SELFINFORMED

A Reality Check for Entrepreneurs Raise your hand if you’re a business owner who dreams of ditching the hustle and sipping pina coladas on a beach, guilt-free. Now, keep it raised if you have a million stashed away for said Pina Colada Retirement Plan. Reality check: Despite a whopping 56% of entrepreneurs claiming total retirement confidence, their bank accounts tell a different story. Turns out, a staggering 75% of solopreneurs haven’t even cracked the half-million mark, according to BizJournal.com.

Pronounced “en-em-dee-sigh-nz”, NMdesignz is committed to transforming creativity into unique brand marketing solutions for small to medium businesses. Their vision is to level the marketing playing field for clients against larger corporations with big budgets. The values of integrity, creativity and commitment are woven into the fabric of their work. NMdesignz is a mighty little team of creatives, photographers, videographers, strategists, mom’s, snowmobilers, coffee-drinkers and Hobby Lobby enthusiasts located in Pepperell, Massachusetts, a little town that borders New Hampshire. No matter the client’s focus, they look to work with those who share similar values and excitement to making an impact.

It was a busy month in Washington, the President delivered his annual state of the union, Congress advanced the first of two funding bills for the current fiscal year, and the Biden-Harris Administration released its FY24 budget. First, at the invitation of the House, President Biden delivered his State of the Union on March 7, outlining the administration’s accomplishments and setting forth the legislative agenda for the coming year. Here are some key takeaways from the address:

For many small business, micro business, and family business owners, tax season can cause a big enough headache that they turn to a tax professional for guidance. Luckily for small business owners and self-employed individuals, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is in the midst of a six-year IRS Modernization Plan that is designed to simplify and streamline tax processes while improving how the agency interacts and communicates with taxpayers and the tax community.

Golden State Marketing was founded in 2006, helping entrepreneurs and business owners with social media, email marketing, content marketing and strategy as well as promotional products. I have well over 20 years of experience. I am a California native, born and raised in Los Angeles and have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast. I also teach webinars and workshops for business organizations, chambers and trade groups.

On January 31, the House, in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 357-70 vote, passed the Tax Relief for American Families Act. We anticipate that the Senate will follow suit and consider the package after the President’s Day recess.

It is that time of year again where we can reset and rethink where we want our business to head in 2024. For an entrepreneur or a business owner, making new year’s goals and resolutions is a prominent task since you have the autonomy to plan your company’s journey for the next 12 months. Setting goals and resolutions for your small business is about the hope you have for a better future. When you expect things to get better for your company, it pushes you and your team toward positive action throughout the year.

Tiffany Ferrari is the Owner and Lead Photographer for Exposure Best Photography in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a passionate photographer with a love for capturing life’s beautiful moments. Her interest in photography started as a typical hobby when she was a junior in high school. In 2011, she took the leap from hobbyist to professional photographer and launched Exposure Best Photography! Since then, she has photographed over 100 weddings and dozens of portraits, Branding sessions, corporate profiles and events just to name a few. In addition, she offers professional mentorships and workshops aimed at helping both professional and aspiring photographers navigate through the different phases of learning photography, starting, running and maintaining a business, as well as, marketing, networking and goal setting.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) celebrates the milestone of 16 million new small business applications over the last three consecutive years. The American small business community continues to grow at a rapid, record-setting rate with more entrepreneurs who want to invest directly in their own lives. This just speaks volumes about the resilience, determination, and perseverance of those in the small business community, including the millions of solo entrepreneurs, mom-and-pop shops, and gig-economy workers who are the heartbeat of our nation.

There are many ways that you can help your business by helping your community. Getting involved in your community generates leads, brings in new business, creates networking opportunities and benefits a small business owner in many ways. Businesses that positively impact the community create strong connections with their target audience, build trust and loyalty among customers, better promote their brand and public image, forge beneficial partnerships and alliances, and are highly valued by the community for their goodwill. In an era where customers value businesses with ties to an inspiring purpose and mission, there has never been a better time to get involved with the local community. By using the following suggestions from The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) as a guide, your small business can make an even bigger positive impact on its local community.

After spending 16+ years steeped in a career of talent development, strategic planning, and training design and delivery in the education and nonprofit sectors, I launched Liberated Development as a personal, professional, and organizational development company that facilitates the growth of leaders, teams, and dreams. Liberated Development is a black woman-owned and operated boutique leadership development firm founded in 2019, in Washington, D.C. I envision a world where workplaces are composed of leaders who consciously and intentionally build cultures that make space for the unique identities and contributions of each individual to thrive. Liberated Development has given me a channel to work toward this vision by creating coaching, facilitation, and strategic advising experiences where clients deconstruct the leadership and workplaces models dictated by dominant culture, and recreate dynamic practices that center relationships and wellness and are rooted in liberation.

2023 has been a year of significant accomplishments for small businesses in the United States, thanks to bipartisan action by Congress and the Biden Harris Administration: Record number of applications to start businesses: In 2023, Americans have filed a record 14.6 million applications to start businesses. This is a sign that the historic investment in small businesses is driving confidence and optimism from entrepreneurs and generating more resilient and competitive markets.

Over the last few years, it’s become important for small businesses to add more creative visuals in their marketing strategy as a way to encourage online customer engagement and ultimately drive sales. Fortunately, there are multiple platforms that provide the tools for small business owners to showcase their imaginative side without breaking the bank. Here are two online platforms small businesses should consider looking into:

As interest in self-employment and business ownership has increased, libraries have evolved to fill this need, serving a critical role in the support of small businesses and the entrepreneurs building them. Libraries, such as the St. Louis County Library, report saving small business owners significant money each year (check out the American Library Association’s Library Value Calculator for more). This potential for cost savings is a national trend: Across the United States, libraries in every locality provide entrepreneur support resources of all kinds, from workshops and networking opportunities to specialized media equipment and market research.

In the rush of the holiday season that is truly upon us, I wanted to offer my thanks to the self-employed and micro-businesses owners that are a part of a strong ecosystem that is keeping the American economy humming.

It’s that time of year where every small business owner and self-employed individuals are looking for a final motivational push to finish the year strong. Finishing the year strong is important for entrepreneurs so that they have real closure and look forward to the next year. It can really put their minds at ease knowing that they ended the year with their full strength and effort. The new year is a time to reset and focus on new goals for your small businesses and entrepreneurial journeys to evolve, so moving into it with optimism about the future is the best way to get the new year started. By following the motivational tips below, you will easily be able to finish the year on a high note.

Bill Quinn is the CEO/Managing Coach of E. Quinn Consulting, LLC and The Quinn Quantum Academy, a 14-year small business coaching consultancy. Providing his business clients with 40 plus years of business coaching and consulting guidance in operations, team development, funding strategies, and partnerships. Bill has advised and consulted for a commercial photographer, property manager, a sound & audio company, an oil & gas developer, a fund manager of a $150MM investment fund, a hemp cultivation, an extraction & sales company, several home remodelers, and property maintenance contractors. Bill has coached and advised a smartphone and gadget repair company, a Software Engineer, a Cybersecurity Training Institute, a Commercial Bakery & Pastry company, an AV Tech company, a manufacturer of biodegradable products, provides advice to my son’s Leadership Development consultancy, and numerous business partnerships. Bill has authored 6 books, eBooks and workbooks, coordinating, editing, exterior/interior design, and self-publishing.

As of October 20, 2023, the House is still without a Speaker. Republicans are divided over Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who has been rejected twice for the position, following the motion to vacate that removed Speaker McCarthy from office two weeks ago. The House GOP conference originally voted to support the nomination of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA); however, he withdrew his name from consideration after falling short of securing the necessary 217 votes coming out of conference. Rep. Jordan is in a similar position, facing a wall of opposition from nearly 22 House Republicans who are adamant in their opposition. However, Jordan’s office has announced that he will call for a third vote on Friday, October 20.

It takes significant time and effort to start a small business and maintain success over an extended period. As such, the decision to sell a business requires meticulous preparation. Whether you are a small business owner, micro business owner, or other entrepreneurial venture, taking the right steps toward getting your business ready for sale is critical to maximize its value and ensure a legally compliant and smooth transition. In this article, we will explore the common steps to prepare your small business for a successful sale and continued success for the buyer.

The appeal of self-employment is being taken seriously by companies around the world. Post-pandemic hybrid work models are enabling longer-term work from home. Digital nomad visas in 20+ countries facilitate work from anywhere. Internal talent marketplaces are giving employees more flexibility and choice in what they do and what they learn – even as artificial intelligence is automating tasks and creating content with growing potential to replace the work that some freelancers do. Employment-related change is at a fever pitch.

On October 1, 2023, if Congress doesn’t reach an agreement, the government will shut down. This would be the country’s 22nd government shutdown in five decades. Government shutdowns have become an unfortunate recurring event in American politics. Since 1995, there have been five government shutdowns, all of which have had negative consequences for the American people.

Succession planning is critical to managing a small business for self-employed individuals. Unfortunately, only 34% of business owners have succession planning in place, experts stated in 2021. As a business owner, it’s essential to consider what will happen to your business if unforeseen events occur. For instance, how will your business perform in a catastrophic incident or your eventual retirement. According to an SBA report, 44% of U.S. economic activities depend on micro businesses. Therefore, small business owners should properly manage their documentation.

Alicia Minter is the Owner and Creative Director of marketing agency, Biggs Creative. She has 20+ years of experience writing, shooting, producing, and elevating 360-degree marketing campaigns. Branded content is her first love, and a close second is creating television and web series. She has the honor working with several brands & Fortune 500 companies, including Disney, Costar Group, PBS, TLC, AMC Networks, TED, Under Armor, and more.

No matter how great your services or products are, if your small business isn’t visible, you’ll struggle to connect with your target audience. The ability to stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace is critical to gaining traction and success. Whether you are an entrepreneur just starting a business or an already established one—visibility should be your top priority. Fortunately, there are many effective solutions business owners can use to create a robust presence that resonates with their consumers. To rise above the rest, try one of these strategies to build a highly visible business with the power to communicate, connect and convert.

Rasheda Kamaria Williams is a mentor turned social entrepreneur with a passion for helping youth and young adults realize their power. She is the author of “Be EmPOWERed: How to Live Above & Beyond Life’s Drama” as well as the founder and chief empowering officer for Empowered Flower Girl, a social enterprise on a mission to transform the way young people relate to one another and themselves. Rasheda has nearly 20 years’ experience in the education, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors having worked with and advised several national and global organizations in the areas of community outreach and engagement and public relations.

As touted over the last few months, the NASE is encouraged and excited to see the number of new business starts, however, we know that a number of people who end up as business owners (i.e self-employed) often start their business journey through side gigs or “hustles”. In fact, according to a new LinkedIn report, the number of Americans with a side gig is now estimated at 50%. However, a new tax law change could stop this growing trend and jeopardize the ability of people to earn extra income or chase their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.

With the right approach at the right time in the social media space, businesses can boost their sales and visibility and drive unprecedented growth. On the surface, social media is a compact solution for businesses to thrive. But businesses cannot afford to generalize their social media marketing efforts.

On behalf of the NASE Board of Directors, we would like to invite you to the 2023 NASE Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting will take place via Zoom. We know it can be demanding for small business owners to take time and resources away from their daily operations.

Earlier this month, President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy agreed on a bipartisan deal to suspend the debt ceiling until January 2025 in exchange for some policy concessions from both sides. The deal imposes caps on federal spending for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, with some adjustments for veterans’ health care and other priorities.

Grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities positively impact the growth of small businesses and are beneficial to self-employed small business owners. They can help grow startup businesses without debt, provide valuable resources, and can even help companies recover losses. The application and selection process can be competitive, but just one proposal can provide significant funds making it worthwhile. It is important to know the different types of grants, scholarships, and funding opportunities available to small business owners, so you can choose what is the best fit for your company and start planning for the application process.

Whether it’s an economic upturn or downturn, continuous learning is crucial for self-employed and small business owners. In fact, education renders long-term benefits for self-employed individuals and plays a crucial role in their success. When you’re managing a plethora of responsibilities on your own, it is normal to put off continuous learning. But in the age of rapid tech advancement, digital transformation, and changing economic and industry dynamics, continued education is the answer to achieving professional and personal growth.

Kecia Terrelonge is the Owner of Trucking Transportation Academy LLC located in Suffolk, Virginia. The academy offers CDL School, Class A & B Training, Pilot & Escort Training, Driver Improvement, Hazmat Endorsement, Freight Broker and Dispatch Training.

On April 6, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a 10-year strategic operating plan that shows how the IRS will deploy the tremendous resources appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure the IRS is a customer service orientated agency. The IRS has faced intense scrutiny for its shrinking workforce, enforcement capabilities, and its ability to resolve audit issues in a timely fashion. Even with the challenges, in 2021, the IRS processed 269 million returns, collected $4.1 trillion in tax revenue, and disbursed 492 million economic relief payments during the Covid-19 pandemic. But as outlined in their strategic operation plan, there is more to do.

One of the great perks of working for a company is getting paid leave as a benefit. That is a benefit self-employed people in most states give up in exchange for being their own boss. Unlike 180 other nations, the federal government has yet to come up with a plan for self-employed workers to recoup some of their income if they cannot work because they are ill or have family issues. That said, there is a new push for the federal government to pass a law that enables self-employed individuals to get a paycheck if they cannot work under certain circumstances. Here is a look at the status of a potential paid family leave policy in the United States, what a law might look like, and who supports and opposes passing such a law.

It is almost that time of year again, tax season. While tax season is rarely a joy for anyone, if you have only ever filed personal taxes as an employee, the first time you file business taxes may be challenging. Self-employed small business owners who are new to business taxes may find themselves dragging their feet when it comes time to file. The Reason: they may not know where to start. Filing taxes is inevitable, so being ahead of the curve can make all the difference during your first tax season. As a new small business owner, take a moment to consider our business tax prep checklist.

The 118th Congress is officially underway, both the Senate and House have finally finished organizing themselves, this includes appointing members to committees. As it relates to small business policy and oversight, we have some new faces leading and joining the committees of importance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how the world looks at so many things, including how we all perform our daily jobs and the benefits and programs associated with work. The impact the pandemic would have on self-employment and millions of new gig workers and freelancers raised particular concerns. Small business owners in industries with more exposure to the virus were also highly vulnerable.

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a comprehensive government funding bill (Omnibus) that in addition to funding the federal government through the remaining 2023 fiscal year, also included the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). The SECURE 2.0 Act expands on previously passed legislation, Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) which revised rules around retirement saving, including raising the age of required minimum distributions (RMDs) and allowed workplace savings plans to offer annuities.

Are you aiming to build a seven-figure business? Are you wondering how daily habits can lead you there? Everyday habits are the building blocks of your life. Strategies can be powerful, but they become effective when they are in harmony with life’s daily habits. This article walks you through habit-creation strategies (small wins and massive gains) to make 2023 the best year for your business.

Dr. Dana P. Wade, the CEO of Excellent Health LLC, is a NASE member from Bridgeport, Connecticut and a Medical Doctor with 9 years of experience in diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention. He has helped thousands of Connecticut residents to reduce their risk factors for developing diabetes and heart disease and improve their health. In 2019, he was awarded a Hometown Hero recognition.

Washington, DC is never dull. Just as the Georgia Special Election concluded, with Senator Warnock securing a full six-year term, Sen. Sinema (D-AZ) will change her party affiliation to Independent. While this on paper shouldn’t shake things up from a Democratic majority perspective (i.e. the D’s will still remain in control of the Upper Chamber) it does tie their hands somewhat on their ability to issue subpoenas and clear bills out of committee.

As a small business owner, your work never seems to be complete. Generally, entrepreneurs wait for the next perfect moment to relax and take a break. However, going on a vacation is the best way to balance your life. It is no wonder that some business owners avoid taking vacations altogether because they do not want to deal with the headache and hassle of planning one. But skipping out on vacation time is a bad idea, as it can negatively impact your personal and professional life.

Sarai Zyzniewski is the founder and CEO of Our Hangouts, LLC. Our Hangouts provides an online cloud-based system that helps businesses organize, manage registration, accept payments and centralize communication with member families. Unofficially started in 2015 and officially organized in 2016, Our Hangouts started with one product and in 2019 expanded to three. The three products and markets are: Our School Hangout for church preschools, Our Homeschool Hangout for homeschool co-ops, and Our Group Hangout for organized community groups. The online system provides two key high-level benefits: reducing costs and saving time.

By and large, the forecast of a “Red Wave” of Republicans being elected similar to 1994 and 2010 has not come to fruition. While Democrats and Republicans each only needed one Senate seat to achieve a true Senate majority, so far both parties have largely held their incumbent seats. The one exception to that is in Pennsylvania, where Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman has beaten Republican candidate Mehmet Oz for retiring Senator Pat Toomey’s (R-PA) seat. Ceteris paribus, this could turn out to be the crucial seat pickup needed for Democrats to take a true Senate majority.

The things you do now to prepare for your retirement will help determine how comfortably you will be able to spend your golden years. The more you save, the earlier you may be able to retire and start enjoying life the way you always wanted to. No matter what type of industry you are involved in, or whether you own a major corporation or operate your own home business, there are some simple hacks everyone should be aware of to give your retirement a boost.

NASE member Kimberly Whiter is the CEO and Owner of Elder Care Solutions in Roanoke, Virginia. Kimberly spent over 10 years building a career in higher education, during which time she worked both as an Assistant Professor and an Administrator. Part of her scholarship program was studying how interprofessional and interdisciplinary teams functioned to reach the best shared outcome. In early 2019 she was presenting this work at a national conference and one of the Co-Founders of Elder Care Solutions was in the audience. I started consulting with the business and in early 2020 I was invited to join the team as its CEO. Work in interdisciplinary practice translated well into the role as CEO for Elder Care Solutions, where she built innovative strategic collaborations in search of creative solutions for our nation’s care crisis.

This November voters across the country will elect candidates at the local, state, and federal level, important races that will have a direct impact as to the 30 million self-employed business owners.

Your company’s assets, equipment, and well-being should be protected from damage and liabilities as a small business owner. You put hard work into building your business and making it a success, and now your small business has evolved into your livelihood. You, your family, and your employees all count on your company’s stability, and business insurance policies are here to help.

Dr. Andrieka J. Austin, Master Life Coach Certification Trainer from Atlanta, Georgia is the founder of The International Center for Life Coach Training, LLC. She has trained 200 Certified Life Coaches, helped thousands via her email newsletter, and speaks to 10,000+ on her podcast, her Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram social media platforms helping them learn how to become a professionally trained, skilled, qualified, Black Woman Christian Certified Life Coach.

Up until this fall, it seemed guaranteed that the Republicans would take a significant majority in the House, however, polling has tightened in light of the Supreme Court ruling on reproductive health. However, Republicans are still expected to secure a narrow majority, that being said, a majority of less than 10 seats will prove to be incredibly challenging for governing.

Another summer break is on the horizon, and with it comes a myriad of opportunities for your business. Younger generations have always been an important business market, with millennial spending power at $2.5 trillion. If your small business takes advantage of the summer season, your company could make significant gains. Summer hours can be a win-win for both students and businesses. Students can save up for college or earn extra spending money, while businesses can take advantage of enthusiastic young workers looking for experience and extra responsibilities. As a business owner, it is essential to keep up with current events and changes in the community. You gain an edge over other businesses run by less involved people in their community. In addition, you find opportunities to market your business to new customers. Overall, the school year can be an excellent way for your business to expand its reach in the community. Here is how:

Joshua James is a NASE Member from San Francisco, California and is the owner of Ocean Beach Cafe. Josh was a career bartender who decided to take a year off from drinking to see what would happen. About a year later, he opened Ocean Beach Cafe and began to build the largest Non Alcoholic Beverage Selection in the World! Ocean Beach Cafe is a busy community art cafe that sells locally roasted coffee, healthy eats, and houses the only Non Alcoholic Bar on the West Coast!

On August 19, 2022, the President signed The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which marks a significant conclusion to the Biden-Harris’s Administration efforts to advance a sweeping domestic policy agenda. While many of the provisions (as listed below) are important priorities, the bill was not as expansive as Democrats had hoped, failing to address childcare, caregiving, paid leave, and the child tax credit advance payments. It is unlikely that these additional care-related policy priorities will find traction in the final months of the 2022 legislative calendar, however, Republicans have been eager to discuss policy solutions around paid leave considering the Supreme Court case related to reproductive health.

For most businesses, the primary focus is on making it profitable. But what if you could impact your community and improve your business simultaneously? Often, your customers will know who you are and what you do before they ever set foot into your place of business. Word-of-mouth can travel quickly, especially if people know how your business benefits the community. Having connections provides you with a forum to introduce yourself and learn more about the people who make up your community.

This year, we awarded $15,000 in scholarships to five fantastic young people. The below individuals were chosen out of the more than 20 applications we received, all of which were very well put together. We know the winners will put their $3,000 to good use this school year and we are proud to assist them on their journey.

Congress is set to have its “traditional” August District Work period, five weeks of Congress back home in their states and districts, connecting with constituents and seeing first hand important projects, however, before Congress can recess, two important legislative items: finalizing the “United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021” (also being referred to as the “chips” bill) and laying the ground work for a Democrat reconciliation package that Leader Schumer hopes to advance in September.

Small business owners have always needed drive and dedication in order to see their business ventures succeed. However, since the global pandemic that hit the world back in 2020, the working economy has evolved and adapted to circumstances, and small businesses were no exception.

Mabelyn Lopez is the Owner and Operator of 4 Insurance LLC located in Lynn, Massachusetts. Mabelyn is a first-generation American with deep roots and love for the Dominican Republic where her family immigrated from. Her father received his masters in Engineering and her mother was a business owner for over 35 years. It’s through their examples that she continues the tradition of entrepreneurship and a commitment to give back to her community. 4 Insurance LLC offers many types of personal and business insurance as well as a variety of industry insurance options. Their ability to provide services in various languages allows them to meet community needs and truly understand their unique situations.

It is clear from the data, small businesses are still in recovery mode from the Covid-19 pandemic. It fundamentally altered not just every aspect of life, but also forced small businesses to adapt to a new landscape in order to survive.

While we often think of major corporations when it comes to driving innovation and competition in the United States, small businesses also play a vital role in our nation’s economy and boosts the overall spirit for our small communities. These locally owned and operated businesses scattered throughout main streets in our hometowns make up two-thirds of new jobs in the country.

Hillary Schubach is the Founder/President of Shine Consulting LLC located in Santa Monica, California. Through Shine, Hillary has two businesses, Shine/ MBA Admissions Consulting and Shine/ Marketing Consulting.

