Running an eCommerce business requires many different online tools. You have to find platforms to host your store, market your products and organize all of your data. This week, BigCommerce and Xero formed a partnership to make the whole process a bit easier.
In addition, SurePayroll reported that only 3 percent of small business owners had a bad year. These headlines and more are included below in our weekly Small Business Trends News and Information Roundup.
Finance
BigCommerce, Xero Partnership Adds Cloud Accounting to Online Stores
BigCommerce and Xero are combining their talents to produce an easier business experience by automating data entry into Xero bookkeeping software. BigCommerce provides search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, promotions and coupons, email marketing and multi-channel marketing.
Only 3 Percent of Small Business Reported a Bad Year, Per SurePayroll
Small business owners generally operate with slim margins, and when a good year comes along it is a cause for celebration. The November SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard survey revealed a lot of good news, with only a very small percentage of responding small business owners experiencing a bad year.
Is Your Tax Data Safe? A New Campaign Seeks to Educate
You don’t have to look far to see the latest security breach a public or private organization has experienced. In many instances, tens of thousands or even millions of businesses and individuals have had their data compromised.
Legal
A Break for California Franchise Owners? New Law Gives Them More Control
Franchises allow individuals to go into business knowing they have the backing of the franchisor. This has its advantages and disadvantages. Those positives ad negatives were recently highlighted in California as Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the strongest franchisee protection rules in the U.S.
Proposed Food Labeling Laws Could Cost Small Businesses, Warns NFIB
A bill introduced in the House and Senate seeks to overhaul the marketing and labeling of processed foods. It would revise everything from the ingredients list to the nutrition panel to the use of terms like “healthy” and “natural.” The Food Labeling Modernization Act (PDF), introduced in the House by Reps. Rosa DeLauro (CT) and Frank Pallone (NJ) and in the Senate by Sens.
Management
The IRS Wants to Certify Your Outsourcing Partners
If your business currently outsources human resource management, your provider may soon be certified by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS certification is voluntary and a part of a new law passed just last year. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 was enacted on December 19, 2014, as part of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014.
Workplace Wellness Programs are on the Rise – And Employers See Results
More employers are offering workplace wellness programs than ever before. This year, close to half of the 1,977 business decision-makers surveyed for the fifth annual Aflac WorkForces Report said their companies sponsor workplace wellness programs, up from just 30 percent in 2012.
Retail Trends
Thanksgiving May Be the New Cyber Monday, Data Shows
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season for many consumers. “Black Friday” is widely regarded as the big in-store shopping event while “Cyber Monday” takes the online market. There is now even “Giving Tuesday” for charitable causes that’s in its fourth year.
Handmade Goes Mainstream, But Not Everyone’s Thrilled
There’s something special about hand-crafted goods. They are admired because it takes time, skills and passion to bring them to life. That’s why when Etsy and Amazon decided to take handmade crafts mainstream, not everyone seemed thrilled.
PayPal Experienced at Least Two Down Times Before and on Cyber Monday
PayPal experienced at least two down times before and during Cyber Monday. A heatmap on downdetector.com indicates that most of the problem areas were around New York in the U.S. and several spots in Europe. The problems persisted for two hours on Sunday and about an hour on Monday.
Small Biz Spotlight
Spotlight: SpeedPro Imaging Can Handle Your Largest Print Jobs
Big events require big graphics. But you can’t necessarily get high quality signs printed large enough at normal print shops. That’s why SpeedPro Imaging specializes in creating large items like murals, vehicle wraps and more. Learn more about the business and its unique offerings in this week’s Small Business Spotlight.
Small Business Operations
Quick List of US Post Office Deadlines for Christmas 2015
The holidays are a busy time for everyone but maybe not as busy as the folks at the U.S. Post Office. Millions of packages and letters are darting across the country and some delays might occur for one reason or another. So, if you’ve got important packages that need to get in the mail, it’s imperative to keep an eye on the calendar to make sure your shipments arrive on time.
5 Tips to Prepare You and Your Business for the Holidays
The holiday season often brings the busiest time of the year for small businesses and increasing demands from the owners’ family and friends. By being well prepared, owners and their families increase their chances for a happy holiday season — and a happy and prosperous new year. Staying Ahead of the Competition Let’s face it.
Brace Your Business for Online Fraud During Holiday Season
The holiday season is just around the corner, and it’s not just the enthusiastic consumers and businesses that are gearing up for it. Online fraudsters are getting ready for the busiest shopping time of the year as well.
Startup
SBA Video Series Kicks Off with Interview of Beyonce’s Stylist
About a year ago, President Barrack Obama unveiled My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), an initiative that aims to reverse the challenges that many minority men face.
Technology Trends
In-App Customer Interaction: A Bold New Service Approach
Ten years ago, when customers had an issue with a website, they may have had the luxury of utilizing the website’s contact form. Perhaps they utilized some live chat service. In most cases, they may have emailed the all-accessible webmaster or picked up the phone. But over the last few years, the online landscape has become increasingly more social.
Web.com Introduces Safe Email with Encryption for Business
Do you ever get the sneaking suspicion your email isn’t as secure as it could be? For the everyday, you probably don’t give email security much thought. But when sending confidential information and business files extra protection may be a good idea. What this boils down to is sometimes you just need a little more security.
Image: BigCommerce, Xero Remix
