Idea of the Day®
October 09, 2024
Kauffman Foundation Grant Resources
The Kauffman Foundation regularly updates its FAQs about grant resources. Click on “funding timelines and amounts” to see the grants currently available and the deadlines for application. The Foundation conducts webinars providing more information about its grants. #IdeaoftheDay
Big Ideas for Your Business
Resources For Your Business
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 […]
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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 […]
September 27, 2024
Cryptocurrencies have become prevalent in today’s digital age—as a form of investment, a payment method, or a means for storing personal funds—so many businesses have started to integrate them into their operations. It’s estimated that more than 2,300 companies in the U.S. accept payment in cryptocurrency, and many of these companies are small businesses. But […]
September 26, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Small businesses may have difficulties raising money through traditional sources, such as bank loans or angel investors. Crowdfunding is an alternative way to raise money. Of all those seeking money through this method—and you probably know of and given to needy individuals using GoFundMe, as well as nonprofits—businesses account for 55%. Is crowdfunding something your […]
September 25, 2024
By Barbara James
A case study can provide valuable insights and lessons that you can use to emulate successes, avoid failures, solve problems, detect industry trends, do strategic planning, and more. A case study on Ray-Ban is an eye opener (pun intended). Background When talking about eyewear, Ray-Ban immediately comes to mind. Its impact on the global industry […]
September 24, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
That’s the big takeaway from recently released IRS statistics on sole proprietorships for 2021. In fact, profits were up 22%. These stats are derived from Schedule C of Form 1040 or 1040-SR and show the contrast to the number of such filers and their revenue on 2020 returns. This is a subject we cover every […]
September 19, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
There’s been a lot of media focused on artificial intelligence—AI—being used to replace employees. While it’s true that some functions are now being handled by AI and that employees previously doing them have been axed, AI in the 21st century is probably no more that enemy of employees than machines were in the 18th and […]
September 17, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
When placed on hold on the phone, music is often played until someone can answer. There’s music in many elevators (hence the term “elevator music”—which has come to be known as a derogatory term for easy listening tunes). During the holiday season, Christmas music is everywhere…in stores, restaurants, fitness centers, and in many offices. Throughout […]
September 13, 2024
By James Thompson
Conventional training systems need to meet the evolving demands of the modern workforce. Immersive learning, which uses technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, presents a contemporary solution to this challenge. According to a study by PwC, employees trained using VR complete their training 4 times faster than in a classroom environment, […]
September 12, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. is more than $1.7 trillion. There’ve been attempts by the federal government to cancel certain loans—some successful; others not. Many with student loan debt say they’re struggling to make payments. Employers can help in some ways. A previous blog mentioned that employers with 401(k) plans can now treat […]
September 10, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the practice of good corporate citizenship…an obligation to society beyond jobs and profits. It entails making business decisions that consider social and environmental impacts. To put CSR into practice, donations, sponsorships, and volunteering are essential activities. “Employee volunteering has soared in the past 3 years,” according to Benevity, in part […]
September 9, 2024
By Jack Shaw
Small Business Saturday falls on November 30, 2024, but smart entrepreneurs have already begun their preparation work. Harnessing the consumer energy of this day takes the right approach but can significantly boost sales before the end of the year. Here are five steps to growing your bottom line by rocking Small Business Saturday. Analyze What […]
September 5, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
The end of summer is the traditional start of the school year. Back-to-school time may impact your business. It’s also a time to remind small business owners about the benefits of continuing to grow their skills. This doesn’t necessarily mean enrolling in an education program. There are many ways to continue your education. Here are […]
September 3, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
To most business owners, the term “ERISA” may not be known, although it’s ABC to tax and benefits pros. ERISA has likely had an impact on you and your business. On September 2, 1974, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was signed into law. It was enacted to provide protections for participants in privately-sponsored […]
August 29, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
You don’t have to be a legal scholar to be impressed with the breath of business-related decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2023-2024 term that ended on June 30, 2024. Some of these decisions may affect your business in direct or indirect ways. The following is a brief discussion of selected cases […]
August 27, 2024
By Barbara Weltman
“Wake up! Wake up! C’mon, first day of school.” ~ Nemo in Finding Nemo Late August and early September is the time for many children and adults to return to the classroom. Whether or not you have a child back in school now or you are beginning an educational program, if you are a small […]
August 26, 2024
By Monica Mendoza
Trade shows provide an excellent opportunity to make your business’s presence known in your respective industry. These events give you the perfect platform to promote your products or services to potential new customers and partners, as well as network with like-minded people and meet industry leaders. To make the most of your trade show experience, […]
Multimedia
Resources For Your Business
Growing Your Business — Adding New Physical Locations
Good Reasons to Add Professionals to Grow Your Business
Are You Lucky? This Matters to Business Success
Staying Positive: Why it’s Essential and How to Do It
Barbara’s Books
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 rulings and laws (including changes from the Inflation Reduction Act and SECURE Act 2.0), allowing you to easily refer to the appropriate deductions and credits for your […]
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
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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