Unless you live in Timbuktu, you've probably heard about the government's crackdown on the hiring of illegal immigrants in U.S. businesses.

The latest effort in this direction is the Department of Homeland Security's proposed no-match rule, which would require businesses to fire employees if there isn't a match between their name and Social Security number. After the rule was challenged in federal court, the government revised the proposal to offer a safe-harbor to businesses that follow the procedures.

So, what's all this legislation costing employers? A U.S. News & World Report brief points to a Chamber of Commerce study for that answer. In the study, a former Office of Management Budget economist estimates that these proposed rules could cost businesses an estimated 1 billion a year.

To learn more about how immigration affects your business or how you can get involved in the debate, visit the immigration issues section of www.NFIB.com.

Posted by Emily McMackin on April 25, 2008 03:42 PM

If you prefer not to handle your small business' IT needs in-house but aren't sure what steps to take when hiring an outside company, this article from The Wall Street Journal offers some great advice, including:

• Have an exit strategy. Think through what will happen in the event things don't work out.


• Meet the account team. Meet the account employees in person and find out about their skills, expertise in your industry and comfort with the technical environment they'll be working in.


• Find out how your data will be protected. Learn whether a vendor may expose customer data or your firm's intellectual property to another vendor, such as one outside the U.S. that may not have the level of security that you would want.
  Posted by Megan Goodchild on April 17, 2008 03:42 PM

After two years of billing errors from my cell phone company, I finally canceled my service this week when my contract ended. Each month I found I was being charged for a service I did not use (text messaging someone in Australia or downloading video ringers, for example), and would have to endure weeks of being bounced from customer service rep to customer service rep until finally someone begrudgingly agreed to reverse the charges.

It wasn't just the constant errors that bothered me---it was the company's attitude that they were doing me a favor by refunding my money and their refusal to acknowledge the recurring problem (I heard "It's only a couple dollars" several times) that irritated me to no end. If they would have just taken ownership of the issue and made me believe they cared about my experience with their company, I probably would not have canceled my service.

An important tactic when dealing with an angry customer is to simply acknowledge his or her right to be upset, according to this article from BusinessKnowHow.com, which lists 10 steps to diffuse situations with angry customers. Other tips include listening, being patient and owning the problem. The customer might not always be right, but you'll never find out if you just ignore him.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on April 10, 2008 04:56 PM

A few months ago I got a call from one of my colleagues who was supposed to have been in Chicago for a meeting. She called from Buffalo, N.Y. After asking her if she had eaten any hot wings yet (the answer was no, because it was 9 a.m.), I asked her how in the world she ended up in Buffalo when her flight was supposed to take her from Miami (where she had been visiting her family over the weekend) to Chicago. Turns out she was rerouted because of bad weather. But to Buffalo? She landed back in Nashville—after a stop in Baltimore—later that day. And yes, she missed the meeting.

Anyone who's traveled for business knows that anything is possible—and that anything that could go wrong very well might. That's probably why CNN put together this special section for road (and air) warriors. It's got tips on everything from minimizing your load at the airport to how to transition seamlessly once you're at your destination.

Whatever takes you on a business trip (think big sales presentation) is probably stressful enough; getting there doesn't have to be.

Posted by Lena Basha on April 9, 2008 08:42 AM

If you're in real estate, you felt the pinch of a slowing economy months ago. But for many other small business owners, the only indication of a slowdown is in the news. Yet owners like Carol Yenne, who is profiled in this San Francisco Chronicle article, are thinking ahead and taking small steps to protect themselves from any potential setbacks.

For Yenne, it meant waiting to fill shifts left vacant by employees who cut back their hours. Not a drastic move--just one that makes Yenne feel more cautious. Check out these other commonsense tips on how to be smart in times of economic uncertainty.

