News & Resources

Michigan’s Health Exchange

By Scott Lyon, Senior Vice President There is a lot of speculation in the air. Today is September 30 and the Exchange is set to open tomorrow for individuals and small businesses. We already know …

September 27, 2013

Get smart about how to “green up” Michigan through green chemistry and engineering. Today on Business Next

Tune in at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Today on Business Next, Jennifer Acevedo talks about the small business benefits of attending the Oct. 8 MDEQ Green Chemistry Conference. Also …

September 26, 2013

What to do when tempers flare

Let's say a manager and an employee lose their tempers. The manager fires the employee. The company president asks: "How should we handle situations like this in the future?" For the answer, continue reading.Question: One …

September 25, 2013

A closer look at home office deductions

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner AdvanceHRWorking from home has its perks. Not only can you skip the commute, you also might be eligible to deduct home office expenses on your tax return. Beginning in …

September 24, 2013

Questions and answers about overtime

The definition of exempt employees and the rules governing overtime pay are complex. If your business misclassifies employees or fails to pay overtime to nonexempt employees, you could owe substantial fines and back wages. To …

September 23, 2013

The real story behind the August unemployment numbers. Today on Business Next

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Rob Fowler, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, talks about the August unemployment report and how it …

September 20, 2013

FMLA policy should be integrated with attendance notice policy

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Michael J. BurnsASE carefully follows legislative, regulatory and judicial developments that impact employers’ policies and practices. In a recent Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the Court upheld …

September 20, 2013

Farmers market entrepreneurs share their stories of entrepreneurial success. Today on Business Next

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network. At the twice-yearly Capitol Farmers Market in downtown Lansing, Michael Rogers interviews Bob Noteware of Noteware Candy Company and Harold …

September 19, 2013

Accommodate what? The newest potential ADA headaches

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner ASEBy Kristin Cifolelli In May, 2013 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) published its fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or “DSM-5,” which is often …

September 18, 2013

The power of great business networking. Learn more today on Business Next.

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Michael Rogers talks with Nancy T. Nguyen, MBA, a trilingual entrepreneur and the author of The Networking Diary; and Liz Hohauser, …

September 16, 2013

IRS notifications and rulings that target small businesses

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner AdvanceHRThe IRS loses billions of dollars a year from taxpayers who don't pay what they owe on time. Now, the tax agency is on the hunt to find merchants …

September 16, 2013

How to break out of your comfort zone. Today on Business Next.

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Greg Coyne of Gerry Weinberg & Associates Sandler Training talks about how you as a small business owner can break through …

September 13, 2013

Making it easier to innovate. Insights today on Business Next

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.Why is innovation so hard? Michael Rogers talks with world-renowned innovation expert Jeff DeGraff, Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at …

September 12, 2013

Avoid costly wrongful termination charges with proactive steps

Article courtesy of SBAM Approved Partner AdvanceHRIf there's anything worse than being accused of making a wrongful termination, it is having to go to court to prove your organization's innocence. That's because you could have …

September 11, 2013

Deadline approaching for Michigan small businesses to apply for research grants giving them access to top faculty at six universities

The Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN) currently is accepting applications for Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP) grants. These grants are designed to promote research partnerships between Michigan small and mid-sized businesses and Michigan’s six top …

September 11, 2013

Helpful lessons of entrepreneurial success from the Innovate! Michigan Summit. Today on Business Next.

Tune in at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.From the Innovate! Michigan Summit at Michigan State University, Michael talks with entrepreneur Jim Kelly, owner of Motorcycle Express Lube; at the …

September 10, 2013

Curb employee turnover with engagement challenges

Article courtesy SBAM Approved Partner AdvanceHREmployee turnover is expensive -- very expensive. As the economy continues to build strength, albeit slowly, employee turnover will become a larger problem for many employers. But traditional retention strategies, …

September 9, 2013

Small businesses will benefit from Michigan’s Medicaid expansion. Details today on Business Next

Tune in today at 10am (repeats at 3pm and 8pm) on the Michigan Business Network.On this week’s small business legislative update with SBAM’s Director of Government Relations Dave Jessup, you will hear more about the …