November 1, 2025 - Volume 24, No. 11

Small Business Tax FAQs: Expert Answers to Common Questions

I presented a webinar for SCORE entitled “Year-End Tax Preparation – Opportunities to Reduce Your Overall Tax Burden.” It covered the tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that are effective in 2025 and impact 2026 tax planning. At the end of the webinar, there was a Q&A session, but there wasn’t time to cover all of the questions. The following are some of the additional questions…and answers that may be helpful to you. Read More

Scaling Your Business with Valuable Local Networking Efforts

Remember the old expression “it’s not what you know but who you know”? There’s a lot of truth in it. Whether your business is on Main Street or the internet, or both, one important way to grow your business is by increasing your local networking efforts so you can expand the pool of “who you know.” Read More

5 Ideas to Help You Make a Budget Now for 2026

Now that we’re in the fourth quarter of 2025, it’s time to make a preliminary budget for 2026. You’ll likely have to tweak it on a regular basis as things change, but you’ll have a general idea of what your outlays will be for the coming year. Read More

How to Use Government Sample Forms to Simplify Compliance

You know that the IRS requires taxpayers to cross their t’s and dot their i’s. Other federal departments and agencies do so as well. Small business owners for the most part can’t afford to ask their accountant or other professional adviser for help at every turn. The good news is that there are some sample forms that you can use to satisfy various law requirements, such as notice to employees or to the IRS. Read More

What to Do About Employees with Disabilities

October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Why is this important to know? The CDC says that 28.7% of adults in the U.S. (about 70 million people) have a functional disability. Many of these individuals are in the workplace. And many more want to be (disabled vets are struggling to find post-military employment). Read More

10 Things to Know About the No-Tax-On-Tips Deduction

The deduction for no-tax-on-tips, or more simply tips deduction, was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA). Even though OBBBA was signed into law on July 4, 2025, the tips deduction is effective as of January 1, 2025. About 4 million people in the U.S. work in tipped occupations, but it’s estimated that only about 2.5% of them will be able to take the deduction. Read More

Is Revenue-Based Financing a Serious Option for You?

Access to capital remains a big problem for many small businesses today. According to Goldman Sachs, “Among small business owners who have applied for a business loan or line of credit within the last year, 81% found it difficult to access affordable capital, with 49% having to halt expansions and 41% limited in taking on new business. Fifty-one percent said that with current interest rates they are unable to afford to take out a loan.” Read More

Do You Have a Company Policy on Dress Codes?

Earlier this year, a group of Starbucks employees filed a lawsuit when the company imposed a new dress code. The company requires baristas to wear sold black shirts with long or short sleeves (with or without collars); they must cover midriffs and armpits. They also have to wear khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms without patterns or frayed hems. Read More

Confessions of a Logophile and Keys to Better Communication

A logophile is a lover of words, and that describes me. I read many books a month and am in multiple book clubs. I’ve transitioned from turning pages on a printed book to swiping them on my iPad. I like most genres…historic fiction, biography, nonfiction…with my favorite being magical realism (e.g., 100 Years of Solitude; Beloved; House of Spirits). Of course, I read business and self-help books (e.g., The Technological Republic; Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance). And I write…books, blogs, emails, and more. Why is this confession in a business blog? Read More

Our Featured Guest Blogs

The Enduring Power of Business Holiday Cards

by Erin Shea

Holiday cards have long been a symbol of warmth and tradition, but they’re not just for friends and family. Businesses are now part of the ritual too – and customers welcome it. A recent national survey from VistaPrint of 1,000 U.S. consumers confirms that holiday cards remain a highly effective way for companies to express gratitude, reinforce loyalty, and stay top of mind. Read More

New Marketing Strategy: Brand Activation

by James Thompson

Brand activation is a marketing strategy to create real-world interactions that speak to an audience and move beyond traditional advertising to form stronger relationships between businesses and consumers. It’s essential today because brands often get lost in the huge clutter of products around us. Read More

Eight Games to Make Sales Skills Training Fun

by James Thompson

Sales training is necessary for cultivating the skills it takes to negotiate, communicate, and engage with customers. But it tends to be a dull, cyclical process. The implementation of games into the training program provides the basis for a dynamic learning atmosphere that keeps the participants inspired and engaged. Read More

Questions to Ask Before You Hire Business Brokers

by James Thompson

If you’re intending to buy or sell your company, utilizing business brokers is a game-changer. Brokers are middlemen who assist in the transfer of ownership of complex business transactions. Whether you’re navigating the market in major US cities or smaller communities across the country, selecting the right broker requires caution. Read More

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"One Big Beautiful Bill" Greatly Enhances Section 179 Deduction, Immediate Benefits this Year

by Barbara Weltman

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) included several incentives to drive business investments in equipment, machinery, and plants. Investments in equipment and software in the second half of 2025 is expected to grow by 6.3% in part due to passage of OBBBA and its tax incentives.

Read the full article on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council