Should You Hire a Tax Professional?

November 7, 2014 by

business (4)For big corporations, having a team of lawyers, accountants, human resources and financial advisors is expected.  Small business owners and young entrepreneurs that have cash flow issues are tentative about having to part with more cash and hire an accountant or tax professional for their business. But, when it comes to dealing with the IRS, state and local authorities, having a tax professional can save you more than you will be spending by using his services. Fines and penalties for filing late, filing incorrectly, or not filing all the forms can add up and cost your business thousands of dollars in the long run. Tax laws change yearly, and deductions and tax breaks that your business may be entitled to can go unnoticed and unclaimed by your business.  Have an accountant or tax professional to help your business this year.  For more information about business taxes, follow the links below.

Ohio Small Businesses Misinformed About Tax Deduction

Republicans including Gov. John Kasich have promoted tax deduction as a way to help small businesses expand. Owners could take a 50 percent tax deduction on up to $250,000 of income for 2013.  But according to The Columbus Dispatch,  just 379,000 business filers took the tax deduction as of Oct. 19. That’s roughly half of the 717,000 filers the state’s Department of Taxation anticipated when the Republican-dominated Legislature passed the tax break in June 2013.

The newspaper reports that those business filers saved $287 million in income tax. That’s below the $533 million in projected savings. It appears however that it’s too early to say why the numbers didn’t match the expectation.

The average filer – those entities whose profit and income are one in the same – saved about $760. Most claimed the deduction on less than $40,000 worth of business income, providing average tax savings of less than $150. A fraction had incomes topping $180,000, with an average savings of nearly $6,000.

Tax deduction for Ohio small businesses not taken as frequently as state anticipated

COLUMBUS, Ohio –  A tax cut for small business-owners has not been claimed as frequently as expected.

Republicans including Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) have promoted the tax deduction as a way to help small businesses expand. Owners could take a 50 percent tax deduction on up to $250,000 of income for 2013.

The Columbus Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/12sKGkZ ) that just 379,000 business filers took the tax deduction as of Oct. 19. That’s roughly half of the 717,000 filers the state’s Department of Taxation anticipated when the Republican-dominated Legislature passed the tax break in June 2013.

The newspaper reports that those business filers saved $287 million in income tax. That’s below the $533 million in projected savings.

Ohio small businesses paid way more income taxes than they had to last year

Ohio small businesses paid hundreds of millions of dollars in income taxes they didn’t have to, according to a story in the Columbus Dispatch.

Last year, Ohio business owners could receive a 50 percent tax deduction on up to $250,000 of income.

About 379,000 tax filers took the credit out of the 717,000 filers the state’s tax department thought could do so.

Those businesses saved $287 million of the $533 million the state believed could be saved.

Northeast Ohio is key hub for nation’s manufacturing push

Northeast Ohio is leaving a mark on some national initiatives to advance manufacturing.

President Barack Obama last week announced plans to invest $100 million in an apprenticeship grant competition, $130 million in a competition that will help small manufacturers take on new technology, and more than $300 million in the advanced materials, advanced sensors and digital manufacturing technologies.

The University of Akron played a sizable role in identifying the priorities behind those announcements as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership 2.0.

But that’s not the only connection Northeast Ohio has had to the national manufacturing conversation of late, as the CEO of Kent Displays Inc. — the company that makes the Boogie Board e-writer — recently completed an appointment as the co-chair of the subcommittee on innovation, research and development on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council.

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Want to Sound Smart? Don’t Use Buzzwords

November 6, 2014 by

business (11)One of the main uses of communication is to convey meaning, emotion and information to others.  People also attempt to use language to create and form the image they’d like others to have of them.  It happens every day, in many different ways, through a variety of mediums – sometimes successfully, but often times not.

This is true for both personal and business communication.  In business the words you choose to use reveal a great deal about yourself to others, both professionally and personally.  Along with appearance, language is fundamental in creating the image people form about you.

