Team Building Coaching | Ohio Business Coach Ralph Berge

Small Business Lending And Other News

April 17, 2014 by Staff Writer

According to the United States Small business Administration $3.5 billion were invested in small businesses in 2013 alone. Although the Small Business Administration does not provide the investment directly to businesses, it partners with private investors that manage the funds that finance small businesses. One of the banks that is leading the way in providing loans to small businesses in Ohio is Huntington National Bank, with a 46% increase from last year. For this and other news follow the links below for more information.

Huntington Bank on track to become nation’s largest small-business lender, but profits dip in first quarter

CLEVELAND, Ohio — After several years at No. 3, Huntington Bank is on track to become the No. 1 small-business lender in the United States.

Through the first six months of the federal fiscal year, Huntington has the greatest number of SBA loans. This is especially interesting because Huntington is the nation’s 33rd largest bank by assets and it does SBA loans only in the six states where it has branches: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Huntington has catapulted to No. 1 because its SBA lending has increased by about 20 percent, while lending at other banks has fallen, Craig Street, head of SBA lending for Huntington, said in an interview.

In the Cleveland district, Huntington’s lending has soared even more, with a 46 percent boost. Huntington made 396 loans for $38.2 million in the six months ending March 31, 2013, and 580 loans for $54.7 million for the six months ending March 31, 2014.

Small Business Administration, AARP can help business owners older than 50

Are you older than 50 and looking for your next career? New research shows that one in four people ages 44 to 70 are interested in starting their own business or nonprofit in the next five to 10 years.

Did you know you aren’t alone? There are 76 million people older than 50 in the United States. That’s why the U.S. Small Business Administration and AARP are teaming up in April to host National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Month.

Together we will provide events to help connect encore entrepreneurs with mentors, such as those from SBA’s network of Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE chapters who can help with strategies to grow an entrepreneur’s business.

We know that kind of training can be critical for the success of a small business. It can help folks bring their experience, knowledge and skills to a new venture, and that can create exciting new opportunities and jobs.

BigCommerce Increases Reach Into Small Business Commerce

BigCommerce is known for the big brands that are using it to get eCommerce sites up and running quickly. Clients include Gibson Guitar, YETI Coolers and many others.

But the company says that BigCommerce isn’t exclusively for major national brands. Small businesses can and should be taking advantage of what the eCommerce platform can offer.

In an interview with Small Business Trends, BigCommerce CPO Westley Stringfellow said:

“The reality is BigCommerce is built for business, large or small. Our vision is to power small business. Our role is to amplify the merchant.”

If your business is in the market for an eCommerce platform, BigCommerce appears to be a powerful option to consider. Having your own store online can help you to build your brand and break free from other services like eBay or Amazon.

Stringfellow says:

“It’s very clear that as we grow, merchants want to have their own presence. They want to grow their brand. It’s hard to do that on eBay.”

BigCommerce users have access to dozens of store design templates, many of them free, as well as hundreds of apps to help you manage your store. Many of these apps are also free.

Taxes, Hiring And The Minimun Wage In Ohio

April 5, 2014 by Staff Writer

It is the tax season and talk about taxes, penalties, tax cuts, minimum wage and hiring are the talk of the town. For everyone that is still procrastinating about doing their taxes, I just want to remind you you ONLY have 10 DAYS left. If you are not ready nor will be ready in ten days time, it is probably wise for you to file and extension to file later and avoid those pesky penalties the IRS will impose on you. For more news about what is happening in Ohio please follow the links below.

Push for $10.10 minimum wage would create winners, losers in Ohio

Amy Zickefoose’s husband works long, difficult hours with machines in Tennessee, hundreds of miles from their Mansfield home . For this dangerous work, he receives $11 an hour.

State and federal politicians have proposed raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2016, but Zickefoose said fast-food employees shouldn’t be paid that much.

“I definitely don’t feel (they) should make almost as much as my husband,” said, Zickefoose, adding that she doesn’t believe an increase would help her family . “I know his boss wouldn’t give him another dollar.”

