A top source of business failures: Lack of online presence
For decades, the top reasons businesses fail have been fairly constant. Research tells us that businesses often fail due to a lack of capital, too much debt, poor leadership or when they expand too fast. Yet in today’s high-tech and connected world, there is a surprising new reason why companies don’t make it: Lack of […]
Is there an ideal office temperature?
What is the temperature in your office? In workplaces nationwide, there is an ongoing debate over where to set the thermostat. Research shows that office temperature can affect mood, productivity and even how well employees get along. Simply put, if employees feel comfortable with the temperature, they do better work. Cornell University researchers, for example, discovered […]
Scam alert! Fake IRS notices claim you owe additional taxes
It seems like every week scammers come up with a new ploy to trick honest taxpayers into giving up more of their hard-earned money. The latest involves fraudulent CP2000 notices for the tax year 2015. In case you are unfamiliar with the CP2000, the IRS sends these notices to taxpayers when there is a discrepancy […]
The smart way to do some heavy (and not so heavy) lifting
Back injuries are one of the most common on-the-job injuries. But you work in an office at a computer. You don’t have to worry about hurting your back, right? Wrong. Even if you are picking up fairly light objects occasionally, lifting can put great strain on your back. Lifting from the floor can be particularly […]
Planning to make charitable donations on behalf of your business?
Every day, small business owners share their success by donating a portion of their revenues to charity. A study from Alignable, a social network for small businesses, shows that 95% of U.S. small business owners plan to make charitable donations this year. The majority (81%) plan to give cash, 75% will provide goods and services and 67% […]
What successful business owners and managers have in common
It’s not always easy keeping a business alive. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration says only two-thirds of new businesses make it past two years, half make it at least four years, and only 40 percent survive for six years or more. How do companies that survive succeed? Much of a company’s longevity has […]
Common bookkeeping errors to avoid
Businesses large and small rely on financial data to plan for the future and make significant business decisions. However, your books are only useful if they are well maintained. Errors can be costly, whether they result in bad decisions made with poor information or unexpected tax liabilities. To make sure your bookkeeping isn’t causing harm, […]
Your home office and the mileage deduction
If you drive your car for work, you can take a deduction on your tax return based on either the standard mileage rate or the actual expenses related to the business use of your vehicle. However, commuting to and from your principal place of business is never deductible. How does that change if your home […]
Are you making it easy for someone to guess your password?
How well do your passwords protect your private information? Probably not as well as you think. In one recent test by a security firm, more than half of 625,000 passwords were easily breached by using common guessing techniques. The most common passwords used “123456″ followed by “Hello123″ and, not to be outdone, “password”. Hackers also […]
Find errors in your credit report quickly and easily
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that one in every 20 consumers has errors in his or her credit report. That’s an alarming estimate, given the fact that credit information can affect the rates you are able to obtain when applying for a mortgage, credit card or any other consumer loan. The quality of your credit […]