Idea of the Day®
August 28, 2025
Remote work as a reasonable accommodation under ADA?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employee with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation. An employer does not have to grant it if means an essential part of the job can’t be performed. Take the case of an employee in a real estate law firm whose job included maintaining physical files and meeting with clients to sign and notarize documents at real estate closings. The employee, who had an autoimmune condition, requested full-time remote work. An appellate court in Connecticut said that her proposed accommodation to work entirely from home was not reasonable because that accommodation would eliminate an essential job function. #IdeaoftheDay
Big Ideas for Your Business
Resources For Your Business
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 […]
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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 21, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
According to JOLTS (the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey), the average rate of job turnover is about 47%. About 35% leave voluntarily their jobs and about 12% are laid off or otherwise terminated. These statistics suggest that there’s a lot of movement in personnel in companies. When personnel in companies you […]
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 […]
August 19, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep the mind strong and clear.” – Buddha While the start of 2026 is months away, it’s not too early to be thinking about what your company will do for health coverage in the new year. Keep in mind that you […]
August 14, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The tax law has a number of favorable tax rules for small businesses, but the definition of what’s “small” varies considerably. In a number of instances, “small” depends on your gross receipts and has nothing to do with the number of employees, assets, or anything else. But it’s not so simple as a single gross […]
August 13, 2025
For small business leaders, every investment must count. Developing your team and enabling internal mobility is a feel-good initiative and strategic move that directly affects your bottom line. You operate with tighter budgets and smaller teams, making employee growth even more critical, but the good news is you do not need a huge budget to […]
August 12, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
When you hire an employee, there’s a lot to do in onboarding…explaining company policies and practices, training for the position, and just getting everyone acquainted. But there’s an equal amount or more of actions that need to be taken when an employee leaves. This is so whether the individual quits or is terminated. Much of […]
August 7, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
While the calendar says summer, it feels a little like fall because school semesters are beginning. Employees may be thinking of ways to pursue more education and training, and employers could be thinking of ways to support this. There are sound reasons for putting an emphasis on education, but the budget may not be easily […]
August 5, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork” ~ Pearl Bailey Of course, Pearl Bailey was right. But the government doesn’t see it that way. Various government agencies have different record retention requirements. And in addition to this, there are legal and financial recordkeeping requirements for your business aside from government rules. […]
July 31, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Your customer base is expanding. The array of products you carry are growing. The number of employees on your staff are increasing. Have you outgrown your current space and need to find a solution? There are a number of options you can use. Before you move There’s a lot of thinking that needs to be […]
July 29, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has many moving parts. While some changes are effective starting in 2025 others don’t take effect until 2026. Incentives for buying equipment apply for 2025. Some changes related to your staff also apply for 2025. But some tax breaks are ending in 2025 or 2026, and you must act […]
July 25, 2025
By John Jones
Construction is booming and this is likely to continue. Are you ready to get in on the action? Building structures across various industries requires a careful balance of engineering expertise, materials science, planning, and project management. Ensuring the highest quality is not just about using top-notch materials; it involves a well-thought-out strategy that incorporates a […]
July 24, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
If you have employees, pay attention to the changes made by One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) with respect to staffing. Will these changes lead you to making changes in your business practices and policies? As you read what follows, pay attention to effective dates; some changes apply to 2025 while others begin in 2026. No […]
July 22, 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) aims to spur business investments in the economy by allowing for greater tax breaks for acquisitions and certain building projects. You may even be able to claim the breaks for things you did earlier in 2025, before the new law was passed. But not all the news from the […]
July 21, 2025
Equipment downtime is a fact of life in business, regardless of industry. Not even the brightest engineers could invent a machine that could operate nonstop without compromising quality, efficiency, and safety. Although you can’t skirt this reality, you can minimize your losses by reducing surprise interruptions to your operations. While unplanned downtime can be difficult […]
July 17, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The U.S. Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the law. While Congress and the President can take actions, it’s up to the Court to decide whether they are constitutional. A previous blog covered cases of interest to small businesses that were decided earlier in the Court’s 2024-2025 term. Here are some from later in the […]
July 15, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
This is another installment of the coverage of tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill affecting small businesses. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA) was passed by Congress on July 3, 2025, and signed by the President on July 4th. Some changes apply for 2025, while others go into effect in […]
July 11, 2025
By James Thompson
Promotional products such as pens, t-shirts, tote bags, calendars, and water bottles embossed with your logo are a very effective marketing strategy, with a reported 83% of consumers using branded products they receive, and 58% saying they had a positive change in their perception of a brand. Choosing the right promotional product distributor for your promotional […]
July 10, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
It’s not a religious holiday and it has no historical significance. Christmas in July is a marketing strategy that can boost sales during a summer slump and prepare you for a robust holiday season in the fourth quarter of the year. Christmas in July began to be used in department stores in the 1950s, and […]
July 9, 2025
The NFIB Jobs Report for June 2025 showed that 36% of all small business owners reported job openings they could not fill. If you’re seeking to add to your staff, recruitment, is important but does not begin with a job post. It definitely does not end with an offer letter! It is a multi-stage procedure […]
July 8, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA)…all 887 pages…was passed by Congress on July 3, 2025, and signed by the President on July 4th. While not officially titled as OBBBA—technically it’s “An Act to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Title II of H. Con. Res. 14” and it is the text of H.R. […]
July 3, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Shakespeare in Henry VI said “Let’s kill all the lawyers,” and I bet many people still agree. But you can’t escape the impact that lawyers and courts have on our businesses and our lives. The U.S. Supreme Court is, as the name implies, supreme…the final word on the legality of a matter. The Court meets […]
July 1, 2025
By Barbara Weltman
Can you believe that half of 2025 is over? The first half of the year has been one of uncertainty for small businesses. Tariffs, inflation, and potential tax changes have created a period of insecurity for many, with lack of clarity about what to do and how to plan ahead. The NFIB Small Business Economic […]
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Resources For Your Business
Outgrown Your Space? How to Scale Up
Business Planning in a Period of Uncertainty
Let’s Celebrate Small Business!
A Good Time to Review Your Company’s Driving Policy
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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