Words provide structure and meaning for your thoughts, beliefs and ideas. The terminology you choose, how you say it, and to whom you say it gives clues about your: level of education, actual knowledge on the subject, comfort level with the current circumstances, job satisfaction, commitment to the product or service, state of mind and outlook on life.

Because other’s perceptions of us are so closely tied to language it’s a big mistake, in a business setting, to use buzzwords incorrectly or that are old and out-dated.  They’re also often used – both unintentionally and intentionally – to complicate rather than simplify issues.  Everyone has been in a meeting, read an email, or talked with a coworker where this happened, resulting in an unfavorable impression of the person.

Many people use buzzwords to try to sound smart, which only gives the impression that they don’t know the topic or are unconfident in addressing it.  They’re also regularly used by people who’re insincere and just “BSing”.  When used incorrectly or excessively buzzwords can do serious damage to your reputation and creditability.

This is particularly true if the business communication is written.  If you’re using buzzwords to impress or cover up a lack of knowledge, but don’t know what you’re talking about, it’s easier for others to see the mistakes and misusages in writing.  And once it’s in writing it’s there forever for anyone to see and mock.

Clear, simple and concise communication will make you sound like you know what you’re talking about, not buzzword filled sentences.  So, the key takeaway here is to pivot your strategy by finding bandwidth to hack and gameify your wheelhouse through synergy.  Or not.

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Ohio’s Economy

October 28, 2014 by

​business (5)Election Day is right around the corner and candidates are eager to tell you that Ohio is better off today than it was a year ago.  The economy is doing better thanks to their diligent work, astute maneuvers, and their hard work, etc. etc……..Before you cast your vote, here are some statistics that while they may not help you voting, may give you a clue as to the state of the economy.  The United States unemployment rate last September 2013 was 7.2% while this September 2014 is 5.9%. In 2009 when President Obama took office the economy had reached a 10% unemployment rate (Oct. 2009). The Ohio Unemployment rate today is 5.6% compared to 5.7% last month, and 7.4% last year. So, are we doing better? Is the economy mending? Are the taxes we pay now higher now than they were last year? Follow the links below for more information about the state of Ohio’s economy.

OHIO SMALL BUSINESSES Tax cut goes largely unclaimed

COLUMBUS
A tax cut for small business-owners in Ohio hasn’t been claimed as much as expected, leading some to shell out hundreds of millions in taxes that state law didn’t require them to pay.

Republicans including Gov. John Kasich have promoted the tax deduction as a way to help small businesses expand. Owners could take a 50 percent tax deduction on up to $250,000 of income for 2013.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that just 379,000 business filers took the tax deduction as of Oct. 19. That’s roughly half of the 717,000 filers the state’s Department of Taxation anticipated when the GOP-dominated Legislature passed the tax break in June 2013.

The newspaper reports that those business filers saved $287 million in income tax. That’s below the $533 million in projected savings. The average filer — those entities whose profit and income are one in the same — saved about $760.

​Ohio small businesses paid way more income taxes than they had to last year

Ohio small businesses paid hundreds of millions of dollars in income taxes they didn’t have to, according to a story in the Columbus Dispatch.

Last year, Ohio business owners could receive a 50 percent tax deduction on up to $250,000 of income.

About 379,000 tax filers took the credit out of the 717,000 filers the state’s tax department thought could do so.

Those businesses saved $287 million of the $533 million the state believed could be saved.

Smaller businesses in Ohio turn cautious

Owners of small and medium-size businesses in Ohio are growing more cautious about the outlook for their sales and profit in coming months.

Just 39 percent of the business owners expect sales to increase in coming months, and only 29 percent predict a higher profit, according to PNC Bank’s semiannual survey of business owners released yesterday.

Both numbers are lower than the results of the spring survey and the one taken a year ago.

At the same time, though, the survey found that 82 percent of business owners are optimistic about their company’s prospects over the next six months. That percentage is consistent with previous surveys.