An increase in the minimum wage, which is $7.95 an hour in Ohio, would mean layoffs and potentially higher food prices, but also better-paid workers and potentially lower costs for social services. Whether that sounds like a great or horrible idea depends largely on where you fit into the workforce.

“From the employees’ perspective, a wage increase is always appreciated,” said Randy Davies, president and CEO of the Chillicothe-Ross Chamber of Commerce. “There are many aspects a small business owner would have to adjust.”

The Congressional Budget Office estimated 500,000 workers, or 0.3 percent of the American workforce, would lose their jobs by 2016 if Congress raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. However, another 16.5 million would see their wage increase, the report stated.

Faber: Tax cuts, regulatory reform has Ohio going in the ‘right direction’

LIMA — The leader of the state Senate claims Ohio is moving in the right direction, but that is not good enough and more work needs to be done.

Before Republican Gov. John Kasich took office, the state was losing 100,000 jobs per year for several years, Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, said. In the last three years, the state has seen private enterprise create 238,000 jobs, including 300 jobs at Ford Motor Co. Lima Engine Plant.

Under former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, Faber pointed out the state’s “rainy day” fund dropped to 89 cents and Kasich inherited a state budget that was $8.5 billion in debt. Today, the “rainy day” fund is approaching $1.5 billion and the budget is balanced.

“We are going in the right direction now,” Faber told about 100 people Friday during the Allen County Republican Party luncheon at the Elks. “Ohio is doing better, we are doing better, but better is still not good enough, because if we sit on our laurels than we should expect to go back to the bad old days of 2010, and 2009 and 2008.”

Survey: Ohio business owners hold off on hiring

More Ohio small and mid-size business owners are expecting higher sales and profits over the next six months compared to a year ago, according to new survey results released today by The PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

PNC Bank, Ohio’s fourth largest bank by deposits held, surveys business owners and customers twice a year, gauging sentiments about the economy.

On a less-positive note, the same Ohio business owners told PNC that even though business looks to be improving, it doesn’t mean they plan to hire more people.

“Ohio business owners are still very guarded,” said Mekael Teshome, PNC economist.

The outlook has brightened across the local, national and global economies, Teshome said. For example, six months ago the U.S. government was shutdown.

But small Ohio business owners — who do the majority of the hiring — are looking for more goods news before they risk the investment.

“I see this as indicating businesses are pretty much playing defense. There has been some volatility in Ohio’s economy. We hit a bit of a speed bump in the fourth quarter” from declines in government employment, Teshome said.

“I think that speed bump had something to do with firms taken a more precautionary approach,” he said.

“The other reason I think is the manufacturing rebound is really approaching a more mature, more advanced stage. I think there will be continued improvement in this sector, but not of the same magnitude we saw in 2012,” he said.

Filed Under: Ohio Business News Tagged With: business coach, business coach ohio, Business Strategy Consulting, Cleveland Business Coach, Corporate Team Building Training, Executive Team Building, small business coach, Strategic Business Plan, Team Building Coaching

How To Spot Problem Employees Before Hiring Them

April 3, 2014 by Staff Writer

How to Spot Problem Employees Before Hiring Them

The whole hiring process requires careful thought and consideration. If an employer is not careful there are many things that can be overlooked in finding great employees. Upon viewing a prospect, the employer should view the initial application carefully to see if there is anything there that appears to be misleading or false. References and past employers should carefully be checked by giving them a call and asking a few unexpected questions and making certain that the past employer has a legitimate company. The past employer can be researched to see if they really exist.

If the application looks impressive, the next phase would be to give the person a call and let them know that their application was received and ask them why they feel they would be a good prospect for the job. It would be a good idea to tell them about the main job duties and ask them if they have experience in those areas. If the applicant is able to answer the questions in a convincing manner then this would be a great time to schedule an interview. If the person does not sound convincing they could be told that that there still needs to be time to view their application. This would be the perfect time to send them an email and thank them for their application and let them know why it was denied.

