You are probably aware of employment laws that could create liabilities if your company fails to comply with them. However, even before a person becomes an employee, certain antidiscrimination laws protect them during the application process. Most employers must comply with employment laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Your state, county, city, or town may also …
Starting a small business entails significant risk. You forego the security of a steady paycheck to create economic opportunities for yourself. Business failure rates have remained steady over the years, but the statistics are pretty daunting: by the five-year mark, around half of small businesses have failed. While the reasons for small business failure vary, it almost always comes down …
Both running a successful business and having a successful marriage require commitment and hard work. Operating a business as a married couple can present its share of challenges, but being devoted to one another as spouses and as business partners can bring higher levels of accountability and trust to the business. If you and your spouse can find ways to …
Employers in Illinois should be mindful of certain new obligations arising under the Illinois Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act (“the Act”) (820 ILCS 46), which came into effect on August 27, 2021. The new Act applies to all Illinois employers that provide group health insurance coverage. What the Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act Requires The Act requires that Illinois employers give their …
If you have ever considered starting an e-commerce business, now is a great time to move from ideation to action. Online retail sales exploded to an all-time high amid COVID-19 lockdowns, travel bans, and brick-and-mortar closures, and this was not just a temporary bump. E-commerce was already experiencing strong year-over-year growth prior to 2020. The accelerated shift to online purchases …
You cannot successfully run your business without good employees. And you cannot find good employees without offering them competitive pay. Employee compensation is more than an expense—it is an investment that, when made in the right individuals, appreciates over time. The competition for workplace talent has never been more fierce. As companies compete for employees in a world reshaped by …
Most people don’t have to be reminded about having annual checkups at the doctor and dentist’s office. However, it’s not unusual for those same individuals to ignore the need for annual corporate formalities checkups. This is an especially critical practice for smaller businesses that don’t have an in-house legal department. If you’d like to ask for a corporate formalities checkup …
It has been a tough couple of years for many small businesses, but, as the adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Small businesses that survived the challenges of 2020 and 2021—the worst pandemic in US history, a nationwide labor shortage, supply chain volatility, and rising inflation—are heading into 2022 with fresh hope. According to a new survey …
Small business owners are no strangers to risk management. Owning and operating a small business entails a certain level of unpredictability. Despite your best efforts to stay on top of supply chains, marketing, sales, competitors, employees, and cash flow, unexpected issues can knock you for a loop. You have survived plenty of bumps in the road and emerged stronger than …
Conflicts are inevitable within businesses and families. Personal rivalries, differences of opinion, competition for resources, and questions of prestige can set individuals at odds and lead to warring factions with competing loyalties. Resolving conflicts in both settings is a delicate matter that requires balancing what is best for one person with what is best for the group. When family members …
Your family and your business are two of your top priorities. You would not do anything to compromise either of them. But working with family members in a family-owned business presents unique challenges that can cause lasting damage to both if not properly managed. Family-owned businesses are capable of the same success as any other business. Walmart, Chick-fil-A, Comcast, Carnival, …
Financing is the lifeblood of a business. During good times, business financing can help entrepreneurs purchase assets, expand products and services, add a new location, and hire more staff. During more difficult times, business owners may require financing just to continue their current operations. A business may also be at the start-up phase and require capital to get off the …