Posted by Shannon McRae on March 24, 2008 09:17 AM

Taxes aren't much fun--or even remotely interesting--for most people, but putting them off until the last minute can leave you in a pinch, according to this recent Tools and Tips article on NFIB.com. Though you're probably already pushed to the limit with your free time, the article cautions against waiting until April to contact your accountant, who is most likely swamped this time of year and might not be able to fit you in before Tax Day. And, the article advises, if you practice "shoebox accounting" in your business (where you throw all of your receipts in a shoebox until it's tax time), make an appointment now. And then do everyone a favor and invest in a filing system for next year.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on March 18, 2008 01:11 PM

My family loves inside jokes. Spend an hour with more than three of us and you'll likely be left wondering what we're laughing about half of the time. It's not that our jokes are private--they're just those "you had to be there" moments.

This article in a recent WSJ blog says inside jokes like that can be good for business. One company took the concept so far that they've created a fictional character, Bob Archer, who they refer to as the founder of the company. Not wanting to name the business after themselves, the real founders chose the name the Archer Group because it sounded creditable. "Bob Archer" was always thanked for paying the tab for client lunches. He even has own voice on the company's blog.

“When you’re in on a joke, it’s kind of like you’re special,” says Lee Mikles, one of the founders. “When our clients are able to feel like they’re in on this Bob Archer joke, and they can play along with it, you really feel them kind of light up, and that’s kind of neat.”

Though inside jokes are often thought to be exclusive, if you can come up with one inclusive enough for your entire client base, you might find yourself laughing all the way to the bank.

Posted by Shannon McRae on March 17, 2008 01:11 PM

"Learn to delegate" is one of those business rules you've heard a thousand times. It's a truth that's so much easier said than done. That's why I liked Jonathan Field's take on the subject. He has a simple rule: Don't hire a dog, then bark yourself.

As he explains in a recent entry on his blog Awake at the Wheel, the more we care about something, the worse we are at giving up control. "It’s almost a sign that we’re invested in what we’re doing," he says. "We care so deeply about how a task or project comes to life that we have trouble letting anyone else do even a little sliver of the work needed make it happen. Because, we can’t deal with the possibility that they might not do it the way we wanted."

You won't find any earth-shattering advice on learning to delegate--it's just a really good reminder of why it's crucial.

Posted by Shannon McRae on March 3, 2008 07:06 AM

At least once a week, I get a call from my mom or dad with a question about how they should handle something at their small business. It's not that I'm an expert--they've run a successful business for almost 20 years. It's just that because they've been owners for so long, they sometimes like getting a "regular" employee's view on some matter. Whatever situation they're dealing with, at some point during the call, I usually remind my parents that their employees think about the business much differently than they do as owners.

This Wall Street Journal article strikes the same chord. In it, a business owner reveals the moment he realized his mistake of thinking that everyone in his company thinks like he does. He also talks about how he set out to change that. Through an aggressive campaign to educate employees on the value of company-owned stock, this owner persuaded employees to act more like owners.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 26, 2008 10:41 AM

You might pay your employees well and offer competitive benefits, but if you're not creating a work environment that your employees take pride in, your retention percentage might not be as high as it could be, according to today's Tools and Tips article on NFIB.com.

The article give several tips on how you can improve retention at your small business, and discusses the PRIDE model:
P - Provide a positive working environment.
R - Recognize, reinforce and reward individual efforts.
I - Involve and engage everyone.
D - Develop the potential of your workforce.
E - Evaluate and hold managers accountable.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on February 21, 2008 03:49 PM

I recently started recycling paper at home. I know, I know. I shouldn't be bragging, because I probably should have been doing that years ago. But when you live in a small space with an open floor plan, there aren't many places to put an unsightly bin of paper.

But after hearing and seeing all the going green that's been going on, I put my dreams of living clutter-free aside and plopped down a gigantic plastic container in my kitchen. Within a week, it was filled. Amazing, really. I had no idea my household of two could produce that much paper. Just imagine how many bins your office could fill in a week.