The seemingly contradictory results reflect an Ohio economy that is growing more slowly than the national economy, PNC economist Mekael Teshome said.

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Small Business News That Can Affect Your Business

October 22, 2014 by

business (6)According to the news, Rep. Steve Chabot is the most likely candidate as chairman of the House Small Business Committee for next year. In Northeast Ohio, his name may not be well known, but as a future representative in the small business committee, small business across Ohio may want to take a closer look at what Mr. Cabot’s office is doing to help the small business community in this country.

Follow the links below for more news about business.

House and Senate will likely have new small business leaders next year. Who’s in line?

Small business owners should know the names Steve Chabot, James Risch.

Outside of Ohio, Steve Chabot’s name may not mean much to small business owners. However, he may soon be one of their most influential representatives in Washington.

Rep. Chabot (R) is the most likely candidate to replace Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) as chairman of the House Small Business Committee at the end of the year, according to a congressional staffer familiar with the discussions. Graves will be stepping down in accordance with self-imposed six-year term limits agreed to by all House Republicans.

Others interested in the gavel include Republican Reps. Scott Tipton (Colo.), Chris Collins (N.Y.) and Richard Hanna (N.Y.), according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions are intended to be private. All three currently serve as chair of one of the small business panel’s subcommittees. 

3 Million Reasons for Small Business Owners to Believe

So if you are a small business owner like myself, you have no doubt, seen all the ads while surfing the net for contests and grants to help grow your business, but you’re either too busy working, too afraid to bug your fans to vote for you, or too cynical that something like this could never happen to you, but I’m here to tell you there are 3 Million Reasons to Believe.

Last September, I sat down at my computer around midnight to watch a local news story that I had missed on the 10 ‘o clock news that was featuring a story about our business. I rolled my eyes as I realized I was going to be forced to watch this :30 second commercial before I could see the piece. My eyes and ears started popping as the seconds ticked by, and I started to comprehend what the ad was telling me.

What Small Businesses Get Wrong About Maternity Leave 

American women (and men) often bemoan the sorry state of maternity benefits, and understandably so: The U.S. and Papua New Guinea are the only two countries where female workers aren’t guaranteed at least some time off to care for newborn children, while only 5 percent of U.S. companies offer fully paid maternity leave.

Women employed by small businesses in the U.S. have it even worse. The Family Medical Leave Act provides workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave but exempts companies with fewer than 50 workers from complying. That means tens of millions of workers aren’t guaranteed time off after the birth of a child.

Small business owners who don’t offer paid leave and other benefits to new moms are making a mistake, according to a paper (PDF) published this week by the International Labour Association, an agency of the United Nations. They tend to overestimate the costs and underestimate potential gains, including happier workers, lower employee turnover, and less absenteeism. That reflects a pattern researchers observed in California and Australia, where small employers complained about the cost of new regulations governing maternity benefits—then later reported that offering paid leave seemed to boost productivity.

Obamacare’s small-business exchanges to see major changes in the coming months

Some states will see long-awaited improvements. Others will continue waiting. 

One year in, the new small-business insurance marketplaces born out of the new federal health-care law have fallen short of their promise in nearly every state, both in terms of functionality and enrollment. However, many are scheduled to see some important updates heading into year two — ones that health officials say should make them much more useful and appealing to small employers and their workers.

In the nation’s capital, for example, officials are preparing to roll out the third major update to the District of Columbia’s health-care marketplace, which already houses one of the country’s most robust small-business exchanges, often called SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program) exchanges. District small businesses have already been able to shop for and select plans online — an option that was delayed by at least a year in most states.

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Are You Stressed Running Your Business?