The interview is the final draw. First impressions mean everything. The applicant should be dressed for success suitable for the interview. Does the employer really express that they are interested in the company or in just getting paid to do a job? Some concerns may be health related problems that may cause this person not to be able to perform well on the job. The applicant should be able to work the hours needed and be able to be to work on time. Does the applicant answer in a way that he or she comprehends the questions asked? Does he or she communicate well and present themselves professionally? The answers to these questions could be red flags that help spot problem employees.

Filed Under: coaching Tagged With: business coach ohio, coaching ohio, Corporate Team Building Training, Executive Team Building, family business planning, Improve Business Sales, small business ohio, Team Building Coaching

Is Your Small Business Due A Refund?

March 25, 2014 by Staff Writer

Some of the most interesting news coming for small business owners this week is as follow. If you have filed taxes with the Ohio department of taxation and think that you may had paid too much in taxes, now it’s the time to find out if you are due a check. If you have specific questions about it you can also give them a call. The phone numbers for you to call are listed below, give them a call, it may be worth your while.

Ohio looks to return money to small businesses

The Ohio Department of Taxation is writing checks to small businesses, and some area employers may be eligible to receive money.

That was the gist of Tuesday’s meeting between State cabinet directors, the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce and local small businesses at the Covelli Center, as various government officials shared information about how to take advantage of money available to grow their businesses.

Business owners can call 1-888-405-4039 for general tax questions, or 1-888-722-8829 for questions specifically about the commercial activity tax.

Ohio businesses must comply with Ohio EPA air pollution standards

I plan to buy a small manufacturing business in Ohio. Do I need an air permit?

If you will be using manufacturing equipment, your business must comply with certain environmental regulations. In particular, air pollution regulations are closely monitored and enforced, so you should understand these regulations and obtain any appropriate permits. Ohio EPA may be willing to guide you in this process, but if you aren’t sure about your permitting status, consult an attorney.

When does Ohio require air permits?

Ohio usually requires a “permit to install and operate” (PTIO) before air pollution sources are installed. An air pollution “source” may be anything from an industrial furnace stack to a paint booth, or even a gravel roadway that creates dust.

Are there any exceptions to air permitting requirements?

Yes. There is an exception for very small (“de minimis”) sources of air pollution that have the potential to emit no more than 10 pounds of any individual pollutant in a 24-hour period of continuous operation. This exception also applies to sources that would emit more than 10 pounds if operated continuously for 24 hours, but never do so in normal operations, but the operator must keep records showing that the 10-pound threshold is never exceeded.

FirstEnergy Solutions billing customers for reserve power during arctic weather

AKRON, Ohio — January’s arctic weather drove up heating bills. Now it’s about to increase electric bills for some consumers and businesses.

FirstEnergy Solutions is preparing to bill about 2 million of its 2.7 million retail customers a surcharge for expenses the company will soon have to pay for reserve power it needed when temperatures plummeted below zero.

Residential and small business customers whose electricity bills show FirstEnergy Solutions as the supplier will see a one-time charge of $5 to $15 between May and July.

The 500,000 residents and small businesses that buy from FirstEnergy Solutions through the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, or NOPEC, will not face the extra charge, said Diane Francis, FES spokeswoman, because the NOPEC contract prohibits it.

Filed Under: Ohio Business News Tagged With: business coach, business coach ohio, Business Strategy Consulting, Cleveland Business Coach, family business succession planning, small business coach, Team Building Coaching

Akron Ohio Business News

January 21, 2014 by Staff Writer

The distractions a person doing business from home are innumerable. Not only that, but the tediousness of waking up every morning to go to your office across the hall can be a bit boring. In my opinion, it is way better than fighting traffic and the cold to go to an office downtown. But, if you are really anxious to escape the home and all the distractions involved, read the article below for some inspiration and to follow more news affecting Ohio.

