Nonprofit blueprint
Who knew there were so many rules about not making money? Welcome to the complex world of nonprofit law. As examined by lawyer Bruce R. Hopkins in the fourth edition of his Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization: A Legal Guide, it's a veritable jungle of laws on everything from fundraising to reporting revenue to exactly what a nonprofit may and may not say and do.
This comprehensive resource contains up-to-date information; step-by-step guidance; checklists; and a glossary of legal terms to help budding nonprofits stay in compliance. It even gets into when a nonprofit may want to have a for-profit subsidiary.
Price: $39.95.
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
www.wiley.com/nonprofit
(800) 762-2974
'1040 Express Answers'
At this time of year, we have to restrain ourselves from putting on our tri-cornered hat and running through the streets shouting, "Tax season is coming! Tax season is coming!" It is, nonetheless, coming, and CCH's 1040 Express Answers is a tool that may come in more handy than a musket on Lexington Common. It's a spiral-bound quick reference guide to help practitioners turn out 1040 returns easily and accurately.
The forms-oriented organization of the guide is meant to give answers in the same way tax preparers work - line by line, right down the return -while at the same time offering warnings, giving examples and planning points, and pointing out gray areas. There's also a section on the alternative minimum tax. Written in plain English, it'll come in handy for wet-behind-the-ears newbies and 1040-scarred veterans alike.
Price: $35.00. Quantity discounts available.
CCH Tax and Accounting
http://tax.cchgroup.com
(888) CCH-REPS
Israeli business
Watching news reports of war-torn or terrorist-besieged nations, it's often easy to forget that in all but the most beleaguered societies, daily life goes on: People need to earn a living, and so they get up and go to work. What makes Israel remarkable is that fact that, despite being beset with terrorist attacks since the beginning of the Palestinian intifada in 2000, it boasts a large number of companies that are not only surviving, but thriving.
Author Dan Carrison wanted to know why, so he dug deep into the Israeli business world, speaking to government ministers, CEOs, managers and employees from a range of companies, and in Business Under Fire he brings together the insights and strategies that allow enterprises to flourish under the threat of terrorism. Among the best practices he noted were the need for flexibility in long-term plans, while also focusing on the victories one can achieve now; the importance of contingency plans; and the need to acknowledge and define the problems and challenges facing your business, however unpleasant it may be to do so.
Price: $24.95. Group discounts available.
Amacom
www.amacombooks.com
(212) 903-8316
E-signature law
With the proliferation of laws and legal issues regarding electronic signatures, signing on the dotted line isn't what it used to be. Now that you don't have to be in the same room (or country) with someone to bind yourself contractually, it's important to keep abreast of the latest developments. The Law of Electronic Signatures and Records, from Washington lawyers Jeremiah S. Buckley, Margo H. K. Tank and John P. Kromer, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage associate general counsel R. David Whitaker, can help.
The book covers the current state of the law on e-signatures and electronic records, brings in the viewpoints of industry experts and government agencies, and brings clarity to an often-murky subject. It's also available both in print and in electronic format.
Price: $231; 45-day free trial.
Glasser LegalWorks
www.glasserlegalworks.com
(800) 344-5009
'Management Dynamics'
It may not be as well known as the Theory of Evolution, but the Theory of Constraints may well be much more important to your business. Developed over two decades ago, it uses a set of logical tools to focus on continuous improvement by identifying and fixing the weak leaks in a business process chain. In Management Dynamics: Merging Constraints Accounting to Drive Improvement, consultants John A. Caspari and Pamela Caspari describe the theory, show why it hasn't always lived up to its promise, and then add what they consider a crucial element: the development of a fully integrated and supporting accounting system. They also discuss using compensation as an incentive to successful implementation of the theory.
Price: $49.00.
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
www.wiley.com/business
(800) 762-2974
