Business Success Strategies

BY BARBARA WELTMAN On January 16, 2020, the Senate passed the United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is expected to be signed into law shortly. It replaces the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has been in effect since January 1, 1994. It is the first trade agreement ever to include a chapter […]

By Karen Kerrigan- Part I of Key Trends 2020 for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses focused on the outlook for the economy, marketing and branding, technology, and finance/access to capital/DeFi. Other important areas are covered below in this blog post. Please remember to sign up for our Small Business Insider enews for the latest market intelligence, […]

By Karen Kerrigan- The Economy U.S. Economic Outlook 2020: On Firmer Ground, Goldman Sachs. “Goldman Sachs Research forecasts steady U.S. GDP growth of 2.3%, driven by easier financial conditions, dissipating trade tensions, and continued strength in consumer spending. As the U.S. economy continues its longest expansion on record, many market participants continue to worry about […]

BY BARBARA WELTMAN The number of self-employed individuals is growing substantially. ● FreshBooks’ Women in the Independent Workforce, 2nd annual report says that between 10 and 12 million women are expected to join the independent workforce in America over the next 5 years. ● The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 7.9% growth rate in self-employment over a 10-year […]

By Karen Kerrigan– Gallup and the National Retail Federation both predict a very positive holiday shopping season. That’s good news for small businesses. With things kicking into high-gear shortly – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber-Monday are upon us – I’ve selected some practical resources and content to help small businesses not only survive, […]

  by Raymond J. Keating- In the 1978 movie “Animal House,” when Flounder is completely stressing out, Bluto says, “My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.” While funny, that’s probably not a sound option for entrepreneurs facing stress. And yes, entrepreneurs face plenty of stress. According to a recent report from SCORE, “One […]

by Karen Kerrigan- Happy National Entrepreneurship Month! Did you know President Trump has declared November as such? Every day we honor the individuals who take big risks in order to start or grow their businesses. Here’s my weekly selection of quality content to help you start an enterprise, or more effectively compete in the marketplace. […]

By Barbara Weltman- Self-Employed Individuals Self-employed individuals are sole proprietors, independent contractors, partners, and members of limited liability companies. They’re business owners. They’re not employees, they don’t receive wages, and they’re not covered by income tax withholding on wages. They have their own challenges and opportunities—in taxes, finances, and business. In 2020, some tax-related things […]

Curated content and upcoming events to help your startup or small business grow and succeed. STARTUP SUCCESS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 24  12:00 PM ET – 5:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT Hosted by SCORE Join SCORE and FedEx for the Startup Success Virtual Conference. This half-day conference takes place completely online and registration is […]

The federal overtime pay rule takes effect January 1, 2020 By Barbara Weltman- If certain employees work more than 40 hours in a workweek, they must be paid time and a half. This requirement can’t be avoided in most cases by giving workers comp time. A federal overtime pay rule that becomes effective on January 1, 2020, […]