 WELCOME
In efforts to advocate for our member small businesses, topics frequently arise that are complex and difficult for all concerned.
Consider this: In 2005 the EEO received 2,340 charges of religious discrimination, an increase of more than 50 percent from a decade ago. How come?
And this: Immigration is creating a more religiously and ethnically diverse workforce that is growing by leaps and bounds. How does a company owner know what’s right and wrong in dealing with multiple religious beliefs?
Laws at all levels make it illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants and employees on the basis of their religious beliefs and/or practices. Sound pretty simple? Actually, no. Because of the increasing number of views and practices among employees and employers, there are conditions that may evolve…creating severe risks for the business.
Over the next few months, MBA will be consulting with member lawyers and others with more detailed information concerning this complex problem for business owners. See the next print of The Alliance Report for our account.
Best wishes,
Libby Beatty, Chair
Board of Directors
NEWSWORTHY
Minimum Wage Increase Reminder
 Effective July 1, 2007, Pennsylvania's minimum wage is increasing from $6.25 an hour to $7.15 an hour. So keep this in mind as you work your payroll.
Stay tuned, however. President Bush signed legislation last month to eventually increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 in July 2009. We'll have to wait and see how this will affect employers in Pennsylvania because when an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two.
So another increase in Pennsylvania's minimum wage may be inevitable.
Make sure your government-mandated, employment postings are kept up-to-date. Download your free state poster or download your free federal poster now.
New Standard in Small Biz Certification
Starting June 30, 2007, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will require small businesses with long-term government contracts of over five years to be recertified as a small business every five years. The hope is that this requirement will make federal contract reporting more accurate and will increase the opportunities for small businesses.
By law, each year, SBA requires federal agencies to award a certain percentage of their contracts to small businesses. In the past, companies who outgrew their small business status or were acquired by larger companies during a long-term contract continued to be credited as a small business thus taking away contract opportunities for "true" small businesses.
The new regulation, however, does not require termination of existing contracts if a company can no longer certify that they are small. What happens then is that the contracting agency can no longer claim small business credit for that contract.
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MARKETING
Jumpstart a Summer Slump
If your business is in a slump and you're not sure where to turn - look towards your current customers. Make the move from selling to listening. Ask for insights and criticism they have to offer about doing business with your company and other companies in your industry.
Use this to move your company in a fresh direction while keeping the interest (and the business) of your loyal and informed clients.
Giving Back Makes You a Winner
 If you're looking for a new marketing strategy to boost public awareness of your company, try teaming up with a charitable cause this summer. By volunteering your time, products or your company's name to a reputable charity or charitable event, you can serve your community while promoting your business.
Also keep in mind, participating in fundraising activities may offer an opportunity to network with people (and other businesses) that can serve as potential clients, vendors or referrals.
So get involved with a walk-a-thon, community fair, golf outing, etc., and enjoy the business and personal benefits of giving back to your community.
Business Card or ID Card?
Blurring the Line to Better Represent Your Business
Sometimes it's your business card that makes the first (and last) impression on a potential client. What does your card say about you? With that in mind, it may pay to put more thought into your card to ensure you're leaving a lasting reminder of yourself and your business.
Don't be afraid to be bold and innovative when it comes to your card's design or material on which your card is printed - as long as it properly reflects you and your business.
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YOUR FINANCES
Financing with Factoring:
Not Necessarily the Least Expensive Way to Go,
but It's Fast
Need extra cash? There's a way for small businesses to get their hands on fast cash, but pros and cons should be researched to be sure it's the best way.
Factoring is a strategic technique where a business's unpaid receivables are sold for cash. By examining the sales data and creditworthiness of a small business's customers, these companies can buy a substantial portion of receivables, giving the small business some freedom to manage cash flow. Advances can be approved in a short time, so if you need cash in a hurry, factoring can be a viable solution.
How to Claim Mileage on Your Business Vehicle
There are two methods for claiming business car expenses: actual expenses or the standard mileage rate.
To claim mileage on your business vehicle you must first understand that the IRS will only consider deductions based on the following criteria. Deductible car expenses can include the cost of:
1) Traveling from one workplace to another
2) Making business trips to visit customers or attend business meetings away from your regular workplace
3) Going to temporary workplaces
To claim deductions, keep adequate records such as a written travel log with complete and accurate mileage records for each business use of your car.
