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Damages.
A cash compensation ordered by a court or arbitrator to offset losses or suffering caused by another´s fault or negligence. Damages are a typical request made of a court or arbitrator when persons sue for breach of contract or tort. Database.
A computer program that helps users organize information. Databases range from simple collections of rows and columns (similar to a spreadsheet) to complex systems that process and manipulate millions of records in a variety of ways. Debenture.
Debt instrument evidencing the holder's right to receive interest and principal installments from the debtor. Debt Financing.
The provision of long term loans to small business concerns in exchange for debt securities or a note. Decision Maker.
The person within a company who ultimately decides which products or services to buy. Deed of Trust.
A document that, when properly delivered, transfers a security interest in real property. Defaults.
The nonpayment of principal and/or interest on the due date as provided by the terms and conditions of a promissory note or loan agreement. Demand Letter.
A letter from a lawyer on behalf of a client that demands payment or some other action. Demand letters often threaten litigation if the other party does not perform. Demographic.
A descriptive classification for consumers, such as age, sex, income, education, household size, home ownership or other defining characteristics. Depreciation.
An accounting procedure that spreads the cost of purchasing an asset over the useful lifetime of the asset. DHTML (Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language).
Dynamic HTML is an umbrella term used to include HTML and related technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript that bring animation and other interactivity to Web pages. Digital Certificate.
A special email attachment that confirms the identity of the person sending the message. Direct Mail.
Marketing or advertising materials sent directly to a prospective customer via the US Postal Service or a private delivery company. Direct Marketing.
The process of sending promotional messages directly to individual consumers, rather than via a mass medium. Includes methods such as direct mail and telemarketing. Disability Benefits.
Benefits paid to an employee who cannot work because of disability, usually limited to what is not covered by workers compensation. Disability benefits are usually a percentage of the employee´s prior income and generally run for a limited time. Doing Business As (DBA).
A situation in which a business owner operates a company under a different name than the one under which it is incorporated. The owner typically must file a fictitious name statement or similar document with the appropriate county or state agency. Domain Name.
The text-based URL or address of a Web site. Domain names usually consist of several different segments. The name www.allbusiness.com, for example, includes the generic “www” and “.com” identifiers, along with the unique name “allbusiness.” DSL (Digital Subscriber Line).
A family of telecommunications protocols designed to allow data communications over standard telephone lines at speeds up to 1.5Mbps — about 30 times faster than a standard 56K modem. DSL service lets users receive voice and data transmissions simultaneously over the same phone line, allowing “always on” Internet access. EBITDA.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. E-Check.
A method of automatically paying for goods or services that works much like direct deposit in reverse. Companies keep a customer´s voided check on file, which allows them to debit the customer´s bank account for the amount owed. EDI (Electronic Data Interchange).
The exchange of standardized document forms between computers for business use. EDI has traditionally been a very complex and expensive undertaking. As more companies build inexpensive, standards-based networks around the Internet, however, EDI systems are becoming cheaper and easier to use. Embossing.
To raise a design or letters already printed on a card. Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
A broad-reaching law that establishes the rights of pension plan participants, standards for the investment of pension plan assets, and requirements for the disclosure of plan provisions and funding. Employee Manual.
A handbook that describes a company´s personnel procedures, policies and benefits. Employer ID Number (EIN).
An identification number assigned to businesses for taxpaying purposes by the IRS or state taxing authorities. An Employer ID Number is required for partnerships, corporations, and trusts, and it may be required for sole proprietorships that have employees. Also called a Federal ID Number or Taxpayer ID Number. Employment Agreement.
An agreement that sets forth the rights and obligations of employees and employers. Typical employment agreements oblige employees to keep trade secrets confidential and to not solicit other employees after their departure. Encryption.
The translation of plain-text data, such as an email message, into an unreadable code in order to ensure its safe transmission over the Internet. To read encrypted data, you must have software that allows you to decrypt it. Entrepreneur.
One who assumes the financial risk of the initiation, operation, and management of a given business undertaking. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).
Federal legislation prohibiting employment discrimination based on age, race, sex, religion or ethnic background. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The federal agency responsible for handling workplace discrimination complaints. Many states have comparable agencies. Equal Pay Act.
Federal legislation that prohibits certain employers from paying different wages to men and women who perform the same work in similar working conditions. Equity.
An ownership interest in a business. For example, stock in a corporation represents equity in the corporation. Equity Financing.
