For the love of your business
For the love of your business
As with so many things in life, some of the same qualities that help small businesses succeed, can also lead to their demise. Fortunately, much of that risk can be lessened through operational excellence. For example, the owners and managers of small businesses often know each other before they go into business together. Sometimes, they’re […]
Read MoreDue to the use of online marketing, business competition is fiercer than ever. This hypercompetitive environment causes many business owners to wonder how they can stop the poaching of their good employees. First and foremost, this is best accomplished by treating your employees great, paying wages on the higher end of the scale and creating […]
Read MoreMany businesses can be started with a small financial investment. Online consignment, pet-sitting, and ride-share driver are just a few. But to grow your business, you need not just capital but internal insight. You need to understand just what makes you tick, otherwise the business will either quickly take over your life or it is […]
Read MoreQ: How can I attract and keep quality employees for my small business? –Curious Entrepreneur A: Dear Curious: In today’s competitive environment, it is increasingly difficult to attract high-quality employees. Of course, salary and benefits are always important. However, there are many things you can do that add value to your business and […]
Read MoreThe Affordable Care Act encourages employers to provide health insurance to their employees. This encouragement comes in the form of mandated payments to the government when affordable insurance at a certain minimum level of coverage is not provided. This feature of the ACA is known as “Employer Shared Responsibility” or the “Employer Mandate.” Employers with […]
Read MoreYour family-owned and run business can be the greatest gift or the greatest burden to the people you love, if and when something happens to you. If you’ve planned well and properly for your business to be continued, managed or sold, it will be the gift that keeps on giving and shows your family just […]
Read MoreWhen most people think about planning for death, they envision personal estate planning. But even if you are already proactive in that area, you may not be finished if you own a business. Succession planning for business owners is at least as important as personal estate planning, maybe even more so because you have a […]
Read MoreQ: As a small business owner, how can I reduce my tax liability? –Skeptical Business Owner A: Dear Skeptical: First and foremost, you need to make sure your business is incorporated using the entity structure that will maximize your tax savings. For many solo and small business owners, that will be an S-Corporation […]
Read MoreIf you co-own a family business with your spouse and you are facing divorce, a likely concern is how your business will be handled through the separation proceedings. The good news is, it’s really all up to you. And, so much of it depends on the legal counsel you have representing you. Much of how […]
Read MoreThe good news about healthcare costs in the United States is that they have decreased from 6-7% per year to just around 4%. The bad news is that health care costs continue to rise faster than workers’ incomes. For small businesses, this is a recipe for disaster. They are caught between increased costs for employer-sponsored […]
Read MoreThe “work hard, play hard” attitude has infiltrated American sportswear and music. And it can also be applied to our attitudes about the balance between our professional and personal lives. A study from Stanford University examined the effect of working long hours on productivity. The results may surprise you: Employees who regularly worked more than […]
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