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5 Things You Should Understand When Designing a PTO Program

Author: admin
Categories: Small Business News

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Author: Poppy Williams, techbizguide.com

As your business grows and you begin hiring, you must research employee benefits and develop a package to offer. A paid time off program can help your business provide support and flexibility to employees. Understanding the complexities of PTO policies enables you to design a fair-minded and sensible program for your company. Keystone Business Brokers offers some tips that can help you get this program off the ground.

1. Differences From Paid Leave

A survey showed that most workers employed by private businesses receive some form of paid leave as part of their compensation, with some industries offering paid vacation for over 90% of employees. In the past, companies often had separate categories for vacation days and sick days. Today, many businesses have moved to a PTO model in which both planned and unplanned time off come from the same pool.

2. Advantages of a PTO Model

Studies have found that overworking can be harmful to employees and businesses alike, and offering PTO is one way you can prevent stress and burnout. Taking time off allows employees to stay refreshed, productive and engaged. The benefits you provide demonstrate to your employees that you value their contributions and well-being. Furthermore, a solid benefits program can help you recruit and retain a great team.

3. Pitfalls To Avoid

Unfortunately, there are drawbacks associated with PTO policies. Your policy should account for those who abuse their PTO. For example, if you have an employee who takes excessive unplanned absences, your PTO program should clearly outline how to deal with them.

Additionally, if workers perceive the policy as unfair or insufficient, it could contribute to employee dissatisfaction. Avoid creating scenarios in which employees have PTO but cannot easily use it, thus losing their compensation.

4. Benefits To Consider

As you design your company’s PTO policy, there are many details you must consider. For example, depending on your hiring model, you should determine if PTO benefits are only for full-time employees or if you’ll extend some support for part-time or contract workers.

Furthermore, you can give unlimited PTO or allow employees to accrue it throughout the year. With the latter model, you must determine if employees can borrow PTO from the future or roll over unused PTO to the next year. Some businesses pay employees for unused PTO to reward regular attendance.

Setting clear guidelines regarding how and when to request time off prevents unfairness and scheduling mishaps. You should also have regulations regarding paid and public holidays and how those differ from PTO.

5. Tasks To Outsource

Business consultants can help companies design and present a new PTO program. Depending on their level of skill and experience, keep in mind that the marketing consultant hourly rate is generally between $23 and $98 per hour. Online job platforms feature reviews, pricing, and timing information that allow you to find the right consultant.

You can present your employees with a written account of the PTO policy and ask them to sign the document to ensure they understand and agree. PDFs are excellent for creating professional contracts that are accessible and properly formatted. When you need to reduce the file size to make it easier to send online, use a PDF compressor tool. It maintains the document’s structure and elements and the quality of fonts and images.

A program that allows employees to take time off while still being paid can benefit your team and business. Although there are disadvantages to using a PTO model, creating a policy with clear guidelines for handling various situations can help you avoid the drawbacks.

Website Developers: Accularis Marketing Solutions     

 https://www.accularis.com               856-793-9440

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The Best Tech Outsourcing Options for Your Small Busin

Author: admin
Categories: Small Business Technology

The Best Tech Outsourcing Options for Your Small Business

Author: Poppy Williams <poppy@techbizguide.com>

TechBizGuide.com  

At Keystone Business Brokers, we know your small business runs on your ideas, so it’s only natural that you want to do everything possible to maintain it. However, this can lead some entrepreneurs to take on more than they need to for their company.

Technology offers an extensive range of benefits for businesses, but are you over-investing in technology? Instead of spending time and money handling every aspect in-house, consider hiring a professional agency to manage your IT services, social media accounts, or network security.

Managed IT Services

Technology is the backbone of every successful business. With networks, software, and hardware all inter-reliant on each other, it’s easy to see how a minor IT issue could escalate into something serious very quickly.

Rather than trying to manage this yourself or hire an in-house employee to oversee the daily upkeep of your network, consider outsourcing your IT to a reputable agency. Your company will get the benefits of an in-house IT department without the burdens.

Social Media Management

It’s no secret that social media is a vital tool for businesses of any size. Well-managed Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social accounts help boost your company’s visibility with your target audience; however, the time commitment associated with managing social media for a business is enormous. Consider hiring a social media company to manage your accounts instead of losing precious time engaging with your audience on all fronts.

