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December/January
1180 Highway 17 North, Suite 1Little River, SC 29566
www.LittleRiverChamber.org843-249-6604 | [email protected]
November Website Stats: • Business Directory Searches: 5,694• Event Page Views: 2,586• Average Job Searches: 132• Hot Deals - Listed: 1 | Views: 233• Avg. # Clicks per eNews: 130
During this season, we take time to reflect upon the good things we have… like our partnership with you. We would like to express our sincerest appreciation for the trust you have placed in us and hope that the holidays and the coming year will bring you happiness and success. Merry Christmas.
In this issue: • Sales Tax & Small Businesses• Small Business Saturday• Champion for Our Community Award• Event Photos• Enhanced Membership Package• Featured Benefits• Upcoming Events• CACCE Accreditation
Making Waves
The Official Newsletter of The Little River Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center.
2015 2016
Sales Tax and Small Businesses –
Part OneBy Sarah Field
“As a small business owner, do I need to pay sales taxes?”
Lesson 1: Sales tax definedSales tax is defined as a retail point-of-purchase tax imposed by state and local governments. It’s paid for by the purchaser for goods and services, and as a small business owner, you are required by law to assess sales tax, collect it, and pass it on to the appropriate authorities within a prescribed time. That said, sales tax rates and laws vary from state to state, which can lead to confusion, especially if you sell your product or service to customers in multiple states – more on that below.
Lesson 2: Sales tax permitsIn order to collect sales tax, your state may require you to have a sales tax permit. This article can help you determine your state’s tax obligations and find out if you need a sales tax permit in your state.
In most cases, you’ll need to visit the website of your state’s Department of Revenue and register for a sales tax permit. To do so, you’ll need your Federal employer ID number and all of your pertinent business information. Many states allow online registration, so be sure you have all relevant information available before you begin the process.
Once you receive your sales tax permit, your business can begin to collect sales tax from customers. A quick tip – remember that you must always show the cost of the tax amount separately so the customer is clear on the breakdown of costs. Since most sales receipts are programmed to show the amounts, this typically isn’t a problem. Even many online “shopping cart” pages are programmed to show tax calculations. Just make sure that you’ve set up both your receipts and your websites to reflect the applicable sales tax amount for each transaction.
Lesson 3: Determining your sales tax requirementsGenerally, most states require businesses to pay the sales taxes they collect quarterly or monthly. A common question that frequently pops up is, “do all small business owners need to pay sales taxes?” The short answer is yes – a majority of businesses that are sales-oriented in nature are required to pay taxes to the home state or other states in which they conduct business. A small handful of states do not require taxes from businesses (Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon – although many localities in Alaska have their own sales taxes), but for the rest of the country, sales taxes should definitely be on your radar.
Lesson 4: Understanding the parts of your business that are tax-exemptWhile most of your transactions will require the payment of sales tax, there are a few situations in which sales tax does not apply. Here are a few possibilities:
• Nonprofit businesses – sales made to nonprofits may be exempt from sales tax
• Computers and computer accessories may be tax exempt depending on your state laws – speak with your tax accountant to see if your state qualifies for exemptions here
• Casual sales (like a garage sale or a one-time appearance at a flea market) may not require you to pay sales tax. However, use your best judgment – if you’re holding said sale twice a week, you’re probably operating like a business that needs to pay sales tax
• Resold items – resellers and retailers typically don’t have to pay sales tax on wholesale purchases since it’s assumed that the end consumer will pay sales tax on those items at the point of purchase
• If your business is considered a manufacturer (i.e. you process a product and resell it in a different form) or you produce raw materials (you produce and sell goods that will be the raw material for other goods), these items are typically considered sales tax exempt in most states
• There are also some business services that may be tax-exempt. As a general rule, it’s always a good idea to check with your tax accountant to ensure you are taking appropriate steps based on your state’s tax code.
For Part Two and more great business tips, visit SBA.Gov.
Have you written a great article that you think others would benefit from? Email
[email protected] for a chance to see it featured here!
