by Jen Hickey. To get some ideas on how small business owners can motivate workers when cash is in short supply, business writer Jen Hickey spoke with Cindy Ventrice, the author of Make Their Day: Employee Recognition that Works and president of Potential Unlimited, which offers consulting, speaking and training to help companies create a positive work environment. JH: How do “recognition” and “reward” function in the workplace? CV: Recognition is an act between two people. It’s a one-on-one...

Small businesses have gone through quite an evolution when it comes to payment methods they accept. Gone is the cash-only small business. Even sandwich trucks and garment district clothing outlets have embraced the electronic age. Point-of-sale retail locations are increasingly moving toward the latest technologies that allow credit card readers to be plugged into smart phones. And, if you’re doing business on the Internet, online payments and shopping cart services have become de rigeur....

Part 1: Checks By Christopher Freeburn Paying the bills doesn't make anyone's list of favorite things to do. But, like it or not, bills come due and must be paid. No one knows that better than small business owners, who face a myriad of bills every month, ranging from office supplies and equipment leases to office rent, insurance, and marketing services. Small business owners not only have to pay their bills, but do so in a way that lets them best manage their company's cash flow,...

How To Get What's Coming to You By Chris Freeburn The key to maximizing the success of any business, big or small, is to maximize the amount of cash coming in, while minimizing the amount going out. That means making sure you are collecting as much revenue from customers as you can, while saving every penny possible on purchases made from suppliers. For a big business, this maximize/minimize strategy can boost profits, for a small business it can mean the difference between success and...