Finance Resources for Internet Businesses - Articles

• Creating a Chart of Accounts
   Creating a chart of accounts can seem mysterious, if you just let your accountant do it. Here are some practical points to help de-mystify the process.
• Understanding Valuation
  Raising capital is an art; and understanding how to set a value on your new company is even more subtle. Here’s a look from an expert.
• Increasing Revenue
  Spartina's interest in Internet Business Models is a hot topic, as the videos from this recent Revenue BootCamp show.
• Raising Money from Angel Investors
  It’s important for entrepreneurs seeking angel investments to understand the different types of angel investors, the nature of angel investment groups, and what it takes to approach them …
• Incubators and Funding for New Businesses
  The Founder's Institute offers incubators for new businesses with protection for the founders through their F-class stock.
• How to Hook an Angel
  Even in a tumultuous economic environment, there are still tried and true methods to selling your business idea to a potential investor.
• Putting Yourself Out There: Raising Money
  One way to get investment money for your company is to be sure that investors can find you. Here are a few Internet sites to know about.
• Finding Seed Money
  Several big players now offer significant packages to start-ups that are just in the incubation stage. Spartina summarizes your options and how to apply.
• Term Sheets: Understanding Valuation
  Term Sheets are a complex subject. Here’s a starting point to help you attract investors by considering appropriate valuation for the company.
• Convertible Note: Early Sale
  Early Sale, Change of Control and other terms important to a Convertible Note
• Convertible Note: Note Round
  Important facts to consider about the note round include size and closing date
• Convertible Note: Cap
  Questions to consider for the Cap in a Convertible Note:
• Convertible Note: Warrants
  Understanding warrants as part of a convertible note variable for financing your startup.
• Convertible Note: Conversions
  Explanations of conversion, automatic conversion and conversion discount as it applies to convertible notes.
• Convertible Note: Interest Rate; Duration & Maturity Date
  Explanation of Interest Rate, Duration and Maturity Date as it applies to convertible notes used for financing your startup
• Raising Money using a Convertible Note
  In-depth look at the questions to consider when looking at a convertible note to raise money for your internet business.
• Maintaining a Cap Table
  The moment you move beyond sole proprietor, and gather investors, is the moment that you must have cap tables under your belt. Don’t wait to start learning.
• Building an Angel Investment Portfolio
  As an entrepreneur, it’s good to know how the minds of the angel investors work, and why they give you pressure on valuation. Here’s a talk given by Spartina Chairman David Hehman …
• Make Your Tax Simpler
  What can you do to simplify the paperwork and accounting for taxes on your small business?
• Tax Time: Prepare for your Accountant Meeting
  Review your small Internet Business expenses and income before you meet with your accountant to prepare taxes.
• Small Business Taxes: How to File For An Extension
  If you are a small business not expecting to pay taxes, you may want to file an extension for the paperwork.
• The Art of the Quarterly Investor Update
  Keep the investors informed, so they can keep their money and good will in your company.
• It's Tax Time: Select an Accounting Firm
  Tax filing is just around the corner. Whether you need accounting, tax or general business knowledge, Accountants, and CPAs in particular, have a skill set that you need to succeed with your new …
• Merger and Acquisition Advice For Startups
  When your startup is ready to sell, consider strong negotiations in a merger situation.
• Entrepreneur Pitch
  A great slideshow about pitching your business.
• Writing an Executive Summary
  Don’t waste words in an Executive Summary: brief, to the point, and visual goes a long way.
• Investment Policies
  Now that you have some money, what do you do with it, before you spend it?
• Negotiating Payment Terms
  Keeping your cash in your own bank account for as long as possible is the name of the game, so pay bills in terms that are favorable to you, the buyer.
• Ask and You Shall Receive: Getting Vendor Discounts
  No matter who you are dealing with, it always pays to ask for a discount, and, you may just get it!
• Best Practices for Paying Vendors
  Paying bills can be done on auto-pilot, or you can consider the way you go about it, and save your company’s money.
• How to File Bills
  Bill paying is endless, yet it doesn’t end with paying the bill. You need to find the bill later one.
• Should I Use On-line Bill Paying?
  Whether it is fear or inertia that keeps you from paying bills on-line, here are some convincing reasons to get over it.
• Bootstrapping Your Business
  There are times when it makes sense to get outside investors, and times when you are better off going it alone.
• Preparing for an Investor Presentation
  You may not have much time in front of an angel investor group…make each minute count.
• Liquidation Calculator
  Here’s a useful tool to have while you are getting investors lined up.
• Finance
  Good financial decisions are the heartbeat of your new business. Without them you can neither survive nor thrive.
• Employee Theft & Financial Controls
  If you think you are always safe from employee financial theft, think again.
• On-Line Payroll Services
  Setting up payroll via an outsourced, on-line company is a great timesaver.
• Outsourcing Accounting Services
  What does it look like to outsource your accounting services? Here’s Spartina’s experience:
• How to Pick a Bank For Your Internet Startup
  Learn the basic principles for evaluating and selecting the right bank for your new Internet startup business