This year we held our first annual Small Business Saturday event. We were so please to have a record participation from our members (see list below). Our shoppers loved not only their free goodies, but also how the event got them involved with small businesses.
Thanks again to our participating locations: Benjamin’s Jewelers, Best of Everything, Carolina Greens Nursery & Landscaping, Galerie D’ Artsy Fartsy, Key West Crazy Restaurant & Bar, Low Country Pipe & Cigar, and Pirate’s Treasure House.
Thank you to the following businesses and organizations for donating items for our tote bags:Barefoot Princess Riverboat, BB&T, Benjamin’s Jewelers, Big M Casino, Conway National Bank, CresCom Bank, Hearing By Design, MVP TrainingGymnastics & More, Horry County Parks & Recreation, Low Country Pipe & Cigar, Mungo Homes, North Strand United Methodist Church, Myrtle Beach Guide & Myrtle Beach Bucks, Myrtle Beach Watersports, Pirate’s Treasure House, Shag City USA.
A special thanks to these businesses for donating additional prizes for our Passport Drawing: Alabama Theatre, Museum of Coastal Carolina/Ingram Planetarium, Myrtle Beach Watersports, and Palace Theatre.
On Oct. 19th, we were honored by the South Carolina Recreation and Park Association and were named the 2015 SCRPA Champion for Our Community Award - Organization. Thank you to Horry County Parks and Recreation for nominating us for this award. We greatly appreciate and enjoy our partnership with Horry County and HCPR.
Welcome New Members:
Awesome Website GuysBrand Mortgage
Color CoatsElite Cleaning Service
Lake Shore MotelMartin Heat & Air
Nail FX
Check out some of these beautiful faces found in Little River.
Ribbon Cutting at Nail FX on Nov. 3
Horry County Clean-Up on Nov. 7
Business After Hours at Low Country Pipe & Cigar on Nov. 17
Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28
Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 1
Ribbon Cutting at The LoVe Pet Clinic on Oct. 16
Business After Hours hosted by the Veteran’s Welcome Home & Resource Center on Oct. 20
Ribbon Cutting at First Palmetto Bank on Oct. 21
Enhanced Directory PackageA special new enhanced directory member incentive package is now available to all new and current members at an additional fee of $65. Additional benefits of the enhanced package include:
E-Brochure/Business Directory Listing• 1,600 character description• Multi-word bullet point listings (up to 5 points)• Map Link ( Google, Map Quest or upload your
own PDF Map)• Photos (up to 8)• Additional Website Link—Add another link to
your website. This will also appear on the search results page above your phone number
• Add One YouTube VideoValue = $60
Search Results Listing• Priority Placement: Your business name will be displayed above any non-enhanced business listing in
your business category search results• Search Results Listing Logo—Your logo is placed next to your name on the search results page, visually
guiding users towards your business.• Additional Key Word search terms• 200 character description under company name on Search ResultsValue = $40
Enhanced Map Details• Pin mark• When clicked on:
o Picture/Logoo Nameo Phone Numbero Address
o Description
o Web linko Contact Emailo Directions Link
Value = $20
As well as these complimentary benefits:• 1 Additional solicitation social media post*
Value = $25• 1 additional eBlast*
Value = $25
• 1 additional printed newsletter ad*Value = $50
• 1 Free ad in weekly eNewsletter*Value = $10
*Limitations apply
That's a total Value of $230 for only $65!
Featured Little River Chamber Member Benefits:
How does your health plan stack up? If it’s not measuring up, then count on True Blue to give you a new choice. Business True Blue and the Business True Blue Value Plans are group health products from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina for Little River Chamber of Commerce members with 2 - 99 employees.
Also available, Personal True Blue for those members who do not qualify for a group health plan, such as sole proprietors, students, part-timers and dependants to name a few.
Call 800-641-2977 for details.
