America’s SBDC Blog

A “Forbes 100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs”

Don’t Miss Out On New Covid-19 Tax Credits

September 1, 2020
By Intuit –

Intuit Aid Assist EstimatorTo help small businesses and self-employed workers stay afloat due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the IRS created new tax credits, including:

• Employee Retention Credit
• Paid Sick Leave Credit
• Paid Family and Medical Leave Credit

But carving out extra time to figure out which tax credit options you may qualify for — while adapting your business to COVID-19 — can be an overwhelming and time-consuming experience. Federal financial relief programs often have rules, provisions, and exceptions that are hard to understand at a glance. With a mission to power prosperity around the world, Intuit recently added a Tax Credit Estimator to Intuit Aid Assist — a free interactive tool that helps you determine your eligibility for various federal relief programs. Share on X (more…)

Two Sisters Boutique: People and Community Matter

August 25, 2020
Success Story: Wisconsin

Two Sisters Boutique

Darcy Musil incorporated her background as a manicurist, esthetician and bra fitting specialist into Two Sisters Boutique, her unique retail business designed for women of all shapes and sizes. Her store provides a custom “one-on-one styling” service to shoppers who prefer suggestions and guidance.

Many customers come to the boutique for help obtaining the perfect look for photo shoots such as family portraits and senior pictures. Darcy also offers makeup consultations to provide expert knowledge on skin tone and color match. The retail location in Rice Lake opened in May, 2017 with four employees, and the business has grown to employ seven.

SUCCESS DURING COVID-19

The store is more than just a clothing boutique. It supports local vendors in many ways. Jewelry, soap, lotions, candles and other accessories and gifts created by local artisans are sold in Darcy’s store. When COVID-19 hit, Darcy had to close the storefront location but was able to sustain online sales. (more…)

10 Tools That Keep Entrepreneurs Organized and Productive

August 18, 2020
By Gerri Detweiler –

We’ve all got our own favorite tips, tricks, and tools that help us organize our task lists, assign projects, and manage deliverables. Today, there are more apps and software programs geared toward business owners than ever. I interviewed 10 entrepreneurs to find out what they use to stay on top of everything.

1. Monday: Streamline Communication Channels

Aalap Shah, founder of 1o8, an e-comm-focused digital agency in Chicago, loves Monday.com for project management.

“My business has clients, vendors, independent contractors, and full-time folks all trying to communicate, and it has streamlined our Slack, email, and file management tools into one centralized (and colorful) dashboard that allows us to glance at a project and know where it’s at. I love the integrations it has—be it invoicing, other communications tools, Google Drive—along with the extensive training and documentation that it has for a novice to be able to take this tool and harness it to its fullest potential.” (more…)

5 Things You Can Learn From a 9x Turnaround CEO

August 11, 2020
By Ty Kiisel –

Several years ago I met 9x turnaround CEO and author Dick Cross not long after he published his first book, Just Run It!. At the time, I really liked the way he talked about business fundamentals, energizing employees, and thinking strategically about the things that will help build a strong company — regardless of how large or how small a business might be.

I found him to be one of the most genuine and candid business leaders I’ve ever met and came away with several things you can learn from this very smart guy who has made a career out of turning around struggling companies.

In light of our current economic situation, I think his advice is more relevant today than it was when I first heard it several years ago and thought sharing the 5 things you can learn from a 9x turnaround CEO would benefit a lot of small businesses currently struggling through the economic challenges associated with the coronavirus. (more…)

Eclectic Store Expands Online During Covid-19 Shutdown

August 4, 2020
Success Story: Georgia. By Aaron Cox –

Cottle & GunnCottle & Gunn in St. Marys, Georgia, closed its doors in April when the state’s shelter-in-place directives took effect. But the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop owner Deborah Cottle from doubling — then tripling — her sales from the previous spring, thanks to a creative outlook, a new online store, and some help from the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center.

Located just blocks away from the Florida state line to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, St. Marys is home to about 17,000 people. Cottle & Gunn sits in the middle of the coastal town’s historic district — a fitting location for an eclectic store specializing in reclaimed vintage furniture, housewares, local crafts and more.

While the store itself is small, its online presence is anything but. Since opening her doors in 2014, Cottle has built an online following that nearly matches the size of the town — with more than 15,000 combined followers on Facebook and Instagram.

So, when the pandemic hit and businesses began closing their doors, Cottle tapped into that social media network — and her longstanding relationship with the SBDC — to keep her sales going. (more…)