As one of the smallest businesses in the City of Alexandria, VA, I never really considered getting a trademark. My previous employer, a small software development firm applied and received trademarks, but it was always an expensive and lengthy process that was accomplished by the law office that represented the company. In the summer of […]
Category: legal & regulatory issues
Small organizations are at extra risk during the government shutdown – you already know that. But what can you do? 1. Keep your fears at home. Your employees need concrete information and clear communications. But don’t add to their burden by discussing your fears. 2. Grab control where you can. A big part of this […]
One of the advantages of consulting is that you get to see others’ mistakes. And learn from them. I have made more than my fair share of mistakes. Yet, I still am surprised by how often the basics underlying how you run your operations are the most common small business problems. Good administrative processes will […]
The “to do list” is long and daunting when you are start a new business. What entity to use ? What about office space ? What office furniture and equipment do I need ? All are good and necessary questions. Frequently missing from the list – what type of small business insurance will I need […]
In April 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) expanded its guidance, “Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest & Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” and addressed in detail an employer’s use of criminal records checks information in employment decisions. While the EEOC always has […]
The impact of the Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Regulation on residential remodeling and related contractors is three-fold: training and certification for the contractor and employees, required work practices and required recordkeeping. First: the education requirement. The regulation requires that at least one person in the contractor’s firm be certified as a “certified renovator.” […]
Prior to 1978, lead was an additive in paints used in the residential and commercial construction industry. Consequently, residential housing stock built prior to 1978 was painted with lead-containing paint. The ingestion of lead paint dust and chips is a known potential health hazard to adults and children, but particularly to children 6 years old […]
Frequently small businesses ask me as a professional bookkeeper varying questions about document retention. I am not going to tell you which documents you should retain. This information needs to come from your CPA, attorney and/or your corporate headquarters. I want to write about document retention because ultimately, you may be responsible for archived documents. […]