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Join Us on ... Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube | This Week's Highlight Idea Exchange: How Are You Managing Employee Benefit Costs?
There are two types of employee benefits: those employers are required to provide by law (like workers' compensation); and those employers offer as an option to compensate their employees (like pension plans). Required and optional benefits both have financial implications for employers. Tell us - how are you managing employee benefit costs? Read more...
Recent Articles in the Community Small Business Matters Starting a Child Care Business? - Government Tools and Resources that Can Help
The business of child care can offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to pursue a passion for child care and child development while enjoying the independence and responsibility of being your own boss. Here is a summary of the key steps involved in starting a child care business. It also includes links to government tools and resources that can help connect you with funding programs as well as provide guidance on some of the trickier regulatory aspects of offering child care services. Read more... 7 Tips for Starting a Fast Food Business - It's not Just Fries, Subs, and Pizza Anymore!
Starting a fast food restaurant is a hugely popular entrepreneurial dream, yet the reality is far from dreamy. The restaurant business in notoriously tough – Gordon Ramsay would be out of a job if it weren’t – but where there is a will there is often a way. Here are some tips that can help entrepreneurs start, operate and grow their fast food or take-out business successfully and within the law. Read more... Business Law Advisor Setting Up a Client Contract: Must Know Information for Freelancers
A freelance contract shows that you take your work seriously and are willing to defend and protect your output. Besides providing professional legitimacy to your business, a contract can protect you from unforeseen business challenges down the road. Read on for tips on how to draft a contract template for your business. Read more... Make Sure Your Business Information Stays Secret with Non-Disclosure Agreements
Many businesses have information they want to remain confidential. But from time to time, information must be shared with outsiders - for example if you hire an independent contractor or enter into a joint venture with another business. In these cases, businesses use a non-disclosure agreement to protect their information. Read more... Small Business Cents Surety Bonds - The Basics
Are you worried that your supplier will not deliver the expensive product you paid for? Does your business partner want a guarantee that you will fulfill your contract? If you answered yes to either question, you should consider a surety bond. A surety bond is a type of insurance that guarantees performance of a contract. If one party does not fulfill its end of the bargain, then the surety bond provides financial compensation to the other party. To learn more about surety bonds and how to use them in your business transactions, read on. Read more... In the Loop Interview with Business.gov's 10K Member: Secret Recipe for Business Success
The Business.gov team is pleased to announce that the Community has reached 10,000 members! Since its launch in February 2009, over 100 members have been joining each week. In less than 1½ years, the Business.gov Community has become a respected platform for small business discussions and a trusted source for small business information. In celebration of achieving 10,000 members, we interviewed our 10,000th member, Rick Braddy, a small business owner who has successfully started and managed four businesses. Here is what he has to say about what it takes to start and run a successful small business. Read more... The Industry Word Build Your Business Through Networking
One of the most effective ways to grow your business is also one of the oldest: networking. While it may not get as much buzz these days as social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, old-fashioned, face-to-face networking is still essential for building a business. Read more... Trademarks: Legal, Financial, and Tax Points You Need to Know
Intellectual property, or IP, can be your most valuable business asset, even though you can’t see, smell, or touch it. Trademarks are a type of IP that protects your logo, brand, name, or other mark—but only if you follow the rules necessary to obtain legal protection. Before you invest in a website, brochures or marketing, or take other actions that will use a mark to brand you, here are key things you need to know. Read more...
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