Archives: January 2010

Don't Choose a Health Care Plan Based Solely on Its Name

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 29

When comparing health care plans during this year's open enrollment period, don't be enticed by "premium" names and overlook the plans labeled "value." Instead, understand how each works so you...

Maximize Your Benefits Investment

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 28

Regardless of the final shape of health care reform, one thing remains certain: Employer benefits costs will continue to rise in 2010. Here are some ways to minimize these costs...

You're Not As Smart As You Think You Are

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 27

As entrepreneurs, our tendencies are to get immersed in our own companies and bury ourselves in work. But beware of the risks of isolation. No matter what you've learned before,...

Protect Privileged Information from Trusted Insiders

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 26

According to a survey of U.S. security industry professionals, 14% of former company employees still have access to proprietary data and information—a fact that highlights critical deficiencies in company security...

Prevent Data Breaches

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 25

Recently the term "data compromise" has come to the forefront of many people’s minds—a recent compromise of financial information cost one company more than $12 million. As business owners, we...

The Importance of Employees and Advisers

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 22

Even the best business concepts will not flourish without the right team to support them. Make sure your team members have the right mix of experience and skills and are...

Articulate Your Business Goals Now

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 21

The legendary chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur once said, "Chance favors the prepared mind." When I think about my career over the past 20-plus years, I recognize many times when...

How to Retain Star Employees

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 20

As a business owner, at some point you will likely be confronted with the question of how to keep your star performers. It may be your top salesperson or a...

Succession Planning with a Business Partner

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 19

Many small businesses are partnerships between two or more members. When times are good and the partners are healthy, there is usually little concern about having a viable succession plan....

Three Keys to Running Your Business from the Road

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 18

As technology has advanced, so have the options for how and where we work. Portable computing tools combined with cloud-based services and applications have made the mobile office a viable...

Five Reasons to Take Your Business on the Road

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 15

Years ago, road warriors referred only to a small subset of employees whose job required them to work from outside the office. The early road warriors did not have Wi-Fi,...

Small Ways to Make Your Business Greener

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 14

Many small businesses want to be green-friendly but either don't understand what they are currently doing or struggle with how to get started in a way that benefits the business...

The Power of Partnerships for Green Initiatives

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 13

There's power in numbers. Partnerships allow you to accomplish more together than you could ever do on your own. This is especially true for small businesses with limited staff, resources,...

How to Make Going Green Everybody's Business

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 12

Small businesses are accustomed to coming together and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. As more and more small businesses work to become energy smart and preserve...

Build a "Green Team" for Your Business

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on January 11

One of the best ways to get initiatives off the ground that are meant to benefit the environment is to empower your employees to lead the charge. You can harness...

A Better Way To Present Your Company to New Employees

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on January 08

For many new employees, the first day at new jobs can become tedious as they get introduced to company rules and regulations. While most companies use a static method for...

Working Less When You're the Face of the Company

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on January 07

Whether you're looking at cutting back on your time, retirement, or preparing for the sale of your company to your employees or somebody else, you essentially need to pull yourself...

Structure Your Retirement Plan to Attract Top Talent

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on January 06

If you look at your company retirement plan as a tool to attract the best talent, now is a great time to review your options for improvement. As 2010 begins,...

Make Your Business More Attractive for Financing

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on January 05

If you're looking to obtain financing for your business, a good place to start is to treat your CPA and lender as partners in your financing. To start, you need...

Think Twice Before Investing Everything in Your Business

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on January 04

Too often we see business owners with nearly their entire net worth tied up in their businesses. It make sense, considering most pour their heart and soul into getting their...

The Time for Succession Planning Was Yesterday

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on January 01

Ever wonder why so many small businesses never survive the owner's death? Entrepreneurs often get so involved in day-to-day management of their baby that they never contemplate what would happen...