Stupid Business Mistakes
www.stupidbusinessmistakes.com

We all make 'em...

This site is a resource to allow you to learn from others' mistakes!

If you have a story to tell about a stupid business mistake that led to a valuable lesson, please email it to me (put SBM in the subject line) and I'll post the best stories here, with a link back to your site.  (Anonymous postings also accepted.)* Updated through December 2004.

This page also links to my Virtual Law Office web pages,
various small-business & internet business sites.

Index:  My Links, Other Links, The SBM Stories

Special - SBM #2 -- 19 Tips to Protect IP from Computer Crime.

Special - SBM#3 -- 10 Tips to avoid identity theft!

Special - SBM#5 -- 14 Points to consider: loans for small business homeowners.

 

Ralph Fucetola JD
www.vitaminlawyer.com

"Supporting Industry Compliance with FDA and FTC Regulations."
ralph.fucetola@usa.net


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My Links

The Vitamin Lawyer Web Site - www.vitaminlawyer.com

Internet Injunction Lawyer Web Site - www.internetinjunction.com

Organizing for Asset Protection Web Site - www.lawyer4assetprotection.com

Site Use Statements, Privacy Statements, Disclaimers - www.disclaimersforsale.com

Nutrient Industry Legal News - www.vitaminlawyernews.com

Nonprofit Organizations, Churches - www.nonprofitlawyer.org

My main Links page.


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Other Links

 

Dictionaries, etc...

http://www.wordreference.com/ (translations)

Merriam-Webster www.m-w.com - quotationspage.com

Time.gov  - Roget's Thesaurus

The opposite of Identity Theft is...
http://www.theyesmen.org/

National Business License Links
http://www.sba.gov/hotlist/license.html

Links for Marketers...

Direct Marketing Association - www.the-dma.org

Federal Trade Commission - www.ftc.gov

Securities and Exchange Commission -
 http://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus.shtml

Small Business Administration - http://www.business.gov/

SBA on making decisions - ten step process and common mistakes
 http://www.sba.gov/managing/growth/decisionmaker.html

How to deal with lies about your company (and you) on the Internet
http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters29.html

Invention Web Site - www.inventive-internet.com
"
This revolutionary site has the greatest inventive methods in the world, and it has only one, great, goal (which it achives) which is to make inventing as easy, fast, and fun as is possible while offering ways to invent that are very productive and virtually unlimited."
 

 

Of course
Your web site needs a proper SUS
Site Use Statement -
Disclosure - Privacy - Disclaimer Page
The Vitamin Lawyer has the right form for you!
LEGAL PROTECTION!  www. Disclaimers for Sale.com

 


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SBM Stories
You Live and You Learn...

Stupid Business Mistake Stories Index:

SBM #1 - Don't go into business with the wrong partner...
SBM #2 -
Computer Scum: Protecting Your Business
SBM #3 - Tips to Avoid Identity Theft
SBM #4 - Trusting professionals... Not!
SBM #5 - Loan Sources for Small Business Homeowners


SBM #1.  04/25/03 - A stupid business mistake is to go partners with someone who does not agree with your values about life and concepts about business. A more stupid mistake is to go into business with a close relative (as I did) when you don't agree on the values and concepts... or don't know that you don't agree.

As a result of a few incidents, my relative and I may never speak again. We lost more than money when we stopped communicating.  It'll very uncomfortable when we have to go to weddings and funerals.  If we hadn't turned each of our jobs in our construction business into its own little kingdom, if we had only talked more about our values and concepts in the beginning, things might have turned out differently.

A real stupid mistake!
Anthony A. Sikora

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SBM #2.  06/07/03 - Preventing Computer/Intellectual Property Theft
or "Computer Scum: Protecting Your Business" - Sharry Edwards, M.Ed.
Includes 19 steps to protect your business against computer attack - Here.


SBM #3 09/12/03 - Tips to Avoid Identity Theft

We pass this on from an email we received today:

From: Jim Pruitt [mailto:jim@jbpruitt.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 11:27 AM
Subject: Good Advice

I got this from a friend, and send it along because I do agree that it is good advice. In addition, I would advise people not to sign their credit cards. Instead, write "Ask for ID" in that place. That way, any person who would try to present the card will have to show a picture ID, and they don't have your signature to practice forging. Of course it doesn't prevent them for using it in some other way, nor does it help when clerks do not ask for an ID. But it is just one more obstacle for a thief to overcome.

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:
 
* 1 The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.
 
* 2 If someone takes your check book they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
 
* 3 When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
 
* 4 Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home.

