This guest post is brought to you by Outright.com, the easiest way to manage your business finances online.Tired of stressing about your tax return? Wondering if the proper forms will ever come in? Freaking out about that huge box of receipts you haven’t even began to sort out? You may think you’re out of luck with nowhere to turn or run.However, you have one weapon at your disposal: the tax extension! These are an automatic 6 month pushback the IRS grants you when things just aren’t looking like they’ll be done in time for the big tax filing day on April 17th.But is a tax extension right for you? Should you even bother?  Let's find out.A Tax Extension Means More Time To Pay, Right?Let’s get one thing right out in the open – if you’re looking to file a tax extension and push back your tax responsibility because you want more time to pay, then you’re out of luck. If your paperwork is all sorted out, it’s better to go ahead and file and set up a payment plan (which is also surprisingly easy.)The IRS lets you push back the filing of your forms, but they still want your money. When you fill out the tax extension form you must figure out an estimate of the amount of taxes you owe. You can then send in the form and the check together.Naturally if you’re still trying to figure out income and tax deductions, the amount you pay in won’t be precisely the right amount. After you file your official tax forms during your extension, you’ll figure out the right amount and either pay a little more to Uncle Sam or get some back in the form of a refund.How To File A Tax ExtensionFor sole proprietors, the form you need to file for a tax extension is Form 4868, otherwise known as the “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US Individual Income Tax Return.” You can print it directly from the website or you can find it where you find other tax forms, such as your post office or library. It will require just a few basic details about you and your business, plus the amount you estimate you owe in taxes. If you’re limited on time – and who isn’t? – you can also use a service like TurboTax Easy Extension, which will file your extension for a small fee.Is It Time To File A Tax Extension?There are pros and cons to filing versus not filing for an extension and everything is completely dependent on your situation at the time.Naturally, you don’t want to rush through your tax forms, as doing so may end with you paying more than you should. You’re more likely to miss a form or deduction somewhere if you just hurry as fast as you can on April 17th. This can be especially brutal if you’re a small business owner and you end up paying taxes instead of getting a nice refund. (Though you can correct erroneous tax returns later – which is a topic for another day!)However, don’t just file an extension “just because.” If you have time, and you’re fairly organized, take the time to finish your taxes up and get it all sent in. Yes, it’s nice to have the extra 6 months, but on the other hand you have 6 more months of worrying about your taxes! Go ahead and get it done and concentrate on running your business instead.This post is brought to you by Outright.com, the small business finance app that makes tax time less taxing!  Sign up today for your free Outright account! Main image courtesy of Tax Credits

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I’ve been collecting lots of thrift store glass pieces the last six months: milk glass, sherbet cups, candlestick holders, and plain old glass vases–almost all of it under $1 a piece. It’s so great to have on hand when I want to set a table or decorate my mantel. But in order to make it [...]

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I am a creative professional — artist, freelance writer, art teacher, and soon to be proprietor of Creativity Explosion, Cleveland’s Upcycle Exchange. Read more...

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Do you remember making woven paper when you were a kid? It’s a classic craft project – simple, inexpensive, and fun. Paper weaving is a low-mess activity I like to pull out on busy days or when friends are over. After a quick lesson, most kids are weaving like pros. Materials: colored paper strips of [...]

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One of the questions I’m asked most often by the entrepreneurs I work with is whether they should participate in a daily deal. The answer I give really depends on the business, but to help you decide for yourself, I’m going to share my experiences working with daily deal site through my former company, Tees For Change.Make Space For The NewWorking with a daily deal site was a great opportunity for me due to the nature of my business and my pricing.  My tee shirt company often had a stock room filled with last year’s tees just as the next season was about to arrive. Thanks to my price structure and business model, daily deals let me move my old stock fast and turn a profit.Most deal buyers will cash in their voucher within 48 hours. Keep this in mind when negotiating how many vouchers to sell. Ensure you have enough inventory to meet the demand, and service your regular customers.Expanded Your Customer BaseOne of the biggest benefits I saw from working with daily deal sites PlumDistrict and Jasmere was the exposure my brand received.Deal sites have massive customer lists. Partnering with them means your business is landing in the inbox (and mind) of each and every user. While they won’t all buy, many will visit your site to check you out, and may return later to make a purchase long after the deal.Before signing up for a deal, read the site’s about us pages and click through past sales to see what it offers. Ask yourself if your customers would buy these products, and importantly, if the users of this site will buy yours.Many deal buyers who used my vouchers purchased extra products when they cashed in their deal. Some even became repeat customers after that initial purchase.Be SocialEveryone loves getting a deal! The only thing they like more is sharing one.  When I did my deals, my Twitter followers, Facebook fans and newsletter subscribers spiked thanks to all of the additional social media buzz spread by the deal site and its users.As an added bonus, the positive comments deal users posted on my social media accounts after receiving their tees made excellent testimonials for my website.Use your deal as an opportunity to collect contact information from all of the first time customers coming to your site so you can reach them again and make them a regular.My daily deal site experiences have all been great. If you’re selling a physical product and need to move a lot of inventory quickly, this route can help you meet both of those goals, and turn a profit.Andreea Ayers works with creative entrepreneurs to help them get media attention for their products and to increase sales by getting their products in stores. For advice, insight and lots of free resources, check out her site LaunchGrowJoy.comMain image courtesy of ecastro

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Intimate Portraits, Authenticity, and Shedding Delusions on the Path to the Creative Core. Read more...

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I’ve spotted a lot of crafty and delicious eggs over at the M&T Spotlight. I have to share them in case you’re looking for any last minute ideas for this weekend. **Next week: I’ll be sharing your Earth Day crafts ideas. Share something recycled over at the Spotlight. Bird’s Nest Cookies Egg Cups with Asparagus [...]

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Here are some simple ideas that can help you enjoy learning more effectively. Read more...

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Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creative Life Number 21: And throwing them into the wash like dirty socks.

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This little Q-tip bunny has hopped it’s way to our house for a fun little adventure. He’s watching over the kids to make sure he’ll be able to come again to our house for Easter and hide a few eggs and treats. To make you’re own little hippity hoppin’ bunny, get out your stash of [...]

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