In May, Congress failed to advance, Small Business COVID Relief Act. Democrats had attempted to additional Covid funds to the emergency Ukraine aid. The bulk of the package, $40 billion, would backfill the Restaurant Revitalization Fund for the roughly two-thirds of applicants who didn’t receive any grant money under the initial program.

Owning and operating a small business is no easy task, and maintaining your quality of service or production while trying to drum up a new business may seem intimidating. However, there are several tried and true ways to attract new customers, and by following these top suggestions, a successful boost in customer relations is undoubtedly on the horizon.

Steve and Dawn Woodburn are the Chief Adventurer (Steve) and Amusement Director (Dawn) for Marvelous Moosey Adventures LLC located in Lilburn, Georgia. They created Marvelous Moosey, a soft plush moose with blue hooves to be unique and marvelous and they wrote a children’s book to tell his backstory. This is Steve’s third career having worked on-air in radio for 20 years as a disc jockey, news anchor and traffic reporter. He spent the next 30 years in the branding and promotional products business and finally started Marvelous Moosey Adventures with his wife Dawn in 2018. Dawn has worked as an Executive Assistant for the last 35 years with the same company and continues to be employed full-time while Steve spends the majority of his time running MMA.

If recent polling is a prediction, the trifecta enjoyed by the Democratic party will end following the 2022 mid-term elections. President Biden’s favorability is hovering around 40%, and while statistically the US job market is booming, the pressure of increasing inflation is very much dampening the mood of record breaking low unemployment. Republicans are seemingly well positioned to at a minimum secure the majority in the House of Representatives and a growing body of polling that shows a path for Republicans to also secure the majority in the US Senate. Given the potential significant change in the balance of power in Washington, we wanted to examine the impact it would have the self-employed.

Tax season is a stressful time of year for many individuals. Collecting documents, locating records, and researching tax laws and forms can be overwhelming and time-consuming. This stress and confusion is felt more acutely by the small business owner.

Bridgette Johnson is the owner of CreativelyIn-vented LLC located in Louisville, Kentucky. Bridgette is a former life-long educator with Jefferson County Public Schools and is now a children’s book author, educator, artist, and business entrepreneur. Her new company, Creatively Invented, helps children to become their best selves through educational seminars, games, activities, books, songs and more.

This past week, the President signed the $1.5 trillion government funding bill with Ukraine aid. The funding bill, which received bipartisan approval, passed the Senate in a 68-31 vote and the House 361-69.

Tax season is upon us, and it can seem daunting, to say the least. This can especially be true for self-employed small business owners who may not know where to begin. While some may be anxious to file as soon as they can, others drag their feet as long as possible. No matter which kind of person you are, filing taxes is inevitable for all of us. However, the more prepared you are before you attempt to file, the easier the entire process will be. As a small business owner, a preparedness checklist before filing taxes is a must.

In February, the National Association for the Self-Employed announced its support of two pieces of legislation introduced in the Senate and one in the House. The first, a bipartisan bill, the Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy Act (CREATE) Act, designed to “support small businesses in creative industries by increasing access to federal resources to help them grow.” The measure was introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

As a small company owner, you bring a tremendous amount of value to the table. Getting a business up and running is a significant undertaking. Undoubtedly, you need a great deal of focus and commitment to grow and become successful.

Antisha D. Walley is an NASE member from Kyle, Texas and is the President of Make the Change, LLC. Make the Change is a woman owned, service-disabled veteran owned, and minority owned human resources consultancy. Their services include professional development training and consulting on full cycle recruiting, compensation strategy, and employee relations.

The year is 2022, the month is January. And things are wild. Suffice it to say, the start of 2022 has the makings of a great political thriller: high stakes legislation (voting rights, Build Back Better, US Competitiveness targeting China), political intrigue (Senators Manchin and Sinema), and a boogie man (Covid-19 Omicron variant), set against a mid-term election that will most likely flip the US House of Representatives and turbo charge the political environment leading up to 2024 Presidential campaign.

The Holidays have looked a little different this year and last year, but with the help of mitigation tools like masks and social distancing and the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines, things are looking brighter on the horizon. We all remain cautious and put our families, friends, and communities’ safety first, but as the weather cools and the vaccine numbers grow, so does our ability to return to a semblance of normal.

Earlier this month our country lost a statesman, war hero — former United States Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS) at the age of 98. Senator Dole was one of the greatest in the Greatest Generation of World War II veterans who have long inspired our country with their dignity, determination and courage.

Thanksgiving is an occasion to reflect on all the things in our lives for which we’re grateful, and share that gratitude for the people who have helped to make it all possible. This year, as small business owners adapt to great economic and social challenges posed by the pandemic, the National Association for the Self- Employed (NASE) offers five big reasons you can be thankful for self-employment.

Lealem worked at NASA as the Project/Lead Scientist of NASA’s Digital Astronaut Project (DAP) where he directed a highly multidisciplinary and cross-functional team of scientists and engineers to develop and apply novel technologies to analyze and mitigate the health and performance risks of astronauts. He collaborates with the National Institute of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Defense and several other governmental, academic and private institutions to translate his unique technical expertise to enable precision healthcare and explore the boundaries of human performance.

The U.S. Congress is working on a full plate of legislative activity before the end of the year, including two major pieces of the Administration’s Build Back Better agenda introduced earlier this year. As part of that legislative package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, often referred to as the bipartisan infrastructure bill focuses primarily on “hard infrastructure” such as roads, bridges and physical infrastructure. This bill passed through Congress on Friday, November 5th and President Biden has signed this major government investment into our nation’s infrastructure into law.

A small business owner wears many hats; from a customer service representative to an accountant, marketing guru to HR, you’re expected to be the expert on how your business operates. While you are busy making sure your business runs smoothly, some safety measures may get overlooked. No matter what industry you work in, safety is a priority.

Damien A. Joyner, JD, CPT, ICEI is a fitness professional and Owner of Incremental Fitness in San Diego, California. Incremental Fitness is focused on helping the active aging adult move with more strength, balance, agility and overall confidence. Before venturing into self-employment with his own fitness business, Damien’s past includes an international relations degree, non-profit work and law school.

This Fall, Congress will have to simultaneously move three major pieces of legislation: infrastructure, budget reconciliation process and an increase to the debt ceiling, laying the ground work for an incredibly jam packed fall in the policy space.

The days are growing longer and hotter, the sounds of children playing can be heard outside, and the warm air smells of flowers and freshly cut grass. As the summertime heats up, it is the perfect time to re-evaluate your retirement and heat up your plans. Retirement planning is an integral part of managing your business and financial future, but it can be easy to forget to maintain your plan.

Jessica Postiglione is the Founder & CEO of Bonny, a New York City based fiber supplements brand. Bonny is a deliciously clean and sustainably packaged prebiotic fiber supplements brand that is thoughtfully formulated with only natural and organic ingredients. You can find out more at trybonny.com

On August 10, the U.S. Senate passed, 67-32 vote, including 17 Republicans, a significant investment in the country’s infrastructure (hard and soft); passed with broad bipartisan support, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal now heads to the U.S. House. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes, over $500 billion in new spending, including:

Self-employment is the essence of American independence. Think about it: Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Jefferson. Paul Revere. From the earliest days of this nation’s history, it has been the entrepreneurs, inventors, and “self-made” craftsmen who have defined the spirit of American independence and ingenuity. With over 80 million small businesses operating across the country today, it’s clear that even through some tough times, this spirit is alive and well.

Please join us in congratulating the 2021 NASE Dependent Scholarships recipients! Each year we offer a scholarship opportunity to help ease the financial burden to legal dependents of NASE Members that are between the ages of 16 to 24 by offering four $3,000 educational scholarships. However, this year (and in the years to come) we have decided to expand the program to five scholarships.

President Biden announced a broad, expansion infrastructure proposal negotiated with a bipartisan group of Senators, including Republicans Senators Richard Burr (NC), Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Lindsey Graham (SC), Jerry Moran (KS), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rob Portman (OH), Mitt Romney (UT), Mike Rounds (SD), Thom Tillis (NC), and Todd Young (IN). And Democratic Senators Chris Coons (DE), Maggie Hassan (NH), John Hickenlooper (CO), Mark Kelly (AZ), Joe Manchin (WV), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), Jon Tester (MT), Mark Warner (VA), and Angus King (ME), an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

Temperatures are soaring, and the heat is on for small businesses this summer. Looking for ways to cool off and cut costs? Get the most bang for your buck with these money-saving tips from NASE. ​1. Cut your tax bill One of the most effective ways of reducing the amount of money flowing out of your small business is by lowering your tax liability.

Dr. Lydia Hughes-Evans is the Founder & CEO of Pure Momentum Consulting, LLC located in El Cerrito, California. For the past 13 years, Pure Momentum Consulting has provided non-profit management and operations support. PMC’s core values are Integrity, Performance, and Results, and that’s what unites them as a team and allows them to help other organizations be successful.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is set to launch the Community Navigator Program later in June, the program is targeted towards minority-owned businesses and small businesses who found themselves unable to access the other programs offered by the SBA to support businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Community Navigator Pilot Program that will strengthen outreach to underserved businesses by partnering with organizations with deep roots in their communities.

From perfecting your product, crafting your brand, and keeping up with all the legal and financial requirements, growing a small business is a big challenge. It’s a lot of work before you even get down to work — and it’s a lot to celebrate when you succeed! Here, NASE answers five frequently asked questions about running a small business.

Austen Lincoln is an Occupational Therapist and Owner of Steps 2 Grow, LLC in Portland, Oregon. Steps 2 Grow offers pediatric occupational therapy to children from birth to five years old. Their goal is to enhance development and minimize the potential for delays through direct treatment and caregiver education and empowerment.

Following the passage of the American Rescue Plan and the Presiden’s proposal for infrastructure, American Jobs Plan, the Administration announced its American Families Plan, which they argue is “an investment in our kids, our families, and our economic future.”

If you’ve had some business downtime in the past year, you’re far from alone. But as the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” and it’s vital that small business owners see the silver lining in all that cloud cover. In fact, rainy days can turn out to be the most important planning time for your small business.

Dr. Sarah Duke is a Doctor of Chiropractic & Massage Therapist and Shane Duke is a Licensed Massage Therapist. Together they own and operate Austin Community Wellness PLLC in Austin, Texas. The goal of Austin Community Wellness is to bring balance back to your body so it can function optimally and help you live your best life.

The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

Mark Zuckerberg is a household name. He is widely recognized as one of the wealthiest CEOs in modern history. As the CEO of Facebook, most would consider Mark Zuckerberg a lucky business owner. However, his success was not without a little bit of luck. Mark Zuckerberg was sued by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss when they claimed he stole their idea for the social media giant Facebook. This lawsuit was eventually settled, but the facts of the case showed that Mark Zuckerberg took risks when he started Facebook. He also utilized the resources available to him and made a little of his own luck.