The best part is you don't have to change out your fleet of cars to make an impact on the environment. In fact, as this Startup Nation series outlining 9 steps to a greener operation explains, you can even choose your shade of green. Right now, I'm probably at sea foam, but after spotting a sleek two-bin recycling container at Costco this weekend, I'll be on my way to lime in no time.

Posted by Lena Basha on February 20, 2008 04:36 PM

You have to spend money to make money--and, it turns out, to save money too. As the economy slows, you're probably looking for some belt-tightening measures in your small business. This AP article offers several ideas--the catch is that all of them require you to spend a little upfront.

The Russo Group, a marketing firm in Lafayette, La., hired a CFO whose strict rules reduced expenses by 18 percent in one year. A PR firm in California outsourced all its HR duties to a professional employer organization--a move that saved both time and money. By outsourcing these time-consuming functions, executives could spend more time on their PR business--the best bet for a business trying to stay ahead of a recession.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 18, 2008 09:06 AM

Doing something that matters is probably on everyone's list of life goals. But when you're focused on meeting payroll, pleasing clients, organizing your desk and keeping your tires rotated, it's easy for years to slip by without really feeling like you've made a difference. For one of the features in the latest issue of MyBusiness, we talked to small-business owners who have found ways to merge their passions with their paychecks. They are finding fulfillment in the place where they spend a large chunk of their lives--their work.

When we started this story, I was a bit cynical. Of course I'd love to start a business that helps strays dogs, saves the earth and makes all children feel loved. But most people probably don't start businesses to do any of these things, I thought. Yet what we found in talking to these business owners is that fulfillment doesn't lie in what you do as much as how you do it. Check out our tips on how to love your work more.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 4, 2008 12:06 PM

When you hire new employees in your small business, do you just throw them into their new position? If you do and leave them to their own devices to find supplies and wonder when their first paycheck will come, you might consider establishing a structured new-employee orientation program to set them in the right direction. This recent Tools and Tips article on NFIB.com suggests several items to work into your agenda, including reviewing personnel and tax forms and taking the time to introduce the new hire to the other employees.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on January 24, 2008 03:19 PM

No small-business owner wants to deal with an unhappy customer, but giving complainers the brush-off can hurt your business in the end. Chances are, even if you only hear one person complaining about a particular service at your business, there are other customers walking out the door unhappy—and even though they aren’t complaining, they can still hurt your business. Offering a free service or product to a dissatisfied client can quickly diffuse the situation, but taking steps to fix their problem with your business can help boost your bottom line in the long run.

This USA Today article, offers tips from a small-business owner who enhanced her business by listening to her customer’s complaints. Read on to learn more about handling your unhappy customers—and growing your business in the process.

Posted by Megan Pacella on January 22, 2008 12:50 PM

Never ones to shy away from new media technologies, some of us around the halls of MyBusiness have been experimenting with Twitter, a Web-based service that allows users to publish text-only messages (called "tweets") of up to 140 characters. But Twitter's not simply glorified text messaging. In fact, this article explores 17 ways small-business owners can use the service to boost their business, including finding new hires, directing (Web) traffic, getting feedback, setting up meetings and networking.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on January 17, 2008 03:30 PM

Just before sitting down to work up this post, I made a list of all the things that I want to do before leaving the office today. It has 15 items on it. And it's 4 p.m. And I have to leave in 30 minutes.

Am I going to get all things done? No way. Am I setting myself up for failure? Yes, according to today's Tools and Tips column on NFIB.com.

Just like me and my lengthy to-do list or a dieter who wants to lose 20 pounds in two months, small-business owners have a tendency to set lofty goals—so unattainable that even conquering part of it ends up looking like a failure.

Posted by Lena Basha on January 9, 2008 02:37 PM

A two-night stay in a hotel last week left me less than impressed. I'm sort of a neat-freak (my bare foot has never touched a hotel-room floor), but what I found when I checked into my room was outright disgusting. The hotel wasn't a budget brand, so why was the housekeeping staff so bad?, I thought to myself on several ocassions. Too bad I didn't have this article on hand to recommend to the manager when I checked out.

