This month: Business Stages…  “Launch” is most easily defined, even if less easily executed.

It’s when we put our highest aspirations to paper, take a deep breath before taking that life-changing first step, and then immediately begin problem-solving the fun challenges we failed to accurately predict. And we find our successes.

One of the greatest challenges faced by small business owners today is hiring. With many companies needing to fill open positions, it is important to not only post your employment opportunities, but to highlight your company culture, benefits, pay scale, diversity and inclusion practices, and growth opportunities. Social media can help you do all these things while attracting an overflow of interested candidates.

With the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) now closed as of May 31, 2021, employers are looking for other assistance programs as they work to get back on track.  For these employers, the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) may be the next best thing. The ERC is a refundable payroll tax credit that can yield up to $33,000 per employee in 2020 and 2021.  Originally, employers had to choose between the PPP loan program and the ERC.  However, the law was retroactively changed in December 2020.  Now employers can claim both; they just can’t double dip on the same wages.