PPP Self-Employed Application Changes & NASE Supports SBA Event to Inform Self-Employed Business Owners On March 3, 2021, the Small Business Administration announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for self-employed individuals. The changes include:

For some people, punching the time clock of a traditional 9 to 5 job is a perfectly acceptable way of life. For others, their dreams lie in the allure of being one’s own boss. This dream includes setting your own schedule and following your own rules. Though this may sound like a very isolated way to do business, that assumption could not be further from the self-employed reality. The NASE experts help everyday people realize their dreams of owning a business or branching out to be self-employed and work for themselves. While there are many reasons to love being self-employed, the top ten reasons are outlined here:

Biden Administration Advances Ambitious $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Package ​The Biden Administration has announced an expansive relief package covering every aspect of the American economy in an effort to continue to fight the Covid pandemic. The package includes a continued emphasis on small business relief. Small Business Highlights include:

Happy New Year! If there was ever a year that could not leave fast enough, it was 2020. 2020 was challenging for every business. Even some of the largest companies suffered financial losses. Small businesses had to learn a new way to stay open and keep up with the competition. However, 2020 taught small business owners one crucial lesson that can help them survive anything the world throws at them. It taught our community how to go with the flow and be flexible. We learned how to think outside the box to stay afloat and continue working.

As the U.S. waits for widespread distribution of COVID-19 vaccines now being administered in sporadic ways across the globe, America’s small business community continues to be ravaged by the economic impact of this pandemic. Nearly all economic indicators point towards a long, slow recovery through 2021 as millions of small businesses hang in the balance.

The holiday shopping season can be stressful for small business owners trying to compete with larger online and offline retailers who have a wider variety of products and can sell their products at more affordable prices. But with more consumers learning how important it is to buy locally and support small businesses, there is some hope out there for your business to thrive during the holiday season.

In a last minute deal, Congressional leaders in the Senate and House reached a $900 billion Covid relief bill. The bill which came after months of fractured negotiations that saw House and Senate leaders produce multiple pieces of legislation at vastly different price tags. The key components of the bill are as follows:

Small business owners know what it’s like to take care of everyone else — constantly ensuring customers are delighted, employees are satisfied, and their families are nourished. But often that leaves little time for other considerations, like planning for retirement. The thought can be overwhelming on top of all the other things that fall into the lap of a small business owner. And being self-employed means there is no company matching retirement contributions or making investment decisions.

Note: The NASE does not endorse political candidates Former Vice President Joe Biden is on track to be declared the winner of the 2020 presidential campaign, unseating President Trump following a bitter campaign during a global health pandemic.

Congratulations on starting your own small business. You’re finally self-employed. Being your own boss comes with a lot of perks. You can take long lunches and create your own schedule, but it’s also a big step with a definite learning curve. Much of that learning relates to money. You’re not getting a regular paycheck anymore. How are you going to pay the bills every month and still save for retirement?

The House, Senate and White House, are all battling in a legislative standoff, with Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin attempting to navigate a challenging environment to advance a $2T relief package primarily aimed at supporting small businesses, the unemployed, and local and state municipalities.

Be your own boss. It’s an alluring thought for all the freedom it implies: Make your own schedule; work from home or anywhere else; do what you want; and keep all the money you earn.

Small Business Community Calls for Congressional Action The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) along with its fellow leading small business associations, through the Small Business Roundtable, are calling on Congressional leaders to take immediate action in support of America’s 30 million small businesses.

On top of actually selling, small business owners often singlehandedly manage a variety of day-to-day tasks: accounting, record-keeping, inventory, marketing, and more. Without a large team of specialized employees or a large budget for outsourcing such work, the more mundane details of maintaining a company can become overwhelming.

Yengyee Lor is an NASE Member from Weston, Wisconsin and is the Founder, Coach, and Consultant at Faithful Consulting LLC. Faithful Consulting provides leadership, training, team building, facilitation, goal planning, strategizing, coaching, counseling, assessments, and management to help individuals and organizations with meaningful solutions that create positive and meaningful solutions both internally and externally.

On Saturday, August 8, President Trump signed for executive orders in an effort to provide economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress was unable to come to an agreement prior to the August recess; however, House and Senate leaders have said they will call back members if a deal materializes during the recess.

Whether you’re launching a new venture or already have an established customer base, the key to growing your small business is winning new customers. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) offers seven proven techniques for reaching new customers. These methods are used by businesses large and small, but most cost little beyond a commitment to their implementation and sustained practice.

EXCLUSIVE PARTNER PROMOTIONS NASE Members receive up to an additional 10% off all Dell branded products on Dell.com. DEDICATED PARTNERSHIP With one-on-one dedicated support, you can conveniently call, talk or chat with your Dell Technologies Advisor directly.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) submitted several policy objectives that should be included in the next phase of relief legislation that the Congress looks to consider in the month of July.

As a self-employed small business owner, you’re used to wearing many hats. You might be the boss, the marketing department, a childcare provider, and an IT expert all on the same day. You have to keep yourself on track, become an expert at what you do, and keep it all running smoothly at the same time. There is an incredible amount of pride and freedom that comes with being self-employed and running your own business, along with numerous challenges you deal with every day.

Andy Pham is the Founder of Company Alarm located in Meridian, Idaho. Andy Pham is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully started more than 30 companies in the last 20 years. Those businesses range from real estate development to medical technology to oil and gas drilling and production programs. Company Alarm, started in 2019 after Andy himself had an incident of business identity theft.

In June, Congress approved a bi-partisan bill to provide greater flexibility to the Paycheck Protection Program, introduced by Representatives Phillips (D-MN) and Roy (R-TX), the changes address issues that the NASE has advocated for reforming.

The path to starting a small business is rocky. Whether you’re establishing yourself as a freelancer or trying to get a new business up and running, there are a few trip hazards to watch for along the way. Some mistakes are small, and part of the learning curve for self-employed careers. Others can leave you flat on your face if you aren’t watching where you step.

Preston “Paul” Parks is the President of P2 Programs located in Dripping Springs, Texas. P2 Programs, started in 1986 as a part-time by writing barcode applications (inventory and process tracking applications) for various barcode suppliers in the Houston, Texas area. After four years of construction experience and another four years manufacturing operations experience, Paul founded P2 Programs and began full time operations in 1992. Based upon our experiences with construction and manufacturing process tracking, P2 Programs had the technological expertise to present customers with an affordable and successful solution to the data collection challenges they faced in their manufacturing operations.

On Tuesday, May 12, the House Democratic Leadership introduced the HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act, a sweeping $3 Trillion relief package that touches every aspect of those suffering through the current crisis. The proposed legislation is inclusive of numerous Democrat priorities, many of which are considered non-starters for Senate Republicans. However, we anticipate some of these proposals will eventually find themselves in the final package of legislation that the House and Senate will pass in the weeks ahead.

According to research from the US Small Business Administration, our country has 28.8 million small businesses that employ 56.8 million employees. Altogether, small business owners account for 99.7% of all employers nationwide. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, small business owners and self-employed individuals across the country are wondering how the pandemic will affect their healthcare. Fortunately, assistance and access to an abundance of resources are on the way. In this post, you’ll find out everything you need to know about employee and self-employed healthcare changes during these uncertain times.

Healthcare will undergo exciting new changes in 2020 as lawmakers and industry professionals collaborate to tackle some of the nation’s most pressing issues. This year, universal healthcare, prescription drug shortages, electronic health data, maternal care, and value-based payment models are in the spotlight.

As a small business owner, entrepreneur or solo freelancer, you probably already know that in 2020, social media is not an optional part of your online footprint. ​In fact, social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter may be the first place potential customers find you — even before they locate your business website. How can you maximize these valuable pieces of digital real estate to reach new customers and grow your brand?

Sharon T. Hinton is the Founder and President of PepTalk Productions, LLC located in Memphis, Tennessee. PepTalk Productions began in 2000 and provides presentations, courses, and other resources for personal and professional development to nurses, chaplains and anyone interested in spiritual care.

As our members face the growing uncertainty of the economic impact of the Coronavirus, we wanted to share the growing list of resources that are being made available to support you during this challenging time. Please note that the NASE remains a strong and supportive partner to you as we all navigate these choppy waters, remember to leverage our Ask the Expert resource and continue to subscribe to our social media channels for the most up to date information, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Through this all, we will continue to advocate for the self-employed as legislation is being considered and regulatory action is taken.

On the eve of the Senate acquitting President Trump and avoiding impeachment, the President delivered his third and final State of the Union of his first term. While the speech noted in great detail the economic success of the US, it was a bit of a shock that during the nearly 90 min speech, the President did not mention small business or entrepreneurs.

Navigating business taxes can be a complicated and even scary process, whether you’re new to the system or not. In fact, the surge of the “gig economy” means more Americans than ever will be working through filing business taxes this year. According to the Gig Economy Index, nearly one in three US workers are earning side incomes through jobs like freelance writing and Uber driving that could be classified as businesses by the IRS.

It’s a new year and as a small business owner, you’re excited to improve your business and achieve even greater results than in 2019. However, 2020 is set to be another competitive year across many industries. Brands are all jockeying for position to be seen by customers, driving up advertising costs and making it harder to stand out from the crowd with your product or service.

Prior to Congress adjourning for 2019, the House and Senate passed a government spending bill that included the SECURE Act, also known as the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019,”which has been supported by the NASE.

When it comes to the holiday season, small business owners have a lot to do. Not only do you need to be ready for the biggest shopping days of the year, but you also have to plan ahead for the new year.

Susie Redfern is the Owner of Milestones Magazine LLC located in Aurora Illinois. Milestones Magazine is both a publication and website dedicated to showcasing programs, products, and services that help people with challenges (any age/type/degree) achieve milestones in their lives.

In two separate studies, Paychex’s Small Business Employment Watch and US Chamber of Commerce and MetLife’s Small Business Index, small business growth and optimism continue to grow and remain steady, largely impart to the tight labor market.

Kristen Moffatt is the Owner of Wasatch Nectar in Salt Lake City, Utah. Wasatch Nectar is an energy supplement made from Utah raw honey and enhanced with electrolytes. It’s locally sourced honey, and locally packaged. It makes the ideal athletic fuel, but also makes a great addition to any snack!

A recently proposed rule from the Federal Register, introduces changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which means new benefit and payment parameters for 2020. Provisions impacting both current and future health care and Medicare beneficiaries could affect eligibility, enrollment, and coverage details. Below, is a complete summary of proposed open enrollment changes that will impact policyholders during the next enrollment period.

As House Democrats open impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump, the sentiment on Capitol Hill has turned sour. While the oversight powers rest with Congress, there is a growing fear that the impeachment activities will delay or outright stall any legislative activity through the end of 2019 and 2020. This includes funding the federal government, addressing prescription drug pricing, and passing the United States Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Brandi Day is the Founder and Executive Director of iD.A.Y.dream located in Kent, Washington. Founded in 2016, iD.A.Y.dream, is a youth-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves low to middle income young men and women, ages 12-18. iD.A.Y.dream provides diverse programming such as: Success Dreamers Academy, Change Management (Emotional Intelligence), Parent Academy, Educational Enrichment and Community Engagement.

The technological landscape has changed enormously over the past decades for small businesses with the explosion of smartphones, online shopping, and cloud-based data storage. Small businesses and the self-employed have the ability to more efficiently manage operations, communicate with employees and clients no matter their location, and reach vastly greater numbers of potential customers.

Question: I extended my tax return that is now due on October 15th. I just discovered that I left off some expenses from the previous year that I should have included. Can I include those amounts on this tax return or on next year’s tax return, or have I lost the benefit of those expenses?

Laura Mauck is the Co-Owner & Communications Director of Juggernaut Cargo Bikes in Denver, Colorado. Juggernaut Cargo Bikes was born from Laura’s experiences in urban planning, architecture and design. These influences came together to create a handcrafted and precision-engineered product that is practical, effective, and beautiful.