October 15, 2014 by

business (10)More than half of the businesses that start each moth are home based businesses, and more than 500,000 new businesses start each month.  Unfortunately, more employer businesses shut down each month, and not surprisingly as a small business owner you can understand why.  The stress of running a business-regardless of the size- are numerous, and for a business owner, he or she has to deal with the issues and find a solution anytime they come up. Time constraints, cash flow issues, worker related issues have to be dealt in a timely manner, and the business owner finds himself doing the job of several people in a daily basis.

For more information about small business news, follow the links below.

Common Stresses – and Reliefs – of Small Business Owners

Being a small business owner doesn’t come with a job description, and more often than not it includes unforeseen stresses and challenges that are out of the business owner’s control. As a result, more and more entrepreneurs are finding ways to balance the demands of business in both practical and surprising ways.

Common Stress #1: Lack of Control 

While being your own boss may appear to put you in the driver’s seat, working with external business partners, clients, investors and other outside parties puts you in a position where you lack control. Sure, you may have influence… but that’s isn’t the same as identifying all end results. This can cause many small business to gain stress and seek resolution. Unfortunately, guaranteeing the results or even the answers you want to happen are not always possible.

Doing Small Business Better: Is the customer king?

Welcome to ZDNet’s second panel discussion in the Doing Small Business Better video series. This week, our discussion will focus on the concept of being a customer-centric business.

This is a term that is used a lot, but what does it really mean? When it comes to building stronger relationships, it all revolves around managing customer expectations, which sounds simple enough.

Where do businesses go wrong when it comes to customer service? And what are the most important factors to consider to get it right?

The concept of delivering great customer service, and being customer centric, should be a priority for every business, but sometimes it can get a little lost in the day-to-day pressure of doing business. This panel discussion provides some insights on getting it right.

Hosted by Andrew Griffiths, taking part in the panel is Troy Eggins, managing director of Trojan TechGroup; Bob Greenup, managing director of BNI Sydney central and south; Peter “Ziggy” Tsiglopoulos, director and owner of 3P Financial Pty; and Lisa Conway, owner of Zing Business Coaching.

Small-business Contracting on the Rise, Official Says

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2014 – For the first time, the Pentagon has exceeded departmental goals for small-business contracting, a senior Defense Department official said last week.

Small businesses made up 23 percent of the Defense Department’s prime contracts in fiscal year 2014, receiving about $53 billion in work, said Andre Gudger, director of the office of small business programs, in a DoD News interview.

“This year, the Department of Defense not only exceeded its goal, but it also is on course to exceed the federalwide goal. … That’s significant — that’s historical, in fact,” he said.

The department also exceeded its goal of 3 percent for contracts with small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans — about $9 billion in contract value — Gudger said. “There’s no one better than that group of people to know what we need and how fast we need it, and help us to reduce the barriers in acquiring it,” he said.

Prime contracts are contracts in which the department contracts directly with the business, as opposed to subcontracting, where a second company is hired by a defense contractor to accomplish some part of the work.

Critical to battlefield dominance

This is an important accomplishment, Gudger said, because small businesses are critical to dominance on the battlefield.

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Holiday Party = Strategic Opportunity

October 15, 2014 by

business (1)The company Christmas party has mostly been replaced by the company Holiday party.  Some companies are holding the Holiday party as early as the beginning of November.  Regardless of when it’s held it isn’t too early to start planning your strategy, because a company party is not a traditional party.  It’s a networking event, one you should take full advantage of.

According to various surveys managers say 15% – 25% of employees have limited their career growth because of inappropriate behavior at company functions.  An additional percentage may not have limited their growth, but they behaved poorly enough that their lack of judgment was noted and remembered.  Most people who’ve been to a company party have a cautionary tale about someone’s bad behavior and the posted pictures to prove it.

Be smart and make sure those stories and pictures aren’t about you.  Recognize and treat your company’s Holiday party as a strategic opportunity to advance your career.  Do your due diligence and develop a strategy to get positive recognition.  Here are a few tips to follow, which will help you.

Don’t drink – Remember, this is a work function you’re using to advance your career and you don’t drink on the job.

