HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bba@donuts3 (Binayak Banerjee)
Subject: DBA for Partnerships?
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 92 04:41:52 GMT
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

Hi,

A friend and I are starting on an enterprise.  We don't want to
incorporate until we have some real income coming in.  We would like
to be Frobozz Enterprises (say) rather than Joe & Blow.

So, the question is: can we legally use a name without having to go
through the process of incorporation.  Can we set up a bank account
without hassles?  This is for a partnership -- not an individual.

Thanks for your responses,

-- Binayak
From: todd@toolz.uucp (Todd Merriman)
Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs
Subject: Re: MAG Ad's
Date: 15 Sep 92 00:05:34 GMT
Article-I.D.: toolz.1992Sep15.000534.14473
Organization: Software Toolz, Inc.

steveg@mks.com (Steve Gingerich) writes:
>I'm kind of curious as to what degree of success people have had
>advertising in consumer magazines (eg. popular science, byte etc.).

I have advertised a multi-platform software development tool that
includes a free demo.  I advertised in several magazines, and here are 
my results:

DEC Professional	1/9 pg. display ad - $650/per
	VERY expensive, low response, poor sales

Dr. Dobb's Journal  1/12 pg. "Marketplace" display ad - $440/per
	Rather expensive, very poor response, poor sales

Computer Language  60 word classified ad - $210/per
	Moderate price, good response, mediocre sales

C Users Journal  1/9 pg. display ad - $225/per
	Moderate price, good response, good sales

Programmer's Journal  1/9 pg. display ad - $125/per
	Moderate price, good response, poor sales

C Gazzette  1/9 pg. display ad - $110/per
	Moderate price, low response, low sales

The response rate is measured by dividing the number of leads generated
by the magazine circulation.

I also received a substantial number of leads from mentions in 
"New Products" columns:  Software News, Digital Review, Dr. Dobb's,
Midnight Engineering, Tech Specialist, Unix Today, Unix World,
Databased Advisor, and Uniforum Newsletter.  I didn't have to pay
anything for these leads!

If you want a mail-merge list of computer magazines to which you can
send your press releases, let me know.  Quite a few subscribers to
my Software Entrepreneur's Mailing List have had good success with the
list.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *********************
* Todd Merriman - Software Toolz, Inc. +1 706 889 8264  * Maintainer of the *
* 8030 Pooles Mill Dr., Ball Ground, GA 30107-9610      * Software          *
* UUCP: ...!emory!slammer!toolz!todd                    * Entrepreneur's    *
* Internet:  todd%toolz.uucp@mathcs.emory.edu           * Mailing List      *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *********************

Help support helpless victims of computer error.
Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs
From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Re: Magazine Addresses List
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 02:20:25 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.220715.7740@umr.edu> jelleb@cs.umr.edu writes:
>
>Would anyone happen to have a list of addresses for various magazines for  
>marketing mail order products?  Or a resource that would have a listing?

I would suggest the {Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media}
or {Ulrich's Directory of Periodicals}. Both should be available at your
local library, which also have some monthly directories from Standard
Rate & Data Service which list ad rates.



--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Xref: sparky misc.entrepreneurs:2788 alt.business.multi-level:460
From: wpalmer@oasys.dt.navy.mil (William Palmer)
Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs,alt.business.multi-level
Subject: What is a principal?
Date: 11 Sep 92 14:40:52 GMT
Reply-To: wpalmer@oasys.dt.navy.mil (William Palmer)
Followup-To: misc.entrepreneurs
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Annapolis, MD

I have a question for the collective net.wisdom. The basic question
is stated in the subject line. In addition, some others are:

Can the title of principal correctly be applied to a sole proprietorship?

Any legal responsibilities of a principal?

Business-related responsibilities of a principal?

If the last 2 questions require a lengthy answer, maybe email would
be more appropriate, or maybe you can recommend a good text. I'm having
new business cards made, and I'd like to know the most correct title 
to use. For the record, I operate a sole proprietorship, and right now,
I have 'president' beside my name on my business card. Please also let
me know if I'm engaging in a hair-splitting contest!!

