What do both small business owners as well as large business owners have at their disposal?

Well if these organizations have been in business any length of time they better have made a few clients happy. Many small businesses overlook the fact that they have “Raving Fans” to spread the good word about their company. Many small business owners put a tremendous amount of time, energy and money on all kinds of ads in local publications or networking groups. These are all necessary to a point but the easiest way to expand a business is to let your “Loyal Followers”, or as Ken Blanchard puts it, “Raving Fans”, act as your best sales reps...

On February 5^th, millions of Americans will tune in to watch the Super Bowl. In fact, a new survey by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association found that 173 million people will watch the game Sunday, the most in the survey’s eight-year history and up from an estimated 171 million last year...

We talked last week about Burger King offering delivery service to have an edge on the competition, now the latest in fast food evolution is the addition of breakfast to Taco Bell’s menu.  With McDonald’s, Burger King and now Wendy’s offering breakfast it was really only a matter of time before Taco Bell hopped on the bandwagon... 

One Long Island local scored big this January when Chevrolet announced it will air 26 year old LI native Zachary Borst’s ad titled “Chevy Happy Grad”.   Beating out 400 other scripts and 198 films by independent film makers as part of the Route 66 Super Bowl ad contest, Borst’s ad will air to the tune of 110 million TV viewers during the Super Bowl.  In addition to having his ad on television during the Super Bowl, he’s also receiving a $25,000 grand prize...

As the US struggles to accelerate a sluggish recovery, a deeper look needs to be taken at the reasons for the slow recovery.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the federal government’s official source of employment statistics, in October 2011, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Americans 25 years and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree was 4.4 percent. For those who graduated high school, the unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in October 2011.  However, for those without a high school degree the rate is 10.6 percent, and for those aged 25 and over, the unemployment rate was 13.8 percent.   These are staggering numbers.   How are we supposed to compete on a global scale when we have almost a quarter of high school students dropping out each year, or in other terms, over 340,000 students a year? In fact, the Education Database recently reported that high school dropouts are not eligible for 90% of the jobs in our economy and we have 40 million high school dropouts in the US today...

The days of walking out of your house, getting into the car and driving to the nearest fast food joint are over.  If you haven’t heard by now, Burger King is giving its customers a more convenient way of eating: they now deliver.  For Burger King, this isn’t new; the home of the whopper has actually been testing out their delivery service internally for years. Countries like, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil and Colombia have taken advantage of this service so it’s only fair that America gets to experience this as well. What does this service cost you?  A $2 fee will be charged and order must be a minimum of $8 to $10 dollars in specific restaurants in Washington D.C. where the service is available...

For those of you using Google today, you may notice that the logo has been blacked out. When you hover over the logo, a message appears: “Tell Congress: Don’t censor the web!”  If you head over to Wikipedia.com the page comes up as usual, but enter a search term and you’ll get a message from Wiki, “Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge. For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia.” You can click the link that Wikipedia offers to learn more about why the site has been blacked out... 

According to The Labor Department, initial claims for first-time jobless benefits rose 24,000 to 399,000 on Thursday, the highest in six weeks. The four week average, a better indicator of labor market trends, rose 7,750 to 381,750 from a revised 374,000. However, growth is expected to slow during the first three months of this year and help for the economy may still be necessary despite recent data that suggested the recovery was changing in the right direction...

On the fourth day of business, it’s time to ask if your job candidate has been naughty or nice this year.   Yes, it’s social media time. 

By John Jantsch

Small business owners are an odd lot. I can say this without judgment because I am one.

Cracking the small business code is something that routinely perplexes large organizations. I see it every day, and I’ve been asked numerous times to consult on that very puzzle.

The thing is, however, a lot of small businesses want to sell to other small businesses too. Many times I find that they miss the subtleties of attracting small business even though they need look no further than their own buying habits for keys to the sale...

On the third day of business, I want to talk about how image matters for both the employer and the job seeker.

