As humans, our brains are hardwired to need social interaction. It’s a basic need like food and shelter. We know that being a small business owner can be challenging and overwhelming, which is why you need to make sure you have a support system in place. This week, we are focusing on the relationships that will help you thrive as a small business owner. Additionally, check out what other entrepreneurs have to say about how their friendships and work relationships help them succeed.

Hiring a household employee sounds easy enough: you advertise the position, interview candidates, and make a final selection based on your findings.

Here at SurePayroll, small business is our business. We are always working to create and share content that can help small business owners like you. Check back every Friday to get some light reading in before the weekend hits.

There is no law stating that you can only have one household employee. While most people have a nanny or a housekeeper, maybe a landscaper, some households have a combination of household employees to support their needs.

As a small business owner, processing payroll is just one item on your to-do list, but ever-changing regulations and tax code updates can make it the most time-consuming task in a given week. These tax updates occur at the federal, state, and local levels, and depending on where your business is based and where your employees live, some small businesses have it tougher than others. We’re starting this monthly series to focus on state-specific tax considerations, to help you keep up with what’s changing around you.

With temperatures rising (finally!), staying focused at your desk is likely proving a challenge. It’s the time of year to spend as much time outside as possible, whether that involves grilling out or picnicking, taking your runs from the treadmill to the greenway, or engaging in a seasonal sports league.

With tax season over, you probably don’t want to be thinking about anything to do with taxes for the rest of the year. Hopefully you were prepared and filing your taxes was a breeze. But many people procrastinate, don’t have a filing system for their business records, or realize they need professional help at the last minute. If you’ve been in any of these situations, you can get a jump start on next year and ensure a smoother filing process by taking the following steps.  

Most of you probably read this blog and think “I could really use more payroll tax content.” We kid.

Payroll mistakes can happen faster than you think, and are often expensive and time-consuming to fix. Using a payroll service is the first step toward minimizing financial risk and taking back control of your schedule—but not all payroll services are created equal.

Spring is the season that for many represents growth and new beginnings. People get excited to leave the snow and bitter cold from winter behind, and gear up for warmer days, fresh flowers, and the delightful sounds of birds chirping. Because of the energy of the spring season, it’s the perfect time to not only dig into some spring cleaning at home, but tackle your small business as well. We have some tips for the different ways you can spring clean your small business.

All business owners must withhold payroll taxes. It’s just a fact. You’re legally obligated to do it, so payroll taxes are something you really can’t afford to hide under the filing cabinet, risking fines and penalties.

As a small business owner, you probably already know that flexibility is key: you’re wearing many hats, juggling several competing priorities, and never know exactly what turn your day might take. But when you think of payroll, the last thing you probably think of is “flexibility.” And that’s true—to an extent: payroll laws are what they are and your employees need to get paid (and in many states, there are specific regulations around frequency and timing of pay).

You probably don’t expect to see the word “flexible” used to describe payroll options, because there’s nothing flexible about pay dates or tax filing requirements – those deadlines are firm.  And if you have ever had the experience of forgetting to run your payroll on time or dealing with a bungled tax payment, well, at that point, payroll can feel as flexible as granite.

2018 Taxes. Your favorite subject right? 

National Employee Appreciation Day is an unofficial holiday observed each year on the first Friday in March. If your small business employs others, you should definitely mark this holiday on your calendar. 

A lot of number crunching goes into running a small business. When your books get overwhelming, don’t get scared, take a deep breath and consider the options available to you for help. Accountants and bookkeepers can help manage the books for your small business and keep everything flowing smoothly.

Small businesses take many forms—some operate out of the owner’s living room, some out of an office or retail store, some are on the road. Working outside the state in which you live can add a layer of complexity to tax filings and payroll calculations.

The holiday season has come and gone, presents have been unwrapped, your tree is down and decorations are away, and you’re nearly a month into 2018. But while your small business is gearing up for the new year, your consumers might not be as ready to dive right in. While December is known for being a big spending month, particularly in the consumer space, the same cannot always be said of January. 

Pay day: it’s a day that pretty much everyone looks forward to. But when exactly pay day occurs varies from business to business. As a small business owner, do you know which payroll frequency/schedule your business should be using? With weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly and monthly options you may be confused about which schedule to use. It’s important to know that, in some cases, the choice is made for you based on the state in which you live. 

You probably think January 17^th is just another day. In reality, January 17^th is actually Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day. While this isn’t an official bank holiday, it’s does mark how quickly people abandon their positive intentions for the New Year.