Thanks for your help in answering my questions. Would any of you be
interested in the responses I get? Let me know if you are, and I'll
post the evidence. Thanks again.

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bill Palmer, Code 2744                  voice: 410-267-2964/4817
Applications and Special Projects branch  fax: 410-267-2561
Naval Surface Warfare Center          autovon: 281-4817
Annapolis, MD, USA, 21402-5067       InterNet: wpalmer@oasys.dt.navy.mil

"...death and life are in the power of the tongue."  - Proverbs 18:21
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
-- 
----------------------------------------------
I'm the victim of EJ's signature virus! Oh No!
From: hho@usc.edu (*** N.T.K.C.D. ***)
Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs
Subject: Scholarship Maching
Date: 14 Sep 92 15:52:55 GMT
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: aludra.usc.edu


I would like your opnion on the offers to start a Scholarship Matching
Service..

I found 2 companies: Money for College in Granada Hills CA and
SMS in nj that will help in start the business for $495...

What do you think of this business??? 
Since I am still in school, I know the school inside out :-)

Thank you :_)
H.


-- 
*******************************************************************************
Hung P. Ho, Jr. (John)     USC DENTISTRY    PH.SYSTEMS          CCCOGP  
                           hho@usc.edu      hung@phsys.com      hung@cccogp.com
Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs
From: ogden_jon@macmail1.rtsg.mot.com
Subject: Re: MLMs=Entreprenuers?
Organization: CSG Group
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 22:00:35 GMT

>  I've been recruited by MLMers before and they always have these
>great stories to tell of how "so and so just spoke at our last meeting and
>they make $1 million every year and they don't even have to work any more."
>How many times have we heard that?  Most people I know who are in MLMs are
>really gung ho about it for a couple months and then once they find out that
>their hard sell sales pitches have lost them all their friends and now that
>they have quit their job and they have less income than they did before they
>have a big time reality check.

>
>The truth is very very few people strike it ruch in MLMs.  The majority of
>people I know hate the idea and are flee MLMs with more vigor than Jehovas
>Witnesses.  Most people I know in MLMs are extrelemly naive and easily 
>persuaded to jump on bandwagons too.  Of course I'm generalizing, but in MY
>experience this is 100% true without exception.
>
Loren, 
  
   The truth of the matter is there are a lot of people who make that sort of
money in MLM's.  Yes, far less than the number of people who get involved, but
how many people (what percentage) really make it at anything?  If success were
easy then everyone would be doing it and it would be worth nothing.  We don't
guarantee people easy riches or tons of money.  We show them an opportunity 
which has worked for a lot of people, and can work for them depending on HOW
THEY WORK IT!!!  There are no limitations.  One has a lot better chance of
becoming financially independent in an MLM than in their job.  Some very good
friends of mine have reached the levels everyone talks about.  It happens all
the time.  As far as being naive the people I know are some of the most 
realistic people I know.  Of course people called Ray Kroc and the other 
dreamers in the world naive!

     As far as losing friends - I've lost none of my REAL friends and made
many, many more.  And most people in MLM's DO NOT quit their jobs until their
MLM income is 2-3 times what their job income is.  In fact the more successful
someone is, the more respect I get from them when I show them the opportunity.
It is the nay-sayers, cows, and just generally loosers that make fun, etc.
These people would say NO to any opportunity.  Unfortunately probably 85-90%
of the world falls into the category of people who will never do anything.  I
choose the be in that last 10%.

     As for their obnoxious excitement?  We are excited and rightly so. 
Haven't
you ever been totally pumped about anything you believe in that you want to
share that belief with others?  Same with us, we BELIEVE in what we are doing,
are excited about our futures, and want to help others have better futures too.

Anyhow, this is not intended to be a flame.  I just want to clarify some
misconceptions.  There are three things everyone claims to know everything
about, yet they know nothing: sex, politics, and MLMs (smiley).....