Network Security

Every company is a potential target for hackers due to the valuable information contained on its servers. Security should be one of your top priorities as a business owner, but you have more important things to do than monitor your network 24/7 for breaches or suspicious activity that could compromise your data. With managed services from a cybersecurity company, you can rest assured your network is monitored around the clock.

Website and Graphic Design Services

Since your website is one of the first things potential customers see when researching your company, you need to invest in its design. Instead of managing this task in-house or hiring a graphic designer to create a custom banner for your business website, you could use an online banner template such as Adobe Spark to create it yourself and save money.

Benefits of Outsourcing IT Solutions

When your small business needs help with its technology services or IT department, don’t hire an in-house employee or handle it yourself. Find a professional company to manage all your tech-related tasks so you can concentrate on what matters most: your business. 

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Website Developers: Accularis Marketing Solutions     

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Host Platform: BlueHost.com

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Vimeo and TikTok Partner to Drive Small Business Success with Video Ads

Author: admin
Categories: Marketing,Small Business News

https://press.vimeo.com/148496-vimeo-and-tiktok-partner-to-drive-small-business-success-with-video-ads

Vimeo and TikTok Partner to Drive Small Business Success with Video Ads

The partnership connects Vimeo’s powerful creation tools with TikTok Ads Manager; Vimeo is the first video software company to join the TikTok Marketing Partner Program

Vimeo (NASDAQ:VMEO), the world’s leading all-in-one video software solution, and TikTok, a leading destination for short-form mobile video, today announced a new partnership that integrates Vimeo’s powerful video tools with the TikTok platform. The partnership gives small and medium businesses (SMBs) everything they need to make effective video ads to engage customers while enabling them to take full advantage of Vimeo’s suite of video tools and the broad reach of the TikTok platform. In pre-release tests of the combined capabilities, participants saw up to 50% higher clickthrough rates compared to previous campaigns on other platforms and were able to double the number of videos they created in a short time span.

Vimeo is joining TikTok Marketing Partners, a group of vetted experts who create, implement, and measure TikTok ad campaigns. Vimeo is the first partner to be badged under TikTok’s all-new Creative Tools subcategory of Creative Partners, which helps brands produce creative assets that leverage TikTok’s best practices.

With this first-of-a-kind partnership between TikTok and a video software company, SMBs can now use Vimeo Create, an advanced AI-driven video production tool, to produce and publish ads directly into the TikTok Ad Manager in minutes. The companies also collaborated on developing custom video templates exclusively available in Vimeo Create, optimized for the TikTok platform.

Pre-Release Test Advertising

Ahead of the launch, Vimeo and TikTok invited small businesses to try Vimeo Create and advertise on TikTok for the first time. More than 85% of participants reported successful campaign results and plan to run additional TikTok campaigns. NaturalAnnie Essentials, a family-run, Bridgeport, CT-based soy candle company, saw a 5.5x increase in conversion rate within the first two weeks of the trial campaign when compared with other forms of online advertising.

“We’ve saved thousands of dollars, the stress of shipping candles to a production studio, and lots of headaches by using Vimeo for our TikTok ads,” said Annya White-Brown, CEO of NaturalAnnie Essentials. “Vimeo Create made it super easy— it was as simple as adding your assets to the templates to fit your brand. Now we create anywhere from 30-75 videos per month.”

TikTok gives small businesses opportunities to reach and attract wider communities where they spend their time today. However, the high level of user engagement on the platform creates a challenge for marketers who need to publish new content and ads with far more frequency than on other online channels. It’s recommended that businesses test new TikTok ad creative on a bi-weekly basis and that they post new organic TikTok videos multiple times a week – if not every day – to maximize their engagement.

“Vimeo and TikTok are solving one of the most significant pain points for SMBs in reaching customers — how to easily and affordably create professional-quality content at scale,” said Richard Bloom, SVP, Business Development, Vimeo. “We’re thrilled to be the first video creation platform to integrate with TikTok For Business and to expand the reach of Vimeo Create, so more businesses can engage even more customers online.”

