Technology is an area that is always evolving, which can sometimes make it difficult to keep up with. Additionally, with the rise in tech comes the fear that our entire workforce will become automated and therefore taking jobs away from people. However, when used the right way, technology really can improve productivity and small business growth. This week check out some articles about the various ways you can incorporate more technology into your small business and learn about the benefits of doing so.

As a small business owner, you work hard and we are guessing you are long overdue for a vacation. In case you haven’t heard, employees in the US are terrible at using their vacation days. Glassdoor conducted a survey and found that only 23% of employees take all of their eligible time off. We understand when you’re the one running the show it can be hard to step away, but taking a breather for yourself is crucial to staying healthy and avoiding burnout. We have some suggestions for how you can get better at planning a vacation (or staycation – anything that gets you to take a break) no matter what type of business you have.

Choosing to offer a retirement plan as a benefit for your employees can be a real differentiator when it comes to attracting and retaining a talented workforce—and it’s also a milestone for many small businesses, marking when they have “made it” to the degree that they can compete with benefits offered by larger companies. Actually selecting and administering a plan that is right for your specific business, however, may be a bit confusing. With different options and government regulations to follow, it can be overwhelming.

For many, retirement is one of those subjects they know they should worry about and prepare for, but most end up putting it off because they don’t know where to start. So what should you be doing and how can you take the scare factor out of the subject? This week we gathered a variety of articles around the subject including how to take the stress out, how you can live well during retirement, and peek into some of the best retirement advice others have received.

We’ve previously covered that many Americans in the workforce are facing a retirement crisis—they aren’t prepared to retire and don’t know how to get there. With the Safe Harbor 401(k) deadline rapidly approaching, we wanted to revisit some of the most frequently asked questions we hear from small business owners considering offering a retirement plan to their employees.

You’ve heard it a million times, the early bird catches the worm. But did you know just how important mornings can be? Mornings are often crazy, and come sooner than you want to. But re-framing how you face them can lead to many positive benefits. From happiness, to higher productivity and even a better memory, there is a lot you can improve just be starting your day a little different. This week, as you can see, our theme is morning motivation, and we think that with these easy tips, you’ll be crushing mornings in a whole new way.

As a small business owner, it’s important that you are continuing to learn and stay educated. Trends are always changing, which means new skills that you may need to learn to successfully run your business. This week our theme is knowledge is power, and we have gathered articles about some courses you should be checking out, how reading makes you a better leader, and how you can inspire your team to brush up on their own knowledge.

With the shopping holiday known as Amazon Prime Day happening earlier this week, we dedicated this week’s reading list to the retail giant. From tech, to books, groceries and more, Amazon has no signs of slowing down. Because of it’s size and the way it has changed consumer habits, businesses all over are scared. When it comes to small businesses especially, people are afraid Amazon will destroy them. However, this is not the case, and in many ways Amazon is able to help small businesses grow. Check out the articles we gathered this week with some tips about what you can learn from Amazon and incorporate into your small business.

Stress is something we all deal with at some point. Everybody has different stress triggers and their own coping mechanisms for handling it. While stress can sometimes be positive as it gets you motivated, most of the time it’s damaging, and too much stress in your life can cause problems you wouldn’t even think about. This week we are talking about some ways stress can affect you, how to take a mental break from everything, and how changing your workspace can improve your health.

While there are a lot of great tips for running a small business, there unfortunately isn’t an overall manual to help you navigate the small business world. Because of this, you are bound to make mistakes, and that’s ok! Sometimes our best learning moments come from a mistake or a fail. However, with a little help, there are a few mistakes you can avoid. This week we have rounded up a variety you may encounter while running your business.

Growing your business can be extremely exciting, but also a bit scary. Some small business owners are content staying with their business as is, but others are looking to expand, whether that’s making a leap from a side hustle to a permanent gig, moving from a home office to a physical location, or introducing more product offerings. This week we are sharing some tips about business growth, such as knowing when you’re ready to embrace your job as a full time venture, how the gig economy can play a role in growth, and general tips.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.