Business Advice

Small businesses that have enjoyed nice profits in the last few years may notice the tides are turning these days. Many now facing rising costs and stagnant sales have to take a good, hard look at their costs and make modest cuts before more serious ones become necessary.Business owners are avoiding drastic cuts and layoffs, and those who make early ...

Charitable giving can increase sales, lift employee morale and retention, and create higher brand visibility. About 90 percent of small businesses already give to charities, according to the Better Business Bureau. In fact, 35 percent of these businesses give more than $5,000. This giving comes in the form of money, products, services and real estate.This BusinessWeek article warns that corporate ...

There are dream lists, and there are realistic lists. Former chief policy adviser for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Terry Tamminen has identified three major sustainability trends that we can realistically expect from businesses in 2009. The author of “Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction,” predicts sustainability labels, virtual meetings and zero waste will be the order ...

Technology atrophy, not listening to consumers’ needs, lax benefits for workers, shoddy (comparably to their competitors) pay for employees, ancient management – these are just some of the points cited by both Michael Moore and Mitt Romney as to what GM, Ford and Chrysler have done wrong for years. Whether you think the Big Three deserve a bailout or not ...

Customers aren’t buying, companies are closing, banks aren’t lending, consumer confidence is falling, and the list goes on. Many business owners hope things get better before it’s too late and are struggling to stay afloat during these tough times.As a business owner, manager or leader, your choice is simple: Do what you know you need to do and do it ...