Pedro Hernandez

Big IT challenges haunt even the smallest businesses. Spiceworks, a company that provides free network management software and also operates a community hub for technology professionals, helps small businesses navigate a computing landscape that has been radically altered by mobile devices and cloud services. The company recently released the latest edition of its network management […]

It’s an enticing proposition. For a little money each month you can bask in file storage, data sync, file sharing and data backup without investing in pricey storage hardware and software. To sweeten the deal, increased competition in the cloud storage market is causing prices plummeting. For example, Box.com’s Starter plan, which is suitable for teams […]

Is your business ready should a disaster strike? Assuming that you already have a data backup and recovery plan, it’s time to turn your attention to your most vital resource: your work force. Phil Cox, founder and CEO of Legacy Food Storage, a Utah-based provider of prepackaged freeze-dried meals, doesn’t just sell products that keep households […]

A small business may stave off hackers with comprehensive malware protection, cloak its network with impenetrable firewalls and even lock down its mobile devices. Those small business security steps are prudent safeguards and important steps in keeping vital business and customer data out of the wrong hands. Yet for all these efforts, hackers can still […]

When customers click onto your small business website, you have a matter of seconds before they decide to stay and look around or to click away and look elsewhere. And those are customers accessing your site on a PC; they’re indoors with plenty of bandwidth, processor power and screen real estate. Now consider the people […]

Consumers aren’t the only ones eyeing the perks that customer loyalty programs provide, according to research firm BIA/Kelsey. More than a third of small businesses (38 percent) use customer loyalty programs as part of their marketing strategy to drum up repeat business, according to a recent study conducted by the company. Another 21 percent said […]

Dell has launched a new Windows Migration service called Fast Forward to help small and midsized businesses (SMBs) step up from Windows XP and to avert potentially damaging business disruptions when Microsoft will end support for Windows XP and finally put the aging operating system out to pasture. The Windows Migration Fast Forward suite of […]

The sales tax implications of running a small business can be huge. There are thousands tax of jurisdictions in the United States, an unmanageable number for business owners to process manually. And don’t expect the United States Post Office to lend any clarity. “Zip codes don’t follow jurisdictional boundaries,” explained Avalara co-founder Rory Rawlings. To add another […]

The workplace is no place for zombies. If your employees merely put in their hours without a hint of enthusiasm for their work, it’s a sign that your business has taken a wrong turn. An office devoid of life doesn’t just sap morale; it runs the risk of withering away. To avoid such a fate, […]

Ever wonder how some small firms land lucrative contracts from multinationals? Cynthia Kay, head of Cynthia Kay & Co., a video production and communications consulting company, knows a thing or two about attracting and winning contracts from large firms. Contrary to the small business versus big business narrative that often crops up in the press, […]

On Monday, Sept. 23, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enacted changes to Rule 506 allowing for general solicitation (advertisements essentially) on private investments, reversing an old ban. Only accredited investors—earners taking home $200,000 annually for at least two years or a net worth of more than $1 million— and institutional buyers need apply. Although […]

When an opportunity to grow your company presents itself, and you need cash to jump on it, where do you turn? Typically, you can’t rely on traditional funding sources, such as bank loans, to arrive in time. Let’s take holiday preparation, for example. In July, Kabbage, a company that describes itself as a “straight-forward, friendly […]