As parents, we want what’s best for our children. But the best thing for our kids isn’t always what they want—or, at least, it isn’t always getting them what they want right when they want it. Before you give in to your child’s whim, buying the latest toys or clothes, stop and think about some [...]
Women own 29 percent of all businesses and are opening companies at a rate 50 percent faster than the overall growth rate. But overall, women-owned businesses only account for about 4 percent of the country’s total business revenues—reflecting exactly zero growth since 1997, according to the most recent State of Women-Owned Businesses report. A recent [...]
When you bundle insurance policies, you’re buying two or more types of insurance products with one company. This type of insurance purchase, also known as a “multi-line policy,” has become more available in recent years. A 2011 J. D. Power and Associates survey found that 77 percent of customers bundle auto policies with additional policies [...]
As any small business owner knows, marketing is an integral part of bringing in new customers. Whether it’s done via email, social media, or old-fashioned word of mouth, you need to get the word out—you can’t get new customers if they don’t know you exist. But you will never drive sales or attract your ideal [...]
Expenses are of the utmost importance to small businesses, especially today. Because of this, the cost of small business payroll is a huge factor for small business owners who are considering hiring a payroll service. Many things can impact your payroll costs, including: How often your employees are paid How many employees you have on [...]
You’ve worked hard to get a foot in the door with a choice client. Now, how do you get your other foot over the threshold? With internal referrals. As a small business owner, you’re no stranger to hard work. You’ve built your business from the ground up, and you have likely spent countless hours and [...]
Today’s rising interest rates don’t feel like a cause for celebration. Nearly everything you buy on credit or with a loan becomes more expensive. The debt you owe from past purchases also costs you more, as those higher rates increase the amount of interest you pay on your total balance. Worst of all, rising interest [...]
Doing small business payroll can be very complicated, even if you’re only paying one person. Taxes can be complicated, too: you need to register with the IRS and with your state payroll tax department, you need to deal with a lot of paperwork and calculations, and you typically need to make payments to the IRS [...]
Leaving a job is never an easy decision, and it can be more complicated if you have a 401(k) at your current company. After all, you’ve spent a lot of time and money investing in that account, and leaving before you’re fully vested could send your retirement planning off track. What is vesting? Typically, there [...]
The cost of college keeps rising, and many students are turning to student loans to help them afford their schooling. Unfortunately, this means many graduate with crushing debt. In fact, with outstanding student loans surpassing $1 trillion, many are questioning whether a college education is worth the high costs. Fortunately, with some planning, it’s possible [...]