There are lots of articles written on how to retain workers. Offering perks like time off for family events, flexible hours and training opportunities are touted as good ways to retain key employees. But most of the ideas I read about seem geared to salaried employees. This article focuses on what one San Francisco hotel did to satisfy more of its hourly staff. Since two-thirds of hotel and restaurant staff turnover each year, finding ways to keep them around is a good idea for the industry--and any other that employs lower-income workers.

Posted by Shannon McRae on December 17, 2007 07:32 PM

I don't know how I survived before caller ID. Call me a screen-aholic, but if I can't see who's calling, I don't pick up. That's why you'll rarely catch me answering my phone before three or four solid rings. Marketing guru Seth Godin thinks that's bad for business, especially if you're in the service industry. In this blog entry he challenges businesses to answer their phones after just one ring. "When you need to answer the phone in one ring, you discover exactly what it means to provide a certain level of service. Either you're succeeding or failing," Godin writes. I love the idea, probably because I hate being put on hold. Take a look at the average experience of a customer calling your business. You might decide the one-ring system would improve your service.

Posted by Shannon McRae on December 9, 2007 07:45 PM

Hosting an office holiday party can become a legal nightmare if you don't take certain precautions, according to today's Tools & Tips on NFIB.com. While many company events go off without a hitch, some situations can lead to big trouble for your employees--and for your business. If you're not sure the traditional office party will work for your company, read today's Tools & Tips for alternative ways to celebrate the season.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on November 29, 2007 02:25 PM

Growth is great for small-business owners who reap the rewards of hard work and savvy business decisions, but if your office space doesn’t expand with your business, you can expect your once-happy, diligent employees to start itching for more space—or a new job. If the break room is standing room only during lunch and the contents of filing cabinets are overflowing onto the carpet, then it’s probably time to invest in a larger workspace.

Although moving locations can put a dent in the company bank account, bearing the expenditures might pay off in the end. If your employees feel comfortable in the office, you can reduce turnover in the workplace and boost productivity. Not sure if your office is too cramped? Check out this Smallbiz.com article for 10 signs that it’s time to expand your office.

Posted by Megan Pacella on November 27, 2007 02:36 PM

I am your typical first-born child--responsible, punctual, an overachiever and a few people have told me I can be bossy. My younger brother is just the opposite. He's laid-back, kind-hearted and spends large parts of his days looking for stuff he misplaced. On the surface, I'd think would have a much better chance at business success than my brother. But this study says entrepreneurial success has nothing to do with birth order. Instead researchers found that your parents' career paths are more likely to influence your decision to start a business.

"Entrepreneurs are made, they are not born," says Michael Alter, president of SurePayroll which conducted the survey. "There's no DNA sequence that determines whether you will succeed or fail. But the earlier you start to think entrepreneurially, the bigger advantage you have. That's a gift that you receive naturally when you are fortunate enough to be raised by entrepreneurs."

Posted by Shannon McRae on November 18, 2007 07:33 AM

How important is intuition when making business decisions? It's everything, says Rob Walker in a recent Fast Company article. Everyone from pop culture characters like Tony Soprano to capitalist heroes like Steve Jobs rely on instincts rather than spreadsheets to push their enterprises forward. "Maybe it's true that at some point we all promised our parents that we'd be careful, rational, empirical decision makers, but beyond that, it's not easy to find evidence that ours is a society that frowns on gut thinking," Walker writes. He points to popular books on the subject to prove his point—Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious by Gerd Gigerenzer. So what does MyBusiness have to say? Look for an upcoming feature on the subject in our Dec./Jan. issue to find out!

