May 1, 2025 -- Volume 24, No. 5

Proposals for Better Tax Rules for Small Businesses

Congress is continually giving lip service to its desire to help small businesses, but rarely does something important taxwise in this regard. Much assistance goes to “large” small businesses (remember the SBA definition of a small business in most instances is up to 500 employees). With Congress currently in the midst of talks about tax legislation, I wanted to focus on some ideas that could really benefit “small” small businesses. Read More

A Good Time to Review Your Company's Driving Policy

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s a good time to review your company’s driving policy to increase the safety of your staff and others, as well as to reduce your insurance costs and liability exposure. Read More

Financial Literacy: What Owners and Employees Need to Know

According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), “’Financial literacy’ describes the skills, knowledge, and tools that equip people to make individual financial decisions and actions to attain their goals; this may also be known as financial capability, especially when paired with access to financial products and services.” Unfortunately, many owners and employees are financially illiterate. What should owners and employees know? Read More

Tariffs, Recession, and Other Uncomfortable Topics for Small Business Owners

The expression “may you live in interesting times” can be interpreted as a blessing or a curse. It certainly reflects uncertainty. We are surely in a period of interesting times. Legacy and social media are reporting doom and gloom, and small businesses are scrambling to adapt to actual and possible changes in the marketplace. Take the time to digest what’s going on so you can take constructive action to help your business. Read More

Scaling Your Business: Adding a New State Location

If your business is growing, you may want or need to expand to other locations. One or more of these locations may be across state lines. The U.S. is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, each of which has its own rules and regulations. What does expanding into another location mean for your operations, your legal matters, and your taxes? Read More

Eye Strain: A Workplace Problem to Address

If you and/or your employees sit before a computer screen all day or a good part of it, eye problems can arise. Eye strain is the most common ailment, but there can also be dry eye and retinal damage. Eye problems can cause an inability to sleep. Taken together, vision problems may seriously impact employees’ health and cause on-the-job issues—absenteeism and poor productivity. Read More

Learning New Ways for Spring Cleaning Your Business

Traditionally, Spring is the time for individuals to clean out their homes…and for businesses to do the same. But moving beyond traditional approaches to spring cleaning, GiGO Clean Technology Inc., an app offering on-demand cleaning services by connecting customers to cleaners directly, says: “The world of hygiene and cleaning is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, sustainability efforts, and changing consumer preferences.”

Understanding the Interplay Between Federal and State Leave Programs

Employers can easily be confused about their obligations under the Federal Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) Act, state-paid family and medical leave programs, and employer-provided paid leave time for employees. The DOL has provided some guidance to help employers properly handle payroll and comply with federal and state law. Read More

Humor in the Workplace: Enjoy the Benefits

“Humor Is Serious Business” is the title of an article that appeared last year in a Stanford Business Graduate School publication and it really hit home for me after the long tax season this year. The gist of the article is that there’s not enough humor in the workplace. It’s been statistically demonstrated that people laugh more on weekends; people laughed more before they entered the workplace. Bringing humor to the workplace is important: “Humor is an effective and underleveraged tool for power, offering a competitive advantage against peers, higher retention rates of employees, innovative solutions, and teams that are more resilient to stress.” Read More

Our Featured Guest Blogs

How to Build Anticipation for an Upcoming Product Release

by Jack Shaw

Launching a new product is a strategic event that requires meticulous planning and execution. In today’s competitive market, a simple announcement isn’t enough to capture the attention of your target market. Small business owners must build genuine anticipation to maximize impact and drive initial sales. Read More

Home Service Businesses: How to Get Found Online

by James Thompson

Businesses—especially home services companies—have recognized the importance of establishing a strong online presence. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a valuable tool for these enterprises, allowing them to reach more potential customers and increase visibility.

What to Do About Waste Management in Your Warehouse

by John Jones

The U.S. government estimates that there are over one million warehouse and storage buildings with a total floorspace of 17.4 billion square feet. That’s a lot of space to keep clean. Waste management in warehouses isn’t just about keeping floors clean. Read More

What to Do When You Can't Get Approved for a Business Loan

by Aaron Franks

Obtaining funding often feels like a significant milestone for small business owners. But when loan applications hit a wall, reality sets in fast. Denial letters don’t offer much comfort, and time is rarely on your side. If your loan application has been rejected, the path forward may seem uncertain—but it isn’t the end of the road.

How Small Businesses Can Keep their Customers Coming Back

by Brenda Wanjiku

As a small business owner, you’ve probably spent a lot of time and effort getting your first customers. But here’s the thing, keeping them is just as important, if not more so. It’s a rule of thumb that the cost of acquiring a new customer is five times higher than retaining an existing one, although depending on industry, business model, and customer behavior, it can be as much as 10 times higher. Read More

Restrooms: Not Front Office but Just as Important

by John Jones

Maintaining clean and pleasant restrooms is essential to a productive and positive workplace. These spaces are often overlooked but can leave a lasting impression on employees, customers, and other visitors. Read More

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Weltman on Financial Literacy: What Owners and Employees

Need to Know

April is National Financial Literacy Month. According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), “’Financial literacy’ describes the skills, knowledge, and tools that equip people to make individual financial decisions and actions to attain their goals; this may also be known as financial capability, especially when paired with access to financial products and services.” Unfortunately, many owners and employees are financially illiterate. What should owners and employees know?

Read the full article on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council