Idea of the Day®
October 16, 2025
Tax credit for a diaper changing station?
The Family-Friendly Facilities Tax Credit Act would create a new federal tax credit for small businesses to set up a diaper changing station in family restrooms. The credit would be 70% of expenses up to $10,000 per location. It would apply to businesses with annual revenue under $5 million or less than 100 full-time equivalent employees for the year. The chances of enactment? Who knows. #IdeaoftheDay
Big Ideas for Your Business
Resources For Your Business
October 16, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
A logophile is a lover of words, and that describes me. I read many books a month and am in multiple book clubs. I’ve transitioned from turning pages on a printed book to swiping them on my iPad. I like most genres…historic fiction, biography, nonfiction…with my favorite being magical realism (e.g., 100 Years of Solitude; […]
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October 14, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Why is this important to know? The CDC says that 28.7% of adults in the U.S. (about 70 million people) have a functional disability. Many of these individuals are in the workplace. And many more want to be (disabled vets are struggling to find post-military employment). According to Disability: IN: […]
October 10, 2025
By Erin Shea
Holiday cards have long been a symbol of warmth and tradition, but they’re not just for friends and family. Businesses are now part of the ritual too – and customers welcome it. A recent national survey from VistaPrint of 1,000 U.S. consumers confirms that holiday cards remain a highly effective way for companies to express […]
October 9, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The deduction for no-tax-on-tips, or more simply tips deduction, was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA). Even though OBBBA was signed into law on July 4, 2025, the tips deduction is effective as of January 1, 2025. About 4 million people in the U.S. work in tipped occupations, but it’s […]
October 7, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Earlier this year, a group of Starbucks employees filed a lawsuit when the company imposed a new dress code. The company requires baristas to wear sold black shirts with long or short sleeves (with or without collars); they must cover midriffs and armpits. They also have to wear khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms without […]
October 6, 2025
By James Thompson
Brand activation is a marketing strategy to create real-world interactions that speak to an audience and move beyond traditional advertising to form stronger relationships between businesses and consumers. It’s essential today because brands often get lost in the huge clutter of products around us. Brand activation is particularly valuable in competitive markets like New York, […]
October 2, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
On September 16, 2025, I presented a webinar for SCORE entitled “Year-End Tax Preparation – Opportunities to Reduce Your Overall Tax Burden.” It covered the tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that are effective in 2025 and impact 2026 tax planning. At the end of the webinar, there was a Q&A […]
September 30, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Economies of scale is the “cost advantages that enterprises obtain due to their scale of operation.” By definition, small businesses are small and often pay more for the same things than larger organizations, at least when it’s figured on a unit basis. For example, there’s buying power for bulk purchases and there’s the ability to […]
September 29, 2025
It now takes companies an average of 50 days to fill an open position, with senior management roles typically taking up to 50% longer to fill than entry-level jobs. If your business is rapidly scaling and you’re in need of additional talent fast, you can ill afford to wait such a long time to get […]
September 25, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Dolly Parton lamented the woes of working 9 to 5. Today, regular business hours of 9 am to 5 pm, five days a week can still be found, but this isn’t the rule in every business. Employees want more flexibility so they can achieve a better work-life balance. And employers want to find ways to […]
September 23, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
While large employers—50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent employees—must offer affordable coverage or pay a penalty, small businesses are free to decide whether to offer coverage and what type of coverage they will be. Health insurers usually announce their premiums for the coming year during the summer months, which makes now an ideal time […]
September 19, 2025
By Elida Berbeci
Most people don’t think about how much their environment affects them. Yet the spaces where we work are constantly shaping how we feel, think, and perform. Office design is not just about furniture and paint; it’s about psychology. The proper setup can increase energy levels, spark creativity, and reduce stress. The wrong one can drain […]
September 18, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
A recent Bank of America survey found that many employees are feeling financially stressed and are “looking for more employer resources on financial wellness, emergency savings and debt.” Here’s a closer look at what the survey revealed and how you can take action to help your employees. What employees are feeling and what employers are doing […]
September 17, 2025
By Elida Berbeci
Every business knows the importance of cutting costs and increasing revenue. Yet, what often slips through the cracks is the invisible drain caused by inefficiency. Inefficiency isn’t just about sluggish processes—it’s also about wasted energy, outdated systems, and avoidable expenses that chip away at profit margins every single day. Think of it like a slow […]
September 16, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
September 15 through October 15, 2025, is National Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s a time to recognize the contributions of the Hispanic population to the U.S. Hispanics comprise about 20% of the U.S. population, making them the largest racial or ethnic minority in the country. From a business perspective, Hispanics own more than 5.1 million businesses (14.5% […]
September 15, 2025
For entrepreneurs and small business owners in the U.S., business credit cards are more than just a way to pay bills—they’re a tool for managing cash flow, tracking expenses, and earning rewards. But with so many options out there, deciding which card to apply for can feel overwhelming. From cash back to travel rewards to […]
September 11, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Things are always happening to the people at work over which you have no control. An employee may have a new baby or adopt one. Or an employee may die. These personal life cycle events for employees trigger a slew of responsibilities for employers. Large companies have HR departments that handle actions following a life […]
September 10, 2025
Business growth can happen in more than one way. Receiving a burst of online or local customers does not always require a bigger commercial property. However, the experiences might result in additional tech tools. Professional teams can manage their tech growth and remain in the same building with the latest digital strategies. Understand the Company’s […]