Posted by Emily McMackin on November 16, 2007 09:05 AM

Feeling fatigued, helpless and frustrated? You could be suffering to burnout, which, according to this article from Management-Issues.com, occurs when your intense focus on a specific goal "fails to produce the expected reward." While your business is your passion, working unrelentingly and never giving yourself a break can have negative consequences that can affect you physically, emotionally and professionally. Read the full article to learn more, including how to find out if you're suffering from burnout and what you can do to recover.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on November 15, 2007 02:56 PM

My parents have owned a small business for almost two decades and no matter how much their business changes, there's one constant: their search for effective leaders among their staff. I'm going to recommend they read this Fast Company article that addresses the difference between leadership development then and now. Author Jim Bolf (founder of an executive development firm) explains that most of today's leadership development focuses on success in business with some "touchy feely" aspects throw in for good measure. True leaders, Bolt says, must be three dimensional--possessing business, leadership and personal effectiveness skills.

Posted by Shannon McRae on November 12, 2007 07:16 AM

Your employees say a lot about you and your business, and hiring the right ones is important for many reasons. You want to hire someone who has the skills to get the job done, but you also want to make sure he or she meshes with the other employees and is a good fit, overall, for your company. Today's Tools & Tips on NFIB.com offers several hints to get you on your way to making the right hire, including:

• If you have an open position only every few months, you won't be intimately familiar with interviewing. Recognize this reality and get some sound advice on how to interview.


• Never assume that everyone you interview is desperately seeking this particular job. Remember that many of the better candidates know they have other options.


• The potentially best hires usually ask the best questions. The better applicants will ask about the job and its challenges before probing into the personal side of possible employment. Think twice about any applicant whose questions are all about pay and benefits.


• In addition to discussing capabilities and experience, spend some time probing the applicant's reasons for seeking employment with you.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on November 8, 2007 03:53 PM

As I type this, I'm putting on a cat costume for a group picture we're about to take in the boss' office. For Halloween, we had a costume contest (my editor, who is dressed like Count Chocula, won by a landslide) and some treats in the kitchen. People are laughing, having a good time and probably learning a little more about each other. And somebody just walked by in a full-out gorilla suit. Yikes.

The point is, this is a reward for all the great things we do. And rewards are necessary for retaining employees. Luckily, it doesn't take hefty bonus checks to say thank you to your employees, says USA Today small-business expert Rhonda Abrams in this column.

Abrams, a small-business owner herself, has come up with a number of ways to reward employees without breaking the bank—like having a Halloween costume contest.

Posted by Lena Basha on October 31, 2007 11:23 AM

Do you know who your high potential workers are today and who your future leaders will be tomorrow? That's the question this CNet News article asks as it explores how businesses can beat the predicted talent crisis our country faces. "The U.S. is estimated to face a 10 million worker shortage in 2010; the 500 largest companies are expected to lose 50 percent of their senior management in five years and the average tenure at one employer for U.S. employees is only three years," Tod Loofbourrow writes.

"Total rewards" packages (which don’t focus exclusively on monetary compensation) are considered one of the best ways to attract and retain star employees. Using benefits to attract talent might depress some small-business owners, whose sky rocketing health-care costs have forced them to cut back--or cut out--health-insurance offerings. But chin up: The article also touches on several ways companies can use culture to instill loyalty among employees.

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 29, 2007 06:14 AM

Patricia Karter, CEO of Roxbury, Mass.-based Dancing Deer Bakery, decided at a young age that gender disparities would not limit her future as a businesswoman. Since launching the company in 1994, Karter has adopted a mission to produce quality all-natural baked goods, participate in community philanthropy and raise her bottom line.

While Karter has experienced business success in the past 14 years, like most small-business owners, she is ready to grow her business even more—seeking the help of other women to increase her capital. In her Entrepreneur’s journal for Businessweek.com, Karter explains, “It is my belief that more women controlling assets in the private sector will yield a net gain in performance and ultimately a better society for all.”

Believing that diversity creates a better business, Karter is relying on the help of female angel investors to help her bakery flourish. Read on to learn more about how small-business owners can find success through diversifying.