Jon
From: aryeh@cash.ucsc.edu (Aryeh Friedman)
Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs
Subject: Re: MLMs=Entreprenuers?
Date: 9 Sep 1992 20:01:14 GMT
Organization: Marsnet
NNTP-Posting-Host: cash.ucsc.edu

In article <1992Sep9.213547.1@economics.adelaide.edu.au> ecrjbruce@economics.adelaide.edu.au writes:
>Great, now share the secret so that anyone who wants to can have the same
>lifestyle.  That is the greatest benefit of MLM's (at least the true mlm) in
>that you or I or Joe Bloggs down the street can achieve exactly the same thing
>- success.  

	I don't think most people are willing to work as hard as most
entrepreneurs maybe that is why go for so many quick money scams like the one
that you keep pushing, i.e. mlm.

>Let everybody have the opportunity to get ahead inlife and stop pulling down
>the efforts of others.  If you are as successful as you claim (making millions
>ALL THE TIME) why worry about MLM's, you obviously have everything you want so
>a few little mlm companies can't possibly offend you.  Or is it that you get
>just that little bit jealous when you hear all those success stories?

	They offend me for one reason and one reason only they claim to be 
something they aren't, namely a business and not a scam.
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: alien@boi.hp.com (Tom von Alten)
Subject: Re: Question on House Capital Gains
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 19:32:40 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

scheiman@sceng.UB.Com (Scott Scheiman) writes:
: 
: Assuming I've got this right, here's my question:  what are the tax 
: implications of converting that house to a rental and not buying 
: another within the two years???

My guess is that the conversion has to happen at "fair market value,"
which you'll have to establish somehow, and then any capital gains become
realized and taxable.

Just my semi-informed guess...
_____________
Tom von Alten           email: alien@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
From: vida@skagit.bu.edu (Vida Jakabhazy)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: grad taxes - any new news?
Date: 9 Sep 92 16:13:25 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Boston University Center for Remote Sensing


Several months ago there was a posting concerning a bill introduced by Tom
Lewis of Florida (HR 4418, I think) essentially making grad student salaries
exempt from taxes (fed).  I haven't seen or heard anything about it.  Did
anything happen before the summer?  I'd be interested in learning more about
it.

Thanks,
Vida Jakabhazy
vida@bu-geo.bu.edu
From: milt@sdd.hp.com (Milt Fisher)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Question on House Capital Gains
Date: 14 Sep 1992 13:59:30 -0700
Organization: Hewlett Packard, San Diego Division
NNTP-Posting-Host: hp-sdd.sdd.hp.com

In article <1992Sep14.173919.1000@acc.com> art@acc.com (Art Berggreen) writes:
>In article <BuJ7MG.HrA@mail.boi.hp.com> alien@boi.hp.com (Tom von Alten) writes:
>>scheiman@sceng.UB.Com (Scott Scheiman) writes:
>>: 
>>: Assuming I've got this right, here's my question:  what are the tax 
>>: implications of converting that house to a rental and not buying 
>>: another within the two years???
>>
>
>Another educated guess...
What makes you think it's an EDUCATED guess?  Just because it sounds good to
you?  Try again.
>
>If done within the two year period, I'd assume you can roll your old cost
>basis into a new primary residence.  The conversion to rental of the old
>residence would establish its cost basis at current fair market value.
>When the primary residence finally incurs capital gains, it would be from
>the starting cost basis (plus associated additional costs and improvements).
>When the rental incurs capital gains, it would be from the basis established
>at conversion.  Also, depreciation would be based on this cost.
>
>Art

No such luck.  You must live in the house for 2 (or 3?) of the last five years
in order for it to count as your primary residence.  If you turn your current
primary residence into a rental, rent it for 5 years and then sell, you must
pay capital gains on the property, calculated from the time that you originally
purchased it.  There is no provision for transferring your cost basis from
one property to another without selling the property within the two year
period.  Of course with the rental you have the benefits of depreciation, etc.
to offset the capital gains.  When you purchase your new primary residence,
you start all over again with the cost basis equalling the purchase price of
the house less associated costs.

