Do you need a business plan? If you’re starting a business, the answer is, unequivocally, yes. What is a business plan? A business plan is a framework of strategies and initiatives to start a business. A successfully executed business plan ends in the creation of a business entity and helps with managing operations and securing […]
The work-a-day world has changed dramatically in the past two years. Employees telecommute, meetings are conducted virtually and business opportunities have evolved. A strategic plan can help business owners and staff focus on what really matters, adapt to the changed work world and grow and prosper. What’s a strategic plan? Simply stated, it’s a document […]
At least quarterly, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) sends newsletters to employers who file unemployment insurance tax forms. If you don’t read these newsletters, you should reconsider. A recent newsletter offered useful information about Colorado-mandated employee sick leave accrual. In 2021, businesses with 15 or fewer employees had to provide public heath […]
When a former employee files for unemployment compensation, they almost certainly need their payments to start as quickly as possible. If the claim is legitimate, here are some do’s and don’ts paraphrased from a Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) newsletter to expedite the filing process and save you and your former employees grief […]
A fellow business owner mentioned she got a small business loan. You’re looking for financing, so you ask her what lender she went to and call to make an appointment. Getting a loan should be simple, right? Maybe not. According to Spencer Vivian, a relationship banker with Vectra Bank in Grand Junction, you might have […]
Hourly rates can be funny things. Rates don’t mean much since some people work faster or more effectively than others. At the same time, though, many of the projects you propose or bid on require hourly rates. How do you set a realistic hourly rate that ensures you’re going to be able to pay everyone, […]
“Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.” — Unknown When you’ve finished writing a proposal, delivering a service or product or interacting with clients or customers, do you take time to consider the lessons you learned from those experiences? Lessons learned (LL) offers an invaluable way to capture the essential details […]
Managing a business sometimes involves an independent audit. Not to be confused with the purely financial audit, an independent audit is used to prepare for such activities as the potential sale of your business or seeking financing or investor capital. Preparing for audits can be nerve-racking and confusing. Business owners have been known to suffer […]
Have you considered what the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction could do for your business? At a time when it’s difficult to recruit and retain staff, free resources from the center are more valuable than ever. According to Curtis Englehart, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center, here are some of the things […]
As the Marshall Fire in the Boulder area revealed, it’s essential to regularly update your property insurance for fire and other hazards. Of course, this wasn’t the first wildfire to demonstrate the need to purchase and regularly update insurance for your business, rental properties and home. Think back to the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 […]