Posted by Megan Pacella on October 16, 2007 01:48 PM

Running a business on a shoestring budget can be tough, but there are some easy steps you can take to help your bottom line. Today's Tools and Tips article on NFIB.com offers five ways to save money in your small business, including:

• Make your office energy efficient. Install a smart thermostat to heat or cool your business only when you need to, and replace incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent lights, which can save you approximately $30 or more on energy costs per bulb.


• Hire interns. College interns can be great assets to your business, since they are eager to get valuable experience in their field of study--paid or not. While interns must receive something in return for their work, a stipend or academic credit is often acceptable. But be careful what tasks you give them--you can't just use them to make coffee and photocopies.


• Cut back on outsourcing. Consider eliminating services like couriers, travel agents and office cleaning or landscaping crews if you and your employees can tackle the jobs.

Find out more easy ways to save cash at NFIB.com.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on October 11, 2007 02:46 PM

I love starting the week with an organized e-mail in-box. Mondays are just easier when you know that you've answered, filed, forwarded or deleted everything you should. As good as it is to start the week on top of your e-mail, how great would it be to end the week with no messages at all? This USA Today story explains how some businesses are doing just that by declaring e-mail-free Fridays. In an effort to bring back more direct communication, employees are encouraged to pick up the phone or have in-person meetings instead of hitting send.

Though it's an invaluable form of communication at the office, e-mail can quickly overwhelm busy professionals. Every day 39.7 billion person-to-person messages are sent worldwide.

"I couldn't believe people who had never talked to each other but worked in the same office," says Scott Dockter, CEO of PBD Worldwide Fulfillment Services in Alpharetta, Ga., which adopted e-mail-free Fridays about a year-and-a-half ago. Since then, the number of messages his 400 employees send has dropped by 75 percent.

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 8, 2007 07:53 AM

One of my favorite sites is Snopes.com, you know the one that debunks urban legends. Since I'm easily spooked, it sets my mind as ease about all those e-mail forwards warning me to avoid strangers asking for help in the parking lot at Target. A few clicks on Snopes.com, and whew, I realize they’re “False.” Maybe that's why I was excited when my editor came up with the idea for the cover story of the current issue of MyBusiness.

In "Debunking Small-Business Myths" we do our own bit of Snopes.com and set the record straight about the urban legends that run rampant in the small-business world--like that most small businesses fail, that you have to have money to make money or that small businesses aren't interested in exporting. Thanks to the NFIB Research Foundation for helping us disprove these myths and more.

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 1, 2007 12:05 PM

Does size matter when you're trying to reel in a big client? No, according to a recent Entrepreneur.com/MSNBC article. In fact, the smaller your company is, the better, say small-business owners interviewed who do business with mega-corporations. Some of the reasons corporations prefer to hand their business over to smaller operations include:

•Fresh ideas and more creativity
•Closer attention to customer service
•Lack of bureaucracy

For those nervous about pitching their products or services to a big corporation, Gloria Irwin, who owns a one-woman promotional marketing firm that counts Harrah's Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and Isle of Capri Casinos among its clients, offers this advice: Don't apologize for your size—use it to your advantage.

Posted by Emily McMackin on September 28, 2007 10:35 AM

Men and women are different--and driving across the country with my husband only reinforced that idea. While I wanted to turn around as soon as we thought we were headed in the wrong direction, make hotel reservations before we arrived in a town, and stop to use the restroom more than once a day--he didn't. Both of our methods for cross-country travel would take one from point A to point B--just in different ways.

So I wasn't surprised at all to see a study released last week from the SBA Office of Advocacy that found while gender doesn't affect new venture performance in a small business, several factors vary between men and women business owners, including expectations, motivations and reasons for starting a business.

Posted by Shannon McRae on September 17, 2007 08:06 AM

Survey results recently released by the American Red Cross and FedEx found that while 94 percent of small-business owners can see their business being seriously disrupted by a disaster within the next two years, not nearly as many feel prepared. According to the Red Cross and FedEx, only 43 percent of small-business owners feel prepared to handle a one-week disruption to their business, and only 22 percent feel they could deal with a disruption lasting one month.

