According to a recent study by Hewitt Associates, a Lincolnshire, Ill.-based consulting firm, pay hikes don’t motivate employees as effectively as incentive and reward programs do.

The main reason for this, according to Julie Peterson, a Hewitt consultant, is that (more…)

“Independent store owners who choose to compete—and implement innovative strategies—really can succeed in going head-to-head with anybody.”

—Don Taylor, author of Up Against the Wal-Marts

A successful independent retailer today sees the chains and superstores as “steamships plowing through the ocean, and themselves as the sleek cigarette boat zipping around and through them, and changing direction (more…)

We often take for granted what a “gift” we have here in the USA, where we are so fortunate to be in the midst of such riches. Considering that…

“Small business is the third-largest economy in the world, behind the U.S. and Japan.”
—Steve Alesio, President,
American Express Small Business Services

This sector has never grown as fast and furiously as it has in recent years. The number of companies with fewer than 100 employees has increased nearly 50% since the early 1990s, and small business has created most of the new jobs in the country.

Now some (more…)

Opening up to barter offers from others (for your products/services) not only expands the possibilities for more sales and distribution of your products, it could lead you down the road to some new exciting business (more…)

Here is an example of an enterprising photographer overcoming a lack of cash to advertise his services. If you are a photographer and dismayed because of the slowing economy this will stimulate your (more…)

Calgary dollars (CAD) are a local currency backed by the goods and services of Calgarians. The Canadian city is one of thousands around the world that has a local barter currency to aid the local citizens.

CAD is a project of (more…)

Now that things have slowed down considerably for contractors, it’s a good time to look into bartering with them to fix up your property. Here are some ideas on how to arrange it so you get the most deductions when they’ll do you the most good.

According to the IRS, repairs don’t materially add to the value of your property or prolong its life. Rather they keep the property in efficient operating condition. And therefore (more…)

As a business owner, your membership in a good trade exchange can go far in solving your top four major concerns—if you are the typical small business president.

These concerns are:

1. Insufficient capitalization.
2. Increased competition.
3. Cash-flow difficulties.
4. Controlling costs.

One sure way to heighten your chances of (more…)

Section 179 of the tax code lets you immediately take deductions for business furnishings and equipment you buy, or acquire on trade through your exchange, and place in service in a year. Otherwise such items would have to be depreciated over several (more…)

Making new sales through the barter community (a trade exchange) is one side of the equation. What about spending? Well, there are numerous possibilities for wisely spending your “earned” trade dollars. (Trade purchases = cash saved.)

Although every business is unique in some ways, as you can see below, there is (more…)