Table of Contents - February 2009

• Message from Kristie & Chrissi
• Elevators That Can Lift Your Bottom Line
• Tax Tips
• Important Dates
• Protecting Your Job Site
• Classifieds

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Message from the Gals

Happy New Year! Okay, so it's a little late. We've been a little busy and have just now been able to put together an etc. for you. We are looking forward to a fantastic 2009. Like our friends at Knott's Plastering and Finish Carpentry in Bonita Springs, we refuse to participate in a recession! We hope you will join us. :-)

This month's issue provides information on KONE elevators, which is a cost-effective, space-saving and green option if you need elevators for any of your projects, as well as timely tax tips. We have also shared some ideas from the Collier County Sheriff's Office that apply to any construction site. We hope you find this issue helpful and informative.

Have a fabulous February and marvelous March!

Best regards,

Kristie & Chrissi

Elevators That Can Lift Your Bottom Line

Green and cost-effective – those are the two main concerns in today’s business world. This is especially true in the construction industry. Businesses cannot ignore society’s consciousness of environmental protection. They seek buildings that are eco-friendly and energy efficient. Builders must meet these demands while also meeting the owners’ needs of saving money – in the actual building budget and over the long term. If your next project is a commercial building over one story, KONE can help you meet these needs.

Alys Roark, New Equipment Sales Representative for Southwest Florida, shared with us the benefits of KONE’s equipment and we thought it worthwhile to pass it on to our clients. She gave us this article to share with you:

At KONE, we are improving the environmental efficiency of our solutions through incorporating energy-saving technologies that keep the total cost of ownership low while reducing a building’s ecological footprint. KONE equipment is built to last for a lifecycle extending to 2050 and beyond with the support of our maintenance and modernization services, which help you keep your equipment operating efficiently and looking good for its entire lifetime.

KONE elevators use less electricity and almost no oil, while they also require a smaller space than traditional elevators. In 2009, our focus is on standby energy savings and regenerative systems, as well as energy-saving solutions like LED lights in elevator cars, Destination Control Systems for efficient elevator travel planning, and the KONE EcoMod state-of-the art modernization solution for escalators.

KONE is even developing solar-powered elevators that will run partly or entirely free of any power source other than the sun.

We plan to continue to strengthen our leadership in eco-efficiency by continuing to supply eco-efficient products and services and minimizing the carbon footprint of our own operations. As buildings consume 40 percent of the earth’s energy, and elevators, in turn, consume some 2 percent to 10 percent of the total energy in a building, we have set an ambitious goal to cut energy consumption of our standard elevator products by 50 percent by 2010. As urban areas grow and the cost of energy keeps rising, the challenge is to design buildings that are environmentally efficient and ensure smooth people flow.

For more information, please contact Alys at 239.598.9310, 239.280.9698 or Alys.Roark@kone.com. Alys serves the Southwest Florida market, from Marco Island to Venice. She can also connect you to the appropriate person in other geographical areas.

* Highly Recommended *

Reducing Costs

Tax Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you proceed through 2009, courtesy of Carmen Falbo of Miller & Westerfer, CPA, PA, of Naples:

• Depending on how the Economic Stimulus Plan goes, homebuyers in 2009 may be able to take advantage of a tax credit for buying a home this year. The current plan in place is a refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers who buy before July 1, 2009. Make sure you're using this is a marketing tool if you are a homebuilder.
• If you or your customers are thinking of making energy savings improvements for the home, there may be a $500 tax credit available this year. Keep tabs on this and use it for marketing.
• Similarly, there are substantial tax credits available for installing energy generating equipment (e.g., solar electric panels, solar hot water heaters). Again, take advantage of it for yourself, but also remember to use it in your marketing.
• Be sure to set up a self-employed retirement plan if you have not already done so.

For more information about 2008 and 2009 tax years, you contact Carmen at 239-643-1040 or carmen@millerwesterfercpa.com

Important Dates

• Next CILB meeting is March 11-13 in Altamonte Springs.
• Next exam dates are April 14-15.
• Deadline to register for the April exams is March 13.
• Corporate tax returns must be filed by March 15.
• Corporate and LLC annual reports must be filed with the state by May 1.

Keeping Your Jobsite Safe

In today's tough enonomic times, crime sprees are on the rise. Construction sites are especially vulnerable - there is a lot of valuable equipment and tools left unsupervised overnight and over weekends. The Collier County Sheriff's Office alerted the local construction industry about increased crime over the holidays and we thought these tips are helpful any time:

• Ensure serial numbes and make/model information on equipment is recorded in case the need develops to register this information into recovery databases.
• Make sure your physical security measures (locks, lighting, alarm and surveillance systems) are working properly.
• Disable machines that have to remain on jobsites. Remove battery cables, pull fuses, disable ignition switches or remove tires. Make use of supplemental locking devices that prevent operation.
• Conduct random spot checks on jobsites.

What Our Clients Have to Say

“Once again, Kristie & Chrissi have outdone themselves and any of their competition."

Classifieds

Do you have books to sell? We sometimes get questions from callers about where they can find used books for their exams. We'd like to start a list so we can refer them to our clients who who'd like to recoup a portion of their costs. Please contact Kristie (239.777.8321) or Chrissi (239.777.1028) to get your name and number on the list.

Have something you want to sell? A position to fill? A need for a subcontractor?

Fine Print

Licenses, Etc., Inc.
Copyright Licenses, Etc, Inc., 2008, 2009
Have a question for the experts at Licenses, Etc.? Call Kristie at 239.777.8321 or Chrissi at 239.777.1028 or visit www.LicensesEtc.com

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