Top stories for you from Barbara this past month:

Setting Your Workday

The big news for business of late centers around the new overtime rule that applies when workers (other than "exempt" employees) work more than 8 hours a day (technically the rule applies for work over 40 hours per week). The rule changes the threshold for exemption, making more workers eligible for overtime pay. The advent of this new rule serves as an impetus for small business owners to reevaluate their workday. Consider the following ...

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You May Be a Multistate Business and Not Know It

Each state has its own regime for corporate income tax, sales tax, use tax, and other revenue raisers. Typically, you are subject to a state's taxes if you have a nexus to the state. Nexus means having a substantial physical presence within a state, such as maintaining offices, warehouses, or a sales force. The presence may be permanent or temporary.

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5 Tips for Setting Up a Home Office 

The U.S. Small Business Administration says that 52% of all businesses in the U.S. are home-based. If you're one of them, planning to become one of them, or merely work from home occasionally, make sure you set up your office for best results. Here are 5 areas to address ...
Think NOW about Disaster Preparedness

With the 2016 hurricane season under way until November 1, now's a good time for you to review how ready your business is to face a storm or other disaster. It's been reported that 40% of small businesses suffering hurricane damage fail to reopen. Even if you're not in an area typically impacted by hurricanes, there are other disasters that can befall you. ... Don't become a statistic -- be ready!

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On-Demand Economy and Taxes

The U.S. Census Bureau reported several years ago that self-employed and microbusinesses (no more than 9 employees) made up over 78% of small businesses, and that self-employed individuals were the fastest growing business group in the U.S. One of the key reasons for this growth is the relatively new on-demand economy of workers for Uber, Lyft, TaskRabbit, and Etsy.
You've Got Your Loan Proceeds so Now What?

Congratulations! You've gone through the loan process and now have the funds you wanted. Now what? What you do with the money may be entirely up to you. For example, when applying for a loan from Kabbage, an online lender, you aren't asked what you need the money for; you have the freedom to spend the funds as you see fit. ... Here are some guidelines for using your funds wisely.
Minimum Wage Increases Are Good:  Fact or Fiction?

There's no easy answer to this question. In the course of Senator Sander's presidential bid, the call for a $15 minimum wage rate was loud and clear. Some localities have already adopted this rate; others are considering it. What are the real economic results of a substantial hike in the minimum wage rate?
Are You Suffering from Compliance Fatigue? 
 
This isn't a new question. Ask any business owner and he or she has a tale of woe when it comes to government regulations.  ... Have you experienced government intrusion into your business activities in the name of regulation?

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Rebounding from a Disaster of a Different Kind 

With the hurricane season underway, it's a good time to think about being prepared for storms that can disrupt your business, as I discussed earlier. However, the attack in Orlando prompted me to think about another disruption for which you should be prepared and how to get back to business: terrorism. Fifty-nine small businesses around the Pulse nightclub where the attack occurred were forced to close for 9 days while investigations were underway.
  
Creating a Savings Account for Your Business

"Save a part of your income and begin now, for the man with a surplus controls circumstances and the man without a surplus is controlled by circumstances." That was advice given by Henry Buckley, an Australian politician in the 19th century. This sentiment is just as important today for small business owners who want to control their circumstances. Here are some of the reasons why ...
Finding Small Business Health Coverage for 2017

The start of next year may seem like a long time from now, but it's not too early to be thinking about health coverage for 2017. Whether you're required to do so because you're an applicable large employer (ALE) with 50 or more full-time/full-time equivalent employees or you're a small employer that chooses to provide coverage, it's probably going to be more difficult and more costly to buy coverage. 
Here are the factors impacting coverage for next year and some of the options you have for finding a health care solution. 
4 Types of Guarantees: What Are You Getting Into?

The dictionary defines "guarantee" as the assurance for the fulfillment of a condition. When it comes to business, there are different types of guarantees. Some are given to customers, some to lenders, and some to other third parties. To help understand the legal and financial promises you're making when you give a guarantee, here is some basic information on various types of guarantees.
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Listen to My Recent Radio Conversations featuring:

Cliff Ennico, small business expert and author of The Crowdfunding Handbook, as we talk about the newest trends in crowdfunding; and

Sam Richter, author of Take the Cold Out of Cold Calling and creator of KnowMore! addressing the dynamics of sales relationship intelligence. 
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