Have you hit a point in your business where things are just flowing exactly as they should be? You have a great team in place and your budget is holding out—all while your schedule no longer feels like there is no room to breathe. Getting to this point, or even close to that point, is a dream come true for most small business owners. You’ve grown something successful and something that is truly helping your community. Read on →

When you own a business, the word “liability” is likely commonplace. There are so many risks you have to consider and battles you have to face almost on a daily basis, and that includes worrying about what your business and you personally are liable for. While it may not be a term you think about or even use regularly, have you ever really considered what it means? There are actually a number of liabilities that could affect your business, which makes it important to understand as much as you can about what they are and how to protect yourself and your business against them. Read on →

Small businesses will always come with a great number of challenges. Owners and managers encounter risks every single day—from the simple things like an employee being out sick to bigger issues like theft or natural disasters. Running a business can feel like walking on a high wire with no net underneath. When you have a good team around you, walking that high wire can be a little less scary. A crew of people who understand what it is you are trying to do can keep you balanced on even the hardest days. Read on →

When you think about risks, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you are a small business owner or manager, the items that pop into your head are likely enough to fill a very long list. Risks are everywhere, and they can be a lot to handle when you are trying to run a successful business. Along with handling everyday situations like staff problems, customer comments, and supply issues, severe storms, cyber-risks and liability issues are always on the back of any business owner’s mind. Read on →

How do you help your staff grow? Over the last few years, we have seen a growing desire in employees to work for companies that boast strong moral, community and personal values. Workforce culture has become a common term in every business owner’s language, and retaining staff has become a major issue to deal with. The workforce has nearly five generations in it now, which just adds an extra layer to the challenge of keeping workers engaged and happy. Read on →

There are so many risks to consider when you are trying to ensure your business is protected. Along with ensuring that your employees are well-taken care of and sales are good, you also have to think about weather, theft, angry customers—the list could go on and on. Thinking about physical risks, while it can become overwhelming, is often a little easier than considering those behind-the-scenes risks that your business also faces. Read on →

You can’t scroll the internet without coming across an article about the rise of AI. There are so many uses for this technology, and while the tech itself isn’t entirely new, it seems like a new application of AI comes to light every day. The use of AI is on the rise in most industries as well, including the insurance industry. Just like with anything you research on the internet, plenty of negative stories can be found about the potential impacts that AI technologies could have. Read on →

If you have been considering opening your own business, or growing your existing one, franchising could be a great option for you. But as a quick google search can prove, stepping into the world of franchising can feel like stepping into a foreign country. There are costs to wade through, legal terms to understand and endless possibilities of businesses you could choose. Whether you already own a small business, have worked in the corporate business world for years or are just starting off altogether, the wealth of information about franchising that is out there can quickly become overwhelming. Read on →

Do you make resolutions or perhaps choose an inspirational word for the new year? Maybe you simply spend some time setting some goals for your personal life as one year fades and a new one starts to shine. The start of a fresh year is a great time to reflect on where we have been and where we hope to go, and while many of us take the time to at least think about this when it comes to our outside of work lives, making resolutions for your business is a much less common practice. Read on →

As a small business owner, there are few things as exciting as finally opening your doors for the first time. There are a lot of emotions that come along with finally seeing your dreams come to fruition, but more than anything, sharing your passion with the public should be a total thrill. When it is time for your business to grow and you start considering adding new positions to your staff, it can feel almost as exciting as the day everything began. Read on →