Research shows that 45% of Americans usually make New Year’s Resolutions, while only 8% are successful at achieving them. What is it about those 8% that make them so different? It might sound simple, but it comes down to their habits. Here are 11 you simply must have if you want to reach your goals: 1. Set specific goals Unfortunately, … Read More
Year-End Tax Planning Tips
Got your year-end tax planning underway for December 31, 2015? WE UNDERSTAND that year-end can be a drudge because it means making sure your business accounts are up to date and in order. But don’t leave it until the last minute. No decision, or rushed decisions, can lead to the wrong outcome and cost you more in taxes. Here are … Read More
Year-End Tax Planning for the Individual
Tax planning for the year ahead presents similar challenges to last year due to the unknown fate of the numerous tax extenders that expired at the end of 2014. These tax extenders, which include the mortgage insurance premium deduction and the sales tax deduction that allows taxpayers to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local … Read More
Is Your Accountant Right for Your Business?
Is Your Accountant Proactive or Reactive? Does your Accounting and Tax Firm offer you advice before it happens or late or not at all? Do they offer value added services that help your business improve and grow or do they just process your work? Are they constantly looking for legitimate but creative ways to minimize your taxes or do they … Read More
A Recipe for a Successful Small Business
Since its inception, the United States has always been considered “the land of opportunity” – a place where any individual with motivation and drive can have a successful small business. This notion still holds true today as 99 percent of all American companies are small businesses, according to Small Business Administration. But this doesn’t mean being an entrepreneur or running … Read More
Five Tips for Smart Business Growth
Taking your business from the start-up phase to becoming a medium-sized enterprise is a pivotal step for many entrepreneurs. If you are at this stage, congratulations! You have succeeded where many others have failed, and you are potentially on your way to becoming a very successful company. That said, there are countless challenges involved in business growth. Becoming an established … Read More
Five Ways to Provide Parental Leave For Employees
With the right infrastructure, small businesses can not only survive, but thrive by giving employees parental leaves. For example, Becca Apfelstadt has a $3 million, 20-person company, treetree, that works with large corporate marketing departments. Her company expanded 10-fold after her first maternity leave three years ago. She credits the growth to the way her team stepped up to fill … Read More
Is Forgiven Debt Taxable?
Generally, debt that is forgiven by a lender is considered taxable income by the IRS and must be included as income on your tax return. Examples include a debt for which you are personally liable such as mortgage debt, credit card debt, and sometimes, student loan debt. When that debt is forgiven, negotiated down (when you pay less than you … Read More
The Art of Positive Feedback
Knowing how to effectively give positive feedback is a powerful tool to develop employee skills and talent. However, many leaders on the front lines, middle management, and upper tiers of organizations often overlook positive feedback and reinforcement, or are unsure or uncomfortable about giving it. Why Positive Feedback Is Important Managers spend a lot of time and focus correcting gaps … Read More
A Simple Trick For Keeping Good Team Members
Finding good staff members is consistently in the top three priorities for small business owners. It seems that business owners will tell you that this problem is worse in their country than any other. Clearly that can’t be true, but it gives an indication of how serious the problem is. Having hired, fired, been amazed by, and let down by … Read More