In my USA Today column in November 2009—10 years ago—I proposed a new idea: a tax credit for small businesses who hire their very first employee. Throughout the last decade, I’ve repeatedly advocated this “first employee tax credit,” and now Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) has introduced such legislation. “What this bill is all about is …
Eight Easy Steps to Keep your Small Business Safe
Every small business owner wants to know how to increase sales, improve their marketing, motivate their employees. But first, let’s make sure we keep your company safe—your data, your money, your physical premises. Having survived in business for over 25 years, I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way—and learned a hard lesson or …
How Not to Start a Startup
I live in the heart of Silicon Valley, where the main industry seems to be starting businesses. As a result, I’ve seen a lot of startups come and go—and I’ve started a few myself—so I’ve had quite an education. I’ve had friends who’ve started businesses they’ve built and sold for millions of dollars. But even …
Remembering the Businesses that Died on 9/11
September 11—9/11—is a day marked forever in the history of America. It’s a day to remember the tragedy of thousands of innocent lives lost, the heroism of first responders, the affliction of those who lost their loved ones. But one story of 9/11 is rarely told. It’s the story of the startups and small businesses …
Chinese Powerhouse Aims for US Small Business
If yours is a small business interested in selling through online platforms, there’s a ‘new’ online platform looking for you. While I’ve used the term ‘new,’ Alibaba.com—part of the Alibaba Group—is not new at all. Often called “the Amazon of China,” the 20-year-old Alibaba Group has recently announced opportunities for American businesses to sell to …
Managing Millennials in Your Small Business
Want to succeed in growing your small business? Then one skill you’d be wise to learn is how to manage and motivate millennials. After all, millennials—those born roughly between 1980-2000—are now America’s largest demographic group. While the average age of a small business owner is 50.3 years, many of your employees, not to mention customers, …
Reducing Spam Calls in your Small Business
I get a ton of spam. No, not the processed lunch meat—unsolicited junk phone calls, or robocalls. These junk phone calls scare people into believing they’re in trouble with the IRS or sell them scam-ridden vacation packages. While, as an individual, these spam phone calls are annoying, for a small business, they’re downright expensive. For …
Focus on Employees to Build your Small Biz
When I started my small business, I was committed to treating my employees well. As an employee, I’d worked for bosses who took their employees for granted, and I knew how de-motivating that could be. I knew that I didn’t want to be that kind of boss. Even more importantly, in a small business, your …
Time for a Small Business Declaration of Independence
Small business owners: King George III had nothing on you as a tyrant. When the colonists in America rebelled against that despotic (and crazy) English King, they were fighting to take charge of their own lives. They wanted to set the rules, not be dictated to. But as a small business owner, are you really …
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