The SBDC (Small Business Development Center) is a business consulting service provided by the government. It offers no-cost consulting and low-cost training to current and aspiring business owners. The consulting topics vary depending on the center and background of the consultants. Every business owner should make an appointment to learn more about your local center…
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Best Unified Communications Platforms for Your Small Business
You’ve probably jumped on a Zoom call or instant messaged a co-worker online. There’s a good chance you’ve attempted to do both at once by opening different applications or tabs in your web browser. Unified communications (UC) puts all conversations into one spot for easy access from anywhere. What Is Unified Communications? Unified communication is…
Quick Guide to Workers’ Comp Insurance for Self-employed
Self-employed workers’ compensation insurance covers medical expenses and lost wages if a business owner, solopreneur, or independent contractor suffers an on-the-job injury or illness. Some agents recommend workers’ comp insurance for self-employed people to protect the person’s business if they are unable to earn an income after a work accident. Policies typically cost a minimum…
The Complete Guide to Sales Operations
Sales operations are the processes and systems that enable a sales team to effectively generate leads, manage relationships, and generate new customers. They help sales teams streamline the sales process by doing things such as developing sales strategies, creating compensation plans, and training team members. Sales operations can be broken down into the various activities,…
How Real Estate Commission Splits Work
A real estate commission split is the percentage that agents and brokers get when they help a buyer or seller close on a property. Average real estate commission splits traditionally range from 50/50 to 70/30, largely depending on the brokerage you work for and the market you are working in. This guide will help you…
Payroll Compliance: Important Payroll Laws to Know in 2021
When you become an employer, you must follow all payroll laws to avoid financial penalties, lawsuits, and even worse, being forced to close your business. Payroll laws specifically govern how you pay your employees and taxes as well as how you report this information. To name a few, this includes overtime pay requirements, payroll taxes,…
Business Loan Cosigner: When Should You Use One?
When taking out a business loan, a cosigner is a person who is willing to give the lender a personal guarantee to repay the loan in full. This increases your chances of getting an approval because the business loan cosigner becomes 100% liable for the loan in the event that you fail to make payments….
What Is Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP)?
Voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) is a technology in which calls are transmitted as data over the internet to other types of phone systems. Phone services using VoIP are less expensive than their landline-based counterparts. They also have many features that landline setups do not, like video calling, text messaging, and automated attendants that greet and route callers…
FICO SBSS: A Quick Guide With Everything You Need
The FICO LiquidCredit Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) is the business version of the well-known consumer FICO credit score. The FICO SBSS score ranges from 0 to 300 and assesses your company’s ability to repay debt obligations. It’s an essential part of your business because it’s used by lenders and other interested parties to evaluate…
Call Tracking: What It Is & How to Use It
Call tracking gives you the ability to trace a call’s source and determine where it came from. Businesses can use phone call tracking as an especially helpful tool in terms of lead nurturing; it is easier to see which advertising methods are working the best and which outlets your clients are using to contact you….
10 Auto-attendant Scripts That Leave a Good Impression
Auto-attendant services allow clients to route calls themselves, either by issuing voice commands or by selecting a button from a preconfigured menu of options, which can save them time and potential frustration. However, these systems work best when the script used to introduce the auto-attendant’s menu of options is professional-sounding and easy to follow. We…
Real Estate Agent Salary: How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make?
According to the National Association of Realtors, the median real estate agent salary was $49,700 in 2019. However, almost all real estate agents work as independent contractors within their brokerages and earn income by collecting money on a commission basis rather than drawing a salary, and factors like the number of hours worked and years…