As we return from the holidays and settle back into our routines, it’s time to return to my strategies for better interviews and more effective hiring decisions for both employers and job seekers.

Last week we started with the first day of business, which was having a plan.  On the second day of business, I’m going to talk about resumes...

You constantly hear the term “work-life balance”, but does it really exist?  To some people the concept is unmanageable; to others, it's something that's achieved by discipline and smart choices. The first step in figuring out what “work-life balance” is, is asking yourself what it means to you.

The Boston Globe released a recent survey that stated Google, MITRE, Facebook, McKinsey & Co. and Bain & Co. as the top 5 companies that put an emphasis on career opportunities and work-life balance. Work-life balance opportunities range from social events, the option to work from home or saying good-bye to the traditional 9-5 hours. "Many companies are integrating flexibility into their business strategies," says Sara Sutton Fell, founder and CEO of FlexJobs.com. "Both job seekers and employers are looking out of the box and embracing non-traditional opportunities"...

I recently came across an article that brought up an interesting economic issue.  The struggling economy affects everyone in one way or another; however it seems to have a more drastic effect on Americans under 35 rather than those over 65.  Taking into account all of the points mentioned in the article, I’d have to say that I agree...

I read an article on The Hill about a letter from the National Payroll Reporting Consortium, a union of major payroll firms that includes Automatic Data Processing and Paychex.   The letter criticized the payroll tax legislation that was passed by the Senate earlier in the week.

Pete Isberg, president of the National Payroll Reporting Consortium states that “the two-month extension would be a nightmare for payroll processing firms to implement because it includes a provision to ensure that wealthy income earners don’t pay a lower payroll tax rate than middle-class workers”...

It’s that time of year again, we’re shopping and decorating, over-eating and over-spending…there’s family parties and cocktails with friends, Secret Santa’s…the fun never ends!  And if you’re fortunate to work at a company that is able to throw a holiday party there are a few things to remember to avoid being “that guy/girl”. You know who I’m talking about, the guy who made a fool of himself at last year’s holiday party by getting drunk and hitting on the boss’ wife.  Or the woman who flashed everyone on the dance floor…  While it’s a time to celebrate and kick back with your co-workers, it’s important to remember that it is a work function and everything you do has an impact on your reputation and can make or break your career...

Don’t you just love those afternoons when you’re in and out of meetings, you’re backed up with email, you’re on and off the phone with so many people that you can’t even get their names straight anymore and just when you’re ready to pull your hair out the phone rings.  You pick it up.  The robotic voice on the other line asks you “Does your business need more money?”  I’ll bet it takes all you have not to throw your phone out the window!  Well I’ve got some great news for you!  The H.R. 3035: Mobile Informational Act of 2011 will allow you to enjoy these scintillating conversations on your cell phone!  Who’s excited?!  Yeah, I didn’t think so...

It’s been two years, countless complaints by politicians in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and an angry main street but at long last the MTA Payroll Tax that many believe was “unconstitutional” has been eliminated for many small businesses across New York State. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law eliminating the MTA Tax for 289,000 small businesses across the state with an annual payroll under $1.25 million. Businesses with a payroll between $1.25 million and $1.5 million will see their MTA payroll tax cut to 0.11 cents per employee, while those with payrolls up to $1.75 million will have their tax reduced to 0.23 cents. These adjustments eliminate the tax for almost 80 percent of businesses in the region. The state will fund the $250 million cost of the payroll tax through a $2.6 billion increase in income taxes on the wealthy...

Every business owner or entrepreneur struggles with this at one point or another.  Whether you are cash strapped or have the cash but it’s still not incentivizing your employees, we’re always looking for ways to help ramp up the employee motivation level.

I came across a great article on Inc.com with nine ways to motivate your employees without using cash.  I took a few minutes to examine her list and compare with what I’ve done and the results...

“First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there's the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses. Pledge to Shop Small on November 26th. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge,” states American Express. 

