Idea of the Day®
November 20, 2024
Mark Your Holiday Calendar for Shipping Mailing Deadlines
If you are sending cards, packages, or other material through the U.S. Postal Service (UPSP), watch for deadlines so your items arrive by December 25. The USPS posted these deadlines for states other than Alaska and Hawaii (which have different schedules): December 16 for USPS Ground Advantage Service and first-class mail (including greeting cards), December 18 for First-Class Mail service, December 19 for Priority Mail Service, and December 20 for Priority Express Mail. Note: The Postal Service is the only delivery service that ships to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses. #IdeaoftheDay
Big Ideas for Your Business
Resources For Your Business
November 19, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor updated the overtime rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The update increased the amount of pay required for certain employees to be exempt from having to be paid time and a half if they work more than 40 hours a week. An initial increase took effect […]
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November 14, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
The tax picture for 2026 is unknown at this time because many of the tax rules fixed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expire at the end of 2025. But the rules for 2025 are largely in place, although Congress could tweak some of them. One of the factors that helps to settle tax […]
November 12, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
There has been much talk about the need for tax changes. Many tax rules put in place by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) are set to expire at the end of 2025. And other tax changes that were part of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 […]
November 8, 2024
By Laura Campbell
Traditional versus digital shopping is no longer much of a debate compared to a decade ago. However, online businesses must contend with a vast sea of competitors and other distractions brought on by the development of technology and the internet. As such, e-commerce is all about personalization, which means designing and producing the online experience […]
November 7, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
WHEREAS it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date [November 11] should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations. Congress, 1926 November 11 is Veterans Day; it’s a federal holiday. It’s also a day on which we can recognize that Veterans […]
November 5, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
As 2025 approaches, businesses are working on their budgets, and one important aspect is how much should owners be paid? The decision has important consequences for deductibility, payroll taxes, cash flow, benefits, and more. This is a topic I’ve explored in prior blogs (some points of which are repeated here), but it bears further examination. […]
October 31, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Halloween has become a national obsession, with all things spooky, creepy, and ominous, as well as all things pumpkin. And for many small businesses, it’s good for their bottom line, with Halloween spending in the U.S. is expected to reach $11.6 billion this year. Nonetheless, when thinking scary thoughts about this holiday, you might consider […]
October 29, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Earlier this year, FasterCapital explored the rise in seniorpreneurs—those age 65 and older who are business owners. The often-cited example of a successful seniorpreneur is Colonel Sanders, who started KFC at age 71, but this is just one example of success found at an age when most people retire. Today, an estimated 8 million boomers (those […]
October 24, 2024
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 86% of private-sector companies with 100 or more workers and 91% of firms with 500 or more workers offered a retirement benefit plan in 2023. For small businesses—those with fewer than 100 employees, that percentage dropped to 57%. Still, there’s a desire on the part of small […]
October 23, 2024
By Ashwin Ramesh
In a world where almost everyone is wired and connected through the internet, there’s no doubt why having an online presence matters, especially for startups and small businesses. While the internet can be overwhelming for startups, it can also be the very place that ultimately helps them succeed. With the help of targeted tools, platforms, […]
October 22, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Whether you’re an employee of your corporation or a self-employed individual, it’s likely that your tax bill for Social Security and Medicare taxes will be higher in 2025. That’s because the wage base used to fix the ceiling on the Social Security portion of FICA and self-employment tax is rising. The Social Security Administration announced a […]
October 18, 2024
Streamlining operations is one of the most effective ways to drive business growth. When processes are efficient and systems run smoothly, businesses can focus on innovation and long-term strategy. Effective streamlining reduces waste, enhances customer experiences, and gives businesses a competitive edge. Below are 6 ways streamlined operations can take your business to the next […]
October 17, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
If you need more capital to grow your business, you have two main options: borrow money or find investors. Borrowing is referred to as debt financing; investors mean equity financing. The latter choice—equity financing—which is the focus of this blog—has serious ramification for you. Understand what you’re getting into. Advantages and disadvantages of equity financing […]
October 15, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Employers know they must train employees to do their jobs well. That goes without saying. But employers also should train employees in other ways to comply with certain federal requirements and, in some cases, state laws, or to keep employees safe. Here are some of the areas to address with in-house training for employees. Prevention […]
October 11, 2024
Small business owners know the importance of company culture. It drives a company’s behavior to reflect its beliefs and values. But how can you tell if your company’s culture is actually contributing to your bottom line? In a competitive environment, your culture should do more than make people feel good — it should drive results. […]
October 10, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
The qualified small business income (QBI) deduction, created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 as a way for owners of pass-through entities to get a tax break at a time when the corporate rate dropped to 21%, is set to expire on December 31, 2025. If Congress does nothing—doesn’t extend the QBI […]
October 8, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Small businesses usually don’t have HR departments, so compliance with federal, state, and local laws falls to owners. This responsibility is onerous, especially since these laws are continually changing. On top of laws themselves, there are regulations, administrative pronouncements, and court decisions that affect what you can, can’t, or could do. The following checklist is […]
October 3, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
If you’re listening to the media and social media, you’re bound to hear “this is the most important election of our lifetime.” Whether or not this is so does not take away the heightened feelings of many employees at this time. What are small businesses supposed to do about political expressions in the workplace? Each […]
October 1, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
With the third quarter of 2024 complete, now’s the time to begin the budgeting process for 2025. The Chief Executive says “Budgeting is always imperfect because you can’t predict the future. You can make reasonable assumptions about familiar uncertainties—the economy, political or regulatory shifts, throughput, inventory, etc.—and anticipate potential opportunities. But there’s always something that’s […]
Multimedia
Resources For Your Business
Growing Your Business by Growing Your Skills
Growing Your Business — Adding New Physical Locations
Good Reasons to Add Professionals to Grow Your Business
Are You Lucky? This Matters to Business Success
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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