Small Business Confidence and Healthcare News

business (5)As we bring you this news, we want to remind you that we always strive to bring you news of importance. Although news for today is a bit grim, they are important news and they have information that as a small business owner they should be important to you. As a small business owner the challenges we faced daily are too many to count, and we wear too many hats every single day of the year while juggling the many challenges we have, but at the same time those challenges are the ones that make us grow.

Click on the links below to read the articles fully.


Small business confidence slips in June – Reuters

Business RecorderSmall business confidence slips in JuneReutersThe National Federation of Independent Business said on Tuesday its Small Business Optimism Index decreased 0.9 point to 93.5 last month, changing course from two straight months of growth.

Six of the index’s 10 components fell and two were unchanged. Only job creation plans and the six-month outlook advanced.

This mirrors economists’ predictions that the economy will pick up momentum in the second half of this year after a lackluster start.


Rising Cost Of Healthcare Is Hurting Small Business Growth

As the CEO of Lendio.com, healthcare is a vitally important topic to our employees, our customers (who are also small business owners), my family, and me.  During the month of June, we decided to take a fresh look at the benefits that we are offering and the culture that we are creating for our employees.  As a result, healthcare has been top of mind.

Please allow me to share three quick stories that have occurred over the past month as to provide a little background.


Small Business Administration Cheats Small Businesses Again

On July 2, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released their latest fraudulent, fabricated and false claim that the federal government has come very close to achieving the 23 percent small business contracting goal require by federal law.

As usual, to eliminate media coverage, the SBA quietly released their claim that the government awarded $89.9 billion or 22.25 percent of all federal contracts to small businesses in FY 2012.

Here are the facts. Federal law requires a minimum of 23 percent of the total value of all federal contracts be awarded to small businesses. According to the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), the actual federal acquisition budget for FY 2012 is around $1.1 trillion. Legitimate small businesses should have received at least $253 billion in contracts.


Ohio Budget News

business (3)According to the Columbus Business First, Ohio Governor Kasich budget was signed yesterday June 30, 2013.  What does it mean for you, and your school district? Does it, as a small business owner affect in your day to day operations? We are including two articles for you to read about the Governors budget, and what it entails for you as a private citizen and business owner.


Smaller acquisitions are the next big thing

Private equity firms target deals at lower end of middle market as big transactions prove pricey.

If this keeps up, more small to midsize companies will net bigger paydays if and when they sell.

The number of acquisitions at the lower end of the middle market is up, and observers expect the deal volume to keep growing because those who make them happen are hungry.

Private equity firms flush with investor cash are yearning for yield and are willing to move down in deal size to deploy that capital, especially because valuations for larger deals are pricey, observers say.


Kasich signs $62 billion Ohio budget, vetoes 22 items

Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Sunday signed Ohio’s two-year, $62 billion budget into law, according to the Columbus Business First.

The Republican governor signed off on significant tax changes and contentious abortion measures, but used his line-item veto to throw out 22 items, including a provision that prevented the state from expanding Medicaid.


Inside Gov. John Kasich’s Budget: 2014 and 2015

House Bill 59 (HB 59) is the legislation for Ohio’s state budget for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years. It represents Gov. John Kasich’s proposed state budget for the next two years.

It was introduced on Feb. 12, 2013.

The legislation is more than 4,000 pages long and includes a host of changes affecting all areas of state government. In terms of education, the legislation lays out the details of Kasich’s new, proposed funding plan for Ohio schools and of a proposed expansion of private-school vouchers.


New GOP Tax Plan

business (1)From the best cities to have a business, to the new GOP tax plan, we bring you information that as a small or big business owner should be of interest to you. Under the GOP tax plan, the state will decrease the means for many of the agencies and services that are supported by property taxes, including but not limited to libraries, mental health services, health districts, and senior services. Follow the links below for the complete articles.


Homeowners, small businesses and low-income Ohioans to fund new GOP tax plan

According to the Columbus Dispatch, GOP leaders will today unveil a new tax plan that preserves the $1.4 billion cut in taxes for business owners and investors, but adds an income tax cut, paid for by increasing sales taxes, taxing more small businesses and eliminating tax relief for homeowners.

In order to pay for an 8% across-the-board reduction in Ohio’s income tax –  a cut that will disproportionately help the wealthy – the plan to be rolled out this afternoon would:

  • raise the sales tax by 0.25%
  • expand the pool of businesses subject to the state’s commercial activity tax (by lowering from $1 million to $500,000 the amount of revenue a business can have before they pay the tax)
  • eliminate the state’s 12.5% contribution to property taxes for future levies

Tax Breaks Every Small Business Needs to Know About

Small businesses often get touted as the backbone of our economy—they create jobs, spur growth and lead to innovation. When the financial crisis hit in 2007 and led to the Great Recession, small businesses took a hit-consumer spending dropped and they stopped hiring. Many small businesses were forced to shutter.

To help reignited small businesses, the Obama Administration launched a series of tax cuts and credits to help shore up balance sheets and entice more spending and hiring.

