Search
Small Business Matters
We live in unstable times with many businesses experiencing disruptive change. Change isn't always a bad thing, but with employees putting in more hours and taking on more responsibilities, change can quickly become an ever-tightening noose around the neck of your business - unless it's properly managed. As humans we don't always welcome change - it brings uncertainty, stress, and can lead even the most loyal of employees to question their dedication to your business. Tha's why unstable times require honest and true leadership...
To coin an old phrase: 'Death, taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them.' (Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind). This might be true, but you can at least alleviate some of the burden of tax season by doing some preparation in advance. For the small business owner, this means taking the time to maintain good records, understanding what tax deductions you may be eligible for, and taking steps to prepare for the January wage reporting season (see Part 1). But it also means familiarizing yourself and...
Most business owners can't afford to put off till the afternoon what they can do in the morning. The same is true when it comes to tax season preparation. It doesn't matter whether you employ two people or 100, getting ahead of your obligations and your arms around tax law changes is good business management. In this first tax preparation post, -ll discuss some of the steps you can take now to prepare for wage reporting season, as well as some of the new and existing resources that can help streamline the process. And, look out...
To the outside world your website is the equivalent of your storefront, and your customers expect it to be eye-catching, well-maintained, and always offering something new. However, when yo;re on the inside and are caught up in the day-to-day operations of your business, finding the time to focus on your website is easier said than done. And, like a neglected storefront, it can quickly become out-of-date, unappealing and, at worst, ignored. Here are some tips to help you keep your website up-to-date, relevant and attracting customers. 1. Does...
It's that time of year again -- annual employee performance review season! And with employee reviews comes the inevitable question of how do you reward high-performing employees? Do you give them a wage increase, hand-out a one-time bonus, or both? In a tough economy, are there other ways to reward employees, without breaking the bank? Here are some tips for assessing the best ways to reward your employees based on a strong performance review. Assessing Performance When it comes to reviewing employee performance and...
Ho! Ho! Ho! It's holiday season once more and the malls and stores are strewn with festive décor and are aloud with the piped tunes of Bing Crosby! But what if the holiday season is not your big selling season? For many service-based businesses and retail stores, the holidays can bring a sales blip, and at worst, cash flow issues. This is why i;s more important than ever to use this time to stay engaged with your customer base, while keeping your business in good management and fiscal shape. Here are four tips for making the most of...
If your sales are struggling and revenues are falling, it's essential to conduct a full review of your business to understand where things have gone wrong and where the opportunity lies for turning things around. If yo;re a fan of reality TV business makeover shows, i-s a formula you see all the time, from Gordon Ramsay to Tabatha Coffey, conducting a full review of your business is essential to understanding where things have gone wrong and where the opportunity lies for turning things around. This is, of course, easier said than done when...
How do you staff a new or growing business? Knowing who to turn to can be a bit of a conundrum. Do you dive right in and hire full-time or part-time employees? What if your success doesn't last and you are stuck with a team of employees with the associated payroll and benefit expenses? What about turning to friends and family or a staffing agency for help? It might not be something you thought about too much about when you started your business, but having a staffing plan can help your business prepare for success and ensure you have the...
It doesn't matter what type of business you operate, making sure you get paid on time and as seamlessly as possible (for both you and your client) is critical to your success and survival. But knowing how to get paid is-t as easy as it sounds. The payment options that work for one business, may not work for another. Likewise, getting paid on time requires you put the right pre-emptive measures in place for collecting what yo-re owed and managing past-due payments. To help you make the right decisions for your business, here are some...
Did you know that all the net new jobs in the U.S. over the past 25 years came from firms less than five years old? (source*). This calls for a celebration! And tha;s exactly what Global Entrepreneurship Week* (GEW) is all about - a celebration of entrepreneurship- on a global scale. But i-s not just one big party. From November 15-21, millions of people around the globe will participate in thousands of events and competitions to celebrate innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and generate new ideas! Many of these events will take...
Contributors
Top Rated Articles
Community Help
About This Blog
General small business tips and tricks.
Archive
- June 2013 (11)
- May 2013 (29)
- April 2013 (29)
- March 2013 (27)
- February 2013 (26)
- January 2013 (31)
- December 2012 (24)
- November 2012 (29)
- October 2012 (26)
- September 2012 (29)
- August 2012 (26)
- July 2012 (29)
- June 2012 (25)
- May 2012 (33)
- April 2012 (35)
- March 2012 (36)
- February 2012 (35)
- January 2012 (30)
by Caron_Beesley, Community Moderator on Thursday, December 9, 2010 - 05:05