NFIB

How to Hire and Train an Assistant

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's almost always best to hire an assistant well in advance of your actual need. When crunch time arrives, there will be little time for training and you'll want your new assistant to be operating at full steam.

When Is Travel Insurance a Good Idea?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

You've just landed in Mexico, and you trip on the sidewalk. Your ankle is throbbing. What do you do? The simple answer, you might think, is go straight to the hospital. But, depending on your health insurance, your broken bone may not be covered. Even if it is, finding a hospital that has an English translator on staff, and doctors who will see you right away and accept your coverage, can be difficult. In fact, most hospitals and doctors outside of the United States require payment of medical fees upfront even if you do have your own medical insurance, according to Matt Tassey, past chairman of the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education, a non-profit insurance educational firm. This means you may end up shelling out thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.

5 Ways to Offer Health Coverage Without a Traditional Group Plan

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just five years ago, 58% of small U.S. employers offered health insurance for their workers, but that number has fallen to 47%. "In the last few years, an increasing number of business owners are throwing their hands up and saying, 'I can no longer offer health insurance benefits,'" says Sam Gibbs, senior vice president of eHealthInsurance.com.

Popular Ideas for Employee Lunch-and-Learns

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If most of your employees head to fast food restaurants or eat sandwiches at their desks during lunch, you're missing a great educational opportunity. Consider hosting monthly or quarterly lunch-and-learn sessions, where employees can acquire new skills. To help you get started, here are five general areas you might cover, thoughts on a specific seminar for each, and lists of additional lunch-and-learn ideas.

Liability Insurance 101 for Small Business

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One means of defending yourself against both warranted and unwarranted claims is by purchasing liability insurance, which protects your business against accusations of injury to people or other properties.

How to Get A Google Business Listing and Appear on Google Maps

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The phone book is no longer the go-to source for finding local businesses. A survey conducted by Nielsen Online and WebVisible shows that search engines are the first place consumers turn when looking for local products or services. The problem with that: Less than half of all small businesses actually have a Web site. Enter Google with a way to add Web presence without a Web site. A Google business listing is a quick, easy and free way for a business, with or without a Web site, to build/start its Web presence.

Can an MBA Help You Start or Grow Your Business?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In every Master's of Business Administration program -- from the elite such as Harvard Business School to online degree programs -- entrepreneurs and small business owners make up a substantial portion of MBA students. Yet pursuing an MBA is essentially taking away the time you have to devote to your business. So the question every business owner must ask is whether or not the long-term benefits will be worth the initial time and expense that must be put into obtaining a degree.

Trademarks: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Business Owner

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Image can be everything. This is especially true for your business. Whether your business offers products or services, customers need to distinguish your business from the competition. A catchy name, phrase, logo, symbol, or design is frequently a business' most valuable asset and should be protected. If you obtain and protect your mark, you have taken the first steps to building brand identification with your customer and protecting an important business asset.

Staying Well at Work: 9 Proven Tips

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most Americans rarely think about cleaning their desk and office equipment, but according to Dr. Charles Gerba (a.k.a. Dr. Germ), a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, desktops can harbor 400 times more germs than the office toilet seat, which is cleaned daily.

How to Raise Your Fees, Even in a Difficult Economy

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Even in rough economy times, small business owners sometimes need to raise their fees. Taking the right approach can prevent clients and customers from bolting.

Are You Missing These Energy-Saving Opportunities?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the not-too-distant past, energy was relatively cheap, plentiful and readily available. Now, however, it's evident that the days of unlimited low-cost energy are gone forever. That which was once a small part of the cost of doing business is now a significant expense that can't be ignored. Energy must now be managed as any other essential resource is managed.

Affordable Advertising: Best Deals Are Online

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In hard times, businesses often cut back on the lifeblood of what gets new customers: advertising. But when times are tough you should be ramping up -- rather than decreasing -- your advertising.

4 Ways to Make Web Analytics Work for You

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It is no longer good enough just to have a Web site; now one must analyze that Web site with a Web analytics program such as Google Analytics or Adobe's Omniture. Web analytics is the analysis of a Web site and the computers visiting that site. Think of it as conducting a non-obtrusive, non-annoying, no fail, customer feedback survey.

6 Legal Problems to Avoid (and How to Do It)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Legal problems drain finances, time and the emotions. Anyone who has been involved with legal difficulties will agree that one of the most prudent things a small business can do is set up procedures to help avoid legal problems before they arise.

Making the Transition From Entrepreneur to Operating Manager

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The entrepreneur is a creator, innovator and dreamer -- an individual who believes strongly enough in something to risk almost anything in pursuit of success. It may not be possible to say with certainty what makes a true entrepreneur, but we can say that there's a side of the entrepreneur's behavior that suggests a talent. It may be something that can be brought out and developed through the right kind of education, but it's likely that the spark of entrepreneurship -- some critical combination of talent and desire -- has to be there to begin with.

How to Take off While Your Business Takes off

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We don't have to tell you that running a business is extremely grueling. We'll even bet your family members, and possibly your doctor, have been begging you to take a break. Well, it is time to stop making excuses, because they might just be hurting your business.

How to Calculate Payback for Purchases

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A valuable help in deciding whether a particular purchase makes economic sense is knowledge of how long the expenditure will take to pay itself back in reduced costs or increased revenue. This information can be developed via simple payback analysis, the determination of how long it will take to recover the money spent for any particular purchase or investment. If you ever think, "Should I buy this new technology or fund this proposed undertaking?" look to payback period to help with the decision.

A Dozen Tips for Debt Collection

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Debt management is critical to the success of any company. Yet many independent businesses struggle to find the time, energy and resources to collect outstanding debt. Here are a dozen tips to help you receive payment on time and improve your cash flow.

Do You Have Enough Insurance for Your Home Business?

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you have a home-based business, you probably believe that your homeowner's policy will protect your business in case of fire, theft or other catastrophe. But the reality is that it may not -- or the coverage may not be enough.

How to Get Repeat Visits to Your Web Site

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Think about what makes you return to certain Web sites on a regular basis. It's probably the new and compelling content -- on topics you truly care about -- that greets you every time you drop in. That content might be in the form of fresh blog posts, new video footage of your favorite sports teams or insider news that pertains to your industry. These things can all be considered "sticky."