“As small businesses recover and rebuild after a challenging year, TikTok is working on ways to make it easier to reach their community and grow their business,” said Melissa Yang, Head of Ecosystem Partnerships, TikTok. “Our partnership with Vimeo provides small businesses with simple, effective video tools that rival what the biggest brands in the world have access to — and they drive real results.”

Following the launch, Vimeo and TikTok plan to find more ways to join forces in helping every SMB succeed with video. This integration is available immediately to all Vimeo users.

Website Developers: Accularis Marketing Solutions     

https://www.accularis.com               856-793-9440

Host Platform: BlueHost.com

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SBA Announces Entrepreneur, Investor, and Award-winning Entertainer Jennifer Lopez to Headline National Small Business Week Virtual Summit 2021

Author: admin
Categories: news,Small Business News

SBA Announces Entrepreneur, Investor, and Award-winning Entertainer Jennifer Lopez to Headline National Small Business Week Virtual Summit 2021

September 13, 2021, | Release Number 21-85

Contact U.S. Small Business Administration at Press_Office@sba.gov

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that Jennifer Lopez, entrepreneur, investor, award-winning singer, actress, dancer, and producer, will headline this year’s National Small Business Week (NSBW). Ms. Lopez will join SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman in “Pathways to Entrepreneurship: A Fireside Chat,” moderated by Maria Teresa Kumar, MSNBC contributor, to discuss entrepreneurship and engagement in this new economy.

“I’m excited that Jennifer Lopez is joining us to headline National Small Business Week to discuss her journey as a successful entrepreneur and share her thoughts about how we can help small businesses continue to power our nation’s economy,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Latinx entrepreneurs are starting businesses at incredible rates and celebrate the diversity in our economy.  SBA is committed to ensuring all entrepreneurs have access to the capital, markets, and networks that they need to launch and grow. We are honored that Ms. Lopez is sharing her insights and shining a light on entrepreneurship to inspire the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams of business ownership. With our small businesses leading the way, we can build our economy back better.”

In the Fireside Chat, SBA Administrator Guzman and Ms. Lopez will discuss pathways to entrepreneurship and the SBA’s initiatives and plans to support our small businesses impacted by COVID and new startups seeking to launch.

Ms. Lopez’s participation finalizes SBA’s full speaker line-up for National Small Business Week, including entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Chef José Andrés, White House Senior Advisor, and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Cedric Richmond, and other business and elected leaders.

Biography for Jennifer Lopez, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Entertainer:

Jennifer Lopez is an award-winning actress, producer, singer, entertainer, and businesswoman who has helped to build billion-dollar brands and has established herself in film, music, television, and business as one of the most influential artists in history.  As a fashion icon, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jennifer Lopez has been named to the TIME 100 list, Forbes’ “Most Powerful Celebrity,” and was the first to grace People Magazine’s cover for “Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” With a career spanning over two decades at the top of every field, Jennifer Lopez is cemented in history as a global icon and the ultimate multihyphenate.

National Small Business Week Virtual Summit (NSBW)

Administrator Guzman announced National Small Business Week 2021 in a news release last month. The free, three-day conference takes place in a virtual atrium and features a series of educational panels on best practices for small businesses to pivot and recover in a changing economy.   NSBW events this year provide a forum for business owners to get expert advice, learn new business strategies, connect with industry experts, and meet other business owners as they look to pivot and recover.

For more information about the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, please visit http://www.sba.gov/NSBW.  All events are live-streamed and used the event hashtag #SmallBusinessWeek.

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Cosponsorship Authorization #21-21-C. SBA’s participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance, by contacting smallbusinessweek@sba.gov. SCORE is partially funded by SBA Cooperative Agreement No. SBAHQ-14-S-0001.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Website Developers: Accularis Marketing Solutions     

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5 reasons you need a business plan

Author: admin
Categories: Small Business Management

5 reasons you need a business plan

By U.S. Small Business Administration Category: SBA News and Views

If you are starting a small business, there is no shortage of advice on the steps you should take: registering your business name, getting a Tax ID, deciding on a business structure, and applying for the needed permits and licenses. While these are all very important steps to take, a business plan will be central to how you start, grow and develop your business.

