By Steven Semaya, Associate State Director, CTSBDC The key to competing with dozens—or even hundreds—of other businesses to score key contracts can be proving your company is able to meet the demands of the contract. Suppliers often focus exclusively on capability but do not address the question of capacity adequately, particularly the resources required to […]
By Denise Whitford, MBA, CGBP Whether importing or exporting, any company that does business internationally will, at some point, negotiate tariffs. These taxes or duties imposed on specific classes of imports and exports can be used as a protective measure for Made in America goods but also add a level of complexity for small businesses […]
In today’s digital world, keeping your small business safe from cyber threats is very important. Cyberattacks can cause big problems, like stealing your data or money, hurting your reputation, and even shutting down your business. But don’t worry! The NIST Cybersecurity Framework can help you stay safe, and we, at the Connecticut Small Business Development […]
Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for a while, SEO is an important piece of your marketing strategy. It helps your website rank higher in search engine results pages, driving more traffic and increasing your chances of making sales. In this post, we’ll cover some SEO tips that small business owners […]
The ERC, sometimes called the Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC, is a valuable credit for businesses and tax-exempt organizations that qualified for this pandemic-related credit in 2020 and 2021. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently shared information on the warning signs of aggressive ERC marketing and details on how promoters lure victims. Claiming […]
Self-employment taxes can confuse small business owners, independent contractors, freelancers, and those with ‘side hustles,’ all candidates for estimated quarterly taxes. First, quarterly taxes are due to the Federal IRS and the CT Department of Revenue Services, and they are generally required if you expect to owe $400 or more in taxes for the year […]
On October 20, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, referred to as the EEOC, issued a completely redesigned poster that replaces the current mandatory EEOC poster. It includes extensive changes that reflect multiple regulatory changes made over the past eight years. All covered U.S. employers are required to update the posting immediately. The updated poster […]
A holiday sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday falls on November 26, and it’s a prime opportunity to highlight the benefits of shopping locally for the holidays to nearby consumers. People can put money back into their community by shopping small, helping local stores and restaurants regain ground after the COVID-19 […]
Form 1099-K reports earnings from payment cards and third-party network transaction providers. This new change could impact your business if you sell online through Square, Etsy, eBay, and others. What is Form 1099-K? Form 1099-K is an official Internal Revenue Service (IRS) document called “Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions.” Payment processors use […]
The Vets First Verification Program helps Veteran Businesses and Serviced Disable Veteran Businesses apply for set asides for the VA. These opportunities to sell to the VA are only available to certified businesses. Small businesses that are Veteran-Owned should consider applying for certification for their business, whether it is their Veteran Owned Small Business Certification […]