Some of the tax breaks Obama provided have expired but here is a listing of the remainder:

Read more by following the link above.

Best and worst cities for small business workers

Jobs growth on Main Street—a traditional driver of past U.S. economic recoveries—so far has been largely stagnant.

Faced with challenges, from taxes to anticipated rising health-care costs, many small-business owners remain in a holding pattern. They’re not making substantial spending decisions, including hiring.

Given small employers’ role in the broader economy, CardHub, a website for credit card, financial and jobs advice, has released a new ranking of the best and worst American cities for mall-business workers and job seekers.


Ohio Healthcare News

business (7)This is what is happening around Ohio that in some way or another affects the life of many Ohio families and individuals.

67K new businesses in Ohio could launch with health care law

Total number of self-employed Americans could grow by 1.5 million next year. Ohio could add as many as 67,000 new entrepreneurs as a result of the federal government subsidies made available to aspiring business owners through the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report from the Urban Institute.

The number of newly minted entrepreneurs in Ohio would ran fourth nationally behind California, Texas and Florida, and the total number of self-employed Americans could grow by 1.5 million next year when the states open their online marketplaces for health insurance under the health law, the nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank predicts.

With SAS, Ohio Mutual Insures Better Forecasting, Pricing

Since 2009, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group has used SAS-Analytics to explore price elasticity before making rate changes. Accurate forecasting with SAS enables the company to assess how proposed premium increases will affect renewals at agent and policyholder levels, so it can broaden its insurance lines with less risk.

Claiming $50M impact with lost business, Care Logistics sues two Ohio healthcare networks

Alpharetta-based Care Logistics, a provider of hospital management software and logistics services, is suing two Ohio health care networks, claiming they have cost the company millions of dollars after backing out of several business agreements.

In a case filed this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Care Logistics seeks at least $12 million in damages from the networks, Catholic Health Partners of Cincinnati and Mercy Health Systems of Toledo, plus additional compensation.

 

 

 

Ohio Business News

business (5)Storing paper files in offices or warehouses is no longer done -we hope- but, when information in deleted so easily from a computer, we tend to wonder umm……, either way this is what is happening around Ohio this week.


Commercial kitchens: Can we stir up new food processing in Ohio?

In March, I was at a meeting in Champaign County, Ohio, when a woman asked me what I knew about community commercial kitchens.

Not much, I confessed, but enough to think they’re a great option for entrepreneurial small food processors and marketers.

Let’s say you have a great recipe for cheesecakes. You make them for every occasion and even give them as gifts. Pretty soon, people are asking if they could buy them from you.


Ohio women earn 75% of what men make, report says

As local leaders seek to improve the job outlook, national numbers again point to an income disparity between men and women nationally.

The National Women’s Law Center reports women working full-time make 77 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. The center pointed to a disproportionate concentration of women working in minimum wage and tipped occupations.


Cleveland VA office accidentally deletes nearly 500,000 loan documents

The regional Veterans Affairs office in Cleveland says nearly 500,000 electronic home loan documents were accidentally deleted in May.  The VA says the information included active loan files, along with appraisal and grant documents for veterans and service members who qualify for the Specially Adapted Housing. Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman issued a statement Monday saying that he wants more answers and what the office plans to do about the mistake.


Ohio Business News and IBM’s Data Analytic Center

business (3)Ohio Business News-These are the news happening in ohio today.  From the resurrection  of the small business tax cut to the lauch of IBM’s 500-employee data anlytics center in columbus, it seems the prognostic for Ohio’s economy growth is optimistic.


 Level the playing field for Ohio retailers

Ohio Council of Retail Merchants

The U.S. Senate deserves a lot of credit, particularly Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, for passing the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that would significantly help Ohio’s retailers.

This state has always had a strong retail presence, from established stores with a national reach to the mom-and-pop businesses that are the backbone of our local economy.

However in recent years, the industry has suffered tremendously from an inequitable tax code, which has made it harder for hometown stores to compete. Ohio retailers are at a competitive disadvantage because these outdated tax policies have established winners and losers in the marketplace.


Ohio Senate resurrects Kasich’s small-business tax cut, debate over its impact persists

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s Republican-controlled Senate has a $1.4 billion plan to boost job growth in the state.

But some say its proposal to slash in half taxes for small-business owners  wouldn’t translate to many jobs.


Top of the List: Largest data center operators

Central Ohio’s IT scene will look a lot different once IBM Corp. fully launches its 500-employee data analytics center in northwest Columbus.

It is unclear how much of the 30,000-square-foot building will be dedicated to physical servers, said spokesman Scott Cook, but it’s evident the $3.2 million investment will give IBM the area’s largest data center.


Why Do I Need a Business Coach?

business (4)Why Do I Need a Business Coach?

 A good business coach can add a wealth of knowledge and experience without the need to give up equity in your company or pay someone a senior executive’s salary and benefits. Considering all that a business owner can learn from a business coach… a very high value exists for a low cost. However, obtaining the right business coach for the unique needs of your business can sometimes be a bit more challenging than randomly selecting someone from online listings or the phone book.

