Social media is no longer an option for small businesses; it’s a necessity. In fact, more than 90 percent of marketers believe social media is important, according to Social Media Examiner. Successful social media marketing strategies increase sales, promote services and increase brand awareness. To help implement a solid social media plan, small businesses can […]

For much of modern corporate life, companies only concerned themselves with protecting the interests of their owners — and those interests were only measured in financial terms. Anything that wasn’t motivated by or at least justified by the bottom line wasn’t even contemplated. Sustainability efforts fell firmly outside of consideration.  Times have changed. Today, companies […]

Small businesses can adopt a variety of sustainability practices that also help keep a business profitable. This article summarizes 10 sustainability practices that a wide range of small businesses can apply. The slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is a great rule of thumb for the small business owner, and is reflected in most of these tips. […]

Strategic planning is rather like the business equivalent of New Year’s resolutions. The best of intentions combine with a glorious vision, and we set out to conquer the world, with wild, unbridled enthusiasm.  But, just like with New Year’s resolutions, somewhere between the glittering vision and next year’s actual activities, there can be a major […]

The majority of small business owners created a business plan as part of their overall launch.  But with the day-to-day of running the business, a lot of time goes by before you refer back to that plan—if at all.  Much can happen in the business during those years: priorities may have shifted, you added new […]

Just as most of us prefer to do business with people we like, we also prefer to do business with companies we like—that is, companies that create an emotional connection with us. Consumers’ emotional experiences with a business greatly influence how much and how often they spend.  However, C Space notes that when companies survey […]

Constantly seeking feedback from your customers is a great way to learn how to market your business more effectively. If you’ve never done this before, do it immediately as it is one of the best ways to discover what you do that actually differentiates you from your competition.  I can’t tell you how many times […]

Taxes for small businesses can be confusing and, as a small business owner, you likely have several questions: How much do I pay? Why do I have to pay this amount? How can I reduce taxable income?  Finding ways to lower your taxable income legitimately and avoiding pitfalls are important activities that can have great […]

Small businesses calculate their business profit or loss for income taxes, then include this information on their personal tax returns. This guide will help you determine which forms to use and how to compile information for these forms. If your business is a corporation or S corporation, check out the Complete Guide for Corporations and S […]