Small Biz Flash

Join us for Illuminate 2025 on April 22!  Register here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/illuminate-spring-2025-tickets-1273764687469

Email me at [email protected].

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 – Tariffs are causing concern among small business owners.

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/money/economy/survey-michigan-small-business-owners-shows-two-thirds-taking-steps-prepare-for-recession/69-dd2f9d65-c2b9-4b79-9788-b2b420fd5453

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article303397271.html

http://marketplace.org/2025/04/03/tariffs-small-businesses-taxes-imports-price-increase/

https://www.dailyherald.com/20250329/business/small-businesses-are-anxious-over-lack-of-clarity-on-tariffs/

2 – Small businesses are still actively trying to fill open positions.

https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/nfib-jobs-report-small-businesses-actively-hiring-for-current-vacancies/

3 – A cyberattack could be lethal to a shocking 20% of small businesses.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/cio/2025/04/03/cyberattacks-could-shutter-one-in-five-small-businesses-report-finds/

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Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together! 

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Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

Small business owners, have you ever tried sending out a press release about a new product or an event at your company, just to hear crickets chirping in response?  On today’s show, we’ll talk with an experienced PR professional about why most press releases flop, and what you can do to actually get results the next time you send a press release out to your community.

Today’s guest is Claire Angelle, Founder of Angelle Consulting:
Claire’s email:  [email protected]
Claire’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-collobert-angelle-5267b4a/ Angelle Consulting web page:  https://www.angelleconsulting.com/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 – Major credit cards announce settlement resulting in lower swipe fees for merchants
https://apnews.com/article/visa-mastercard-merchants-swipe-fee-5f2a75674d472ef95af9f6fd426f1f6e

https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/competition/nfib-statement-on-credit-card-anti-trust-settlement/

 2 – Small business hiring slowed in March
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/nfib-jobs-report-small-business-job-openings-fall-to-pre-pandemic-levels/

3 – Nearly half of new small businesses are side hustles
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/surge-small-businesses-started-side-hustles

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  Go to https://sbsaccountants.com/ today to set up a free 30-minute consultation.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

Small business owners, do you pay yourself a below-market wage to keep your business profitable?  Or maybe you take draws, but they might be sporadic and of varying amounts?  On today’s show, we’ll talk with an experienced accounting professional about how this practice is hurting your business and how you can fix your own compensation structure.

Today’s guest is Sharon Sheekey, Accounting Division Director at SBS Accounting & Advisors:
Sharon’s email:  [email protected]
Sharon’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-sheekey-874093b0/
SBS Accounting & Advisors’ web page:  https://sbsaccountants.com/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 - Small Business Owner Optimism Dropped Last Month, Continuing Trend Since Last Summer
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/optimism-on-main-street-declines-as-inflation-looms-as-top-challenge/

2 - Labor Department’s New Independent Contractor Rule Facing Lawsuits
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/biden-admins-gig-worker-rule-facing-growing-pushback

3 - National Small Business Week is April 28 to May 4
https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  Go to https://sbsaccountants.com/ today to set up a free 30-minute consultation.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

Small business owners, have you ever considered buying out a competitor to expand your own company’s capabilities and customer base?  On today’s show, we’ll talk with a lending expert about how you can finance a business acquisition at up to 100% of the purchase price using an SBA loan.

Today’s guest is Laurence Leopold, SBA Senior Business Development Officer at IncredibleBank:
Laurence’s email:  [email protected]
Laurence’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-leopold-4496342/IncredibleBank web page:  https://www.incrediblebank.com/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 - Judge finds Beneficial Ownership Information unconstitutional, but ruling only applies to some businesses
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/district-court-declares-corporate-transparency-act-unconstitutional

2 - Small businesses start to see some relief in the labor market
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/nfib-jobs-report-small-business-employment-slows/

3 - Vast majority of small firms report financial and operational challenges
https://www.fedsmallbusiness.org/reports/survey/2024/2024-report-on-employer-firms

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  Go to https://sbsaccountants.com/ today to set up a free 30-minute consultation.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

Google Trends is a powerful and completely free tool from Google that can help you stay ahead of the curve.  It will help you understand your customers, and can inform decision making on marketing, research & development, and more.

