When most people hear the term ‘elevator pitch,’ they think they have at least 30 seconds, maybe more, to showcase who they are and what they do. But they’re wrong. When I first started my business, Bridesmaid for Hire, I’d find myself gushing about what I do and all the services I offer. I even tossed in a few big accomplishments and business wins. But although what I do is unique and odd to some, even I couldn’t hold people’s attention after the first few sentences.
Read MoreIn these uncertain times, having a reliable workforce solutions partner can be imperative to your company’s growth and success. Many companies during these times also utilize an outsourced human resources services company to make their lives easier when it comes to dealing with those important administrative duties. So how do you know if outsourcing these administrative duties is the right fit for your organization? Here are three ways that outsourcing HR, benefits, payroll, and workers compensation might make sense for your company.
Read MoreOn March 1, the IRS released Notice 2021-20 providing guidance on the employee retention credit (ERC). While a significant portion of the Notice formalizes previously released frequently asked questions, the Notice also provides new guidance on several important areas, including the interaction of the ERC with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and additional guidance on what constitutes a partial suspension of operations for ERC purposes.
Read MoreTo give people a needed temporary financial boost, the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act allowed employers to defer payment of the employer’s share of Social Security tax. IRS Notice 2020-65 PDF allowed employers to defer withholding and payment of the employee’s Social Security taxes on certain wages paid in calendar year 2020. Employers must pay back these deferred taxes by their applicable dates.
Read MoreConsumers and marketers alike have noticed a significant upward trend in video content over the last few years, but what does this trend look like practically? A recent report by Hubspot sheds light on some key figures: 85% of business people use video as a marketing tool, up from 61% just five years ago.
Read MoreCOVID 19 has forced many nonprofit organizations to move their events – including major annual fundraisers – online. In this week’s NCET Biz Tips, we present a case study by Cinammon Davies exploring how “Soroptimist International of Truckee Meadows” very successfully moved its annual fundraiser online.
Read MoreIt’s a story stranger than fiction. Overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic redefined what it means to “go to work.” Millions of workers around the world traded their conference room meetings and office commutes for video calls and a spot on the couch. Masks became the new uniform and hygiene hypervigilance the new mandate for those who needed to stay on the frontlines. For many, modified operations created new or additional job duties, some of which required learning new skills.
Read MoreMidday on a Tuesday and Heather Zikas was cleaning up, among other chores, and also milling some flour, which is a perfectly normal thing to do at the Zikas household in Lake Tahoe. Zikas is the founder and owner of a bakery service called Tahoe Bread Company.
Read MoreIt’s hard to feel like the epitome of mental toughness when you’re sitting on the couch in your pajamas for the 250th day in a row armed with nothing but a laptop and a coffee-stained pile of papers. Working from home can feel a bit liberating while also a bit mundane. And over time, every day might blend together when your only coworker is your cat.
Read MoreAs business owners and leaders within our organizations, we wear many hats. We have to be in so many places at once yet fully present in all. We have to provide answers, and ones that work for everyone. We have to bring joy, and bring hard truths. The list goes on and on. While it can seem almost impossible to add another thing to your plate, let me tell you about simple things you can do more often, that will bring balance to your business function and to the way you lead:
Read MoreEmploying an accountant and retaining legal counsel are two important, but often overlooked, tasks that ensure your new business is running smoothly and free of expensive legal and financial missteps. In Part 3 of our series, we take a look at some important points to consider when hiring a lawyer and accountant for your small business.
Read MorePeter Fishburn and Bruce Robertson have been elected to the board of directors of NCET, a member-supported non-profit that produces educational and networking events to help people explore businesses and technology.
Jon Edmondo, Andy Jorgensen, Henry Merschel and Dave Zybert have been re-elected to the board.
Read MoreFinal regulations were recently published in the Federal Register, providing guidance and clarity on the calculation of unrelated business income (UBI) for exempt taxpayers operating more than one unrelated trade or business. Here are the most significant differences in the three pieces of guidance.
Read MoreColorful personalities! When you are feeling at your best, what “color” is your personality temperament? Are you more of a True Blue, a Deep Green, a Solid Gold or maybe a Bright Orange? And for fun . . . what colorful personality temperaments are your team members, your boss or members of your family?
We all are a blend of colorful personalities but at our core we have a natural preference for how we see and respond to our world around us.
Read MoreOver the years, Northern Nevada has seen a handful of incubators spring up as the region continues to grow and diversify. Many of them are housed with tech-centric startups looking to tap into the region’s burgeoning economy.
This summer, though, Northern Nevada will welcome its first incubator dedicated to the industry that put the silver in the Silver State.
Read MoreThe Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, signed into law on December 27, 2020, extended three federal tax credits that were set to expire on December 31, 2020: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), The Federal Empowerment Zone tax credit and The Indian Employment Credit.
Read MoreYou know the feeling. It’s already afternoon and your goal to make headway on your work to-do list is slipping out of reach. In the office, you could be inspired by chatting with a colleague or charting things out on the conference room whiteboard. But now it’s just you, facing a creativity desert. We hear a lot about the challenges of sustaining productivity in the WFH context. But the deeper, underlying issue has gone unaddressed: You can’t have productivity without creativity.
Read MoreCalling all creatives and creative hopefuls – did you know that Reno is home to a vibrant Maker Space? If you’ve ever wondered where some of our area’s most beautiful and unique sculptures were dreamt up and built, look no farther than The Generator.
Many of Reno’s most well-known displays, such as the Space Whale, along with artwork on exhibit all over the world, were made possible by the resources, collaboration and curiosity of The Generator collective.
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