: Key Takeaways: In a surprising turn of events, the demand for small move and Man and Van services has witnessed a staggering 41.3% increase between December 2023 and February 2024 in the UK, according to data from Compare My Move. As the property market continues to gather momentum, with house prices on the rise and a flurry of activity in the real estate sector, the question arises: Is 2024 the ideal year to embark on the journey of starting your own Man and Van business? Let’s delve deeper into the trends and statistics shaping the landscape of the moving industry The post Revealed: Surging Demand for Moving Services – Is 2024 the Year to Start Your Own Business? appeared first on Business Today
: Key Takeaways: The Crossroad of Hobby and Business Recognizing the Business Potential of Your Hobby In the UK, transforming a hobby into an income-generating activity requires understanding tax obligations and the point at which a hobby qualifies as a business. The distinction hinges on the intent to make a profit and the annual income threshold set by HMRC. Navigating the Tax Landscape The transition from hobbyist to business owner is marked by surpassing the HMRC’s Trading Allowance limit. Once this £1,000 threshold is exceeded, it becomes imperative to register as a business, invoking a series of tax responsibilities and financial The post Turn Your Passion into Profit: Navigating the New Tax Year as a Budding Entrepreneur appeared first on Business Today
: The Genesis of The Eden Aeroponics Project In Puslinch, Ontario, a groundbreaking initiative has taken root in the form of The Eden Aeroponics Project, spearheaded by Dan Atkinson, a visionary with over thirty years in hydroponics. This project is not just about gardening; it’s a movement towards sustainable living, offering state-of-the-art indoor aeroponic gardens that promise to revolutionize how we cultivate food in our homes and communities. The Future of Home Gardening Aeroponic Advancements The Eden and The Eboo represent the pinnacle of aeroponic gardening, combining style with sustainability. These systems are designed to fit seamlessly into living spaces, producing The post Grow Your Own Future: The Aeroponic Revolution Is Here! appeared first on Business Today
: FTC consumer protection year in review offers 2020 vision for yourbusiness lfair January 8, 2020 | 9:26AM FTC consumer protection year in review offers 2020 vision for yourbusiness By Lesley Fair They say hindsight is 20/20, but what about foresight? We’re not ones to prognosticate, but a look at notable FTC cases and initiatives from the past year suggests some topics likely to be top of mind in months to come. Here is a non-exhaustive list of issues in our 2019 rearview mirror and likely visible through the 2020 windshield. Consumer privacy. The FTC’s $5 billion enforcement action against Facebook made history and headlines, but the other notable part of the case is the monumental change the order mandates to Facebook’s privacy ecosystem. The Commission opinion in Cambridge Analytica reaffirms the proposition that like any other claim, a company’s privacy promises are viewed through the lens of established FTC consumer perception principles. A series of cases demonstrates the agency’s continued commitmen[...]
: Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Business rocks on in Cleveland sgressin September 21, 2020 | 12:03PM Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Business rocks on in Cleveland By Seena Gressin Natives and fans heartily agree that “Cleveland Rocks!” That’s why the Federal Trade Commission and its Ohio partners are ready to roll with the next installment of Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC Rules of the Road for Business , set to make its online debut on October 29, 2020, from Cleveland. The free business workshop focuses on current topics in truth-in-advertising law, social media marketing, data security, business-to-business fraud, and more. Who should attend the virtual event? Ohio business owners, marketing and advertising professionals, attorneys — anyone who needs to know how established consumer protection principles apply in today’s fast-paced marketplace. The Office of the Ohio Attorney General, Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland, and the Cuyahoga County Departme[...]
: Le texte français suit. CALLeagues, This will be my last message as your president, and to start, I am grateful to each of you for reading this monthly bulletin and staying informed about the business of CALL/ACBD. In an age when we are bombarded with emails (I am rather embarrassed by the number of unread messages in my inbox), the fact that this newsletter is opened by ~60% of you each month is a positive indicator of your engagement. As the month of May coincides with our marquee annual conference and the transition of leadership on the Executive Board and some of our Committees and Special Interest Groups, it is my hope that some of you will elevate your engagement by lending your time and expertise as a volunteer. As I mentioned in my first message as your president in June 2025: “the ongoing vitality of our association is built on the dedication of our volunteers, and each of you has invaluable skills, expertise, and life experience with which to contribute” and nearly a year later, this remains very m[...]