Akron General back on the prowl

Akron General Health System remains one of the few independent health systems in Northeast Ohio. That was poised to change when Cleveland Clinic and Community Health Systems, a for-profit health care juggernaut out of Tennessee, announced in August they would acquire the health system through a new joint venture.

That deal has seemingly fallen apart, at least for now, and Akron General is on the hunt for new suitors.

It’s possible Catholic Health Partners, the Cincinnati-based health system that through a subsidiary purchased a minority stake in Summa Health System, could make a play for Akron General. Such a deal would make CHP an immediate, big-time player in Northeast Ohio, especially with its recent acquisition of Kaiser Permanente’s Ohio operations. That said, I’m not sure how Summa — Akron General’s larger and much more solvent — competitor would react to the news.

Akron business offers space to work that’s not the coffee shop

The cats, the laundry and other distractions. Not to mention, “the mundane feeling of being in the same place for so long.”

That’s what drove Torrie Fischer to seek out an alternative to working from home.

She’s among a growing number of folks across the country turning to shared work space.

Fischer, a software engineer, landed at Office Space Coworking, or OSC, in downtown Akron. OSC is housed on the ground floor of the historic Everett Building at Main and Market streets.

“This is out of the house and there’s food [eateries] nearby. It’s got a collaborative atmosphere — it’s starting to,” said Fischer, whose job with an international company allows her to work from anywhere.

The new owner of Office Space Coworking, Nick Petroski, encourages that sharing of ideas and is stressing that his operation offers a lot more than space, free Wi-Fi, parking and coffee.

“With Office Space Coworking, you get access to a community,” Petroski said. “You can get access to the person sitting right next to you. You can get feedback on an idea.”

To build that community, Petroski, 28, has begun sponsoring educational, as well as social events.

Tressel isn’t at Akron to be ‘an ornament’

Former Ohio State football coach has had his influence with Zips expand significantly.

If the last 24 months have proven anything about Jim Tressel, it’s that he’s no ornament.

Two years ago next month, Mr. Tressel joined the University of Akron in what was then a largely undefined administrative role — one that carried the weighty title of vice president for strategic engagement. The controversial hiring came less than a year after the Northeast Ohio native resigned as Ohio State University’s head football coach in the wake of a scandal involving a group of his players and his failure to report violations to the NCAA.

“There might have been some skepticism when I came to work here,” Mr. Tressel said in an interview last Tuesday, Jan. 7, with Crain’s. “People thought, “He’s going to come here and kind of be an ornament and go out to lunch occasionally and ask someone for money.’ I understand why people might have thought that.”

Filed Under: Ohio Business News Tagged With: Akron Business Coach, coaching ohio, Ohio Business Coach, small business coach, Team Building Coaching

Small Business News And Information

December 17, 2013 by Staff Writer

During the holiday season, businesses -big chains and small business- hope they can make the jump from the red to the black numbers, and if not making a big return at least make it even. scams during the year are always there, but during the holiday season, they seem to more prevalent, and find many small business owners unawares of what is going on making the profits a bit harder to come by.

Read more about what is happening in Northeast Ohio by following the links below.

Ohio jumps nine spots as entrepreneur-friendly state

When it comes to fostering entrepreneurs, Ohio is doing it right. The Buckeye State jumped nine spots on the annual Small Business Policy Index, which ranks states by entrepreneurship-friendly policies.

This year, Ohio ranks No. 9, compared to No. 18 in its 2012 ranking.

The annual report takes into account 47 policy measurements, including taxes, regulatory and government spending measures. The report is published by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.

Policy reforms aimed at small-business startup and growth are mostly being implemented at the state level, said Karen Kerrigan, SBE Council president and CEO.

However, federal policy and uncertainty remains a negative for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

“The top states on the Small Business Policy Index 2013 are streamlining government and lifting burdens like excessive taxation and regulation,” Kerrigan said.

FBI issues alert to NE Ohio businesses: Criminals are now using aluminum foil in credit card scam

The Cleveland FBI reports criminals are scamming small businesses in several states, using stolen credit cards. Store clerks aren’t alerted to these bad credit cards until it’s too late, allowing the crooks to steal thousands of dollars in merchandise.