Keep in mind, if you are unable to produce a clear and accurate business mileage record, the IRS may disallow the deduction.
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HUMAN RESOURCES
Dealing with a Pesky Employee
No matter how large or small your company, you will inevitably come across difficult people. In the world of a small business, however, difficult workers can be harder to handle for managers, employees and customers.
Office pests often affect those working around them by dragging down the company's overall productivity. Time spent on the "office drama" ultimately influences the bottom line of the business as time spent dealing with the troublemaker is time that could have been spent doing the job. And it's just as important to monitor how a pest deals with your customers as well as with their fellow employees.
One technique to deal with your bad apple is to explain how their behavior is affecting the business financially. As always, be sure to follow the proper procedures for counseling an employee and document your discussion. Explain how you expect the employee to improve, schedule a follow-up meeting and outline what happens if they fail to improve.
 Prevention Before Litigation
When firing an employee there is always the risk of retaliatory litigation and the best defense to this knee-jerk and growing trend is prevention.
First, know the laws surrounding federal employment regulations and have them clearly outlined in your employee manual. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the Department of Labor's website as well as the EEOC website.
Keeping records of events and discussions is also a must-do. Well-written notes can be helpful in a courtroom setting.
Request MBA's Fast Fact tip sheet to learn how you can reduce your risk of litigation.
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IT
 Narrowing the Search for Website Success
After you've invested valuable time and money creating your website, make sure that it continues to pay off by regularly scheduling time to update your content. Fresh content and links to other related sites can offer reasons for visitors to return as well as help boost your ratings with search engines.
Also, regularly rename your pages and even the generic images included throughout your site. Use names that include relevant keywords that your potential customers would use to find your site and your business.
Wondering about Web-Widgets
A widget is a small piece of web code that is downloaded to serve some kind of task. Widgets can monitor the weather, stocks, available memory on your PC and take up no more space on your desktop than an icon. There are thousands available to download for free all over the web, so where's yours?
With the right help, or possibly the right IT consultant, you could have a widget with your company's name on it - ready to be downloaded for free from your website.
Check out microsoftgadgets.com to get the ideas for your widget flowing.
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MBA EVENTS OF INTEREST
Ten Ways to Improve Collections and Cash Flow
How is your cash flow? What is your average aging? Do you find yourself routinely accepting the idea that you must wait 90, 120 or even 180 days to get paid?
Attend this seminar to learn ten simple steps to: improve your invoicing process; train your staff to get better collection results; decide if (and when) you should call on third-party intervention.
If you bring a recent aging sheet and a calculator to the seminar, you will be able to use a simple formula to pinpoint exactly where your in-house collection procedures need a boost.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
MBA Conference Room
867 Sussex Blvd., Broomall, PA
Free for MBA members, $25 for non-members, includes credit towards membership (must be paid in advance)
Register by Friday, July 13, 2007
Click here to register
Presenter: Evelyn Apple has served local businesses since the mid-1980s, first with typesetting, printing and bulk mail services and currently as an A/R consultant with Transworld Systems Inc. She has also been an active member of the home education community for 23 years, providing classes and workshops for students and parents.
MBA Summer Networking Luau Is Back
Aloha. Whether you're looking for new customers or an opportunity to talk business, MBA's luau is just the place on a warm summer evening.
Enjoy complimentary beer or wine while chatting with your prospects along Main Street in Manayunk. The Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant has reserved their upper deck for the MBA luau. What a great way to take care of business!
And there will be games and prizes for fun too! "Hawaii Ponoi" is the state song of Hawaii. Translate "Hawaii Ponoi" at the event and enter our special prize drawing.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant
4120 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127
Click here to register
Vending tables are still available at this event. Come show off your stuff to fellow businesses. Click here to reserve your spot.
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Unless specifically indicated, MBA does not intend mention of companies, products or services discussed in this publication to be construed to be endorsements. The information in this publication is offered as examples that may be useful to our small business readers. Please consult with an industry professional before implementing any of the tips or subscribing to any of the services described above. |
