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Health savings accounts (HSAs) aren’t new, but with rising health care costs they warrant a closer look. The reason: HSAs, combined with high-deductible health insurance, can provide coverage for you and your staff at dramatic savings over traditional health coverage. It has been estimated that the arrangement can lower costs by 40% and recent statistics from *AHIP.org show that the number of businesses using this health care option is growing. Is this plan right for your business? Overview of HSAsHealth savings accounts (HSAs) were...
As a marketer it’s extremely important to me that the branding I establish and the promises I make regarding our services are fulfilled on by our staff when the clients come in the door. Marketing and operations must be in sync. When marketing brings the client to the door, operations must open that door, fulfill on the expectation set and make the sale. Here, in his recent post*, Michael Bowers* District Director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center shares his position and experience on the importance of fulfilling on the...
Think your new tablet is strictly for entertainment purposes? Think again. Small businesses are rapidly finding innovative ways to use tablet computers (iPad, Kindle Fire, Playbook, etc.) to connect with clients, market while on the go, and enhance customer experiences. With the deluge of apps available in the marketplace geared toward tablet devices like the iPad, we small business owners can have the latest technology at a fraction of the cost of more traditional setups. Here are a few ways a tablet can help your business. 1. Cut Staffing...
While I certainly can’t make this career decision for you, I can certainly help you put both choices into perspective. Let’s see what’s what… If you’re contemplating which direction you’d like to take in your professional life, you certainly have lots of choices: 1. Keep your current job (I’m assuming you have one) 2. Keep your current job, but ask for a promotion 3. Keep your current job, and look for a better one 4. Keep your job, and look for a way to become your own boss 5. Leave your job, and...
As we begin this holiday season, a lot of small business owners say they don’t feel much like celebrating. It’s been another tough year, and there isn’t much evidence the economy is going to get any better in the near future. As a result, many of the small business owners I’ve talked to aren’t planning a holiday party for their team this year. There simply isn’t enough in the budget for a seasonal soiree. While it’s understandable that cash-strapped...
I know it’s tough to build a business and keep it growing through the years, because I’ve done it. Don’t forget that good business planning can help a growing business stay focused and efficient, even as you manage the daily routine and changing markets. Here are my three favorite easy ways to get back on track with business planning. These are all things I’ve done myself. 1. Listen actively to a few of your customers I mean this as exactly what it says. I’m not saying you do a market survey or a...
Selecting which type of financial institution to handle your personal or business banking account largely depends on your financial needs and personal interests. Banks offer a wide range of services and are more accessible to customers on a larger scale. For example, if you have an account with a branch of Chase in Michigan, you can access that same account at any Chase branch and ATMs in Texas. This makes it easy if you are a frequent traveler. With a credit union, you have limited ATM access all across the country. Credit unions typically...
Let’s cut to the chase: Cold calling as it has been done over the last 20+ years is dead. But calling prospects and customers is still a valid way to move a sale forward. Experts can argue all they want over the semantics, but the phone and in-person conversations are what bring in revenue. Social media helps move a call from cold to warm. It warms up a relationship or a gets a conversation started, but I have yet to have a business to business (B2B) sale happen solely via email or Twitter or Facebook or my website. People like to talk...
The holiday shopping season is already upon us, and as soon as Thanksgiving passes, it will hit full swing. The good news for small retailers is that it's not too late to grab your share of holiday shopping dollars—but with Black Friday just a week away, you do need to act fast. Here are five things you can do right now that will make a huge difference in your holiday retail sales: Get involved with Small Business Saturday. Sponsored by American Express, this nationwide initiative to encourage consumers to “buy local...
While 2011 is not yet over, it’s not too early to starting planning ahead for 2012. If your business has employees, here are some things to help you get ready for next year. 1. Decide on wage increasesIf you can afford to give raises, you probably want to keep up with what your competitors may be offering. According to *one survey, most companies are giving raises of 3%. Raises are running higher for technology jobs. 2. Set retirement plans in motionTo enable employees to make salary elective deferrals to 401(k) and other similar plans...
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by BarbaraWeltman, Guest Blogger on Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 18:21