In August, after careful evaluation, the National Association for the Self-Employed endorsed H.R. 4069, the Modern Worker Empowerment Act, introduced by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and co-sponsored by Reps. Bradley Byrne (R-Al), Phil Roe (R-TN) and Ron Wright (R-TX).

To thrive in the years to come, small businesses need to secure young customers and clientele. To do that, business owners need to know what makes teenagers, students, and Millennials in the “digital generations” tick.

Sedonia Perrier is the owner of Steelhead LLC in Gretna, Louisiana. The purpose of Steelhead LLC is to provide guidance in as many areas as possible including: empowerment, self-love, development of self-concept, financial responsibility, community growth and togetherness, educational aspiration assistance, mental health counseling and general awareness and guidance.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) enthusiastically supports H.R. 3880, “Tax Fairness for the Self-Employed Act” introduced by Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-NY) and Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA). The legislation would allow the 34 million self-employed individuals to deduct their health care premiums as a business deduction, saving self-employed individuals an average of $750 a year.

Establishing and growing a loyal base of customers is essential to the success of every small business. Customer attrition and retention metrics can help entrepreneurs identify best business practices that deliver profitable results. Attrition and retention rates combined with data from regular customer feedback is significantly useful when analyzing customer trends, challenges, and motivations that can have a deciding impact on the future of a small business. The following paper covers the definitions of customer attrition and retention, ways to evaluate these figures, and strategies for retaining customers.

With summer in full swing, that means the start of a new school year is right around the corner. As many of our readers know, the NASE offers a $3,000 educational scholarship to the dependents of NASE Members who are between the ages of 16 and 24. To date we have awarded almost $1.9 million and below are the four most recent recipients.

On Monday, June 24, President Trump signed an executive order directing his Administration to take additional steps to improve upon price and transparency in health care.

Retirement. The beginning of a new chapter in the life of a small business owner. Everyone dreams about the transition from the world of work to the freedom that retirement brings. Maybe one of your initial reasons for starting a business was the desire to retire early, or to ensure a secure retirement for yourself and your family. You are not alone in your desire for that independence and peace of mind.

Finally, after nearly six years of active advocacy efforts, the Trump Administration announced on June 14, 2019, new rule on how Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) can be leveraged by small employers. The rule undoes an Obama administration action that severely limited how businesses could utilize HRAs.

With the onslaught of virtual reality, in-person connections are still, if not more important for business owners and entrepreneurs. Tradeshows, industry conferences and other F2F (face-to-face) gatherings continue to drive sales, spread awareness, and engage audiences worldwide. But as a business owner, how do you make the most of this dynamic marketing channel?

In recognition of National Small Business Week — a week dedicated to recognizing and honoring the outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners located across all 50 states and U.S. territories — which was Sunday, May 5th through Saturday, May 11th, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, “applauded the entrepreneurial spirit of our nation’s small businesses who help strengthen our nation’s economy every day.”

So, you’ve started a business and now you have to get the word out. What many business owners are guilty of is assuming that everyone will catch onto their idea, product, or service with ease and it’ll just go “viral.” The problem is this normally is not the case. The concept of virality is for another day ­­­— for now, let’s focus on the main topic at hand — how do you expand in building your business from the ground up?

Marilyn Green is the President & CEO of JFY Consulting, Inc. that is headquartered in Belleville, Illinois and has satellite offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. JFY Consulting, Inc. offers Strategic Process Planning; Grant Mining, Coaching/Reviewing; Leadership Development Workshops; Business Development and IT Strategic Solutions. When working with JFY, you will get a synergistic think tank that combines the knowledge, experience and wisdom of baby boomers and the creative, tech-savvy connectivity of millennials.

On Wednesday, March 27, NASE President and CEO, Keith Hall, provided testimony to the House Small Business Committee on the opportunities and challenges the self-employed face as it relates to retirement security.

One of the most important things that an entrepreneur can do is create a plan to grow their business. Strategic growth will allow you to connect with more customers, increase your income, and become a leader in your industry. However, many small business owners remain stuck, falling into the comforts of only working with their established client base. Growing your business can seem overwhelming, especially if you feel like you’re out of leads. By using the right resources, you’ll be able to grow your business without burning out.

Skip Press is a writer, editor and teacher who has been self-employed for nearly 30 years. Residing in Burbank, California, Skip aims to write something every day. Skip started his career with a typical corporate communications job but later moved on from that and began writing things like news and magazine articles, plays, screenplays, novels and much more. One of his biggest passions is teaching young people to write well and inspire creativity.

On Wednesday, March 6, Democratic leaders in the Senate and House introduced “Save the Internet” legislation that reverse the “Pai Rule”, which to some allowed restrictive behavior, including blocking and throttling of the internet. The legislation also empowers the FCC to look at potentially harmful practices of ISPs (practices that could be unjust or discriminatory).

At The National Association for the Self-Employed, we know that tax season can be a hassle for independent contractors, freelancers, and small business owners. You don’t usually have the resources to hire seasoned accountants, so you end up taking precious time out of your busy day to do it yourself. But never fear, NASE is here to guide you and your small business through the process with the essential knowledge you’ll need to navigate your 2018 Tax Year.

President Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union address, which had been postponed due to the government shutdown. While the address provided lofty rhetoric on key priorities for the Trump Administration, the NASE calls on the Administration and Congress to focus on America’s small business community, following the devastating government shutdown that paralyzed small businesses by creating unnecessary uncertainty, many were left confused about IRS refunds and tax obligations, unable to get loan assistance, and were on the frontlines of a lack of sales from regular customers unable to support them.

Starting a business from scratch can be both a liberating and exhilarating experience for the aspiring entrepreneur. However, it is not a decision to take lightly as it requires the person to willingly make significant changes to their lifestyle, mindset, and level of commitment that is required for building a business. After all, it is significantly different being a small business owner rather than being an employee that works for someone else. For instance, a person that is someone else’s employee enjoys the reliability of receiving wages and benefits for their daily efforts in helping the business stay functional. It also means the employee has vast amounts of company resources at their disposal, whereas the small business owner has to develop it themselves.

I hope 2018 was a great year for you and your business and that your expectations for 2019 are even better. Most of you haven’t even begun to think about taxes for 2018, but I wanted to start the year asking you to think about taxes for 2019. I know, I know, who cares about a tax return that isn’t due until April of 2020 but I will put my money where my mouth is. You may have heard me say that almost all tax savings ideas, the really good ones, end as the New Year comes in. Most great ideas have to be considered and implemented before the end of the year and before you actually start filling out any of those silly IRS tax forms. I want to help you save up to $5,000 in taxes for 2019 just by reading this idea and then saying, “Yes”!

In the waning days of 2018, the National Association for the Self-Employed submitted comments in support of rules around health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) that are being proposed by the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services.

Every year we promise ourselves that this year we’ll lose those extra pounds, we’ll give up a bad habit or we’ll be more organized. We join a gym, we chew gum instead of smoking and we buy multi-colored folders and one too many cabinets. By mid-January, we stop going to the gym, are enjoying being couch potatoes and resort to leaving all our files scattered on the floor.

As a founding member of the Small Business Roundtable (SBR), a coalition of small business organizations charged with advocating and promoting sound small business policy, we joined with other organizations to conduct a post midterm election poll that found small business owners are concerned about the impact the 116th Congress will have on issues important to them. The poll commissioned by SBR was comprised of 445 small business owners from across the country in the days immediately following the midterm elections.

As magical as the holiday season seems, for many entrepreneurs and small business owners, the end of the year can be full of stress. From dealing with a skeleton-crew staff, slowed communication, and stretched end-of-year budgets, it can be challenging to find time to enjoy the spirit of cheer that the holidays should bring. By navigating this busy and bustling season with self-care in mind, you will learn how to equip both your business and your own wellbeing for success.

Being Self-Employed in the holidays can be very hard if you don’t have a plan. Don’t let Christmas be an expense you didn’t prepare for. Create a budget that includes the holidays as a line item. A lot of times we have a budget for Monthly expenses and when an unforeseen cost comes we are not prepared and it can become devastating. Here some tips to help you prepare:

On October 12, 2017, President Trump issued Executive order 13813, “Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States,” to direct the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury to develop rules to expand association health plans (AHPs), short-term limited duration insurance, and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). This proposed rule pertains to HRAs only.

Advertising your small business sounds scary but it really is not. There are a number of ways to advertise, including signs, billboards, radio, television, Google and Facebook. Digital advertising platforms like Facebook and Google are relatively new, powerful ways to advertise that also put the power in the hands of small business owners. While you may have to hire a consultant to make a television ad or a billboard, then negotiate the rate for its display, all that power is right at your fingertips on your personal computer when it comes to digital advertising.

This month is National Women’s Small Business Month and we are proud to celebrate and honor the nearly 11 million woman-owned businesses in the U.S., which is 38 percent of all businesses, supporting nearly nine million jobs and generating annual revenues of $1.6 trillion. Women business owners are a force of nature!

Being self-employed and running your own small business is one of the biggest roller coasters you’ll ever ride. Right when you think your finances are in check, you are invoiced for an amount that even your accountant had forgotten. Or when you think things are finally going right, they quickly go far left.

With back-to-school season upon us, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, today announced the awarding of $12,000 in educational scholarships to four dependents of current NASE members.

On August 31, President Trump, directed the Departments of Labor and Treasury to explore ways in which they can advance several changes to retirement programs to expand their impact and use by millions of Americans. As note in this Forbes.com article, the EO focuses on three initiatives:

One of the first things you probably did when establishing your small or micro business was to build a website. An online home is mandatory for any successful business. Whether you built it yourself or hired a web designer to build it for you, don’t let your website become a glorified business card with static information that never changes. With a little planning and effort, your website can become an important part of your sales process.

As an NASE member, you are the driving force for what we do. Promoting self-employment and providing as many self-employed people as possible with our wide variety of benefits is something we do every day. But is it something you do? A great way for you to show your support for the NASE is to Like, Join and Follow us on our social media channels to help spread awareness.

In a letter to President Trump, NASE along with hundreds of small business organizations, called on the Administration to issue an Executive Order authorizing the next White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB) which has not been held since 1995.

Marketing is an important part of growing a business. No matter how great your product or service, if no one knows you exist, especially your target audience, you may find it difficult to pay the bills. A good marketing strategy can put you on the right track to gain new and repeat customers. Unfortunately, many small business owners put marketing on the back burner, and by doing so, may be sending their potential customers to their competitors.

Still unsure about last month’s article on SEO & SEM? Read on to find out more. SEO & SEM what’s the difference? SEO, what are organic search results and why are they so important? When trying to explain to a member the importance of getting your business’ website listed in search engines the terms SEO and SEM always come up. Quite often I’m asked what the difference is between the two.

1. Get out of the office! Connect with networking groups, share ideas and ask for referrals. 2. Is your Website up to date? Can people order products or services direct through your site? If not consider investing in ecommerce.

On June 22, the Supreme Court ruled on South Dakota v. Wayfair overturning a previous ruling which made much of the internet a tax-free zone.

Search engine optimization and search engine marketing are two ways by which businesses can draw visitors to their websites and achieve their goals. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process by which a business gets their website to rank higher in unpaid (free) search results for specific keywords. Search engine marketing (SEM) is the process by which a business gets their website to appear as paid results when someone searches for specific keywords. Both SEO and SEM are displayed on the search results page and the person searching must choose which to click on, if any. Small businesses and entrepreneurs can benefit from both SEO and SEM.

