Even as the stock market continues its heady rally and some economic indicators suggest that the economy is improving (albeit slowly), the surge in commodity prices, many of them unavoidable staples, has wreaked havoc on small business profit margins. But, the pain is certainly not being felt equally by all. Some industries have been hit […]
Author Archives: Gary Barzel
The Biggest Business Mistake?… Borrowing Money!
The other week over at Small Business Trends, I saw an interesting poll. The sole question: “What’s your biggest business mistake?” Though there are various options to choose from, such as “Failing to market my business,” and “Selling myself short,” the overwhelming favorite response (at the time of writing it is holding at 86% of […]
Don’t Get Sued, Get Smart!: 5 Tips to Protect Your Business From Costly Lawsuits
As a small business owner, getting unexpectedly caught up in a lawsuit can be both overwhelming and scary, not to mention a tremendous drain on resources. But you don’t have to sit around waiting for it to happen. There are many actions you can make to protect yourself in the event that one of your […]
Sales Tax and Your Online Business: Five Things You Should Know
Now that taxes are still fresh on the minds of many small business owners, I figured it would be a good time to write a post on sales tax for online businesses. Countless small online business owners may be uninformed when it comes to properly recording, collecting, and paying state sales taxes on their online […]
Top 7 Bookkeeping Mistakes Small Business Owners Make
As the 2011 tax season comes to an end, many small business owners may be learning the hard way that sloppy bookkeeping doesn’t pay- especially when you are dealing with the IRS. For those looking to make amends in the current year, the below are seven of the most common bookkeeping mistakes to avoid: 1. […]
How to Protect Yourself from Cuts to Your Business Credit Card Limit
Over the past couple of years, the credit card industry seems bent on shaking up the credit markets so that it comes out in their favor. For small business owners with business credit cards, there has been virtual tidal wave of often unexpected changes- from cut credit lines to closed accounts- that seems to blindly […]
Top 11 Must Read Books for the New Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner
Though there is some disagreement over whether a successful entrepreneur is born or made, the truth is that starting a company with a solid background in business-related skills and information will always help. But getting a good business education does not mean you have to fork over thousands of dollars for an MBA. You can […]
Five of the Best Data Recovery Services for Small Businesses
One of the lessons to take away from the devastating destruction that has literally engulfed Japan over the past couple of weeks is that one never knows when disaster will strike. As a small business owner, it is good business practice to be prepared to some extent for the worst, or else you risk loosing […]
Pop-up Stores and Kiosks: Why Less is More
Pop-up stores and kiosks are literally popping up in shopping centers throughout America. The companies involved in this kind of venture vary- ranging from new start-ups wanting to test their products in the market, to major brands looking to expand their presence in shopping malls during the holiday season using temporary locations. (Image Credit) Much […]
5 Free and Low-Cost Apps to Manage Your Off-Site Workers
As technology continues to improve and businesses remain focused on cost reduction, there has been a growing interest in telecommuting. Many smaller companies in particular have been embracing this option, as they scramble to maintain a healthy cash flow and stay competitive in this still challenging economy. If your small business is looking to test […]