GIF (Graphics Interchange Format).
One of the two most common graphics formats on the Web. (JPEG is the other.) GIF images are used mostly for line art, logos and similar types of graphics.

Giveaway.
A gift given to potential customers at trade shows and other marketing events to remind them of a product or service. Also known as a "freebie" or a "gimme."

Guarantee.
A promise to step in and perform another´s obligation if that person should fail or default.

Guarantor.
A person who makes a legally binding promise either to pay another person´s obligation or to perform another person´s duty if that person defaults or fails to perform.  

Hard Money Lender.
A private lender that lends money to individuals or small businesses that are not eligible for a traditional bank loan.

Hard Sell.
Aggressive, high-pressure sales techniques.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).
A system of managed health care in which patients must see approved health care providers. HMOs typically offer coverage with no deductibles and low per-visit fees.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language).
One of the foundations of the Web, HTML is a text-based language used to describe the structure and layout of a document — headlines, paragraphs, table elements and so on.

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
The set of standards that lets Web servers and browsers communicate with each other.

HVAC.
Acronym that stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Hyperlink (link).
Web developers use HTML to create hyperlinks that a user clicks on to be transported to another Web page. Hyperlinks can appear as graphics or as areas of differently colored or underlined text.

Incentive Stock Options (ISOs).
Stock options granted to employees that are taxed as capital gains rather than income if the employee meets the required holding period before selling them. Also called statutory stock options and qualified stock options.

Income Statement.
A record of the financial performance of a company over a period of time. It records all the income generated by the business during the period and deducts all its expenses for the same period to arrive at net income, or the profit for the period.

Independent Contractor.
A worker who works on a specific project for a specified period of time. Independent contractors are not subject to tax withholdings and usually don´t receive benefits granted to full-time employees.

Infringement (of copyright).
Any unauthorized use of a copyrighted work other than fair use.

Infringement (of patent).
Violation of a patent through production, use or sale of a patented invention or its functional equivalent without the patent holder´s permission.

Infringement (of trademark).
Unauthorized use of a protected trademark or service mark or use of a confusingly similar mark.

Inquiries.
Consumer response to a company´s advertising, or to other promotional activities such as coupons. Used to measure the effectiveness of promotions.

Inserts.
Extra printed pages inserted loosely into printed pieces. Often inserts are advertising supplements to a newspaper or magazine.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The federal agency that collects income taxes in the United States.

INS Form I-9.
The form used by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to verify an employee´s eligibility to work in the United States.

Insolvency.
The inability of a borrower to meet financial obligations as they mature, or having insufficient assets to pay legal debts.

Interest.
(1) An amount paid a lender for the use of funds, or (2) cost of using credit or another person´s or company´s money. Interest is usually calculated as a rate per a period of time, typically a year.

Interest Rate.
Percentage of a sum of money charged for the use of the money. Borrowing $100 for one year at a 10 percent simple interest rate would cost $10.

Internet.
A network of networks, built upon a set of widely used software protocols that links millions of computers around the world. Services such as email and the Web use the Internet to transfer data.

Intranet.
A private corporate network built with Internet-based protocols and software applications.

Invoice.
A bill prepared by the seller of goods or services. Invoices tell purchasers how much they owe.

IP Address.
A numeric address devices use to find one another on the network and to exchange information. Every device connected to the Internet has an identifying IP address. Most Internet users never see an IP address; instead, they use text-based domain names, which are easier to remember.

IRS Form 1099-MISC.
The tax form sent to the IRS and the independent contractor at the end of the year when an independent contractor´s annual wages meet or exceed $600.

IRS Form W-4.
The IRS form used to record filing status and withholding allowances. Also known as the Employee Withholding Tax Certificate.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).
A set of communications standards that enable a single wire to carry data, voice and video transmissions at the same time. ISDN uses existing analog phone lines to provide faster Internet access (up to 128Kbps, or twice as fast as a 56K modem).

ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Companies that provide access to the Internet, either via dial-up access numbers or a dedicated service such as DSL. Many ISPs also offer Web hosting, domain name registration and other services. There are thousands of ISPs, ranging in size from tiny local providers to giant corporations such as America Online.