Google Trends:
https://trends.google.com/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 - The economy continues to be the #1 concern among small business owners, according to the latest CNBC-SurveyMonkey Small Business Index.  Immigration followed at a close second place.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/curiosity/cnbcsurveymonkey-small-business-index-q1-2024/

2 - Small businesses facing funding challenges have increasingly turned to merchant cash advances, which have posed a threat to the survival of some.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-easy-financing-source-pushes-some-small-businesses-into-bankruptcy-c2b2ad1b

3 - The National Federation of Independent Business released its top legislative priorities for Congress in 2024.
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/nfib-announces-top-10-small-business-policy-priorities-for-congress/

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

NEWS ROUNDUP

1 - Small business owners continue to grapple with economic uncertainty, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Optimism Index.
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/small-business-owners-expectations-for-higher-sales-declined-in-january/

2 - Many small businesses are still unaware of the new Beneficial Ownership rule from the Treasury Department that went into effect on 1-1-24.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-businesses-must-now-report-ownership-information-to-the-government-but-many-dont-know-about-it-bb13f2b6

https://www.fincen.gov/boi

3 - Nearly a year after the run on Silicon Valley Bank, small business owners aren’t panicking about their business accounts that hold than $250,000, the amount beyond which the FDIC won’t insure deposits.
https://www.marketplace.org/2024/02/12/banking-crisis-fdic-protection-businesses/

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

The Department of Labor (DOL) has finalized its new independent contractor rule.  There are six factors that you must use to determine if a worker is a contractor or an employee.

The final rule goes into effect on March 11, 2024.

Misclassifying employees as independent contractors can result in lawsuits and penalties, among other costs.

DOL’s Small Entity Compliance Guide to the new rule:
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/small-entity-compliance-guide

Today’s guest is Karen Moss, of Innovative Outsourcing:
Karen’s email:  [email protected]
Karen’s LinkedIn page:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenemoss/
Innovative Outsourcing web page:  https://www.innovative-outsourcing.com/

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 - Banks report that fraudulent ACH activity is on the rise, and this is a problem for small businesses.
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/this-is-modern-day-bank-robbery-banks-say-ach-transfer-fraud-is-rise/VLKVTOBGNJBHNAQBX5MXJYL3HY/

https://fintech.global/2024/01/09/navigating-the-risks-of-ach-payment-fraud-strategies-for-business-safety/

2 - The percentage of small businesses falling victim to cyber attacks is on the rise.
https://www.hiscox.com/documents/Hiscox-Cyber-Readiness-Report-2023.pdf

3 - Small business owners think college graduates entering the workforce don’t have realistic expectations about the working world.
https://www.campusreform.org/article/91-of-small-business-owners-say-colleges-are-giving-students-unrealistic-expectations-for-life-after-graduation-survey/24640

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

FEATURE

A fractional chief operating officer, or a FCOO, can help you make your business life wonderful, getting you back to doing what you love in the business, which is likely not overseeing the daily operational tasks.

* How to know when it is time to hire a fractional COO.
* How a fractional COO helps you as the business owner.
* What a fractional COO brings to the table.

Recommended reading:  Rocket Fuel, by Gino Wickman and Mark Winters.

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NEWS ROUNDUP

1 - The Department of Labor has finalized its new independent contractor rule, with big implications for small businesses.
https://www.nsba.biz/post/news-dol-announces-independent-contractor-rule

2 - Recession fears are easing, which may explain why small business sentiment rose in December.
https://www.nfib.com/content/press-release/economy/inflation-returns-as-top-business-problem-on-main-street/

https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20240105-small-businesses-welcome-optimism-wsj-survey/

3 – A record-setting 5.5 million small businesses were created last year.
https://eig.org/2023-business-formation/

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com 

NEWS ROUNDUP

1 – There’s reason for optimism about the economy in 2024, and that’s good news for small businesses.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/what-to-watch-in-fridays-spending-report-inflation-closing-in-on-feds-target-0778037d
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/26/the-us-avoided-a-recession-in-2023-whats-the-outlook-for-2024.html
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/01/business/5-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-the-2024-economy/index.html

2 - Google recently rolled out a new small business attribute feature.
https://blog.google/products/shopping/google-merchant-new-features-holiday/

3 – The SBA is proposing to remove limits on loan eligibility for prospective borrowers who have a previous run-in with the law.
https://www.smallbusinessroundtable.org/sbr-submits-comments-on-sbas-proposed-rule-reforming-criminal-record-eligibility-requirements-for-loan-programs

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This podcast is sponsored by SBS Accounting & Advisors.  Use the promo code FLASH and get 20% off your set up fee!  https://sbsaccountants.com/.

👀 Watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmFHZqDGRbOHXjhpicWuqhg.

📧 Do you want to grow your business?  I help small business owners succeed with strategy, marketing, and operations.  Email me today at [email protected] and let’s grow your business together!

----------

Email me at [email protected].

• Please give me feedback on the podcast.

Show web site:  www.smallbizflash.com