As an NASE member, you are the driving force for what we do. Promoting self-employment and providing as many self-employed people as possible with our wide variety of benefits is something we do every day. But is it something you do? A great way for you to show your support for the NASE is to Like, Join and Follow us on our social media channels to help spread awareness. If you haven’t taken the time already, we invite you to do so now with the links to our social media below:

In advance of the 2020 Census, the National Association for the Self-Employed has joined the newly formed Census Business Coalition (CBC) and NASE Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Katie Vlietstra, will serve as senior advisor to the coalition.

It’s that time of the year again! National Small Business Week in which we, the small businesses of America, are recognized. According to the SBA, “More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.” That means that you, a small business owner, are the backbone of America.

As President Trump and congressional Republicans travel around the country touting the impact of the tax reform package enacted last year, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), released new data gauging the impact the tax reform law is having on small business owners’ days after making their first 2018 quarterly tax estimate payments.

We are always looking for NASE Members to feature in our monthly spotlights. If you want free publicity for your business and you are an NASE Member, we can help you promote your business! Simply fill out our “Get Publicity!” form here, and you and your business could be featured in an NASE publication, like our monthly member e-newsletter, SelfInformed.

As an NASE member, you are the driving force for what we do. Promoting self-employment and providing as many self-employed people as possible with our wide variety of benefits is something we do every day. But is it something you do? A great way for you to show your support for the NASE is to Like, Join and Follow us on our social media channels to help spread awareness. If you haven’t taken the time already, we invite you to do so now with the links to our social media below:

There’s nothing quite like starting your own business, even if it’s a small or micro business. It’s exhilarating to see your company name on your new letterhead and business card, submit proposals to potential clients and start earning an income for work that you’re doing. Above all, you realize that all the hard work and effort that you’ve put into nurturing your idea for your own business is finally coming to light. It’s the same with growing an existing business. After all, you’ve worked hard and put in lots of hours and effort to get to the point where expansion is a consideration. That may include adding an employee, moving from a home office to a rental office space, or adding new services to your current business offerings.

As an NASE member, you are the driving force for what we do. Promoting self-employment and providing as many self-employed people as possible with our wide variety of benefits is something we do every day. But is it something you do? A great way for you to show your support for the NASE is to Like, Join and Follow us on our social media channels to help spread awareness. If you haven’t taken the time already, we invite you to do so now with the links to our social media below:

This month, we are going to take a look at not one of our fantastic Members specifically, but rather our members as a collective. Using data from over 600 members who responded to our 2017 Member Survey in November of last year, let’s find out who the NASE member is…statistically speaking.

NASE is proud to announce that we have joined the Small Business Roundtable. NASE has joined forces with the nation’s leading small business and entrepreneurship organizations to form the Small Business Roundtable (SBR), a coalition dedicated to advancing policy, securing access, and promoting inclusion to benefit the 30 million small businesses at the heart of the American economy.

Self-employed business owners are passionate about what they do. They thrive on unbridled enthusiasm for their work. Maybe you are a fantastic graphic designer, or an innovative IT consultant, or a master plumber. Yet, knowing one’s business is not the same as knowing how to run a business. Being the boss often means you are also head of marketing, sales, accounting, HR and more. And sometimes you could use some help.

In December, Congress passed a massive overhaul of the tax code. As small-business owners plan for 2018, we want to hear from you as to the potential impact of the overhaul on you and your business. Please complete a brief nine-question survey, so we can better understand how we can help prepare for the change to come.

As an NASE member, you are the driving force for what we do. Promoting self-employment and providing as many self-employed people as possible with our wide variety of benefits is something we do every day. But is it something you do? A great way for you to show your support for the NASE is to Like, Join and Follow us on our social media channels to help spread awareness. If you haven’t taken the time already, we invite you to do so now.

NASE was privileged to testify before the House Small Business Committee hearing on Occupational Hazards: How Excessive Licensing Hurts Small Business. The hearing provided a wonderful opportunity for Mr. Hall to provide insight from NASE members on the impact occupational licensing has on the millions of self-employed and micro-business owners across the country.

Tax season is upon us, and it can be a tricky time for small business owners and people who are self-employed. With income from multiple sources, plus expenses, deductions, and investments, navigating your taxes can take precious time you likely just don’t have. Here’s a guide to make preparing your taxes just a little bit easier—think of it as an entrepreneur’s roadmap on the journey to stress-free taxes.

Still unsure about last month’s article on Mobile Web Apps and Responsive Website Design? Read on to find out more. A responsive website is a site built so that it automatically detects what the screen size of the device you’re using is as well as other limitations such as the browser type and any secondary applications that might be necessary for the site to function correctly. Then, the website automatically modifies the content to fit the constraints. The problem with responsive sites is that it’s simply impossible to create one site that works with all screen sizes, browsers and other secondary applications consistently. The factors are too numerous to go into but this is often the preferred option for many companies as it is a more cost friendly option.

Question: I am getting all of my stuff together for this year’s tax return and was wondering…should I hire a CPA or enrolled agent or should I do this myself? Answer: This is a great first question in the quest to complete your tax return and is the first question you should answer each and every year.

President Trump gave his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 30, celebrating his one year in office and successful passage of a key campaign promise, comprehensive tax reform.

Which Is Right For Your Small Business Website? About 77% of U.S. adults own a smartphone. Fifty-one percent of these adults reported making online purchases via their smartphone, according to Pew Research. With many consumers viewing company websites and making their online purchases on their phones, as an entrepreneur starting a business or growing a business, responsive web design should be a priority.

With the start of a new year comes the enrollment period for the NASE Dependent Scholarship. Members with a child (or children) that will be attending college in the fall should look into applying for a dependent scholarship.

Question: So...Exactly WHAT am I supposed to be doing with regard to the new tax law? Answer: First of all Happy New Year and welcome to 2018. It is gonna be a good year!!! Regardless of all other factors from this point forward, we will indeed have a new tax code for 2018. I am totally sure you have heard more than you would normally choose to hear about taxes and will undoubtedly continue to hear more. Just in case, here is a summary of the biggest changes…

In a letter to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, the NASE provided comments in response to the Presidential Executive Order Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States issued by President Trump on October 12, 2017. Section 4 of the Executive Order specifically addresses increasing availability of and access to the use of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) for employers and their employees.

Once a person leaves the corporate world and enters the realm of small business, either as a small business owner or as an employee, he/she encounters new sets of regulations or lack of. This is certainly true when examining laws and guidelines pertaining to taking leave of absences. This article will address this topic from three perspectives: 1) the owner’s perspective of his own leave of absence, whether that be temporary or of indeterminate length 2) the owner’s perspective when a key employee requests a leave of absence, and 3) the employee’s perspective when considering their right to take a leave of absence.

No doubt by this time you have heard probably more than you would like about Tax Reform. On November 2nd, Republicans in the United States House of Representatives introduced legislation outlining new guidelines to simplify a very complicated tax code. The Democrats have weighed in with their feedback and adjustments, and as of press time the U.S. Senate was preparing to release their tax reform plan as well. Now…Let the Talks Begin.

Nicole VanHaaren is the owner of Vanhaaren Designs located in Olivet, Michigan. Vanhaaren Designs provides web and graphic designs for personal and professional use. When Nicole is not busy raising her two children, she can be found creating websites from the ground up or editing images and color schemes. Providing superior customer service is her main focus when working with clients.

Long championed by the NASE, Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) have become a significant tool for the self-employed and micro-business owner to use to offer a unique, innovative health care benefit.

Planning for retirement can be a complicated and overwhelming process. To better maximize the potential for success in retirement, it is essential for small business owners to understand the basics regarding the retirement options available. With this knowledge, small business owners can achieve maximum results and choose the right plan for their future. Many choices are available to include a SIMPLE or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees IRA, a SEP IRA or Simplified Employee Pension IRA, a Solo (Individual) 401k and a Defined Benefit Plan. The most popular plans are the SIMPLE IRA and Solo (Individual) 401k. The pros and cons of each plan are discussed below.

Question: I am attempting to complete my first Schedule C for my new business and I am not sure what is deductible. Do you have a list of deductible expenses that I can use? Answer: There are certainly expenses that are common to all small businesses and those that are common to specific industries.

As an NASE member, you are the driving force for what we do. Promoting self-employment and providing as many self-employed people as possible with our wide variety of benefits is something we do every day. But is it something you do? A great way for you to show your support for the NASE is to Like, Join and Follow us on our social media channels to help spread awareness.

The NASE enthusiastically supports new legislation proposed by the leaders of the House Small Business Committee leadership earlier in September. H.R. 3717, Small Business Owners’ Tax Simplification Act of 2017, legislation was drafted in close consultation with the NASE, and we are incredibly appreciative of the inclusion of many key priorities we advocated for being included in the final legislation.

Every year, choices for business financing are more plentiful: small banks, Internet banks, crowdfunding, grants and creative investment are just a few of the methods growing rapidly. However, running concurrently with this availability is a set of legal risks that also grows each year. Small businesses have less protection than corporations in banking and loan fulfillment areas, in general, but carry liability in every job they do or product they sell. This is especially true for sole proprietors, who usually risk home and family finances when starting or expanding their ventures.

One of my favorite Christmas carols includes that phrase about school starting again and as a parent I never really understood that. When the kids were out of school I always had a great excuse NOT to think about things such as estimated tax payments or year-end planning because there was always the beach and baseball and the pool.

Chris Bouchard is the founder and CEO of Revgen Solutions LLC located in Dayville, Connecticut. The vision of RevGen is to increase the impact that organizations have on society and the economy by assisting them to develop healthy, strategic, and sustainable initiatives. While working part-time as a case manager for a grant funded program Chris began to blossom and knew he found his calling in being behind the scenes and helping others fundraise for worthy causes.

The NASE has publicly announced its support for H.R. 2823, “Affordable Retirement Advice for Savers Act.” Introduced in the House by Chairman Roskam (R-IL) and Dr. Roe (R-TN) the legislation puts the interests of the American small business community ahead of federal red tape by overturning the burdensome fiduciary rule. The fiduciary rule is a one size fits all regulation and places a significant financial burden on small business. The NASE feels strongly that burdensome regulation will stifle innovation and growth in the small business sector and superfluous rules like these are simply a barrier to economic growth.

Starting a business is an exciting endeavor. When the possibilities are endless and the canvas before you is blank, it is often easy to get swept up in the excitement and lose sight of some of the key logistics and planning that are essential to growing a business. This white paper examines some important considerations for any new business owner and provides practical tips for success.

Question: I was talking with some friends at Sunday school about, of all things, taxes. I think I may have done my tax return incorrectly and actually omitted some expense deductions that I should have included. Is it too late to correct the error?

This year we had over twenty dependents of NASE members apply for our four annual scholarships. The applications were truly outstanding, all applicants deserve praise. With this year complete, it marks the 28th year we have been able to give our educational scholarship to our member’s dependents and we couldn’t be more proud.

On July 27, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) outlined their bold plan for comprehensive tax reform. In close coordination with the Trump Administration, the House and Senate leaders, announced the key areas of focus in the legislation:

Everyone knows that marketing and advertising have the power to increase awareness of your business, boost sales and create customer loyalty. If you don’t invest marketing dollars wisely, backed by a solid brand strategy, you can end up spending a lot with little ROI. Consider these free or low-cost tips for growing sales and building your brand by marketing smart.