The only way around this (that I know of) is to sell the property to someone
(preferably not a relative) and then purchase it back for use as a rental.
Then you can transfer your cost basis to your new residence if purchased within
two years.  Of course you have all of the associated costs of selling/buying
which may make the whole thing not worthwhile.
all of your capital gains 


-- 

Milt Fisher - Hewlett Packard, San Diego Division
milt@sdd.hp.com
From: Roger.Sheppard@iphase.UUCP (Roger Sheppard)
Sender: FredGate@iphase.UUCP
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Taxing CA Redemption Value
Date: 11 Sep 92  17:50:30 EST

Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA


A question about the California Redemption Value to encourage recycling. 

I purchase a 12 pack of beer. The bill comes to:

1) beer price
3) California Sales tax. 7.25-8.0% Depending on what county you live in.

The tax is applied to the total of the beer price PLUS the CRV.

Why are we taxed on the CRV as well as the product? Arguably, the CRV could
be considered a "tax" since, if you don't recycle you end up with money out
of your pocket. Does that money goes to the recycle program or to the state?

However, if you do recycle (I do) you would get back almost exactly what you 
paid as the CRV. 

Each aluminum can is approximately 1/2 oz. Times 12 = 6.0 oz's. I get $0.79 per
pound for recycling which would bring back ~$0.296 of my $0.30 CRV. So, I'm 
about even except for my gas/time/storage of the cans. But I am out a 7-8%
tax on that $0.30 or about 2.25 cents each time I buy a 12 pack of aluminum
cans. 
cans.

Granted you would have to go through a lot of aluminum cans before you would
hurt too much. But, why are we taxed on the CRV?

Roger..
 * Origin: Gated from uucp to Fidonet by FredGate (1:112/28.0)
From: Michael Gordon <GORDONM%DENISON.BITNET@SHSU.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Expensing a Computer
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 08:43 EDT
Organization: Fedtax-L<==>Misc.Taxes Gateway
X-Gateway-Source-Info: Mailing List

>
>If memory serves (your mileage could vary significantly :), your business
>also has to show enough profit to cover the section 179 deduction - if it
>doesn't, you'll have to carry the "excess" forward, which could end up being
>less attractive than depreciation, since you can depreciate yourself into
>a loss.
>_____________

        This was the case until last year, when the IRS revised the rules.
Now, your total income, including salary from another job, can be used to
compute the limitation on the deduction. Much nicer....

Michael D. Gordon
gordonM@cc.denison.edu
Date sent:  8-SEP-1992 08:43:26
From: art@acc.com (Art Berggreen)
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
Subject: Re: Question on House Capital Gains
Date: 14 Sep 92 17:39:19 GMT
Organization: ACC, Advanced Computer Communications

In article <BuJ7MG.HrA@mail.boi.hp.com> alien@boi.hp.com (Tom von Alten) writes:
>scheiman@sceng.UB.Com (Scott Scheiman) writes:
>: 
>: Assuming I've got this right, here's my question:  what are the tax 
>: implications of converting that house to a rental and not buying 
>: another within the two years???
>
>My guess is that the conversion has to happen at "fair market value,"
>which you'll have to establish somehow, and then any capital gains become
>realized and taxable.
>
>Just my semi-informed guess...

Another educated guess...

If done within the two year period, I'd assume you can roll your old cost
basis into a new primary residence.  The conversion to rental of the old
residence would establish its cost basis at current fair market value.
When the primary residence finally incurs capital gains, it would be from
the starting cost basis (plus associated additional costs and improvements).
When the rental incurs capital gains, it would be from the basis established
at conversion.  Also, depreciation would be based on this cost.

Anyone out there gone through this and knows all the details?