: Speaking of Spokeo: Part 2 — The company’s allegedly bogus endorsements wfg-adm109 June 13, 2012 | 12:25PM Speaking of Spokeo: Part 2 — The company’s allegedly bogus endorsements By Lesley Fair The lawsuit against data broker Spokeo is the FTC’s first Fair Credit Reporting Act case addressing the collection of online info — including data from social networking sites — when used in the context of employment screening. But that’s not the only way the Spokeo settlement touches on social media. The FTC also charged that Spokeo violated Section 5 by having employees post glowing recommendations of the company’s services on news and technology websites without disclosing their true identity. Perhaps just the work of a rogue cubicle occupant? No, said the FTC. According to the complaint , Spokeo directed its employees to write the comments. Spokeo managers then edited what they wrote and had the staffers post the endorsements using account names provided by Spokeo. The purpose, says the FTC, was to give read[...]
: Franchise Fundamentals: Taking a deep dive into the Franchise Disclosure Document lfair May 23, 2023 | 6:41PM Franchise Fundamentals: Taking a deep dive into the Franchise Disclosure Document By Lesley Fair Love at first sight may (or may not) be a real thing, but when it comes to investing your money, it’s unwise to fall for a franchise without first subjecting it to tough-minded scrutiny. The third in the FTC’s Franchise Fundamentals blog series walks through an essential part of that evaluation: an in-depth review of the Financial Disclosure Document (FDD) required by the FTC’s Franchise Rule . You must receive the Franchise Disclosure Document at least 14 days before you’re asked to sign any contract or pay any money to the franchisor or one of its affiliates. In fact, you have the right to the FDD once the franchisor has received your application and agrees to consider it. So speak up if you don’t receive it and ask questions – lots of them – as you review the FDD and any attached documents. Image Ind[...]
: FTC recaps consumer complaint data for 2017: Who’s on the list? lfair March 1, 2018 | 5:17PM FTC recaps consumer complaint data for 2017: Who’s on the list? By Lesley Fair Once bitten, twice shy. That fundamental principle of human behavior is why reputable businesses that work hard to earn consumers’ confidence should support the FTC’s ongoing efforts to fight fraud. According to the FTC’s 2017 Consumer Sentinel Data Book , consumers reported losing a total of $905 million to fraud last year. That’s close to a billion bucks people won’t be able to spend on legitimate products and services from credible companies. That figure is up $63 million from last year, although the total number of reports received from consumers is down from 2.98 million in 2016 to 2.68 million in 2017. Topping the list that no industry wants to be on is debt collection, making up 23% of the total number of complaints. But there are two caveats: 1) that number is down from 2016; and 2) the high number of debt collection reports was du[...]
: First Consumer Review Fairness case takes on promoter’s “big bucks on Amazon” claim lfair August 6, 2018 | 11:11AM First Consumer Review Fairness case takes on promoter’s “big bucks on Amazon” claim By Lesley Fair T he marketers behind a purported money-making promotion called Sellers Playbook appear to have skipped the chapter about complying with federal and state consumer protection laws. That’s the allegation in a complaint filed by the FTC and the Minnesota Attorney General . In addition, it’s the FTC’s first case charg ing violations of the Consumer Review Fairness Act. The roots of the allegations go back to another venture sued by the FTC earlier this year: FBA Stores, also known as Amazing Wealth System and Amazon Wealth Systems. The defendants in that case ran online ads and in-person workshops that claimed to reveal the secret s of making major money on Amazon. But few, if any, of the consumers who forked over thousands of dollars and implemented their “plug-and-play systems” earn ed the kind of c[...]