Blog
December 19, 2011 - 7:39am
It may sound obvious, but understanding gross margin is often overlooked by startups and new business owners. This can have a direct impact on your ability to effectively manage a growing business, price your products, and most importantly, make a profit.
What is Gross Margin?
December 16, 2011 - 9:00am
This has been a very eventful year for the International Trade Administration (ITA). We are
very proud of our efforts to improve the lives of our fellow Americans. We have
accomplished a great deal by working diligently on the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of
doubling exports by the end of 2014, supporting well-paying jobs tied to
exporting, helping U.S. service companies find new markets, and pursuing new
venues for U.S. companies to connect with overseas buyers. While we have
plenty to be proud of, we have compiled our Four Big Numbers to highlight our
December 15, 2011 - 5:21pm
Health savings accounts (HSAs) aren’t new, but with rising health care costs they warrant a closer look. The reason: HSAs, combined with high-deductible health insurance, can provide coverage for you and your staff at dramatic savings over traditional health coverage. It has been estimated that the arrangement can lower costs by 40% and recent statistics from *AHIP.org show that the number of businesses using this health care option is growing. Is this plan right for your business?
December 15, 2011 - 9:30am
As part of the Obama administration’s ongoing efforts to spur job growth, Commerce Secretary John Bryson will lay out his priorities for the Department, including initiatives related to trade, manufacturing and increasing investment in the United States.An experienced private sector leader, Bryson led Edison International as Chairman and CEO for 18 years. He also served on the boards of Boeing and Disney and as a senior adviser for the global private equity firm KKR.
December 15, 2011 - 9:15am
This
week, the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) kicked-off a national dialogue to improve our nation’s readiness
for extreme weather. At the Weather-Ready Nation: A Vital Conversation workshop, held in Norman, Okla.,
participants assessed why the nation has become more vulnerable to severe
weather and identified ways to improve the public’s awareness, preparedness and
response to future extreme events.
More
than 1,000 lives have been lost this year to extreme weather, including about 550
December 15, 2011 - 9:00am
The U.S.
Census Bureau today released the first in a series of new, detailed demographic
information from the 2010 Census for up to 331 different race and ethnic groups
down to the census tract level for Nevada and
New Mexico.
Data for remaining states will be released on a rolling basis through April,
2012. National level data will be released in May.
These Summary
File 2 tables add a new layer of detail to the population and housing topics
released earlier this year from the 2010 Census. Information, such as age,
relationship and homeownership, previously available only for an area's entire
December 15, 2011 - 6:52am
Absenteeism in the workplace is a problem all managers encounter, and although absences are often due to legitimate reasons, they can get out of control if they’re not managed carefully.Â
Persistent unexcused absenteeism, particularly when it involves just a few individuals, not only lowers productivity and increases everyone else’s workload, but it can precipitate a sour atmosphere in the workplace. It’s something that needs to nipped in the bud.Â
December 14, 2011 - 6:39am
Thinking of changing your business structure?
There are many reasons why small businesses change the way their business is legally structured –gaining protection against personal liability, seeking a break from excessive bookkeeping, dissolving a partnership, and more. What are your options and what steps should you follow as you change your business structure?
Changing from a Sole Proprietor to an LLC
December 13, 2011 - 4:30pm
Today,
Commerce Secretary John Bryson delivered remarks at a luncheon hosted by the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce honoring Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in
Washington. In his remarks, Secretary Bryson pointed out a variety of resources available to
U.S.businesses already in place to encourage and create ongoing trade and
investment in a new area of relations between the two countries. These include
the U.S.–Iraq Business and Investment Conference, Commerce-led
trade missions to Iraq, the Iraq Task Force and Commerce’s Advocacy Center.
December 13, 2011 - 2:23pm
Commerce
Secretary John Bryson hosted the sixth meeting of the National Advisory Council
on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) today at the Commerce Department. The
Council advises Bryson and the administration on key innovation and
entrepreneurship issues and supports President Obama's innovation strategy by
helping to develop policies that foster entrepreneurship and identify new ways
to take great ideas from the lab to the marketplace to drive economic growth and
job creation. Council
members include successful entrepreneurs, investors, and university
and non-profit leaders.