Here are 5 reasons why you need a business plan:

1. It will help you steer your business as you start and grow.

Think of a business plan as a GPS to get your business going. A good business plan guides you through each stage of starting and managing your business. You’ll use your business plan as a GPS for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. It’s a way to think through and detail all the key elements of how your business will run.

2. It’s not as hard as you think.

A business plan is a written tool about your business that projects 3-5 years ahead and outlines the path your business intends to take to make money and grow revenue. Think of it as a living project for your business, and not as a one-time document. Break it down into mini-plans – one for sales and marketing, one for pricing, one for operations, and so on.

3. It will help you to reach business milestones.

A well-thought-out business plan helps you to step back and think objectively about the key elements of your business and informs your decision-making as you move forward. It is essential whether you need to secure a business loan or not. Keep in mind that the plan does not have to be like an encyclopedia and does not have to have all the answers.

4. It can help you get funding.

Business plans can help you get funding or bring on new business partners. Having one in place will help investors feel confident that they will see a return on their investment. Your business plan is the tool you will use to persuade others that working with you (or investing in your business) is a smart decision.

5. There’s no wrong way to write a business plan.

There is no right or wrong way to write a business plan. You can pick a plan format that works best for you. What’s important is that your business plan meets your needs. Most business plans fall into one of two common categories: traditional or lean startup.

Traditional business plans are more common, use a standard structure, and encourage you to go into detail in each section. Traditional plans tend to require more work upfront. Lean startup business plans are less common but still use a standard structure. They focus on summarizing only the most important points of the key elements of your plan. They can take as little as one hour to make and are typically just one page.

Because knowing where to start can be challenging, the SBA has tools to help make writing a business plan less intimidating and time-consuming. The SBA offers a Business Plan Tool that helps simplify the process. The tool consists of eight easy-to-follow steps to help create a well-prepared plan.

To learn more about putting your business plan together, go to the SBA’s Online Learning Center and take the self-paced course on How to Write a Business Plan. The course explains the importance of business planning, describes the components of a plan and provides access to resources and sample plans. You can also take a look at the SBA’s Business Planning Guide for more information and to view business plan templates.

If you want a more hands-on approach, you can get assistance from an SBA resource partner to help complete your business plan. Working with a mentor or counselor from SCORE, a Small Business Development Center or a Women’s Business Center can help with all aspects of starting, growing, or expanding your business.

Website Developers: Accularis Marketing Solutions     

https://www.accularis.com               856-793-9440

Host Platform: BlueHost.com

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Critical Data Protection Tips to Keep Your Customers Safe

Author: admin
Categories: Small Business Technology

We have a guest writer Poppy Williams who is a blog writer for Realtyspace

(http://realtyspace.codefactory47.com)

Keystone Business Brokers can help you find the perfect business or commercial property for your needs. Contact us at (866) 744-0720.

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Critical Data Protection Tips to Keep Your Customers Safe

Is your business at risk of a data breach? Small businesses are more vulnerable to security breaches than their bigger counterparts. Because small businesses often lack the resources to combat security issues, hackers and identity thieves get away with these crimes far too often. Sadly, a customer data breach could spell the end of your small business. 

Whether your business is the victim of a major cyberattack or a few sensitive documents are stolen out of your recycling bins, a data breach can destroy your reputation, provoke lawsuits, and generate punitive fines. But fear not — here are some great tips from Keystone Business Brokers to keep your customer data safe!

Don’t Neglect Physical Document Security

In the digital age, people have become preoccupied with digital security — and rightly so! Every smartphone, tablet, computer, server, and Wi-Fi connection can give hackers a point-of-entry into your business. But Accusoft notes that it’s easy to overlook the physical security of sensitive data, like those paper records you keep in a filing cabinet in the corner of your office. 

There are a number of steps you can take to ensure your physical documents are kept secure. First, restrict access to paper files with locked cabinets and storerooms. When printing sensitive documents, retrieve your papers immediately and clear the printer archives regularly. It’s also a good idea to establish a policy for how long your documents are kept.

Shredding documents you no longer need is one of the best ways to reduce the risk that someone will mistakenly or deliberately come across them. It’s best practice to destroy all paper documents as soon as they become unnecessary. Instead of wasting valuable time tackling this mundane task yourself, consider outsourcing. 