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I couldn’t agree more and I have officially taken the pledge to shop small this Saturday.   Why shop small?  What’s in it for you?  Well, it’s more than a warm and fuzzy feeling that will fade away when you leave the store.  It’s an affirmative action to make sure that contribute to the stores that dot your local Main St, not your local Wal-Mart.  It’s an action to say to your business neighbor that you want their lights on and their doors open.  Too often you drive through a town to see half the storefronts boarded up.  Well, Small Business Saturday is your way to not only start your Christmas shopping but support your local economy...

I recently read an article on SmallBizTrends.com, 8 Steps to Take Your Brick and Mortar Business Online written by Tyler Garns, Director of Marketing for Infusionsoft.  I decided to rate one of my companies, Advantage Payroll Services, against the 8 steps they suggest to follow to ensure your company has a significant presence online. 

Here’s how Advantage stacks up:

1. Get Found- Check!   Tyler suggests list your business listed in Google places, industry directories, local directories and more.    If you Google Advantage Payroll Services Long Island, you’ll see us clearly listed on the map.  If you click the map, you’ll see our logo comes up in the information box.  We’re also listed on multiple local websites and we have a profile for our branch on LinkedIn...

One of the initiatives born from the Obama administration is the Startup America program – an initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship. This program is a representation of public and private funding sponsorship to invest in small business to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Last week I wrote a blog post about the Jobs Act of 2010- the Startup America initiative goes hand in hand with this act.

Having a business not only survive but thrive in this environment may seem overwhelming. There is so much going on to keep up with, including the new jobs programs that are supposed to help small business owners, the uncertainly of income taxes,  the erratic stock market,  a new balance of power in Washington and the European economic crisis...

A recently published study has found that most Americans are not financially prepared for an emergency. Bankrate.com reports that a mere 24% of consumers have the recommended financial cushion of six months’ expenses set aside. What’s more: 24% of Americans have no emergency savings whatsoever. Financial experts are slightly surprised by these results, given the high rates of joblessness and unemployment that ravaged our society from 2007-2009. However, the recent challenges have made it more difficult for Americans to conserve money for unexpected expenses. As the light at the end of the economic tunnel starts to peek through, I wonder what this information means for small businesses. Many businesses were forced to downsize or shut their doors altogether during the recent slowing (some might even say halting) of our economy. Is your business prepared to weather the another economic storm?

When starting your new business venture, there are many decisions to be made from where to locate, to the number of employees to hire, to the type of services to provide.  One important decision to make right out of the gate is what type of business entity you are going to form.

There are several different types of business entities, each with their own pros and cons. The most important thing is to find the one that best fits your needs and allows you to accomplish your goals as a small business owner...

The Empire State strikes back! On June 7^th, Governor Cuomo announced that a record number of new TV series have scheduled to film right here in NY for the 2011 season thanks to the $420 million Film Production Credit.   The eight series were lured by the 30% tax credit and are expected to create over 4,700 new jobs.  Smash, Rookies, Pan Am, Person of Interest, Unforgettable, A Gifted Man, I Just Want My Pants Back and Girls are the eight new series that will join other series such Royal Pains and other successful shows returning from last year. 

In addition to the 4,700 industry jobs, over 11,000 people will work as extras this year.  Shows such as Royal Pains are looking for wealthy Long Islanders -- or those who can look the part – to play on the beach or swing a golf club for the filming of the USA Network show with the help of Grant Wilfley Casting...

Do you want to add years to your life?  Or life to your years?

Feeling your best boosts your zeal for life! Add some activity to your life and reap the benefits of boosting your mental and physical wellness. Take advantage of a sunny day and spend some time outdoors. Sunlight on your skin helps your body produce vitamin D, which brings many added health benefits.

Physical activity boosts mental wellness.
• Regular physical activity can relieve tension, anxiety, depression and anger.
• Good vibrations, good sensations follow physical activity,
• Most people also note an improvement in general well-being over time during the weeks and months as physical activity becomes a part of your routine.

