Joe Taylor Jr.

Many small business owners saddle themselves with boxes of paper receipts for fear that an auditor might disallow electronic records. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service has advocated accepted “electronic storage systems” for business records and tax-related documents since 1997. As long as you follow all five of these guidelines, you should be able to […]

The idea of sharing an office with other small businesses isn’t new — companies like Regus and Intelligent Office have leased flexible office space to professionals for decades. However, coworkers define their spaces as collaborative communities that developed primarily around technology roles in booming neighborhoods. Coworking spaces, which combine desk spaces, private areas, and shared […]

Chasing down cash from clients can intimidate even the most experienced small business owners. Thanks to new technology and innovative services, you can take five steps right now that will help improve your company’s cash flow while reducing your stress. Small Business Cash Flow Tips 1. Accept credit cards According to the U.S. Small Business […]

You may have noticed the increasing number of attractive websites and highly visual apps such as Pinterest and Instagram. It’s all part of a powerful trend that Richard McManus, founder of the tech blog ReadWrite, calls the Visual Web. In effect, says McManus, “images and video are becoming an increasingly important part of what we […]

Television host Charlie Rose, the publishers of Harper’s Bazaar and the producers of the film Black Swan all fell into legal trouble over the use of unpaid interns in their businesses. Although generations of professionals used internships to get their feet in the door of competitive businesses, new worker protection rules have many companies rethinking […]

Programmers, project managers, marketing professionals, and other independent contractors help fill the gaps in skills and labor that entrepreneurs can’t always handle in-house. Yet, contracting with freelancers can lead to both legal and productivity problems. Here’s what you need to know to ensure a positive outsourcing experience. 4 Outsourcing Tips for Small Business 1. Understand […]

Artists, charities and entrepreneurs have embraced crowdfunding, a fundraising technique for accepting product pre-orders that can generate essential cash flow. Websites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo act as trusted third parties, holding payments in escrow until a project has met its funding goal. So far, the technique has helped launch films, albums, concert tours and plenty […]

If you want to build a sales cycle based on long-term customer loyalty, you need to strike the right balance between efficient productivity and personal customer care. Follow these four expert small business tips to slow down your customers’ experience in all the right places. 4 Small Business Tips to Improve the Customer Experience 1. […]

Leslye Headland’s off-Broadway play, “Assistance,” depicts the miserable lives of personal assistants who work for a demanding — if not insane — employer. Although the play satirizes the choices many professionals make, successful business professionals know that you don’t have to tolerate a manic office environment. In fact, experts say, surrounding yourself with positive people […]

If you’re looking for ways to improve the products or services that your small business offers, consider this: user-experience specialists interview company customers to obtain feedback. That real-world knowledge helps designers and developers to create stronger products. By asking follow-up questions in a distraction-free environment, interviewers can uncover the kind of insights that help polish […]

Differentiating your business from your competition is a great way to increase your customer base, and incorporating live business events into the marketing mix can do just that while building your bottom line. According to “Book Yourself Solid” author Michael Port, a business event strategy allows you to accomplish three important elements of your small […]

Here’s a small business tip to help you keep better track of your expenses. A new quarter can be a good time to hunt for leaks in your small business budget: “zombie” charges that you probably don’t remember you’re paying each month. Check your bank statements and credit card receipts for signs that these charges […]