The scam works because some businesses rely on satellite equipment to relay credit card information once a card is swiped inside the store.

Criminals then have the opportunity to climb onto the roofs of these businesses and put aluminum foil over satellite antennas to block credit card communications.

Cleveland FBI Special Agent Vicki Anderson told NewsChannel5 once the satellite equipment is blocked, the crooks will then make their way into the store and are using bad credit cards without necessarily being detected.

“They’ll interrupt the signal and then they’ll go in the store and purchase high-end items, and when that credit card is not authorized, a lot of times the businesses will allow it to go through thinking that they’ll validate it later,” explained Anderson. “When they do that, later they’ll find out it was a bad credit card.”

Small business gets big help

When she found herself without a job at age 54, Mary Magyar decided she wanted to take fate into her own hands.

So she went back to school, enrolling in the Culinary Arts program at EHOVE Career Center.

She knew she didn’t want to work for $10 in someone else’s kitchen. The idea of working for herself took root.

“They didn’t just teach cooking,” she said. “It was management, math and how do you do pricing. I realized, ‘I can do this’”

Magyar also went to Small Business Administration seminars at Terra Community College, where she met Bill Auxter, who would soon become her ally in the new venture.

Magyar came up with “Mary’s Catering to Go,” a business where she cooks the food and clients pick it up. She’s also preparing “The Railroad Depot,” an all-purpose venue where she can cater banquets, corporate functions and private events.

Filed Under: Ohio Business News Tagged With: business coach ohio, Cleveland Business Coach, Corporate Team Building Training, Ohio Business Coach, Team Building Coaching

U. S. Small Business News

October 9, 2013 by Staff Writer

We are bringing you the latest news that is happening in the U. S. this week. From technology that helps small business do their job better and allows them to grow those while maintaining some level of tranquility, to the latest criticism of the Obama Care Act. Click on the links to follow the rest of the stories.

Digital tools play big role in small business growth

Tweet, Vine, Pin, Post. Update a blog. Like a Facebook status. Network via LinkedIn. There are myriad options for small business owners to connect with customers, peers and others via digital media.

Yet, these entrepreneurs also have to balance budgets, keep track of accounts receivable, manage payroll and sell their products and services.

With limited time and financial resources, it can be incredibly difficult to figure out the most efficient and effective ways to embrace the rapidly expanding digital world.

If a small business owner shuns social media, he or she could miss out on big marketing opportunities. But if too much time is spent seeding such sites, other important duties could fall by the wayside.

The Business End of Obamacare

Of the countless reasons that congressional Republicans hate the Affordable Care Act enough to shut down the government, the most politically potent is the claim that it will do untold damage to the economy and cripple small companies. Orrin Hatch has said that Obamacare will be “devastating to small business.” Ted Cruz argues that it is already “the No. 1 job killer.” And the vice-president of the National Federation of Independent Businesses called it simply “terrible.” So it comes as some surprise to learn that Obamacare may well be the best thing Washington has done for American small business in decades.

Economists want to know faster what’s happening in small business

WASHINGTON — Politicians extol the virtues of small businesses as an engine of the U.S. economy, but often leave out a very important flip side. They also have a shorter life span than larger firms, and thus toss more people into joblessness, making them disproportionately the generators of unemployment. .

Yet there’s no good way to know what’s happening in those small businesses fast enough. That’s particularly true in times of crisis, such as 2008, when employers were shedding jobs by the hundreds of thousands every month and the lack of real-time data about small business was troubling.

A bipartisan small business fix

As Congress confronts issues of tremendous policy and political implications in the next few weeks including a continuing resolution to keep the government open, federal debt ceiling debates, and numerous healthcare, immigration, and energy proposals, one bill is quietly making its way through Congress which is bipartisan, pro-small business, pro-job growth, and a long overdue fix for professionals who work in the sale of private businesses.

