printer, or at least save all e-mails so if any decision is called into question, you have a clear paper trail. Even if you have clear evidence showing you did what your client instructed, you need to keep in mind the client sees the designer as the printing consultant and is looking for us to make things go smoothly. Keeping the client in the loop will also help them to understand better when problems arise instead of the client being the last to know and feeling they are out of the loop and having little say in the process.

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