Art
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: ioguo@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (OA Guo)
Subject: Re: Question on House Capital Gains
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 14 Sep 1992 10:14 EDT  

In article <BuJ7MG.HrA@mail.boi.hp.com>, alien@boi.hp.com (Tom von Alten) writes...
>scheiman@sceng.UB.Com (Scott Scheiman) writes:
>: 
>: Assuming I've got this right, here's my question:  what are the tax 
>: implications of converting that house to a rental and not buying 
>: another within the two years???
> 
>My guess is that the conversion has to happen at "fair market value,"
>which you'll have to establish somehow, and then any capital gains become
>realized and taxable.
> 
>Just my semi-informed guess...

	Good guess, but not correct.  The cost base of the house is the lower
	of the "fair market value" and the purchased price.  The purpose
	of establishing the "cost base" is to depreciate for the rental
	property which is "cost base" less land value.  As for the capital
	gains, you never have to pay tax until you sale your property.

	In general, converting a principal resident to a rental property is
	not a good idea, especially if the rental last only a few years and
	you have a big capital gain.  Sometimes, it may make sense if the
	property lost its value and you can somehow establish the "fair
	market value" on your favor, i.e. higher than the actually amount
	you can sell for.
>_____________
>Tom von Alten           email: alien@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OA Guo                        |My statement does not reflect NASA's point of
NASA - Lewis Research Center  |view.  Nor should NASA's statements reflect
Cleveland, Ohio               |my point of view.
Newsgroups: misc.taxes
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Health care plans, IRS, Insurance Companies
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 15:22:08 GMT



>...
>I have a health plan where I work which is a health care reimbursement
>plan. It's one of those plans that you can put in $1000-$5000, or so, 
>tax deferred and take the money out if your health insurance does not cover the
>cost.

Are you sure it is tax-deferred (i.e. eventually you have to pay income
tax for it), not non-taxable (i.e. never need to pay tax)?  My college
provides me the later program called "Medical Assistance Plan" (fancy
name) that I may elect to have a monthly contribution taken from my
salary and deposit in an account.  When I have medical related
expense that is not covered by the medical insurance, I can send the
bill to that account for a reimbursement.  It is really my own money
covering my own expense.  ("My" here means "My family".) The only
benefit I may gain from this is the tax part.  All contributions, no
matter how small, is non-taxable.  Sure, I can deduct medical expense
on my 1040, but it has to exceed the 7.5% minimal limit.  The catch is,
if I don't use up all my contribution by end of the year, the balance
is gone.  No carry over or refund.

>The plan will pay only for qualified indivduals, dependents etc...

Same as mine.  I have to fill out all the names of my dependents
on the "application" form.

>The problem: My wife and I are using a surrogate in our attempt to
>have children. Because of this we obviously would pay for the surrogates
>time, effort, and medical expenses in our quest. 
>
>The insurance company says the surrogate is not a dependent so I can't 
>get the money that I have put into my account back out. 
>
>I have talked to the Insurance company several times. They say they
>cannot give the money out due to IRS rules that the plan does not cover
>non-dependents.

I think your insurance company is bound by IRS rules on this type of
accounts.  Your potential surrogate mother is not a dependent of yours
in any legal sense, though the expense "initiated" by you.  Now, right
after the baby is born (i.e. after the cord is cut), any expense incurred
for him/her is covered by your plan.  But the surrogate mother is
only a "business partner" (excuse my lack of better terms).

>My thoughts on this are that it should be an legal expense and that I should be
>able to my $ from my account. I view this as a service expense that is
>required to complete a medical procedure, however unusal it may be. I
>would understand if it were simply the insurance companys money but it is
>my hard earned money in their hands.

True, it was your own money but you have gained potential tax-exampted
benefit from it.  It is the rule of the game.  I don't know if you can
deduct the expense on your 1040.

>
>I did call the IRS but they have not been much help so far.
>
>Any thoughts, tax pulications, etc.

Sorry, can't be of much help.  Wish you good luck.