You’ve probably heard the term “Mission Statement” and maybe your business even has one. But have you heard of a “Values Statement”?

While a mission statement outlines the purpose and goals of a business, a values statement defines what’s important to your business and by extension, its employees. A values statement can be used to remind you what your guiding principles are, which in turn can help you make day-to-day decisions. It’s sort of the “touch grass and take a deep breath” tool to help you when you feel overwhelmed by what decision to make.

As your business builds steam, you will come to a point in the road where you have to decide: is this as big as I want to get, or is it time to bring in some help and take things to the next level? If you decide to hire your first employee, there are a few logistical steps you have to take before you actually bring someone on board:

We often get a lot of questions about withholding in paychecks and just how that system works and how it affects your end of year taxes. If your employees are similarly confused about how the amount is calculated or if they can adjust that number somehow (or if they SHOULD adjust it), here is some info they will probably be interested in:

Your small business is blooming and you are at a crossroads: it’s time to bring on an employee! Before you start thinking about posting an ad and conducting interviews, a very important question needs to be addressed.

Are you FINANCIALLY ready to hire?

Doesn’t it feel like having an official “employee handbook” is a big, grown up, not at all “small” business thing to have? The reality is, an employee handbook can make your boss life a lot easier AND cover your ass legally.

For a small business, offering employee benefits can be a tough road. You value your employees & what they add to your business, but the cost can be prohibitive. Health care & retirement plans are kind of the gold standard, but there are lots of unique & low cost ways to show your employees how much you appreciate them.