The provision of funds for capital or operating expenses in exchange for capital stock, stock purchase warrants, and/or options in the business financed, without any guaranteed return, but with the opportunity to share in the company's profits. Ergonomic.
Machines and equipment, such as computers, chairs, and lighting, designed to reduce injuries and increase productivity. ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).
A retirement-type plan in which a trust holds stock in the employees´ names. Employees receive cash from the stock only when they leave the company or perhaps when the company is sold. Ethernet.
The most common method for transferring data over a Local Area Network (LAN). Exempt Employee.
Employees who are not bound to overtime regulations and minimum wage laws. Who is exempt depends on level of responsibility or professional status. Exit Interview.
An interview conducted at the end of an employee´s term of employment to obtain employment feedback and to remind the employee of his or her confidentiality obligations. Extranet.
An intranet that is open to certain external users, such as suppliers and clients. These external users may log onto an extranet in a one-way relationship or they may connect their own intranet with the host intranet, creating a two-way relationship. 401(k) Plan.
A tax-deferred retirement plan designed to encourage long-term retirement savings. Some companies provide contributions as an employee benefit. FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
A federal law that specifies what debt collectors can and cannot do to try to collect late payments. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
A federal law that defines the 40-hour workweek, the federal minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping and child labor standards affecting private sector, federal, state and local government workers. Fair Use.
A legal doctrine that authorizes use of copyrighted materials for certain purposes without the copyright owner´s permission. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
A federal law requiring employers to provide eligible employees with unpaid leave during a year´s time for the birth or adoption of a child, family health needs or personal illness. The FMLA generally applies to all public agencies, including state, local and federal employers; private companies that employ 50 or more people; and public schools. Fiber Optics.
A technology that transmits data as beams of light along tiny strands of glass. Fiber-optic networks can transmit a greater amount of data than other kinds of networks, and they are much less likely to introduce data errors. FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act).
A payroll deduction for Social Security required by the federal government. Financial Mangement. The correct handling of small business finances to be in compliance with tax laws and produce company profits. Financial Reports.
Reports concerning the financial aspects of a business, such as: (1) Balance Sheet - A report of the status of a firm's assets, liabilities and owner's equity at a given time. (2) Income Statement - A report of revenue and expense which shows the results of business operations or net income for a specified period of time. (3) Cash Flow - A report which analyzes the actual or projected source and disposition of cash during a past or future accounting period.
Financing.
New funds provided to a business, either by way of equity infusion, or loans. Firewall.
Software that protects a private network, such as a LAN or an intranet, from intruders or unauthorized traffic. Firewall software usually screens traffic by IP address or other traits, admitting certain types of traffic while blocking others. Five C's of Lending. The five most important characteristics a lender looks at in small business loan applicant. Fixed Costs.
Costs of doing business, such as rent and utilities that remain generally the same regardless of the amount of sales of goods or services. Flow Chart.
A graphical representation for the definition, analysis, or solution of a problem, in which symbols are used to represent operations, data, flow, equipment, etc. Foot Traffic.
Consumer activity produced by visitors at stores, trade show exhibits or by popular retail locations. Foreclosure.
The act by the mortgagee or trustee upon default, in the payment of interest or principal of a mortgage of enforcing payment of the debt by selling the underlying secured property. Form W4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate.
An IRS form completed by the employee and used by the employer to determine the amount of income tax to withhold. Franchising.
A relationship in which the franchisor provides a licensed privilege to the franchise to do business and offers assistance in organizing, training, merchandising, marketing, and managing in return for a consideration. Examples of franchises include Burger King and Taco Bell. Fraudulent Loans. A small business loan that is not real, where the small business owner is required to pay a large sum of money up front for a loan application for a loan that will never be given. Freedom of Information Act.
The FOIA, enacted in 1966, generally provides that any person has a right of access to federal agency records. Freeware.
Software that is available for anyone to use, free of charge. Most freeware is still copyrighted, however, which means that it can´t be further distributed or licensed. FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
The most common way to download and upload files over the Internet, FTP operations require special software that is built into the most popular Web browsers and that is also available in a number of stand-alone applications. Web site builders use FTP to upload files to a Web host computer. Full-Service Agency.
A firm that handles all aspects of the advertising or public relations process, including planning, design, production and placement. Many full-service agencies also handle marketing communication, public relations, sales promotion and direct marketing.
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