Secure Your Digital Presence

Your business’ online security is just as important as your offline security. However, protecting your digital presence is a lot more complicated than securing and shredding physical documents. This is why many business owners solicit help from cybersecurity professionals. Whether you’re looking for someone to assess your digital security strategy or you need help complying with legal data protection regulations, talking to a professional is your best bet. 

Beyond this, make sure you take the basic steps to secure your business online. Avast recommends creating strong, unique passwords for each and every account you own and enabling multi-factor authentication whenever possible. It’s also important to encrypt your customer data, especially when it comes to payment information.

Safeguard Your Devices

All of your personal and business devices can offer hackers a doorway into your sensitive data. Be sure to protect all of your devices — smartphones and Wi-Fi routers included — to prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access. Lifewire suggests that one way to do this is to enable the firewall on your Wi-Fi router and computer. Next, install antivirus software on all of your devices to continuously scan for and stop real-time threats, and keep it updated. Hackers can also gain access to your devices through phishing emails, so make sure you and your employees know how to spot and avoid these.

Get Schooled

As a leader you know the importance of getting as much information as possible when it comes to securing data and business systems. To understand the nuts and bolts of cybersecurity and other areas of IT, consider taking online courses from a reputable and accredited school like Western Governors University, which offers IT degrees. Areas of study include data analytics and cybersecurity, and some programs offer specialized degrees such as cloud computing, as well as cross-discipline degrees such as an MBA in IT management. The great thing about learning online is that you can do so at your own pace and at your own place, allowing you to continue working your own schedule.

Protecting your customer data should be your top priority. After all, data is an incredibly valuable asset that can help you improve your products, maximize your profits, and boost your customer satisfaction. If that data is compromised in any way, you could be facing some serious consequences. Stay on top of data security to protect the longevity of your business. 

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Do You Really Need a Website?

Author: admin
Categories: Marketing

The following post was copied from The Hartford’s website, Business Owners Playbook.  

https://www.thehartford.com/business-insurance/strategy/building-website/10-reasons-need-website.   

Do You Really Need a Website?

The answer is yes. There aren’t many businesses that can survive without a Web presence and there’s no reason not to have a website. Your company’s website can be a highly effective marketing tool that can be very cost-efficient. There are quite a few benefits and very little downsides.

 

Ten Things Your Website Can Do (for Starters)

There are many things you can do with your website, here are 10  good starting points:

 

  1. Create a presence. Who knows about your business? Where can prospects and clients go to learn more? Your website can help establish your business as a going concern, communicate your brand value proposition and it can convey professionalism. It also extends your reach to anyone in the world.
  2. Help build trust. New clients and prospects might want to know about your business history, your expertise, and your specialization. This is a great vehicle for people to learn more and attain that comfort level they seek.
  3. Get listed on search engines. Build your website incorporating search engine optimization (SEO) techniques so that you can easily be found by people searching for relevant keywords. This can be an important gateway to expanding your business.
  4. Point of contact. Your website provides customers an easy way to contact you and learn more about your products, services, and business.
  5. Leverage social networks. Implement a social media strategy to reach a larger audience and to create more buzz about your biz. Establish your presence on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Facebook likes and shares can drive people to your website. Links to popular or topical items from or to your website will add to its relevance.
  6. Sell products. If your business lends itself to online sales, create a virtual store as an alternative or complement to a storefront or office location.
  7. Share the latest news. Whenever there are new developments regarding your business, update your website. Sites that have fresh, relevant, and timely information draw users back more often.
  8. Blog. Keep your website fresh and keep drawing people in with regular Blog posts. Show your expertise, share insights and provide practical tips on topics relevant to your business  or to your customers
  9. Learn about customers. Learn about their needs, preferences, and interests. Establish and nurture two-way communication with prospects and clients. This will forge a deeper bond and serve them better.
  10. Customer convenience. Providing customers with multiple ways to interact with your business is almost mandatory these days. Anything less could result in lost sales.

Common Concerns and Questions About Small Business Websites

It’s natural to have questions and concerns about setting up a website. Cost is a common one. Beyond an up-front fee to design the website, the ongoing costs can be minimal. And considering the long-term benefits, a website will provide, the cost to design a good website should be well worth it.