Mary G. Mora is the owner of MGM Speakers Bureau, located in Winston Salem, North Carolina with services available worldwide. MGM Speakers Bureau is a Talent Agency who works with Corporations, Event Planners, Associations, For-profit and Non-profit Organizations, HR Departments, Individuals, and others.

Late in June, Senate Republicans introduced their long awaited legislation to repeal/replace the Affordable Care Act. However, unlike the House version, which passed the House, the Senate bill was met with immediate skepticism from within the Senate Republican caucus. Members of the Conservative and Moderate wing, immediately called for continued negotiations—with very different and in many cases, conflicting demands. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had to scrap an anticipated pre-July 4th vote on the legislation as he has been unable to secure 50 Republican votes to move the measure forward.

They are Millennials—Americans in the prime of their lives at ages 18-34, and a group often misunderstood by companies large and small. Some consider them slackers who never launch from their parents’ homes because they don’t want responsibility. Others misconstrue Millennial’s active digital lives as meaning they struggle to make human connections.

The vast majority of tax questions that we get from NASE members come to us in March and April, and then another set maybe in early October for the truly gifted procrastinators. That probably sounds reasonable since most people try their best NOT to think about taxes unless they are actually sitting down to do the annual tax return.

Rev. Laura C. Cannon is the owner and founder of Ceremony Officiants™ located in Ellicott City, Maryland and does business in seven states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Her company has provided wedding officiants for over 10 years, and happily works with couples from all backgrounds. After a student asked her to perform the ceremony at her wedding, Laura knew she found her calling.

Earlier this Spring, President Trump announced his broad plans for tax reform and his desire to see these reforms introduced as legislation as quickly as possible. The plan includes six key components:

Usually, when people see the word “business,” they think in terms of the behemoths of industry such as Google, Amazon, Exxon, Tesla, Facebook, and so forth. However, small businesses have a huge impact on the U.S. economy. Indeed, small businesses—meaning firm size is fewer than 500 employees—account for over 99% of employer firms operating in the U.S. Furthermore, 48% of U.S. employees work for small businesses. Yet, those statistics are just the tip of the iceberg:

The NASE Member Directory as you know it just got a whole lot better! We’ve been listening carefully and working hard to implement the features you’ve been asking for. In fact, the directory has so much new stuff to offer we made it into a website of its own! The NASE Member Directory is now NextBizThing.com!

Question: With all that is happening in Health Care and insurance what should I do. Will ObamaCare still be around, will there be something new? I don’t know how to plan for the future? Answer: Your questions are very good ones and unfortunately, I don’t have an easy answer. There are a number of proposals being discussed and the House has even passed a new version that will be debated in the Senate over the next few months.

Every Presidential Administration takes some time to get their feet firmly planted and while we are cautious to put much stalk into the arbitrary 100 day assessment of President Trump, it is a good benchmark to evaluate the tone and philosophy of an Administration.

About ten years ago, Facebook introduced business pages, providing companies of all sizes a cost-effective platform for promoting themselves, attracting new clients and delivering customer care. Entrepreneurs flocked to set up Facebook pages, a communications channel opening them to previously unimaginable potential customers. Experts championed new platforms like Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram as leveling the marketing playing field for entrepreneurs. But if you asked an entrepreneur today their opinions about social media, you might find their responses decidedly mixed.

Q: I heard that I don’t have to file my tax return by April 18 so that I have more time to get the money together. How does that work? A: The information that you heard is part correct and part incorrect. Individual taxpayers can certainly request more time to file their tax return and, in fact, the approval for the extension is automatic. Simply complete IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return and mail to the IRS by to April 18th, 2017. The extension will provide an extra six months to complete the forms and file your final income tax return.

Matthew Bernier is the owner of Flashbulb Memories Photo Booth located in Tucson, Arizona. Matthew started his business after taking pictures at a holiday party in a photo booth and enjoying the experience. From that, he did some research and ended up creating a company to be a premium photo booth option for those who wanted professional results without the eyesore of a typical photo booth or photographer setup.

On Thursday, March 23, Republican Leadership pulled the American Health Care Act (AHCA) from being considered by the House of Representatives, citing that they did not have the support of the Republican Caucus, specifically, the influential Freedom Caucus who continued to withhold their support even after numerous concessions had been granted.

Tax season is upon us, and many small business owners are scrambling to pull together all the documentation needed to complete their returns. Tax preparation is expensive, time-consuming work for business owners, even for those who hire professional tax preparers. And no wonder. While the tax code in 1955 was 409,000 words, today it is around 4 million according to a National Taxpayer Advocate report. Just to get a handle on that, that’s five times longer than the Bible, both old and new testaments. “If tax compliance were an industry, it would be one of the largest in the United States,” the report says.

Q: I am pulling together all of the paper work for my tax return to take to my tax guy, what are some things that I may be missing? I don’t want to pay any more tax than I absolutely have to, and sometimes I wonder if I am missing deductions that other people are taking.

Lisa Stevenson, D.A. is the Co-founder, Owner and CEO of Arizona School of Dental Assisting located in Phoenix, Arizona. The goal of this post-secondary school is to prepare students for entry level positions as a chairside assistant in a dental office’s throughout the region. Lisa, along with her brother and other Co-founder recognized the need for well-trained dental assistants and created the company out of a need for hiring strong qualified assistants. The school opened in 2001 and holds 12-week courses throughout the year.

On Tuesday, February 28, President Trump was invited to speak to a Joint Session of Congress, roughly 40 days after his inauguration, President Trump spoke boldly about his vision for America and also highlighting successes by his Administration. Those successful initiatives highlighted in his speech, include:

The self-employed saw 2016 end on a positive note when a federal judge indefinitely delayed enforcement of the Department of Labor’s new overtime rule. The rule would have required employers to begin paying overtime to certain employees earning less than $47,476 a year, a considerable increase from the current $23,660 threshold. The impact of this rule would be highly damaging to a large percentage of small business owners already struggling to manage their bottom lines. The court’s decision confirms that our elected officials, even in the aftermath of a toxic election cycle, are well aware of the need to protect the economic viability of small businesses.

Q: I am in my second year as a small business owner and I am still not sure if I am required to use a CPA to do my tax return. What is my best option? A: Your question is a great one and one that should be answered before you do anything else related to completing your annual income tax return. As a CPA myself, I certainly don’t want to talk you out of using a professional but it is my concerted opinion that almost all of us are capable of preparing our own tax return.

With 2016 in the rear view mirror, we thought we would take one last opportunity to recognize all of our outstanding Growth Grant winners from last year. It is with great members like you that we are able to support initiatives such as this, so a big THANK YOU from the NASE staff.

On Tuesday, February 7, NASE’s President and CEO Keith Hall testified to the House Small Business Committee on what our members want and need to see from any health care reform efforts. Under the title, “Reimagining the Health Care Marketplace for America’s Small Businesses,” Mr. Hall focused on three key areas: quality, accessibility, and affordability.

Small business owners that want to grow their revenues significantly in 2017 should add webinars to their marketing mix. Whether you want to get noticed in your community or be a national player, these 30-to-90 minute educational presentations are highly effective in generating quality leads and customers for your products or services. Start-ups, small businesses and even corporates are experiencing success from webinars. Kissmetrics (an analytical platform for teams) generated $1.7 million from just 77 webinars. This doesn’t shock marketing guru Neil Patel of Quick Sprout, who says that on average marketers achieve conversion rates (attendee-to-sale) of about 20%-40%. This is extraordinary compared to lackluster email conversion rates of 2-12%.

Q: There are so many website to be a part of, I am not sure if I should be on Facebook or Twitter or Both? Which is better and what do you recommend? A: Great question. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a small business owner tell us how much they market their business on social media but they don’t seem to generate new business or higher sales.

Do you want free publicity for your business? If you're an NASE Member, the NASE can help you promote your business! Simply fill out our "Get Publicity!" form here, and you and your business could be featured in an NASE publication, like our monthly member e-newsletter, SelfInformed.

President Trump wasted no time and issued five executive orders within the first three days of his presidency. All of the executive orders fulfilled promises he made on the campaign trail.

As 2016 draws to a close and the New Year stretches out ahead with so much promise, many small business owners and self-employed people wonder, how can I make next year more successful than the last? Many of us have checklists and calendars we go through, there are past-year audits that are recommended, some even advocate a good old fashioned scrubbing and cleaning to promote clarity and a fresh start! While each of those methods have their merits, creating an actionable plan for success in the upcoming year can be a daunting task. As such, many people make it too large of an endeavor and don’t know where to begin. This year, I suggest you condense your end-of-year audit and future planning into one activity, borrowed from the Agile software development world, called a retrospective.

If you’re able to effectively communicate with your employees, you’ll be able to provide them important information when it’s necessary and you’ll have the opportunity to build a strong relationship with them.

Do you want free publicity for your business? If you're an NASE Member, the NASE can help you promote your business! Simply fill out our "Get Publicity!" form here, and you and your business could be featured in an NASE publication, like our monthly member e-newsletter, SelfInformed.

The language which was identical to previous legislation approved by the House of Representatives was inserted into the 21st Century Cares Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that funded important health programs and includes significant resources to the Beau Biden “moonshot” project- with a goal of curing cancer. The tack on of our legislation is a testament to the hard work done by the NASE, congressional champions and staff, and our coalition partners to emphasize how important HRAs are to the small business community.

“Nobody works harder than a small business owner. We work while sick, injured and overwhelmed by life.” My dad told me that when I was in high school and way too young to fully appreciate the depth of truth contained in that sentiment. Small business owners face struggles the 9-to-5er never dreams of, but you also reap rewards most jobs just can’t offer. It seems that holiday plans are the great annual equalizer when comparing your career advantages with your friends in the corporate world. With the Holiday Season in full swing, the savvy business owner wonders how to balance the clients’ and customers’ needs with personal time and family obligations. Below are a few thoughts and ideas that will help you achieve actual peace of mind during your time away by making a plan to manage the work pipeline, customer needs and employee actions during this already-hectic time of year.

Q: What Deductions are most commonly missed? A: As you probably know, most business deductions come right out of your business checkbook. Any expense that is incurred in the course of your business activity that is ordinary and necessary will be deductible in some form. Therefore, the first step is to make sure you have captured all the data from your business checkbook and any other expenses that were incurred even if you paid some of those from another account. Try to avoid paying business expenses with cash simply to make sure documentation is adequate. However, if valid business expenses were indeed paid with cash, the amounts are still deductible; just make sure you maintain adequate support for the expenditures.

Chris Lashua is the Founder and Director of Wheelwork Arts, LLC, a performance company based in Las Vegas, Nevada doing business as Cirque Mechanics. The company was founded in 2004 as a way to provide a unique brand of entertainment that encompassed theater, the circus, history and all things mechanical. Chris received a Growth Grant in 2010 to build a device to be incorporated in his shows. Cirque Mechanics has toured the U.S. theater arts markets, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Dubai and Hong Kong.

The 115th Congress will not look so different from the 114th, the Republicans still hold the majority in the Senate and House, however, in what many perceived as a shocking election, the Republicans now also hold the White House, President-elect Donald Trump, will have a path and the support to enact many of his campaign promises.

Type “nonprofit organization” into a search engine and you will get quite a variety of definitions. If you skip the legalese definitions — such as a “corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive”1— you will discover that there is an interesting definition that pops up: Nonprofit organizations are devoted to furthering a specific social cause or advocating for a particular point of view.

