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What is Payroll? Payroll refers to the process of managing and processing employee compensation, including wages, salaries, bonuses, and deductions. This process includes calculating employee pay, withholding taxes, and other deductions, and ensuring that employees are paid accurately and on time. Preparing for Payroll Before you can start running payroll, there are a few steps you need to take to prepare: Legal and compliance requirements To ensure compliance with federal…  Read more

The working environment of the past 2 years has brought the concept of burnout to the forefront. Unexpected work-from-home situations, juggling the new normal, and mental fatigue have all contributed to the issue. Recognizing employee burnout and having a plan to address it will ensure you retain employees and keep your company healthy. 1. Ensure everyone takes their time off In an attempt to appear as though they can handle…  Read more

As a small business owner, it can be incredibly difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The obligations and responsibilities of running your own business often take priority over any personal pursuits, no matter how important they may be for your overall well being. But, with the right strategies and mindset in place, it is possible to strike an effective balance between working hard on your business and making time…  Read more

As a business owner, you know that the right people are crucial to your company’s success. The best employees can help you achieve your business goals, improve your productivity, and drive growth. But finding the people best suited to your team can be daunting, and sometimes it’s easy to hire someone who seems okay, rather than taking the time to find the best fit.  Here are some steps you can…  Read more

Complaints are an unfortunate part of running a business, but they do happen. No matter how hard you work to please your clients, eventually someone will have something negative to say. However, with the right approach, you can turn complaints into a useful tool to strengthen your business. Here are 6 tips to effectively responding to complaints: 1. Remember that this is not an argument The reason that a client…  Read more

Upgrading or changing your payroll system comes with a ton of wonderful benefits. Saving time and money, making everyone’s lives easier, and better integration are all good reasons to consider a change. But if the switch is mishandled, the results can be catastrophic and lead to long-lasting problems. Read on for some tips on how to avoid a disastrous payroll system migration. 1. Give the project the time it needs…  Read more

In a world with endless distractions, it’s no wonder that we find it difficult to complete tasks. Focus is hard to come by these days. This is especially true when you’re working from home. Household tasks that would otherwise be out of sight and out of mind are suddenly in your workspace. With that said, there are some proven methods to help you get things done. Time blocking and Time…  Read more

In a world with endless distractions, it’s no wonder that we find it difficult to complete tasks. Focus is hard to come by these days. This is especially true when you’re working from home. Household tasks that would otherwise be out of sight and out of mind are suddenly in your workspace. With that said, there are some proven methods to help you get things done. Time blocking and Time…  Read more

When you start a small business, it’s usually only you behind the whole operation. You wear many hats, from CEO to clean-up crew. As you pour your heart and soul into your business and it begins to grow, the amount of work involved grows with it. Because a small business is so focused on survival, you pay a lot of attention to the bottom line. This makes a lot of…  Read more

When it comes to hiring seasonal employees, business owners tend to fall into two groups. Some look forward to hiring temporary workers, knowing that the need for seasonal workers reflects a business season. Some feel that it’s a necessary evil to get through times where the workload is heavy and the permanent workforce is lean. Unfortunately, the attitude is that seasonal employees are temporary, and are therefore not as skilled…  Read more

Traditionally, employers have relied on giving employees raises as a way to retain their staff and reward them for being hard-working and loyal. Raises can get expensive, and there is often an upper limit for what you can offer when it comes to increasing salaries and wages. Keeping your employees happy makes business sense. You want to keep your good employees, and it costs money to find, hire and train…  Read more

Bookkeepers can be highly beneficial for businesses of any size. They offer expertise and insight into areas that you may not have experience in. They can also take some tasks off your to-do list, freeing up your time and energy to focus on other matters. Here are 4 benefits to hiring bookkeepers to help you manage your business. Expertise A bookkeeper is an expert at managing, sorting and recording your…  Read more

Balancing customer experience against your budget is a difficult task. You need the right amount of staff working to keep customers happy, but not so many people that workers are standing around looking for things to do. If your customers have long wait times, that’s good news for you initially—it means your business is popular. The bad news is customers won’t wait around forever for you to fix your time…  Read more

For some people, early retirement is a choice. For others, it’s a necessity. Regardless of which group you fall into, there are some steps you can take to help make early retirement a reality and live the life you dream about. 1. Know your goals Before you know exactly how much money you need to save, you need to know your goals for retirement. Do you want to live in…  Read more

Every business experiences slow periods when the market for their goods or services lessens and sales drop. Business owners might be tempted to view down times as unproductive or wasted, but there are ways you can make the most of your business during these seasons. Here are four ways to ensure this time isn’t wasted. Take a good look at your business When things are busy it gets easy to…  Read more

Everyone wants the best for their children, and this includes being rich. Being rich is not just about money– it is about wealth in all aspects of life. In this article, we will share some life lessons you must teach your kids while they’re young to help them grow into adults who can build financial wealth, meaningful relationships, and an overall happy life. Lead by example Children learn from their…  Read more

Billing schemes. Skimming. Check tampering. Employee fraud is a real risk for entrepreneurs of fewer than 100 employees. In fact, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners 30% of fraud cases take place in small businesses. This article will help you identify the most common signs of fraudulent activity before an unscrupulous employee destroys your business. Identifying high risk employees When an employee has something to hide, their conduct…  Read more

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, interacting face to face with clients and prospects may seem passé. In fact, face time is more important than ever. For one, you’ll stand apart from your competitors who only touch base with their customers via email, social media, and virtual conferencing. And by hosting in-person events that attract new leads as well as existing customers, you’ll be able to create trust and strengthen ties.…  Read more

“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” — John Crosby The opportunity to learn from a mentor can do more for a small business owner than any course, educational program, or degree. Being a mentee means you get the benefit of first-hand experience, without having to make all the mistakes yourself. There are, in fact, a host of reasons why a…  Read more

It’s been said that a business partnership is a lot like a marriage, and the comparison holds true when things go awry: the end of a partnership is a lot like divorce. Lawyers will be involved and assets will need to be divided. However, a separation need not be overly dramatic or unnecessarily painful. These tips can help make separation easier – and more amicable – should your business partnership…  Read more