Don’t eat – It’s inventible, just when the CEO is free for you to make your move your breath smells like garlic, something is in your teeth and you’re unsuccessfully trying to juggle a used plate, soiled napkin and dirty utensils.

Don’t complain – A Holiday party is the time to be positive, appreciative and socially engaging.  People respond to genuine appreciation, not kissing up, of a job well done.  With the information you gathered use specific examples to highlight other’s and the company’s successes.

Don’t talk too much – You finally have a chance to meet the VP you’ve wanted to meet, don’t waste the opportunity by talking about your dog.  Plan on having a couple of things to say and ask, but let her do most of the talking.  People love to talk about themselves, learn to facilitate it.  Studies show that people who’re good listeners are perceived as knowledgeable and accomplished.

Social intelligence is vital for advancement in most workplaces.  Be smart and use the Holiday party as a networking opportunity to showcase your social skills.  Arrive on time, stay until the end and make the effort to speak to as many people as possible.  The adage – it’s not what you know, but who you know – is old, but still true.  Don’t ever doubt it, someone in the room is noticing.

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Silence is Golden for an Effective Leader

October 7, 2014 by

business (11)Leaders tend to be people who are skilled with words.  They’re often equally comfortable with presenting to a large group, facilitating a contentious staff meeting or coaching one on one.  They’re counted on to know what to say in awkward social situations when other people freeze up.  In part, their jobs are to smooth over problems, break the ice and rally the troops.

These skills are one of the primary reasons they’re identified as leaders.  People who have good verbal skills convey authority and confidence.  Being able to use the right words is often, sometimes mistakenly, seen as thoughtfulness, intelligence and insight.  However, just because they’re excellent talkers doesn’t mean they’re effective leaders.

Many struggle with pausing, listening and letting others speak.  They have a “me” mindset that’s fostered by their job and facility with language.  They mostly have one-sided conversations and experience difficulty with two-sided ones.  A productive leader will pay attention to, learn from and correct these three common mistakes which unproductive leaders make.

Uncomfortable with silence – People in general feel uncomfortable with silence, but for a variety of reasons leaders particularly struggle with it.  A moment of silence is the way someone gathers his thoughts, formulates questions and processes information.  It’s vital to learning and understanding information.  An innovative leader learns the tool of silence and teaches it to others.

It’s really not all about you – Someone taking a breath or pausing in a conversation isn’t a signal to start talking again.  Truly motivating leaders don’t have to be the center of attention or control the conversation.  They’re able to wait out the moment and stay focused on what the other person is saying.

Know it all – Leadership is not synonymous with expertise and secure leaders know they don’t have to have all the answers or understand all the questions.  They surround themselves with people who do know the issues and the answers.  “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt” – Abraham Lincoln

Talking is less than one half of communication and successful leaders are good communicators, not just good talkers.  Most people, especially those in leadership positions, believe that because they’ve spoken communication has resulted.  Unfortunately, this isn’t accurate – the examples of excellent talkers who are ineffective communicators and leaders are legion.  It’s important to remember that the biggest problem people have with communication is assuming it has taken place.

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Small Business Topics You do Not Want to Miss

October 6, 2014 by

business (2)Small business owners wear many hats when running their business.   Many issues that plagued them daily are the issues of cash flow and time.  Their “to do”  list is never done, and the time needed to finish the myriad of things they need to accomplished is never enough. Cash flow issues are a constant reminder to the small business owner that either they need to borrow money or find a way to stay afloat. If those issues are something that you as a small business owner feel are important to you, follow the links below for more information about these topics.

What comes first: financing or growth?

The most common complaint we hear from small-business owners in 2014? Financing and lending are still tight, and these restrictions are impeding growth. For this special report, Crain’s reporters and researchers dove deep into the latest trends in lending, from Small Business Administration-backed loans to the community banking resurgence to the Kickstarter phenomenon. We also present trends and list resources in alternative lending, venture capital and microloans.

