Small Business Blog Posts | Page 10

Thanks to COVID, telecommuters have been forced to adapt to a surreal new reality: educating our kids from home while trying to get our own work done.  Americans are universally struggling to share work/school space with their young children, and nobody is going great right now. But it’s not all bad news. In fact, there are some surprising upsides. Read on for a look at the most surprising things about homeschooling while working from home.

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur with a passion for fitness and healthy living, you may have thought about getting into the fitness industry. We fill you in on the best gym franchises around — the parts of the world they serve, the amount of initial investment required to buy into them, and any unique benefits they may provide to franchisees and/or customers.

Buying something now but paying for it later has always been a tantalizing concept. But the idea is gaining even more steam now thanks to current events. Traditionally, people turned to credit cards when they didn’t have the cash on hand to afford a purchase. Today’s consumer is increasingly wary of credit card debt, however, and interest in other avenues has grown. Not surprisingly, a bevy of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services have sprung into action to meet the need.

You’ve probably heard the old cliche: You’ve got to spend money to make money. Businesses are investments, and investments imply an allocation of money. Or do they? We talked to business owners who say they started their companies without any substantial outlay of money to find out how they did it.

Ever wondered what the difference is between a 1099 contractor and a W2 employee? Believe it or not, the answer is both easier — and more complicated — than you might expect. It all boils down to this: If you tell your workers both what to do and how to do it, then they are probably W2 employees. On the other hand, if you only control the results and not the process, then they are probably 1099 contractors. Read more about the 1099 VS W-2.

Most employers start onboarding too late and stop too early. Poor onboarding practices not only lower morale in new employees, they hinder productivity and will eventually cost you money. How can you leverage your onboarding process to improve employee retention, save money, improve your recruiting, and foster better working relationships within your team? Learn how to create a clear employee onboarding process that meets your specific needs with this simple checklist.

There are three ways to go when it comes to payroll. The first is to do it yourself manually; the second is to do it yourself but use a payroll software solution; the third is to hire an accountant or an accountancy firm to do it for you. Doing payroll manually demands the greatest time investment but it may also be the best way to save money if you’re just starting out. Read on for tips and tricks to DIY payroll, and learn when it might be best to go with an expert.

A business license is a permit to operate your business, and it is non-negotiable. In fact, it is illegal to operate a business without a permit or license. This keeps you accountable to the city in which you operate and helps local government agencies regulate the businesses in their jurisdiction. Learn more about getting and maintaining a license to run a business in your state.

Contact tracing is a critical part of the public health response to coronavirus, and it’s just as important for reopening the economy. As a business owner, contact tracing can help you protect your workers and customers from COVID-19, and even prevent your business from getting shut down in the event that an employee tests positive. Learn more about contact tracing and how you can set up a system to help your business prevent an outbreak.

The PPP and EIDL programs have distributed a massive amount of funding to struggling businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, many businesses have been unable to secure funding from these programs despite applying when directed and meeting all the relevant qualifications. Whatever the reason, there are business owners out there in need of funding that have not been served by the PPP or EIDL programs. That’s why we’ve set out to highlight other lending options — both public and private — that are currently available to small businesses.