So what do you look for?….

Remember business coaching is an investment in your business. Here are a few benchmarks to consider when you are considering investing in a coach.

1 – Experience Your Industry

This is perhaps the easiest of questions to answer. While industry experience is valuable, remember that you are working “ON” your business. You are the industry expert! If you’re looking for manufacturing line redesign or process changes to the production line, you should be looking for a consultant who specifically does that type of work.  A business coach will help you to build value and systemize your business.

Online research is also helpful when deciding on a business coach to help you with your business.
Look over the business coach’s portfolio of past and present clients. Check the success of those companies. Walk into a few and ask about things that you like and dislike.

2 – Methodology and Business Philosophy

Are you investing in a coach whose philosophy you can see yourself emulating in the years ahead? Moreover, does this business philosophy connect with your long-term business goals?

Although no business coach should have to describe in detail his entire methodology in a preliminary interview, a business owner should not be afraid to ask general questions about how a coach expects to help achieve results for the company. The coach’s answers should be in line with the long-term goals of your company and your personal aspirations.

3 – Longevity

Is this person someone that you can see consulting with for a long period of time? Business coaching is a long-term investment. You need someone that you can communicate with on an open and honest basis. They must be able to explain things to you in terms that you can understand.

 

Ohio Business News

business (2)With this post we bring you the latest news on what is happening in Ohio.


Internet cafés declared ‘illegal businesses’ in Ohio

Having solved all of the state’s other problems, the Ohio legislature has passed a bill outlawing that most foul of societal ills: the internet café.

As reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, House Bill 7, which passed the State Senate with a bipartisan vote of 27 to 6 on Wednesday, effectively cuts off the main source of income for Ohio’s internet cafés and is expected to put most of them out of business.


A. Schulman plans more restructuring actions overseas

Fairlawn-based A. Schulman Inc. has announced more restructuring plans, including more staff cuts, in its Europe, Middle East and Africa region due to the economic climate in Europe.

It also said it plans to sell a business in Australia.

The maker of plastic resins said the additional restructuring in Europe is expected to generate approximately $4 million in annual savings.


Energy efficiency fund to offer financing in Ohio

A new fund introduced in Ohio will mean dollars saved for small businesses and landlords alike, as well as greener buildings for businesses that otherwise have trouble finding the funding.


Efficiency in the Workplace

business (7)Today’s news is all about efficiency in the workplace.  It is no surprise to anyone that businesses have to implement procedures in the workplace to boost the efficiency of their work force.  Although the steps to get there are varied and are not in any way exclusive to all businesses, efficiency in the workplace can be the difference between a successful business and a mediocre one.


Define Your Organization’s Habits to Work More Efficiently

We don’t often think about the way we usually operate at work, whether we’re performing an informal five-step process for evaluating a new proposal, or setting priorities for managing our time. But our ability to improve the ways we do things depends on defining and shaping our daily habits of mind and practice — our “standard work.”


Be flexible – and boost your efficiency

Against the backdrop of a tough economic climate, many small business owners are feeling the strain and working harder than ever. We conducted some research to find out the real pressures that Britain’s small businesses are currently facing. Turns out, it’s pretty tough out there.


Fiscal Efficiency Not A Priority in Ohio Schools

Ohio’s school districts spend about a third more on their bureaucracies than the national average.

As a percentage of the budget, Ohio schools spend more on bureaucracy than 47 other states, as reported in “The Book of the States 2012.” Statewide, Ohio’s schools spend a total of 13.2 percent of their budgets on administration, compared to the national average of 10.8 percent.


Ohio’s Economic News

business (4)Ohio’s economy is recovering.  Although we are ranked 22nd. In the country for most-improved state in business climate, the casino’s revenue for Ohio is letting our state make its first appearance ever.  Honda is unveiling a new manufacturing site in Ohio, so after all, I believe the economy in Ohio is brighter every day. Continue reading the latest news in North East Ohio.


Ohio jumps 13 spots to become most-improved state in nationwide business-climate ranking

Corporate leaders are feeling much sunnier about Ohio, which jumped 13 spots to become the most-improved state in a nationwide business-climate ranking released this week.

But the Buckeye State landed in 22nd place out of 50, based on an annual survey conducted by Chief Executive Magazine.


Ohio ranks 16th for casino revenue

Ohio is making its first appearance on the American Gaming Association’s much-watched annual report on the U.S. casino industry, ranking 16th in consumer spending last year among the 23 states with casinos, according to Columbus Business First.


Honda to unveil new Ohio manufacturing site

Honda North America will unveil a new central Ohio manufacturing site for its Acura NSX on Tuesday.

The Marysville-based automaker plans to make an announcement about eight miles west of its headquarters.


Ohio Senate president sees preference for small-business tax cut

State Sen. Keith Faber, president of the Ohio Senate, said today in Cleveland that he believes the Senate would prefer to enact the small-business tax cut introduced by Gov. John Kasich rather than the across-the-board cut passed by the House.