The economic recovery hasn’t been as strong in every part of the U.S. as it has in Silicon Valley. With companies sending factories overseas and older people relocating to more sunny regions, many cities in the northern US are experiencing slow economic growth. Cleveland is one of them. Listed as second highest on the Distressed Community...

If you own a small business in California, you’re not alone. The U.S. Business Administration Office of Advocacy reports there are now 3.9 million small businesses in California. They employ approximately seven million people. Your network of small business owners in the golden state shares similar goals and values. Beyond that circle, you can tap...

Entrepreneurial mistakes are inevitable. The process of planning, launching and running your own business is a heady time, full of long hours and exciting challenges. Pure adrenaline, excitement and sometimes lots of caffeine propel new entrepreneurs through hazy days that often run into one another. Some days, it feels as if there isn’t time to...

Employee salaries are a critical business decision made by company leaders and HR managers. There’s much to consider when it comes to salary. You want to look at current and future company revenue. You should examine the opportunity cost of money going to employees as opposed to somewhere else. The impact of salaries on your...

You’ve likely seen the TV shows about people with extreme hoarding habits. You may even have this tendency yourself. A hoarder’s home is stuffed with items ranging from old magazines to clothes to collectibles. The hoarder’s inability to part with items makes living conditions quite difficult. But as reality shows reveal, these folks can’t easily...

You’ve probably spent years of your life honing your product or service so that people will like it and buy it from you. You’ve put your blood, sweat and tears into it. The unfortunate truth though is that most customers won’t ever see that or care. To them, the only real difference between you and...

Insightful, personal stories are the most effective path to get people caring about your brand. As the Internet has become firmly ingrained in our lives, there’s never been a better chance to develop or grow a global business. However, the world wide web has created a more discerning customer who is not content to be simply a number....

Data has the power to strengthen everything businesses do, from the new products they launch to the marketing campaigns they use to promote those products. Gathering information and putting that information to use, even in HR, has become big business, creating jobs and cloud solutions. When a business is more informed before making decisions, that...

Search is very helpful for your business but don’t forget longstanding real-world strategies. These days, many business owners have become obsessed with utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in their marketing campaigns. While SEO has a valued place in Internet marketing, it is possible to master local marketing without relying on it. In fact, when it comes...

Traditionally, when employers have sought to reward top performers, they’ve relied on money. Whether in the form of a raise or a bonus, adding to your existing pay is one of the best ways to keep you around and make you feel appreciated. However, many small businesses are struggling to make budget on the revenue they...