Category: business

Efficient, accurate billing practices are critical to your business’s financial health. Billing errors or delays can lead to revenue leakage, cash-flow shortages and customer attrition. If your company is struggling with billing issues — or it’s been a while since you evaluated this function — now’s a good time to review your processes and make…

With caregiving costs rising faster than inflation, it’s harder than ever to juggle parenting young children or caring for elderly relatives while also working nine to five. Your business can help support caregiving employees and boost productivity by offering dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs). This benefit provides a tax-advantaged method to pay for eligible…

Some customers naturally require more time and resources than others. But when certain relationships consistently consume more of your and your employees’ time than they generate in profit, it may be time to reassess. Taking a closer look at customer‑level profitability can help you understand where resources are going and ensure that high‑value relationships receive…

Most business owners would like to offer their employees a 401(k) retirement savings plan with all the bells and whistles. But for small businesses with lean budgets and small staffs, offering such benefits may be out of the question. Fortunately, SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs are less expensive and easier to administer. Might one of…

Uncertainty regarding inflation, demand and foreign tariffs has made inventory management even harder for businesses than it was previously. Although there are many unknowns right now, one thing is generally certain: Carrying excess inventory is expensive. If you’d like to trim your buffer stock and maximize profitability, there are effective ways to do it without…

As remote and hybrid work have become more common, corporate retreats have surged in recent years. Some or all of your employees may now work from home and experience little in-person interaction with coworkers. A retreat can foster collegial relationships and, ultimately, greater productivity. But the first decision you’ll likely need to make is whether…

Pay equity is the philosophy and practice of “equal pay for equal work.” Employers known for fair pay practices stand out in today’s competitive labor market. Fostering pay equity can also help reduce the risk of employment law litigation. But what does pay equity mean in practice? What it does and doesn’t mean First and…

For many years, businesses of all shapes and sizes have at least considered sustainability when running their operations. Many people — including customers, investors, employees and job candidates — care about how a company impacts the environment. And reducing energy use, water consumption and waste generally lowers operational costs. However, the current “environment regarding the…

As summer gives way to fall, many businesses begin their budget-setting processes for the upcoming year. This annual rite of passage can be stressful, contentious and, perhaps worst of all, disappointing if your budgets often fail to achieve their objectives. The good news is that there are many ways to enhance your company’s budgeting process…

If your business sponsors health care benefits for its employees, you know the costs of doing so are hardly stable. And unfortunately, the numbers tend to rise much more often than they fall. According to global consultancy Mercer’s Survey on Health & Benefit Strategies for 2026, 51% of large organizations surveyed said they’re likely to…