September 9, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The news frequently runs stories about the elderly being tricked into handing over their life savings. But these aren’t the only victims of scams. Small businesses are prime targets, and according to one source, face a cyber attack every 11 seconds. An even worse statistics from this source: “60% of small businesses that experience a […]
September 5, 2025
By James Thompson
Every day, people share snippets of text, images, music, or video without a second thought. It happens in classrooms, on social media, in boardrooms, and across creative industries. Most of the time, it feels harmless, after all, the internet seems to thrive on sharing. However, the line between what is legally acceptable—fair use (defined later)—and […]
September 4, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a number of tax breaks for individuals and businesses that are effective for 2025. Most of the changes are positive and can mean lower taxes. Many of these changes impact tax bills for this year. Individuals and C corporations may want or need to adjust their estimated taxes. […]
September 2, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Federal tax incentives for various green energy property investments are ending soon. The termination dates vary. This is just a reminder to take action now if the use of federal tax incentives is desired for your business or yourself, or if you are selling products or services that entitle customers to tax breaks. Here is […]
August 28, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Just about every business promises great customer service, good pricing, quality products, and other generalizations that may not translate into important ways to grow your business. Becoming the company that customers turn to as the most knowledgeable and reliable can create a competitive advantage for achieving your goals because it distinguishes you from the rest […]
August 26, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
A good paycheck, sure. But they want more. Large employers typically offer an extensive menu of employee benefits, from comprehensive to medical coverage to free massages, address employee concerns. In most cases, small businesses cannot offer the same choices; the cost is just too great. But small businesses can be responsive to the wants and […]
August 25, 2025
By Hillary Boyce
Breaking into the world of federal contracting can feel like trying to learn a new language, one filled with acronyms, regulations, and opaque processes. But for small businesses, especially veteran-owned and women-owned enterprises, federal contracts represent a powerful pathway to sustainable growth, community impact, and national contribution. After years navigating this space as both a […]
August 20, 2025
In today’s fast-paced and competitive job market, job seekers must adapt quickly to stay ahead of the curve. Traditional methods of searching for jobs are no longer enough to guarantee success. Instead, digital tools are now an essential part of any modern job search strategy. These tools can help you save time, increase productivity, and […]
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Resources For Your Business
What Employers Can Do to Alleviate Employees’ Financial Stress
Smart Offboarding Practices When an Employee Leaves
Outgrown Your Space? How to Scale Up
Business Planning in a Period of Uncertainty
Barbara’s Books
By Barbara Weltman
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SMALL BUSINESS TAX WRITE-OFFS AND STRATEGIES FROM A LEADING NAME IN TAX If you own a small business, this comprehensive guide explains in easy-to-understand terms the essentials of business taxes to prepare you to work better with your CPA or other tax adviser or handle tax responsibilities on your own. Whether you’re […]
By Barbara Weltman
THE COMPREHENSIVE HANDBOOK FOR AMERICAN TAXPAYERS LOOKING FOR EVERY LEGAL TAX DEDUCTION AND CREDIT This edition of this popular book has been fully updated to reflect the latest law changes, rulings and court decisions impacting 2024 returns. It’s organized in a way that allows you to easily refer to the appropriate deductions and credits for […]
By Barbara Weltman
Ideas you’ll use everyday! With only so many hours in the day, it’s impossible to stay on top of key developments and opportunities to help you run your business better and smarter. 500+ Big Ideas for Your Small Business gives you quick access to resources and tips you can use every day. Whether you’re a […]
By Barbara Weltman
Your GPS to Get You Where You Want to Go in Your Business Do you enjoy driving and being your own boss with flexible work options? Are you looking for a part-time (or full-time) activity that earns good money? Maybe you’ve already discovered that there are great opportunities for making money with your car. Or, […]
By Barbara Weltman
A Step-By-Step Road Map–with Checklists–to Get You Started Up, Profitable, and Successful Whether you want to start up a part-time home-based business or jump in full throttle and work on it full time, you need a start-up guide. A road map! Home-Based Business Start-Up Guide will help you chart your course to work-from-home success. Written […]
What every self-employed person needs to know about their taxes! If you’re self-employed, chances are the majority of your time is spent finding new customers or clients, servicing existing ones, and handling each and every aspect of your business. Freelancers, independent contractors, gig economy participants, and other individuals working for themselves need to be aware […]
By Barbara Weltman and Harvey Bezozi
Created for Uber and Lyft drivers as their GPS — to help them get where they want to go in their business, safely and securely. Note: This e-Book has been updated with a new title and revised content (shown). Do you enjoy driving and being your own boss with flexible work options? Are you looking […]
By Barbara Weltman
Presenting a recently-launched, updated, paperback edition! Barbara Weltman takes an inspired look in Smooth Failing at the hard lessons learned when things go wrong. Through extensive interviews with entrepreneurs whose ventures failed for a variety of reasons — some stunningly unexpected, some painfully inevitable — Weltman gleans valuable insights about the small mistakes that can lead to large scale catastrophe. Smooth Failing seeks to save readers from similar disaster — while empowering those who are learning from failures and adversity to bounce back stronger and wiser on the often rocky road to success.
By Barbara Weltman and Jerry Silberman
12 surefire ways for your business to survive and thrive! Owning a small business can be a fulfilling and financially rewarding experience, but to be successful, you must know what to do while the business is up and running, and, most importantly, what to do when the business runs into trouble. This book is definitely […]
By Barbara Weltman
As Vicki Raeburn of Dun & Bradstreet notes in the forward, “…the successful creation of credit by small business has a significant effect on one of the most important business drivers, namely cash flow. … [This book has] the information needed to understand and build business credit.”
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