 

Other concerns often relate to a business not being web-oriented or that it wouldn’t sell goods online. The answer to these concerns is that a business website can provide so many more benefits. Establishing trust, strengthening your brand, forging better customer relations, and informing a wider group of people about your business’s capabilities are all key benefits.

 

Another common concern is that you don’t have much content to add for frequent updates or you don’t have time to blog. The short answer is that you don’t need to. Sure, more activity and frequently refreshed content can generate more interest, but any Web presence is probably better than none. Once you have a basic website, you can always add to it, as your business and resources grow.

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SBA Programs – Scams and Fraud Alerts

Author: admin
Categories: news

SBA Programs – Scams and Fraud Alerts

By Office of Inspector General
Beware of Scams and Fraud Schemes

The Office of Inspector General recognizes that we are facing unprecedented times and is alerting the public about potential fraud schemes related to economic stimulus programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19).  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the largest financial assistance bill to date, includes provisions to help small businesses. Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times.  Be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing.

Scams and Fraud Schemes

Grants

  • SBA only communicates from email addresses ending in @sba.gov. If you are proactively contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, who is not using an official SBA email address, suspect fraud.

Loans

  • If you are contacted by someone promising to get approval of an SBA loan, but requires any payment up front or offers a high interest bridge loan in the interim, suspect fraud.
  • SBA limits the fees a broker can charge a borrower to 3% for loans $50,000 or less and 2% for loans $50,000 to $1,000,000 with an additional ¼% on amounts over $1,000,000.  Any attempt to charge more than these fees is inappropriate.
  • If you have a question about getting a SBA disaster loan, call 800-659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
  • If you have questions about other SBA lending products, call SBA’s Answer Desk at 800-827-5722 or send an email to answerdesk@sba.gov.

Phishing

  • If you are in the process of applying for an SBA loan and receive email correspondence asking for PII, ensure that the referenced application number is consistent with the actual application number.
  • Look out for phishing attacks/scams utilizing the SBA logo.  These may be attempts to obtain your personally identifiable information (PII),to obtain personal banking access, or to install ransomware/malware on your computer.
  • Any email communication from SBA will come from accounts ending with sba.gov.
  • The presence of an SBA logo on a webpage does not guaranty the information is accurate or endorsed by SBA.  Please cross-reference any information you receive with information available at www.sba.gov.

 

Report Fraud

Report any suspected fraud to OIG’s Hotline at 800-767-0385 or online at, https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-inspector-general/office-inspector-general-hotline.

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Side Gigs Offer Opportunities to Teachers Whether Supplementing Income or Pursuing a Passion

Author: admin
Categories: Start-Up Businesses

This article is written by a guest blogger Joyce Wilson of TeacherSpark.org. 

Side Gigs Offer Opportunities to Teachers Whether Supplementing Income or Pursuing a Passion

Are you looking for ways to add to your income without giving up your teaching career? Or, maybe you have a hobby you would like to further explore? Side gigs can be the answer! Need some ideas? Read on for some suggestions on side gigs and for a quick tip on how you can make bookkeeping easier for your business.

Starting an LLC Is As Easy as 1-2-3!

Putting together an LLC is a smart move for the up and coming sole proprietorship or startup. Not only do you gain corporate level protection, but you will also have the flexibility to choose the best tax adjustments to fit your situation. An LLC can be taxed as a sole proprietorship, s corp, c corp, and even a multi-owner partnership. The added flexibility means that an LLC is often the best route for small companies of 1 up to 100 people. The best part is, most LLC’s can be set up in about 5 steps.

Coach or Tutor

You already have expertise in sharing knowledge and helping people grow, so one suggestion is to turn that ability into a side hustle. For example, you can coach people with job hunting, offering advice on how to better interview or to capitalize on their experiences and talents. Or, perhaps you can focus on a subject you enjoy and help others polish it. Some experts note you can make more with advanced and specialized subjects; for instance, if you’re savvy with physics or calculus, you can bring in a tidy sum.  

Consultant

Instead of working one-on-one with someone, working as a consultant allows you to provide expertise to a broader group of people. Consider your experience and specialized knowledge and look for how you can offer those abilities on a corporate scale.

