Posts by Deborah Sweeney
What Should Startups Do Before Transitioning to a 100% Remote Workforce?
Messaging surrounding doing business during the coronavirus pandemic is starting to turn the corner. What has continually been referred to as a “trying” and “unprecedented” time is slowly shifting into “a time like this” according to a recent survey from QuickBooks. Within the next 12 months, 72% of individuals surveyed by QuickBooks reported they are…
Read More
4 Reasons to Love Complaints
We all know that one person who loves to complain. It feels as though they always have something negative to say about the food, or the service, or whatever they deem sub-par that evening. As much as this type of person may annoy you personally, small business owners should love the complainer. In fact, embracing…
Read More
What Do LLCs Need to Know About Operating Agreements?
What comes next after an entrepreneur forms an LLC for their startup? Small business owners may prioritize registering for a trademark or filing for an employer identification number (EIN) next. If you already have obtained these assets, it’s time to look into preparing an operating agreement for your business. What’s An Operating Agreement? An operating…
Read More
How An Athletic Mindset Leads to Entrepreneurial Success
I’ve been athletic my entire life. Growing up in Southern California, I loved to exercise. I taught aerobics throughout college, law school, and business school. From Pilates classes to taking “walking lunches” at work, I am, quite literally, always on the go. My husband and two teenage sons also love sports. We play soccer together…
Read More
Is It Time to Incorporate in Another State?
Some businesses use the summer months to kick back and relax after all their hard work in Q1. Others spend these laidback months strategizing their initiatives for the remaining year. For some startups, their next move might be to literally move—with plans to expand their business and incorporate in another state. Incorporating in another state…
Read More
5 Manager-isms All Good Bosses Should Avoid
Business management is plagued with stereotypes. Managers are portrayed or seen as incompetent, aloof, or out of touch with the office. Just look at Lumbergh from Office Space, or the Pointy-Haired Boss in Dilbert. Now, for the most part, these are just caricatures of the worst traits in managers and bosses, but there is a…
Read More
How Small Businesses Can Show Employees They’re Valued During COVID-19
When COVID-19 safety-in-place initiatives were first announced in March for Los Angeles, our team began to transition from working at the office to working from home. One of the first things I did at the start of this transition was give everyone on our team my personal cell phone number. Why did I do this?…
Read More
How to Hear the Customer Out in Three Easy Steps
There are some customers that just want to be heard. We all know the type—they aren’t so much upset with your company as they just want your company to hear them out. In fact, these types of customers are typically easier to handle than customers who are truly upset at your company. You can tell the…
Read More
Starting a Small Business? Here’s What You Need to Stay in Compliance
As of mid-May, there has been a reported nationwide uptick in filing tax ID applications. According to Grow from Acorns + CNBC, the number of employer identification number (EIN) application filings rose 1% by May 16, 2020. This increase followed eight straight weeks of year-over-year declines during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Information in the same article…
Read More
How do I Get a Federal Tax ID for my Business?
Generally, businesses need a Federal Tax ID number or an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to legally conduct business. Whether a sole proprietor or a corporation, an EIN is necessary. This number is used to identify a business entity for tax purposes and is fairly simple to obtain. The IRS supplies multiple ways to apply for…
Read More