Category: Running a Business

For many consumers, paying with cash is so 20th-century. It’s essential that every small business offers non-greenback options at physical and virtual locations. Customer convenience, however, means an additional cost for companies that includes as much as 2.50% per transaction, plus other fees associated with card processing. This can be particularly hard on small businesses, especially those just that are just getting started. It’s essential, despite the cost, for businesses to meet customers where they are, especially since so many… Read More

From big-picture organizational strategies to everyday operational tasks, the success of a business depends on the employees who make things happen. When employees are happy and have a vested interest in their jobs and the company, things run smoothly, but when workers become disenfranchised, the picture can become quite bleak. According to a study by the Conference Board’s Engagement Institute, employees who check out can cost companies a whopping $450 to $550 billion dollars a year. And while your company… Read More

You’ve set up your food truck or your doggie daycare, and you’re ready to win at this small business game. Yet how do you go about finding customers? While there are a lot of notable ways, such as social media, a website, ads in local publications, innovative PR that gets you featured on local (or national) media, and, of course, good old-fashioned word of mouth. But there’s one thing a reputable business can’t forget: The old-school method of having a… Read More

Whether you invest in real estate or work to help others find the perfect home, having a good credit card can help you get rewarded for your everyday business expenses. Every real estate business is different, however, so there’s no one best card for everyone, especially because agents and investors tend to have different types of expenses. To help you find the best credit card for your business, we’ve put together a list of our top choices based on how… Read More

It was my first year of being self-employed, and the first time I had filed taxes as a business owner, rather than an employee. Days before my tax return was due, I received a call from my accountant informing me I owed the IRS around $6000. He may as well have said $600,000; it was an enormous sum to me and I immediately went into panic mode, trying to figure out where I’d drum up that kind of cash. If… Read More

Despite some economic wins over the last year or so, Americans may not have the strongest confidence the government. A recent shutdown and rising interest rates have taken their toll on American pocketbooks and confidence. The government shutdown resulted in about 800,000 government employees being furloughed, agencies such as the IRS and SBA mostly shutting down, and important services such as eVerify going out of business. This showed small business owners just how much the government can affect their bottom… Read More