Exercise increases the flow of oxygen which directly effects the brain. Your mental acuity and memory can be improved with physical activity, important functions for a small businss owner.

How often do you receive advice about your business that you don’t take literally? Many of us discuss our business plans with consultants, business coaches, other local business owners, and family but it takes a special type of person to take the advice and essentially apply it to their business. At Basso on Business, we would like to highlight particular individuals who not only listened to the recommendations we presented them but took action! Our "Actions in Action” blog will quote our past featured business owners of 2010 and prove that when you act on advice and forge forward, positive change will flourish.

Credit Reporting: Do You Know What Your Rights Are?

Our information is everywhere.  We shop online, save it for e-billing, lose our checking account statements, credit cards and more.  That’s why it’s so important to keep tabs on your credit score to ensure your private information is correct and protected.  I know dozens of colleagues and business owners who have fallen prey to erroneously reported charges from collection agencies among other fraudulent charges or mis-reporting from banks or credit card companies.

The best way to combat this is to stay informed.  Per the Federal Trade Commission, "the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months."

As a small business owner, there’s a lot to keep track of. Federal and NYS depository rules, sales tax requirements, labor related issues and health care reform are only a few. I’ve always wanted a cheat sheet that to keep in my back pocket, so to speak, for quick reference. What’s the number for IRS assistance for a corporation? It’s on there. The phone number for NYC business customer assistance? On there. Gift tax exclusion? Got it. Limits on pension plans? That’s on there too. Do you wish you had one of these as well? Wish granted; Armao, Costa & Ricciardi, CPAs puts together such a list each year and this year they were nice enough to share their list with Basso On Business and our online community.

Just click the link below and hit the print button for your must have phone numbers and important updates. Enjoy!

http://acrcpa.com/pdf/Quick%20Reference%20Guide%202011.pdf

I had the opportunity to appear on the Sean Hannity Radio show on recently.  We discussed everything from Black Friday shopping, economic indicators, recent laws that were passed, outsourcing, the stock market and the effect of small businesses on the economic recovery...

Email is the number one method of business communication; the amount of “snail mail” my office receives is rapidly dwindling with the exception of catalogs.  However, the cost associated with company email can be staggering to a startup company.  Hence, many small businesses rely on free email services such as AOL, Hotmail or Gmail; using these for business purposes can be a struggle and confusing....

I was speaking at a Chamber of Commerce recently, and asked the business owners in attendance to raise their hands if they utilized social media at their organization. About half the hands in the room went up. When I asked who actively used both Facebook and Twitter, only a smattering of hands went up. I found it surprising that while half the business owners in attendance used social media to a certain extent, only one profile was actively maintained and updated.

I started to think about why this could be the case and thought about how our usage of social media evolved. At my organization, we find both tools very important in getting out our message. We have thousands of followers on Twitter who may not follow us on Facebook, or vice versa, and it’s important our message is heard by everyone...

Fox Business Network asked me to share my thoughts on the latest legislation passed by Congress, and whether or not it’s simply another bailout, or if it would have the power to actually boost our small businesses and our economy.  Check out the video for my thoughts and don’t forget to comment.   I want to know what you are thinking.

http://www.bassoonbusiness.com/TheBassoNewsroom.aspx

Times are tough for small businesses right now and it’s even harder for charities and other not-for-profit organizations.  Government funding is being cut, donations are at a record low and demand is constantly rising for the services these organizations provide.   Over half of all charities whose services help people to deal with the effects of the recession have seen demand for their services increase. Many charities are working hard to maintain their services with even less funding than they had expected. Over forty percent of charities have received less support in the last three months than they had budgeted for. Most charities are not counting on an increase of funding or donations going into 2011.

