Small Business

No business owner should want to have an employee lawsuit to deal with. But unfortunately, we live in a lawsuit-oriented age and lawsuits are sometimes unavoidable, even with good business practices. Employees sue for varying reasons, especially when they get fired. In every case, a lawsuit can be disruptive, time-consuming, costly, and can negatively affect company…

It is important for individuals to know that work isn’t just drudgery and only a paycheck. In fact, as author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell has said, “We were created for meaningful work.” James C. Collins, author of “Good to Great” noted, “For in the end, it is impossible to have a great life…

It has frequently been said that employees are an organization’s greatest asset. Anne M. Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox Corporation has added to that expression, “You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company’s mission.” But, the workforce…

No matter the state of the economy, most employees generally desire holiday bonuses and annual raises. But as a small business owner, there are many considerations to examine before giving bonuses. So, should business owners give their employees holiday bonuses?  How Often do Companies Give Holiday Bonuses  The data indicate a range of possibilities. A report from…

Every small business owner aims to create and build awareness, secure a loyal and growing customer base, generate increasing revenues, and become financially stable. There are so many things to do to make a small business successful, but in truth, becoming financially stable is the thing that can make or break a business.  Why it is Important…

If you are running a small business, you want “smooth sailing,” right? Good sales, consistent profits, growth, and no setbacks. Well, unfortunately, the path for most if not all small businesses includes some “bumps in the road;” small business setbacks. The harsh reality is that about 20 percent of new businesses fail during their first two years…

Do you want your business to be more efficient? That’s one of those “duh, yes, of course” questions. Improving business efficiency should be an important goal for every business, large and small. But being more efficient takes planning and deliberate consistent effort.  What is Business Efficiency  A business that is efficient improves its processes to minimize…

It goes without saying that every new business starts out small. Even a goliath like today’s Amazon started out small. The United States is home to many small businesses because entrepreneurship is a key part of “The American dream.” According to the Small Business Administration, there are 32.5 million small businesses in the U.S. and according to…

Dining out is certainly popular in the United States. In fact, the average American eats away from home about 5.9 times per week. There are over 660,000 restaurants in the United States to feed that “dine-out appetite.” However, restaurant employment rates are currently being hard-pressed to keep up with consumer demand rates.   Here are some interesting facts. First,…

Let’s face it. Starting a business, challenging as that is, is still easier than growing a business. Virtually every business struggles with growing pains. Even large companies struggle to sustain continuous healthy growth. And here’s the thing. The growth challenges faced by a 6-month-old 10-person business are quite different from the challenges faced by a…