*5 Never have your SS# printed on your checks (DUH!) you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
 
* 6 Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc., You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.
 
*7  Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.
 
* 8 We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.
 
Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thief or thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
 
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
 
We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily.
 
* 9 File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
 
But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this).
 
Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.
 
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
 
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.
 
*10 There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.
 
The numbers are:
 
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
 
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
 

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SBM  #4 - Trusting professionals... Not!

By: jean blum <callingjean@optonline.net>
February 22, 2004

Once l opened a retail store, knowing nothing about retail, my product line besides the completely obvious, nor business itself. But with common sense, some smarts and research, and the Goddess who protects the innocents doing her bit,  the enterprise took off and flew for 5 years before destruction on the shores of manufacturers' machinations that upset the entire industry. NOT MY FAULT!!! HOWEVER:  The business would have gone under anyway and here is why:
 
When my lawyer set up the legal entity l asked for a recommendation to an accountant. He told me that he really did not know anyone but there was this "fellow who..." Good enough, thought l, and engaged "the fellow", who had his "girl" set up a ledger in which l was to enter my figures... which l was too harried to do regularly...leading to a backed up pile of papers like you would not believe. Naturally, l never heard from "the fellow" again.
 
Along came a customer who asked the right questions, ascertained the situation, offered her services as a bookkeeper experienced in just this sort of situation, and was hired on the spot. Indeed she did straighten out the mess forthwith and made the excellent recommendation (passed along here) to hire a kid in a high school business course to do the entries on a regular part-time basis: the work is easy enough for a student to do and minimum wage is a delightful incentive instead of a resentment.
 
So far so good, but l knew l needed an accountant and "the fellow" wasn't it, so l asked the bookkeeper, whose reply l quote verbatum: "l know a MARVELOUS accountant. He's my husband."
Again, good enough, keep it in the family, they'll work together, maybe give me a financial brake... WRONG!!!
 
The problem was that l did not know what it was that an accountant was supposed to do. l figured l did not have to know because the accountant would know. So l asked no questions, he "looked at" the
ledger regularly and billed me...and this is what he NEVER TOLD ME until much too late:
 
The business l had chosen was particularly complicated because the main product line came pre-priced and the mark-up was insufficient to carry the business, necessitating ancillary merchandise.
So l had a multi-entry cash register and the figures were accurately kept, BUT he never evaluated the effectiveness of the merchandise mix, in other words- the bottom line. An impressive amount of money was coming in, enough to be deceptive but not enough to carry the business. He never told me, l never knew, and had he done his job l would have had the chance of carrying a more productive inventory that might have ensured success. As it was, l had to declare bankruptcy.
 
The lesson is that it is the responsibility of the owner to know everything and to supervise the professionals as well as the help. My shop was run efficiently and l was a strict supervisor, right on top of everything-  that is, everything l knew about. I ASSUMED, and I TOOK FOR GRANTED, that a "professional" would do the job and do it right. The actuality is that to assume and to take for granted that others are going to take care of YOUR business the way you need to have it cared for is the best recipe for losing it.  

© Jean Blum 2004 - published with permission.

 
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SBM #5 - Not finding a loan broker who understands your needs...

Concord Mortgage and Tony Sikora have 14 points for you to consider when looking for a loan:

1.  They are responsive to your needs as a small business homeowner.
2.  They are honest.
3.  They are enthusiastic about trying to help you.
4.  They offer the highest level of courtesy and service.
5.  They have access to over 300 lender who are competing for your business, assuring you of the best rates available.
6.  They custom design a loan program for your needs.
7.  Every possible loan program is available through Concord Mortgage in many States.
8.  Simple application process.
9.  FREE PRE-QUALIFICATION, NO OBLIGATION!
10. Problem credit, bankruptcy... NO PROBLEM! (well... :),
12. One week closings possible.
13. 24 - 7 access - Tony's cell phone, 1-201-889-5864
14. Concord, toll free: 1- 800-292-9112, ts@concordmcnj.com 

IT'S NEVER BEEN EASIER TO GET STARTED! 


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*Disclaimer:  I do not necessarily endorse the information posted here.  I reserve the right to reject any offerings and all stories accepted for posting will become the property of StupidBusinessMistakes.com.  This site does not give business or legal advise.  Basing your business decisions on anything you learn here is your own responsibility... but, then, you wouldn't be in business for yourself if you didn't want it that way!  Privacy - Disclaimer Site Use Statement.

© 2003, 2004 - Ralph Fucetola JD - ralph.fucetola@usa.net