Noting that one in four businesses doesn't reopen after a major disaster, the Red Cross and Fed Ex have announced plans to develop tools to help small-business owners ready themselves.

For tips on how to prepare your business and employees for an emergency, check out NFIB.com's disaster planning section.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on September 13, 2007 03:00 PM

If you're one of the 500,000 or so early-adopters who bought an iPhone after its launch in June, you're probably a little perturbed by the $200 price drop that was announced yesterday. Industry experts have always quarreled over whether Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs is a genius or a madman, but they do agree on one thing: Apple customers are an extremely loyal bunch and always give the company a chance to redeem itself in their eyes.

However, as a small-business owner, you probably don't have the luxury to risk angering your customers, especially with sales mistakes that could have been easily avoided. Unless you posses Jobs' "reality distortion field," check out this Tools and Tips on NFIB.com to find out how to avoid making six common sales mistakes, including fearing the customer's reaction, rushing to judgment and approaching all complaints the same way.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on September 6, 2007 03:38 PM

As a small-business owner, you know how difficult it can be to hire the right employee. And while you don't always have tons of time to decide, you want to make sure you find someone who is a great fit for your company. This article from the Kiplinger Business Resource Center discusses keys to hiring effectively and offers tips on setting up a hiring system to help you narrow your heaping stack of resumes down to a few top candidates. For more tips on assembling the perfect staff, also check out the MyBusiness Manual section in the August/September issue of MyBusiness.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on August 16, 2007 03:17 PM

Driving along a fairly well-traveled road in Nashville, Tenn., I used to regularly see a middle-aged man dressed in a Target employee shirt walking on the shoulder. Every so often, he'd turn around and wave enthusiastically at passing cars, and then continue on, obviously on his way to work at the major retailer's store a few miles away. I always enjoyed seeing The Target Man (as I called him) and was impressed with him for his cheery outlook on life and with the store for employing someone who appeared to have a developmental disability.

This story in the Wall Street Journal's online CareerJournal.com proves Target isn't alone. Lots of businesses (big and small) are finding the benefits of employing people with mental or physical disabilities. "One thing we found is they can all do the job," says Randy Lewis, a senior vice president of distribution and logistics at Walgreen, who is quoted in the article. "What surprised us is the environment that it's created. It's a building where everybody helps each other out."

Posted by Shannon McRae on August 6, 2007 06:13 AM

Have you felt a need to take your business to the next level, but aren't sure how or when to proceed? Expansion Plans, a feature story in the current issue of MyBusiness, profiles small-business owners who sought more—and found it. If you're not sure when the time is right to grow your business, this article has signs to look for, as well as tips to get you on your way once you make the decision to expand.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on August 2, 2007 03:54 PM

We have several grammar gods on the MyBusiness staff--which is a good thing since our business is words. On any given afternoon, we're likely waging deep discussions on the correct use of past participle phrases. We all have our pet peeves when it comes to proper use of the English language. Misuse of quotations is high on my list. I cringe when I see billboards that promise "We Have The Best Deals in Town." Do you really need the quotes? (or the capitalization, but that's another pet peeve...)

If you feel like whipping out your red pen every time you read a newspaper, you'll feel a kinship with this writer who is shocked when smart people use bad grammar. You might wonder why good grammar matters, but it really does contribute to others' perception of you (and your small business). So next time you're torn between using "lie" or "lay" or "that" or "which," check out the list of common grammar usage questions on this Web site.

Posted by Shannon McRae on July 30, 2007 08:16 AM

Before I go on a vacation, I like to plan everything out: what I'm going to do on what day and where I'll eat each meal. But then when I get there, plans inevitably change. I still have a good time and I probably hit all the attractions, but just not in the way I had intended.