Selling Crafts

Do you have a hobby doing something creative? Maybe it’s time to make money with it. Whether you love woodworking, making soaps from goat milk, or creating felted wool slippers, there is a market for it. 

Handyman

Any homeowner can tell you there is always something breaking, so if you have a knack for putting things back together or making new installations, consider doing it as a side gig. It’s a lucrative option that made Time’s list of the highest paying side hustles.

Dog Walker

Do you love man’s best friend? Put that pleasure to work and get a little exercise while you’re at it. Some professionals suggest engaging through an online platform to help develop a customer base quickly, and as a bonus, some platforms provide liability insurance.

Rent a Room

Many people have an extra bedroom going to waste, or maybe you no longer need a home office thanks to electronic recordkeeping and smaller personal computers. Turn that spare room into a moneymaker! Offering it to paying guests is an easy way to pad your pockets.  

Personal Shopper

If selecting the best gifts and making smart spending choices is your thing, you could get paid to do the shopping for those who either hate doing it or are just too busy. It’s an opportunity to make money and engage in retail therapy!

Disc Jockey

If you’re great with a microphone and have a talent for putting together terrific music combinations, consider being a disc jockey. You can hit the wedding and party season full force while entertaining people and watching them have a great time!

Freelancing

Whether you can organize a schedule like nobody’s business, have a knack for numbers, or can throw together great graphic designs, Inc. notes that freelancing is a top option. There is a cornucopia of job boards and websites to help you find the perfect fit.

Caregiver

Do you love little ones or enjoy the wisdom of older folks? Becoming a nanny or caregiver could be a great match for your interests. According to Balance Careers, you can either fly solo or engage clients through a service.  

Driver

Whether you provide wheels for people’s morning commute or make deliveries of goods, driving can be a great side gig. You need a reliable vehicle and will do best if you know your way around the local area. It’s a great way to have your car earn its keep!  

Easy Bookkeeping

While working a side gig, it’s crucial that you manage your finances. Instead of buying expensive software or working with an accountant, you could consider using a free invoice app to help you manage your business finances, alleviating any bookkeeping headaches while keeping you abreast of sales, invoicing, inventory, and communication with customers.

Many side gigs are easy to get, offer great flexibility, and help you financially while feeding an interest or passion. You can take advantage of your off time and then maintaining your gig throughout the school year. Chances are you have skills and abilities you’ll not only enjoy using, but they will also help you to prosper!  

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U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Availability of $1.5 Billion in CARES Act Funds to Aid Communities Impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic Investing in communities and workers

Author: admin
Categories: Small Business News

U.S. Department of Commerce Announces Availability of $1.5 Billion in CARES Act Funds to Aid Communities Impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic
Investing in communities and workers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 482-4883
publicaffairs@doc.gov

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is now accepting applications from eligible grantees for  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) supplemental funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance) intended to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
“President Trump is working tirelessly to make sure Americans stay safe during this crisis and that our economy is loaded to spring back when this global scourge recedes,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance funds will support the long-term recovery of communities across the nation that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”
“EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance is designed to provide a wide range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of this pandemic,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We intend to deploy our CARES Act funding as quickly, effectively, and efficiently as possible, and in a manner that meets the needs of our  communities.”

On March 27, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed the $2 trillion CARES Act into law. The CARES Act provides EDA with $1.5 billion of which $1.467 billion is available for grantmaking. The remaining funds will be transferred to cover salaries and expenses and oversight activities.
The Secretary’s announcement comes as EDA has published an Addendum to its Fiscal Year 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (FY20 PWEAA NOFO) making the funds available.

Under this announcement, EDA will make CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants under the authority of its Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, which is intended to be flexible and responsive to the economic development needs and priorities of local and regional stakeholders.
EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance investments will support a wide range of non-construction and construction activities, including Revolving Loan Funds, in regions across the country experiencing severe economic dislocations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
Examples of projects that EDA may fund through its CARES Act Recovery Assistance include economic recovery planning and preparing technical assistance strategies to address economic dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, preparing or updating resiliency plans to respond to future pandemics, implementing entrepreneurial support programs to diversify economies, and constructing public works and facilities that will support economic recovery, including the deployment of broadband for purposes including supporting telehealth and remote learning for job skills.

 

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