Business Success Strategies

BY BARBARA WELTMAN You gotta eat, right? But when it comes to meals, what’s business and what’s personal? If it’s personal, nothing is deductible, but if it’s a business meal, how much is deductible? The federal income tax rules are very confusing and were made more so by a temporary change under the American Rescue […]

by RIEVA LESONSKY- Unlike most TrendCasts, this doesn’t address a “hot” market or business opportunity. But trends that affect remote workers are a vital issue for most small business owners, so this survey from Zippia caught my eye. The State Of Remote Meetings shows that many employees are getting burned out on virtual meetings, especially those with cameras on. […]

UPDATED April 27, 2021   By Karen Kerrigan- The effects of the COVID-19 have hit small businesses especially hard. Of course, certain state and local governments continue to place restrictions on business activity and public mobility. Sluggish demand continues to impact revenues, which is taking a toll on jobs and business viability. Let’s hope that mitigation […]

by RIEVA LESONSKY- How green is your business? It’s Earth Month, which is an excellent time to take stock of your business operations and up your green business practices. Why is that important? A survey taken a few years ago shows most Americans would pay more for eco-friendly products, including 58% of Gen Z, 61% […]

by BARBARA WELTMAN- As part of the CARES Act last year, Congress created a new tax credit to incentivize employers to keep workers on the payroll during the pandemic. The employee retention credit is an offset to certain payroll taxes; it is not an income tax credit (although there is a similar income tax credit […]

Buy Online, Pickup In-Store is Here to Stay! by Rieva Lesonsky- We’ve talked often about how COVID-19 changed consumer behaviors—likely permanently.  Buy Online, Pickup In-Store (BOPIS) is one of the shopping habits the pandemic impacted. According to a survey, commissioned by Package Concierge®, a provider of automated locker solutions, and conducted by Hanover Research, the […]

by Rieva Lesonsky- Will a new surge in consumer optimism improve your business’s bottom line? Chain Store Age reports consumer sentiment is at its highest level in a year, as people anticipate the arrival of their COVID-19 stimulus checks and the increase in the number of Americans getting vaccinated. Richard Curtin, the chief economist, Surveys of Consumers, […]

Please join America’s largest small business coalition in celebrating women’s entrepreneurship during Women’s History Month. This event will be a part of a greater series that will explore important issues to women’s entrepreneurial community. This event will feature remarks from key women leaders and convene the CEOs of women’s entrepreneurial groups to reflect on female […]

By Karen Kerrigan– In recent posts on our Small Business Insider blog, Rieva Lesonsky’s Trendcast highlighted the exciting growth and various trends in e-commerce. The significant increase in e-shoppers age 65 and above and the upsurge in the “stay-at-home” category of goods and products being purchased online offer tremendous opportunities for small businesses and new […]

Wellness Trends 2021 by Rieva Lesonsky – COVID-19 shifted the health priorities of many American adults, according to a report from Mintel. The research shows nearly half of adults have higher personal safety standards because of the coronavirus and 30% are more aware of their mental health needs. As a result, this year, consumers set new health-related […]