I typically begin my day by browsing some of the newest headlines to stay informed with the latest business news. I came across an article on Forbes.com that showcased 11 movies that entrepreneurs should watch because of the long lasting lessons for those who aspire to be wealthy. I thought I would share with you the movies they listed and ask what outside forces or business related experiences you have been through that have taught you valuable lessons of aspiring wealth that have impacted your business strategy....

Recently I had the opportunity to go on Fox news and talk about the potential results of the new small business legislation that was just passed by both houses of Congress. This new legislation includes $30 billion in aid to community banks, a capital gains increase, deductible health care for those who are self employed as well as much more. Click the link below to hear my thoughts on how this legislation is really going to help small businesses.

http://www.bassoonbusiness.com/TheBassoNewsroom.aspx

I recently wrote about a visit to the town I attended high school in. On that same trip I took a few pictures of the school, and a few places I worked when I was a teenager. One of those places was a print and copy shop called Kwik Kopy.  The owners at the time I worked there over 20 years ago were a married couple, Dan and Peggy.

For some unknown reason I choose to go inside Kwik Kopy and see who was running the place now.  To my surprise when I walked in, there was Dan. Maybe a few more grey hairs, but I certainly recognized him.  To my utter shock, he recognized me immediately. He must have had many people working for him over the years and I was only employed there for one year. How and why did he remember me?

To Franchise or Not To Franchise?

As the owner of a successful business that services franchises, I’m definitely an advocate for those thinking about owning a franchise.   Based on my background, Ken Stein from the Kensington Company asked me to speak about my experience at the conclusion of both of tomorrow’s sessions.

Click here to register for the entire event:  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/716178108/rbasso and come down to this free seminar “The Right Knowledge To Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams A Reality” and hear what I, among other experts, have to say about franchising.

On Friday, the August Employment Situation Report was released and I had the opportunity to give my insight on this report in order to help entrepreneurs. Watch the discussion on the finalized statistics and their effects on our economy and small business. Let me know how you feel about these jobs numbers by commenting below.

With a school district referendum vote coming up tonight in Huntington, I’ve been reminded of the importance of voting not just in federal elections, but also at state and local levels. In America we sometimes take our right to vote for granted, and yet we feel frustrated when election results don’t turn out the way we had hoped. The only way we can eliminate this sense of frustration is by doing everything we can to have our voices be heard. Join me in committing to vote from here on out.

And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, September 14th!

Over the past few days I’ve come across a few heartening statistics about business and the economy. First, 31% of businesses hired new employees between April and June. Second, layoffs are down by 50% since last year. I believe these are indicators of forward movement, and that our continued effort in contributing to the growth of not only our own businesses but those in our communities, will lead to even more positive change.

The key in changing the course of our current economic condition truly is joining together. Sure, this may sound great, but I encourage you to push beyond semantics.

1. Educate- Be an informed consumer at home and in your business. Know your personal and corporate values. Know who your vendors are, how and with whom they do business, and be sure their values align with your own.

Guest blog from Lloyd Garten, owner of Select Exterminating

Participating in Basso on Business was an enlightening experience and one I’d recommend for other business owners to get involved with.  My financing challenging was not unique; as you read this, other business owners are getting denied for much needed loans to reinvigorate or expand their companies.  Being on the show and listening to the advice from Rob Basso, Basso on Business and Tom Buonaiuto,  Empire National Bank forced me to revaluate the relationships that I had with my current trusted advisors and I suggest that others do the same.  I thought had a great relationship with my big name bank but as it turned out, I overestimated the strength of that relationship.   After speaking with Rob, I realized that had I looked at that relationship more closely before I applied for the loan, I would have seen that the trust and understanding of my business model wasn’t there.  Working with a local community bank was a positive, eye-opening experience.  Empire National Bank took the time to really sit down and look at the way my business works as well as my footprint in the community.   Working Lunch with Rob was another great way to approach my challenge.  Although the transaction had already taken place, it provided me with helpful advice from other local business owners to help prepare me for my next acquisition