The same can be said for running a business, says USA Today's small-business expert Gladys Edmunds, so don't waste too much time planning—because something inevitably will change.

"Even the best plans can go awry," Edmunds says. "And you can't afford to waste a lot of time having too many meetings and brainstorming sessions about problems that might happen. It's possible that the very thing you find yourself dealing with was the very thing that never crossed your mind."

That's not to say planning isn't important, just don't get too bogged down in it.

Posted by Lena Basha on July 25, 2007 10:00 AM

This article in USA Today suggests that business casual means different things to every generation, the article says, which means employers are seeing more halter tops and flip-flops than they'd like to. And they're fighting back.

"The number of employers allowing casual dress days every day has plunged from 53% in 2002 to a new low of 38%," the article explains.

The best way to avoid a business-casual mishap is to enforce a dress code. Nothing strict like at some schools, but guidelines for your employees to follow so they can be dressed appropriately for productivity and professionalism. And maybe a line outlawing tube tops wouldn't hurt.

This article, written by Beth Gaudio of the NFIB Small Business Legal Center and appearing in the current issue of MyBusiness, can help you establish a dress code flexible enough for any generation—and fool-proof enough that it won't invite a lawsuit.

Posted by Lena Basha on July 11, 2007 03:19 PM

I'll admit--I'm an impatient person. I hate to wait in line for anything. I spend half my time at the grocery store jumping to what I perceive to be a faster checkout line. Just the other day, I bounced between three different lines before returning to the first register, all in an effort to get out of the store sooner (if you've shopped with a fussy 4-month-old, you understand).

This New York Times article discusses the science behind lines at retail stores. Organic grocer Whole Foods spent months designing new systems for its Manhattan-based stores in an effort to move customers more quickly. The result is a single line that filters into up to 30 registers during busy hours. Though as many as 50 people might be ahead of you (I think I'd faint), the wait is often only four or five minutes. Such a simple concept that makes a big difference for customers. Take a look around your small business. See if there are ways you could improve the experience for your customers like me--who live in a perpetual state of hurry.

Posted by Shannon McRae on June 24, 2007 12:34 PM

"Summertime's here, and the living is easy..." That might be true for the rest of the world, but it's not always so for small-business owners, according to a recent AP article published in the Houston Chronicle. Though summers are supposed to be slow for small businesses, owners often find themselves more stressed than ever while trying to coordinate staff vacations, balance their own family and child-care issues and reach vendors and prospective clients who are out on vacation themselves. If not handled properly, all of this can culminate in a cash-flow meltdown. The article offers helpful tips from small-business owners about how they overcame these obstacles and finally found time to kick back and enjoy the season.

Posted by Emily McMackin on June 22, 2007 04:00 PM

Looking for a little summertime fun at your office? Why not let employees bring their dogs in to work? After all, tomorrow is Take Your Dog to Work Day. According to an article on Entrepreneur.com, a recent survey found that 44 percent of dog owners would be willing to part with 10 percent of their salary if they could bring their dog to work with them. While it might not be a good fit for every business--nor something you'd want to do every day--it could be a good morale boost for your employees. Just make sure no one brings a cat.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on June 21, 2007 01:37 PM

I don't know about you, but over the past few months, my invitations to connect on the online networking site LinkedIn have increased substantially. Since I can't attribute it to some spike in my overall popularity, it seems like more and more people are using the site these days. I wrote a story for MyBusiness about online networking several years ago when networks like LinkedIn were just launching. I joined a few then so I could get a better understanding of the experience, but I have to admit--after I finished writing the story, I didn't monitor my accounts that much. Since I've started receiving more invitations lately, I (like Harvey King) have wondered: Is it really worth my time to connect to business associates, friends and people I went to school with who I haven't spoken to in years?

This story gave me 20 ways to use LinkedIn productively. While not all of the reasons apply to small-business owners, several might make you answer that invitation to connect a little faster next time. After all, what small-business owner doesn't want to boost busine