HR 2274, the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2013 is an excellent bipartisan bill, one whose time has come, and Congress should get it done before the end of the year. It’s not a sexy bill, not one that prime-time TV will be talking about, and not one that will evoke a question in the next presidential debates, but it’s a bill that does have teeth and it is a serious and substantive piece of small business legislation.

Filed Under: Ohio Business News Tagged With: Akron Business Coach, business coach, Business Strategy Consulting, Cleveland Business Coach, Ohio Business Coach, small business coach, Team Building Coaching

Quit Wrestling and Take Some Dance Lessons!

November 18, 2010 by Ralph Berge

Today I want to suggest an alternate to wrestling with employees – dancing!

Let’s compare wrestling and dancing. Both require energy. Both typically involve two people. Both involve close contact.

Wrestling wears you out. It is filled with struggle, resistance, and dominance. It is characterized by sometimes violent and aggressive movement designed to bring the competitor into submission. It is definitely a win: lose sport – for one to win, he must defeat the other.

Dancing on the other hand is energizing and fun. As one person leads another, together they produce a beautiful expression of grace and cooperation. There is a mutual submission and cooperation with the goal of communicating affection and friendship. The goal is to lead and follow and flow together. In a great dance, both partners win!

The question I want to ask (great coaches ask great questions) is this: Are you dancing or wrestling with your partners, managers, and employees? Are you trying to dominate, control and win, or are you leading them to create a beautiful win: win scenario? Are the emotions often violent, hurtful and aggressive, or filled with enjoyment, fun, and cooperation.

A lot of people in small business feel it is impossible to create such a harmonious scenario. A basic business coaching concept that we teach to our clients is to manage “agreements” not people. This means that first of all you have to have tight “rules of the game” for your company as well as what we call “positional descriptions” for employees, which outline what is expected of them and the repercussions of not meeting those expectations. These “job-descriptions” can be discussed and modified, within limits, with each team member so that you can both come to an agreement. But once you have that agreement in place, stick to it. If you laid out that coming in late 2 times in a one month period means taking a one week unpaid “vacation,” then make sure you enforce that strictly when it occurs. This communicates that you can be flexible when making agreements, but that you stick to those agreements once they are made. Believe it or not, employees will often appreciate this just as much as the owner because they know where the lines are drawn.

It is your business, your career, and your job, your team, and your choice. If you are tired of wrestling, I would love to teach you even more specifically how to dance with your team. Give us a call and consider team building coaching. Let’s get started!

Improve your team and yourself…ask Ohio Business Coach, Ralph Berge 440.838.0991

Filed Under: coaching Tagged With: Ohio Business Coach, Team Building Coaching

Building Your Team is Both an Art & a Science

July 13, 2010 by Ralph Berge

To build highly-effective teams you have to create an atmosphere for it to happen. Ralph Berge an Ohio Business Coach who provides executive team building suggests, “We must create an environment where each team member feels free to express their concerns with no retribution.” Business owners and management must understand that no idea is wrong. Team building coaching dictates that every team members’ suggestion needs to be considered and, if possible, built upon.

Remember we learn from mistakes and teams must be given an opportunity to try new ideas without admonishment for mistakes. Instead, a failure should be an opportunity to gain knowledge and to praise any safe-guards which were included in the plan. Give Ralph Berge a call (440.838.0991) for more on executive team building and team building coaching.

Filed Under: coaching Tagged With: Executive Team Building, Ohio Business Coach, Team Building Coaching

Is Your Team Ready for the Recovery?

April 8, 2010 by Ralph Berge

To build highly-effective teams you have to create an atmosphere for it to happen. Ralph Berge a Akron Business Coach who provides executive team building suggests, “We must create an environment where each team member feels free to express their concerns with no retribution.” Business owners and management must understand that no idea is wrong. Team building coaching dictates that every team members’ suggestion needs to be considered and, if possible, built upon.

Filed Under: coaching Tagged With: Akron Business Coach, Executive Team Building, Team Building Coaching