Save Time and Money: Pre-Screen Recruits With 5 Questions

Most employers select finalists for new positions after a lengthy series of interviews. Of course, face-to-face interviews are important, but you can save a lot of time — and make better hiring decisions — by asking applicants a few pointed questions over the telephone before you schedule any meetings. Here are Five Suggested “Pre-Interview” Questions:Why are you leaving…

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Lack of Marketability Discount Requires Empirical Support

The discount for lack of marketability is an often-contested valuation adjustment that requires a particularly detailed process. When calculating any valuation adjustment, an appraiser obviously can’t just pick a number out of a hat. He or she must consider the situation and the unique characteristics of the interest that’s being valued.  No Random NumbersBusiness valuation professionals…

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How To Recognize a Good Leader for Your Company

Traditional interviews, background checks, and clever “scenario” questions might help you turn up a good leader. But sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, you end up hiring a problem, and then struggling to get rid of him or her. Here are some characteristics of good leaders and bad, that may help you find the pearls and…

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Converting Future Damages to Present Value

When it’s time to calculate damages, a skillful financial expert can discount future damages to present value, providing the ammunition businesses need to receive a just award.Here is an example focusing on how to ensure a reasonable discount rate. Let’s say a company fires an employee for stealing trade secrets. It goes to court to recover…

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Five Features of a Good Collection Agency

Even the most efficiently run business occasionally encounters some delinquent customers. Your company probably has its own accounts receivable process, of which the final step might be turning over a drastically past-due account to a collection agency.Because some states don’t regulate collection agencies very closely, some of these businesses can engage in unethical activities that could…

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A Little Employee Appreciation Goes a Long Way

There are many reasons that employees stick with an organization long-term. They need to enjoy the work (or at least aspects of it); the pay and benefits must be right; and, yes, they’ve got to get along with their bosses. Many business owners underestimate that last point.Building good relationships between staff members and their supervisors can…

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More to Business Valuation than Meets the Eye

Most business owners and attorneys know the basics of the business valuation process. For example, you might know that there are three approaches to value: the cost, market and income approaches. You might even know some of the methods that fall under these approaches, including the:Adjusted book value,Excess earnings, Guideline public company, Guideline transaction (merger and acquisition), Capitalization of…

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