All Chamber members and their employees are welcome to attend our monthly networking event. Exchange business cards, win door prizes, enjoy complimentary food & refreshments provided by the host. For additional networking opportunities, we encourage you to attend any upcoming chamber events. Call the chamber to host a Business After Hours event in 2016.
Members are welcome to one “solicitation” social media post for Facebook per calendar year. Email [email protected] with the content and date you want it posted to reserve your space. No more than one solicitation post per week will be accepted; which means there are only 52 slots a year - so contact me now! First come first served.
Upcoming 2016 Events: • Jan 11: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• Jan. 19: Business Buzz at 9 a.m. at CresCom• Jan. 19: Annual Dinner at 5:30 p.m. River Hills Golf and Country Club• Feb. 8: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• Feb. 16: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• March 14: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• March 11: Membership 101 at 3:30 p.m. at CresCom University• March 15: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. • March 22: Business Buzz at 9 a.m. at CresCom• April 11: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• April 19: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• May 9: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• May 13: Salt Air Jam at the NMB Sports Complex• May 14 & 15: World Famous Blue Crab Festival at the Historic Little River Waterfront• May 24: Business Buzz at 9 a.m. at CresCom• May 28: Movie in Your Park at 7:30 p.m. at the C. B. Berry Historical & Community Center• June 13: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• June 21: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• June 25: Movie in Your Park at 8:30 p.m. at the C. B. Berry Historical & Community Center• July 11: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• July 19: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• July 30: Movie in Your Park at 8:30 p.m. at the C. B. Berry Historical & Community Center• Aug. 8: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• Aug 16: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• Aug. 27: Movie in Your Park at 8:30 p.m. at the C. B. Berry Historical & Community Center• Sept. 12: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• Sept. 15: Membership 101 at 8:30 a.m. at CresCom• Sept. 20: Business Buzz at 9 a.m. at CresCom• Sept. 20: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• Sept. 24: Movie in Your Park at 7:30 p.m. at the C. B. Berry Historical & Community Center• Oct. 8 & 9: Little River ShrimpFest at the Historic Little River Waterfront• Oct. 18: Business Buzz at 9 a.m. at CresCom• Oct. 18: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m.• Nov. 8: Membership 101 at 3:30 p.m. at CresCom• Nov. 14: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office• Nov. 15: Business After Hours at 5:30 p.m. • Nov. 26: Small Business Saturday• Dec. 6: Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m.• Dec. 12: Ambassador Mtg at 5 p.m. at LRC office
Through the Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, we
are now officially a Carolinas Accredited Chamber, Jennifer Walters (our Executive
Director) has been recognized as a Certified Chamber Executive, and she will be serving
on the CACCE’s Board of Directors.
YOUR AD HEREAll members are welcome to one free
3.6” x 2” (shown here) ad per calendar year. Additional ads available at $50/
issue. Contact Izzy at 843-249-6604 or at [email protected] for more
information.
Member of the Month
November 2015
December 2015
October 2015
Did you know?
The deadline to register for FEMA or SBA assistance regarding the October flooding has
been extended to January 3rd.
PO Box 400 Little River, SC 29566
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SC PERMIT #32
Stay in Touch!/LittleRiverChamber/VisitLittleRiverSC/BlueCrabFestival/LittleRiverShrimpFest@LittleRiverCC @VisitLR@BlueCrabFestSC@LRShrimpFest
/LittleRiverSC
@LittleRiverSC
LittleRiverSCLRBlueCrabLRShrimpFest#
Business Buzz is our new educational program designed to aid business leaders and professionals in Little River and surrounding community to further
their entrepreneurial skill sets. Topics and presenters to be annouced; Reccomendations and requests are
welcome.
LRC Members: Free | Non-Members: $15 Pre-Registration is Required for each attending staff
member as there is limited space.
Business Buzz will be held on the following dates at CresCom University, on the second floor of CresCom
Bank in Little River at 9 a.m.:
• Tuesday, January 19• Tuesday, March 22• Tuesday, May 24
• Tuesday, Sept. 20• Tuesday, Oct. 18