And what’s a small-business special report without plenty of advice from area business owners who have successfully cracked the money code? Meet the owners of Lickity Split, a custard shop that is taking advantage of tax-increment financing grants to expand; a day care owner in Portage Park who financed an extension with a microloan; and a maker of gluten-free bakery mixes who has dazzled venture capitalists at the age of 26. And lest you think that finding funding for your idea is impossible, scroll through our slideshow of 20 random Chicago-area projects that won Kickstarter in the past 12 months.

Small business, big mistake: Losing sight of the mantra that ‘cash is king’

Welcome to “Small Business, Big Mistake” where small-business owners face up to their biggest mistakes and share advice to help your company avoid the same fate.

My previous education and business experience were limited to the technical side of doctor’s offices, so I didn’t think I was prepared to be an entrepreneur. Still, I wanted to have my own business, so experience aside, I decided to jump in with both feet.

I did my research, wrote my business plan, and hung out my shingle. Suddenly, I was a professional pet sitter with my own small business. I provided daily dog walking services for busy professionals and pet-sitting services for owners when they went out of town.

My business grew organically, and within six months, I had more business than I could handle on my own.

10 Ways to ACTUALLY Get Through Your To Do List

We start out each day with the best intentions to get it all done, but sometimes it feels like the world may be conspiring against us. As entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals, we have a myriad of tasks on our plate at any given moment, not to mention trying to balance this workload with your personal life. If you’re looking for a few ways to help you actually cut through the fluff and get your real work done, try out these ten tips:

1. Just do it!
This is probably the simplest way to start getting more things done. Instead of spending time debating what you should be doing, pick one thing and just do it. Then pick another and do it. Don’t worry about what’s next on your list or the other things that need your attention. They’re not going anywhere. Just focus on the one task at hand. You may be surprised at how well this simple approach works.

2. Work in chunks of time. 

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Business Keys to Success and Other News

October 1, 2014 by

business (7)From January to August 2014 the unemployment rate was been slowly but surely decreasing.  February and March unemployment rate was 6.7% and last confirmed rate was August with a 6.1% unemployment rate. While economists believe the US economy is getting over the bump and jobs are added every month, there is skepticism over how well over the bump we really are.

ADP: Small Businesses Add 88,000 Jobs in September

Small business hiring picked up slightly in September, according to private payroll processor ADP.

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees added 88,000 jobs last month, up from 82,000 in August. Small businesses created 41% of all new jobs in the private sector in September, with 213,000 total jobs added.

“September’s jobs added number marks the sixth straight month of employment gains above 200,000,” said Carlos Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of ADP.
“It’s a positive sign for the economy to see the 200,000-plus trend continue.”

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, which helps prepare the ADP report, added that gains across all company sizes and industries is especially encouraging news for the economy.

Small businesses should focus on five keys to success 

What do small-business owners need to pay attention to this fall? Heath care, Internet security and new technology make the list. Here are five things that small businesses need to be on top of over the next several months:

HEALTH CARE: Small-business owners who bought employee health insurance policies before the end of 2013, sidestepping the law’s requirements for a year, could pay between 10 percent and 20 percent more when it’s time to renew, says Michael Stahl, chief marketing officer of HealthMarkets Inc., a broker based in North Richland Hills, Texas. They’ll also have to decide on plans. Policies issued under the law have significant changes including the requirement that pre-existing conditions be covered. Some owners may decide it’s better if workers purchase their own government-subsidized coverage on health insurance exchanges.

Companies whose coverage took effect Jan. 1 of this year and complied with the law could see increases between 5 percent and 10 percent for 2015, Stahl says. Not all small-business owners will have to make these decisions this year. Employers with 50 to 99 workers have until 2016. Companies with fewer than 50 workers are exempt.

