Insurance Insights

Many small business owners across the country may think of Staples as being just another place to buy office supplies in large quantities. However, the major chain is now starting to branch out into another area of significant need for many entrepreneurs: extending small business loans.

Even small businesses often operate in multiple locations. Depending on where you operate your small business, you may find yourself in need of multiple business insurance policies to cover the needs of your business and your employees properly.

Millions of Americans have become more acutely aware of the ways in which their credit dealings will impact a large amount of their financial lives, but what many may not know is that this is also true of businesses. Consequently, it’s important to look at how smaller companies handle credit, and it seems that there is at least some sort of divide between how male and female entrepreneurs do so.

Over the last few years, millions of small businesses across the country have likely seen their bottom lines improve quite considerably, thanks to economic progress that was stifled for years after the recession. However, despite the steps forward that many are making – and the eyes their owners are turning toward expansion – one thing that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for many of them is seeking financing from lenders.

The national economy has certainly been on the upswing in recent years, and that’s beginning to filter down to many small businesses across the country. As a consequence, a large and growing number of owners are now eyeing expansion, and that includes increasing their hiring efforts.

Did you know that your company smartphone has a more powerful computer than NASA had for the Apollo 11 moon launch? That’s a fact that puts an everyday smartphone in a whole new perspective. Protecting that mass of computing power is essential, not just to save the cost of repair or replacement. It also means protecting the data is contains, essential to your company’s cyber security.

As you begin thinking about how to protect your business property, don’t forget about the potential damage from floods. While rainstorms, natural disasters, and water line breaks that cause floods might not be preventable, you can still act to help reduce the flood damage you experience. You definitely still want business insurance protection, but also work to reduce or eliminate as much flood damage as you can.

In all, there was a 0.11 percent increase in small business hiring over the last three months, led by a 0.19 percent jump seen in February, according to the latest Small Business Jobs Index from Paychex and IHS. That followed a 0.09 percent uptick in January, after a 0.17 percent decline was observed in December. In general, this is seen as a fairly positive trend for the nation as a whole, as current levels are actually slightly above those prior to the economic downturn, and have been for some time now.

Every day, employees are exposed to hazards that may cause temporary or permanent injury to their eyes or face. Depending on the type of industry your business is in, your employees may be at risk from liquid chemicals or acid, molten metal, particles flying through the air, radiation, or chemical gases and vapors.

In recent months, the topic of raising the minimum wage has grown more prevalent in conversations among lawmakers at both the state and federal levels, and this trend certainly has a number of small business owners worried about the ways in which their bottom lines might be impacted. Now, a new battle might be waged over this issue in New York State.