Owning a small business is one way many people achieve The American Dream. As a small business owner, you can offer something special to your community, whether it’s providing unique products and services or creating a small-town friendly atmosphere at your business by getting to know customers by name. This Thanksgiving weekend, you have the opportunity to showcase...
There’s one determination that every business owner – regardless of their industry – needs to assess each year: how much flood insurance to purchase, based on the potential that a flood will happen. If history is any guide, thousands of business owners stand to be adversely affected by flooding. Since 2012,...
Small business owners can generally deduct certain expenses on their taxes. But which ones? Here’s a quick look at what’s deductible and what isn’t, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These Items Are Typically Tax Deductible: Employees’ pay Retirement plans Business rent Interest Taxes Insurance Business meals Business travel Business...
If you can’t remember the last time you took more than a day off work for fun, you’re cheating your small business. Say what? It may sound counterintuitive, but taking breaks from work is one of the best ways to keep your business in top shape. According to a recent study by...
The U.S. workforce has steadily gotten older over the past two decades, which has both positive and negative connotations for workplace safety, experts say. In 1994, people ages 55 and older represented 11.9% of the labor force – a number that is rising and is expected to reach 24.9%...
Pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation is increasing in popularity in the business world. Eliminating up-front costs and outdated payment methods, are two of the biggest reasons businesses are turning to pay-as-you-go workers’ comp insurance. Another large benefit is not having to deal with audits. The cost and time typically spent on audits...
Running a business can be incredibly challenging. There are a number of decisions to be made, like what should go in the candy dishes and if Flag Day should be a paid holiday. Sure, those choices may not greatly impact your company’s success, but one that might is choosing...
Even if you just work (for yourself) from home, rather than running a full fledged home-based business, you need insurance to protect yourself. Why? “You need to separate your business from your home,” Ahart said. “If you make a mistake in your professional life, you don’t want people to...
While the conversation around the water cooler may be about the latest cyber breach, protecting your data against cyber attacks requires much more than words. Walk the talk to help protect your data with a documented data security policy. Every employee needs to understand his or her obligation...
If you’re looking for ways to cut expenses, you may be wondering how you can reduce your water bill. The average person uses 80 to 100 gallons of water per day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). From showering and washing dishes to watering the garden, water usage can...