Google AdWords Secrets: What Works for Small Business

Launching an AdWords campaign is one of the most effective ways to grow a small business. Whether you are trying to get the word out about your business or have a special event or sale to promote, launching ads on Google can mean big business in little time.

The Google Display Network (GDN) reaches the majority of U.S.-based Internet users — a whopping 80 percent — giving AdWords advertisers the widest reach possible. Although this is definitely a good thing, it does come with some disadvantages. Because AdWords casts such a wide net for advertisers, launching an effective AdWords campaign requires a finely tuned strategy to reach the right customers and get a better return on investment (ROI).

Launching an AdWords campaign is one of the most effective ways to grow a small business. Whether you are trying to get the word out about your business or have a special event or sale to promote, launching ads on Google can mean big business in little time.

The Google Display Network (GDN) reaches the majority of U.S.-based Internet users — a whopping 80 percent — giving AdWords advertisers the widest reach possible. Although this is definitely a good thing, it does come with some disadvantages. Because AdWords casts such a wide net for advertisers, launching an effective AdWords campaign requires a finely tuned strategy to reach the right customers and get a better return on investment (ROI).

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Does your Business Need Mentoring?

September 24, 2014 by

business (3)The value of mentoring for entrepreneurs has invaluable benefits to them according to research. Many businesses and young entrepreneurs have acquired insights through mentorship, and have learned from their mentors’ mistakes business acumen that will help them with their business and endeavors.  Business people coming out of an MBA program can benefit the greatest and make fewer mistakes by having a mentor that can guide them and direct them to the right path.

Ohio River Bridges Project means big business for local contractors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Ohio River Bridges Project means big business for some local companies.

Major progress on the Ohio River Bridges Project and the reconfiguration of Spaghetti Junction is taking place. Cranes are up and cement is mixing. Four major components of the bridge project are: ready mix concrete, structural steel, aggregates and asphalt paving.
Advance Ready Mix is working on both the Downtown and East End Bridges. Business has been so good with this project, the company says it’s hiring more truck drivers.
“What percentage of your business is the Bridges Project?” WDRB’s Valerie Chinn asked.
“I’d say right now it’s 10-20 percent of ours,” said Chad Deters, sales manager for Advance Ready Mix. “We still have a lot of other work.”
“It came at a really good time when the economy was down,” Deters added. “It really kick-started our year last year and kept on rolling.”
The company was not working on the Bridges Project when a woman was killed in the crosswalk on the Louisville side of the Clark Memorial Bridge at Second and Main by an Advance Ready Mix truck.

Business mentoring franchise expands to serve Springfield, northwest Ohio

A business mentoring concept has opened a second location to serve northwest Ohio and the Springfield area.

The Alternative Board — a concept of business advisory and executive business coaching boards — is forming another franchise based in Russia (Shelby County), which will serve the northwest of the state. Ed Miller, a longtime consultant, is the owner of The Alternative Board of Northwest Ohio.

“The fact you’re dealing with decision makers and CEOs in this concept, it appeals to the intellectual and academic side, this type of concept,” Miller said.

The board will likely attract businesses in the manufacturing and professional services industries, but its goal is to bring in business leaders from multiple industries to provide many perspectives similar to a board of directors for smaller companies in the $1 million to $8 million revenue range that might not have an established group of mentors.

Support for minority businesses costing Ohio taxpayers

Consumers know you pay more when you buy a product through a middleman who must mark up the price to make a profit.

State government, by its own design, is spending hundreds of thousands of additional taxpayers’ dollars with middlemen as part of its quest to support minority businesses.For many years, when state purchasing officials needed software from Microsoft, they placed orders with two of the company’s authorized resellers.

Now, state agencies buy software through three middlemen created by a contract through which they resell the resellers’ software to the state, an investigation by The Dispatch finds. The minority-business enterprises (MBEs) relay orders to the resellers while tacking on fees of 3 to 4.75 percent of the cost, increasing the expense to the state.

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