News & Resources

Steven Strauss: Self-Employment Part 2

Question: Hey Steve, I have a friend who has been unemployed for about two years. His unemployment insurance is about to run out and he has this kooky plan now to go the self-employment route. …

March 30, 2012

New Guidance Issued on Health Care Reform: Auto Enrollment, Waiting Periods and Full-Time Employees

By Stephanie Hicks, courtesy of Clark Hill PLC, an SBAM Approved Partner On Feb. 9, 2012, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the Departments) issued Technical Release No. 2012-01 (the Release). …

March 30, 2012

Durbin Amendment Provides for Lower Credit Card Processing Rates

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner Midwest Transaction GroupAs a result of the Durbin Amendment, the Federal Reserve Board has placed a cap on debit card transactions, putting the interchange fee at 0.05% + 21 …

March 29, 2012

Congress Passes NSBA-Supported JOBS Act

From SBAM's national affiliate, NSBA:On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Senate-amended version of Jump-Start Our Business Start-ups Act (H.R. 3606 or “JOBS” Act) by a margin of 380-41, addressing one of NSBA's …

March 26, 2012

Advice on how we can reinvent Michigan. Today at 10 a.m. on the free Business Next audio seminar

Presentations from the recent Reinventing Michigan seminar in Lansing: State Budget Director John Nixon; David Lorenz, Manager, Public and Industry Relations, Travel Michigan; Sandra Rich, President of Hiring Solutions LLC; Bob Fish, president of BIGGBY …

March 24, 2012

Simple Checkout an Easy E-Commerce Option

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner Midwest Transaction GroupIf you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to accept payments on the web, Authorize.Net’s Simple Checkout could be the perfect solution. It is so …

March 21, 2012

How Michigan’s new regulatory philosophy affects your small business. Today at 10 a.m. on the Business Next audio seminar

Michael Rogers talks with Steven Hilfinger, director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Regulatory Officer. Listen today at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the Michigan Business Network. …

March 16, 2012

Small business tax and financial advice! Today at 10 a.m. on Business Next

Longtime small business advocate and retired CPA Paul Hense talks about the positive impact of business tax reform and how to get nuggets of useful information out of your year-end financials. Listen Friday at 10 …

March 15, 2012

Ancient philosophers had surprisingly helpful advice for modern small business owners

(By Paul Hense, CPA, past chairman of SBAM. From SBAM’s member-only Focus on Small Business magazine.)We often believe the problems we have as a small business owner are unique. The reality is that people have …

March 12, 2012

IRS clarifies W-2 reporting of group health plan coverage costs to employees

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, many employers will soon be required to report to employees the cost of their group health plan coverage. As the deadline gets closer, many …

March 11, 2012

Steven Strauss: Federal Grant Funding

Question: I was wondering if there really is federal grant money available for my small business, and if so, where do I find it? It would be great if there was.Answer: Let me ask you: …

March 7, 2012

The importance of community bankers to small business financing. Today at 10 a.m. on Business Next

Michael Rogers talks small business banking with Don Mann of the Community Bankers of Michigan. Also, entrepreneurial success stories from Don Sherman, Green Fundraiser Store; Angela Fisher, Ace Barter Exchange and Justin Jacobs, Comeplaydetroit.com. Listen …

March 7, 2012

Registration open for May 3 “Michigan Celebrates Small Business”

Tickets for the May 3 Michigan Celebrates Small Business event are $95 per person (down from $135 last year) or a table of ten for $900. The evening includes a cocktail reception, a keynote speaker …

March 5, 2012

Trying to control costly small business insurance mandates, today on Business Next

Michael Rogers talks with Dave Jessup, SBAM's Director of Government Relations, about efforts to control costly small business insurance mandates. Plus, details on two outstanding upcoming events: the March 7 Google Get Your Business Online …

March 2, 2012

Can’t get a bank loan? Learn more about non-bank financing alternatives — today at 10 a.m. on Business Next.

Non-bank financing alternatives for small businesses. Michael Rogers talks with Julius Talley of James Capital LLC in Kalamazoo. Listen today at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the Michigan Business Network. Listen to …

March 2, 2012

Steven Strauss: Shark Tank

Question: Lately I have been watching the TV show Shark Tank and really like it. What always amazes me is that the people whose products I don’t like often get money and those that I …

February 29, 2012

Visa, AMEX, Master Card: are you getting the best terms and service on your credit card processing? Learn more at 10 a.m. today on Business Next!

Whether you're a credit card veteran or new to credit card processing, get all the money-saving facts today at 10 a.m. when Michael Rogers talks with Charlie Creamer of Midwest Transaction Group (SBAM's Approved Partner …

February 28, 2012

SBAM members get terrific discount for March 20 “Economic Gardening” learning program in Grand Rapids

New “economic gardening” resources and programs designed to help small businesses achieve rapid growth will be showcased at an SBAM event March 20 in Grand Rapids. Click here for registration details. Tickets are $60, but …