Believe it or not, the federal government is making it easier for contractors to conduct business online. There are several tools that allow contractors to submit information to the government over the web. Here’s an overview of some helpful tools:
FBO.gov – FedBizOpps is the single government point-of-entry (GPE) for federal contracting opportunities over $25,000. This [...]

After reading a recent article in the NY Times regarding staying healthy in a poor economy and all the talk that generally surrounds us on food, cost of living, gym memberships, etc., I thought it was good timing to bring up the popular topic of health benefits. I mean, the candidates are debating our astronomical [...]

I wanted to blog about a great new tool that was launched by the SBA’s Business Gateway Program to help small business owners find government loan, grant and venture capital programs. So many business owners are looking for financial resources and assistance that new tools are being developed all the time. This is the latest [...]

Hiring new employees can be … scary. Someone who seems smart and personable during the interview process may have skeletons too big to fit in the company closet.
Pre-employment background checks are absolutely essential. Sometimes, however, it may be hard to know just how deep you can dig. While it’s perfectly acceptable to perform a GoogleTM [...]

Good Credit & Loans
The need for financing is a critical and perennial concern for the owners of small businesses. Many government resources, including guides, exist for small businesses. Many of these tools explain how to shop for and obtain credit, how to maintain a good credit rating, how to dispute unfair credit transactions, and how [...]

In today’s economy, borrowing money from your local bank isn’t as easy as it used to be. For the small business owner without much collateral, the alternative to a bank loan might be to consider a government-backed loan.
The good news is, there is a loan program from the SBA – called SBA Express – that [...]

If you’ve considered doing business with state and local government, but haven’t taken the plunge yet, now might be the right time. Despite a gloomy economic forecast in other sectors, analysts still forecast that the local government market will remain strong through 2009.
While the U.S. federal government remains the largest buyer in the world, state [...]

If your business is growing and you need to supplement your core capabilities and services with extra personnel, there are many benefits to hiring an independent contractor.
Bringing on a self-employed contractor, instead of adding to direct employee headcount, can save a small business owner as much as 30 percent (per worker) in additional payroll taxes [...]

The question “should I incorporate my small business?” is a consideration that can weigh heavy on the mind of many a budding entrepreneur or established small business owner.
Whether you are the sole employee of your enterprise or you have several employees, incorporation can bring legal and tax protection for you as its owner, but can [...]

Few of us ever test our powers of deduction, except when filling out an income tax form,” or so the joke goes.
Now may not be the time when small business owners give the 2008 tax season too much thought. But a little tax preparation now – in the midst of the holiday season – can [...]