Alvin Wilson started his first full-time job at age 60. He’d spent his youth dealing drugs and getting into trouble; he spent 12 years in prison. Now Wilson finally has a steady paycheck, his own place and has reconnected with his 33-year-old ...
Read More »This restaurant’s revenue is better than last year: Here’s how owners can survive even in COVID-19 winter
In a year when thousands of restaurants have closed and many more are struggling to hang on, Bar Bombón in Philadelphia has been enjoying sales 5% to 10% above last year’s levels. It’s a far cry from March when the mayor said ...
Read More »A small business owner’s advice after a disaster: Hire a public adjuster
The morning of Sept. 9 started out as any other for Brian Garrison, owner of Garrison’s Home and Garrison’s Sleep in Southern Oregon. Just a few hours later, he saw two of his four stores burned to the ground in ...
Read More »Not all business changes need to be big, sometimes a good pivot is small, thoughtful and consistent
Did the pandemic change your small business? For most of us, the answer is yes. Which begs the question, how do you pivot to whatever is next? It seems difficult, right? It turns out that changing course can be quite ...
Read More »To weather the COVID-19 drought, small businesses need to expand credit now
Right now, every small business owner needs every dollar they can get their hands on. Whether you currently need money or not, it’s time to improve your credit score and increase your credit limits. Let’s be realistic. COVID-19 didn’t magically disappear with warmer weather and infections are once again ...
Read More »How to safely reopen your small business during the COVID-19 pandemic
There is obviously a lot of concern and confusion over how best to reopen small businesses across the country right now. To help shed some light on how to do it right, I called in the pros.
Read More »Working at home had a positive effect on productivity during the pandemic, survey says
Almost everyone seems to hate getting stuck in an office cubicle next to a co-worker who won’t shut up. Bosses who call too many meetings can be even more annoying. And traffic jams on the way home from work might ...
Read More »COVID-19 pandemic will hurt retirement nest eggs more than Great Recession, new survey shows
Seven in 10 Americans say the COVID- 19 pandemic will affect their retirement, with many dipping into their nest eggs, scaling back contributions and planning to work longer, a new survey shows. “The impact to Americans’ retirement accounts is ...
Read More »Masks spark public judgment, ridicule among customers as businesses reopen
Patricia Dawe, 66, rarely wears a mask in public, and people give her the “stink eye” for it, she said. She’ll wear one in order to get past security guards at a grocery store in Brooklyn. But once she is ...
Read More »Digital marketing amid coronavirus: Go for the low-hanging fruit with freebies and deals
Whenever I give a webinar, I always explain there are two types of marketing a small business can do: 1. There is the branding move, whereby you are ingraining the name of your business and/or slogan in people’s mind. Nike’s ...
Read More »Must employers ensure a safe workplace? A Q&A on workers’ rights
The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 85,000 lives so far in the U.S. with no vaccine or cure in sight. Nevertheless, with stay-at-home orders lifting across the nation and businesses reopening, many employees will be returning to the workplace ...
Read More »Be smart and safe about reopening your small business
When you will be able to reopen, of course, depends on a variety of factors: your locale's rules; the impact of the coronavirus in your are;a and, not insignificantly, the willingness of your customers to head out and into stores and businesses again.
Read More »Companies slammed by coronavirus look to cut contributions to their employees’ 401(k)s
More corporations are looking to temporarily halt 401(k) contributions, trying to cut costs as the coronavirus crisis hits their revenue and profits, labor attorneys said. It’s another way companies are trying to contain mounting losses, along with millions of layoffs ...
Read More »Entrepreneurs, it’s time to pivot. Here’s how to switch gears amid coronavirus
My friend Tara Reed is both a great artist and a savvy businesswoman. That’s no small task, as the term “starving artist” is a thing for a reason: We all know someone who is more comfortable with creative endeavors than ...
Read More »Have to work from home? 5 quick things you can do to prepare your space
So you’ve just been told to work at home, and now you’re wondering how to get it done. Thanks to advancements in technology, it’s never been easier. But where to start? We’ve got a few ideas. Here’s what you need ...
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