Tim Smith is the owner of WorkerRental.com based in Amherst, Ohio. WorkerRental works as a hub for Self-Employed residential workers. The goal of WorkerRental is to connect self-employed small business owners who provide services that typically are needed around the house to homeowners who need those services. By cutting out large businesses, Tim hopes that the relationships built by those who use the site will help prove the value of small personalized business solutions.

Q: My wife and I own a limited liability corporation. We just elected to be treated as an s corporation. We are trying to determine salary levels, and I read something about how the owner’s salary must be greater than employee’s for s corporations to minimize the chance of an IRS audit. What criteria should we use to establish our salaries?

For all accounts 2016 has turned into a once in a lifetime election that has thrown wide open not just which party will lead the White House, but what party will control the Senate and House. The safe assumption for many political observers in the midst of the primary calendar is that the House would remain safe in Republican hands and that the Republican majority in the Senate while possibly being chipped away ever so slightly, would remain in Republican control and that the fight for the White House would be the main event on November 8, 2016. It is safe to say that any pre-conceived notions or assumptions have been tossed out the window in what has become an eyebrow raising political cycle.

Buying a business provides a tremendous money making opportunity because it combines six factors that make it far superior to any other form of investment. These six factors are: - Appreciation - Leverage - Depreciation - Amortization - Conversion - Cash Flow Let us analyze each of these from the view of the business owner.

Q: I am working on filing my extended tax return that is due in October and I discovered a number of payments that I did not include on last year’s tax return. Can I just include those on the next year’s return or have I lost the benefit of those items? A: The easy answer is ‘No’ to both questions. It would not be appropriate to include payments made in a prior year on the current year’s income tax return, but the good news is that does not mean you have lost the benefit.

It’s September and with the changing of the season comes the beginning of a new school year. It also means that we have handed out scholarships again for the 27th year in a row. Members from across the country work with their dependents to fill out applications early in the year. The applications are then carefully and thoroughly reviewed with winners being notified over the summer in preparation of the Fall semester.

The NASE supports a simplified tax code which is always better for the long-term survival of small businesses. Secretary Clinton’s focus on both a standard business deduction and access to health care are two essential tools for the small business community. Offering health care benefits to employees is on point: in fact, we support this in conjunction with the flexibility of Health Reimbursement Arrangements in order to ensure small business stability and health of both their employees and businesses.

Whether you’re starting a new enterprise or taking over the family company, the challenges that face small business owners are the same: increase market share, diminish costs and risk, and fulfill your mission or vision. To achieve all these, micro business owners must wear many hats. Whether you planned to be an HR manager or not, you hold the HR responsibility. Entrepreneurs are learning they can not only manage these obligations, but use them to help grow their company.

Q: I have started a small business selling weight loss supplements and I am considering adding little magnet signs to the side of my car. If I choose to do this will the full cost of my car now be considered advertising? ​A: Investing in your new business via advertising is certainly a good idea and the costs you incur will certainly be deductible. Unfortunately, the addition of the advertising sign to your vehicle will not change the character of the vehicle itself, nor will it change the deduction for the business use of that car. Perhaps the bigger concern is to make sure that you indeed maximize the deduction to which you are entitled.

Teewa Akers is the owner of The Bookkeepers Accounting Service MD (Bookkeepers MD) located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The goal of Bookkeepers MD is to provide quality accounting services and increase financial literacy one client at a time. Teewa believes that financial literacy is extremely important for individuals and business owners alike, without a strong financial background, you may not be equipped to make major financial decisions. The Bookkeepers MD also specializes in working with small businesses to free up precious time for business owners to run their businesses instead of worrying about accounting and tax issues.

It is official, the Republican nominee for President is Donald J. Trump and the Democratic nominee for President is Secretary Hillary R. Clinton. The political parties met at their respective conventions in July to formally nominate their party’s candidate.

If you are reading this article you probably already recognize some of the advantages of owning a small business or micro business or being self-employed. Entrepreneurship is by no means easy and it’s not for everyone; but it has some tangible and intangible benefits for those with the right mindset and something good to bring to the marketplace. In this article, we will discuss some of the motivations that drive people into starting a business. We will also discuss ways in which you can continue building a business into the long-term success that all entrepreneurs hope for. At The National Association for the Self-Employed, we know that knowledge in the hands of small business owners is a powerful tool for both the business community our economy.

Q: I am attempting to complete my first Schedule C for my new business and I am not sure what is deductible. Do you have a list of deductible expenses that I can use? A: There are certainly expenses that are common to all small businesses and those that are common to specific industries. Perhaps the best place to start a list of common expenses is right on that same Schedule C that you are preparing to complete. Part II of the Schedule C is titled “Expenses” and provides a great place to start from advertising to car and truck expenses to insurance and interest expense to travel and wages. The fact that the detailed expense items are listed right on the Schedule C indicates those are indeed common expense categories for small business owners.

Christian Birky is the founder of Lazlo located in Detroit, Michigan. Lazlo is designing menswear essentials and hiring returning citizens to manufacture them in Detroit. From developing the best possible products and implementing sustainable business practices, to creating jobs for marginalized workers, every decision is focused on developing a profitable model for clothing as a force for social change. Christian was awarded an NASE Growth Grant in December 2015 and we look forward to his continued success at Lazlo.

The National Association for the Self-Employed voiced its strong support for the Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act, a bill that will update the overtime rules while allowing universities, non-profits, and businesses the necessary time to be able to plan and comply with the new rule.

You officially want to start your own business. Starting your own business isn’t for the faint of heart. It can be extremely stressful and will demand your complete focus. However, it can also be a very fulfilling experience, even if the business does not ultimately succeed. One of the most important things to do when starting a business is to obtain funding. In today’s age, there are a variety of ways to get funding to start your own business. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and below are several ways of achieving this.

Q: I have saved some money and now have enough to pay off my house, but I don’t want to lose the mortgage interest deduction. Should I pay off the loan or keep the loan to save on taxes? A: There are many rules embedded in the Internal Revenue Code but one that should be listed above all others and is nowhere to be found in the Code is Never, Ever spend money just to get a tax deduction.

Cassandra Tindell is the owner of Mainely Cupcakes located in Indian Trail, North Carolina. Mainely Cupcakes is an online family owned and operated home-based business that serves cakes and cupcakes. Each batch is made to order and never mass-produced. Before starting Mainely Cupcakes, Cassandra was an accountant who worked in corporate America for many years. Joining the NASE in 2015, Cassandra has taken advantage of many of the NASE’s benefits, including our Growth Grants, Ask the Experts and informative videos and articles on the website.

The NASE has announced its support of S. 2707/H.R. 4773, “Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act.” Introduced by Senators Scott (R-SC) and Alexander (R-TN) and Representatives Walberg (R-MI) and Kline (R-MN), would block the current proposed Department of Labor overtime regulation from taking effect and require the Department to perform a deeper analysis of the impact changes to overtime regulations will have on small businesses, nonprofits, regional economies, local governments, Medicare and Medicaid dependent health care providers, and academic institutions, as well as employee flexibility and career advancement before proceeding with a rule.

Here we provide some guidelines and specific tips on what businesses can do to help protect their own and their customer’s data. We explain what some of the dangers on the internet are, dispel some misconceptions about password management, stress that two-factor authentication is absolutely essential for security, emphasize that you need a forensics partner, and explain what banks are doing or not doing to help keep credit cards safe.

Q: How long should I keep my tax records and what is the best way to secure them? A: We have all heard about the paperless society that the world is moving toward, but unfortunately the IRS is not yet on board with that process. Your tax return still today can be best supported with a stack of paper.

Wendy Miller is the owner and Principal of Annapolis Senior Care Solutions located in Annapolis, Maryland. Additionally, she holds her LCSW-C license and is an approved supervisor through the State of Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Annapolis Senior Care Solutions specializes in helping seniors maximize their quality of life. Their goal is to provide seniors and their families counsel about lifestyle choices and services that maximize health and wellbeing. Wendy has been a member since 2014.

NASE Joins Coalition Ahead Of DOL Announcement On New Overtime Regulations. The NASE has joined the Partnership to Protect Workplace Opportunity in advance of the Department of Labor’s proposed new overtime regulations, expected to be released before Memorial Day.

​There are so many social media channels out there these days, it’s hard to determine which ones are more effective and worth your time to market your business. I will focus on Facebook marketing, as I find it the most effective and affordable for small business owners to get their message and brand noticed. Facebook marketing is an excellent way to grow your business, and you can have fun while doing it.

And regardless of your age, or the age of your business, you need a Social Media strategy. I’ve heard the argument, ‘but I’m selling feed to 78 year old farmers, they don’t even send text messages, much less use other social media’.

Last year the NASE awarded 12 Grants and 4 scholarships totaling $60,000. We were able to highlight most of last year’s recipients in our December 2015 issue; however, due to timing we were not able to recognize all winners. We wanted to ensure all winners were recognized, below are the Growth Grant Recipients who each received $4,000 at the end of last year to grow and expand their business.

The new survey finds that an overwhelming majority of those who responded – 69 percent – have not receive any tax guidance from the shared economy platform they are working with. In fact, the data underscores the importance of educating shared-economy entrepreneurs about the fact that they, too, are operating a self-employed, small business.

NASE members have unlimited access to professional business consultants through the Ask The Experts portal on our website. With a few clicks on the mouse and strokes on the keyboard, you get answers to specific questions you have about your business. This is not a Frequently Asked Question section (though we do have that) that you see on typical websites, our Ask The Experts portal allows you the opportunity to give details and include specifics when asking your question and receive a direct specific answer in return. All this is included in your membership at no additional cost.

Q: I am in my second year as a small business owner and I am still not sure if I am required to use a CPA to do my tax return. What is my best option? A: Your question is a great one and one that should be answered before you do anything else related to completing your annual income tax return.

Brooke Kinsey is the Co-Owner and Chef at Bleu & Fig located in Columbus, Ohio. Brooke has long loved food and attended Johnson and Wales University in Virginia where she got her degree in culinary arts. Brooke met her business partner and Co-Owner Regina (a horticulturalist by trade) and together they started Bleu & Fig where they combined their expertise in catering and floral displays. When starting Bleu & Fig, they had the mindset that food should be entertainment unto itself. Brooke applied for an NASE Growth Grant so they could take their traveling business and set up a brick and mortar store front.

The joy of working for the NASE is that I get to be your advocate in Washington, D.C. and across many State capitols, however, the most effective advocate for the issues that are most important to you, the self-employed business owner, is YOU!

In November the Administration launched the MyRA retirement tool encouraging individuals to establish retirement accounts, however, President Obama has now focused his attention on small employers (with less than 100 employees) who currently do not offer a retirement plan to their employees.

Ernesto Dominguez is the owner of The Senior Club Professional Advanced Day Care located in Miami, Florida. The Senior Club provides services for the elderly so they have a safe, supportive, cheerful environment where they participate in various care programs and have positive social interaction. Despite two previous senior care facilities failing at the same location, Ernesto and his wife Lizbet opened their business in 2012 and haven’t looked back. Knowing how difficult it was going to be starting a business, Ernesto joined the NASE and quickly put to use the benefits provided. As the business became successful, they applied for and received an NASE Growth Grant so they could expand their business and serve more customers.

Q: I have been in business for about four years and things are going really well. Should I convert my business to an LLC or to a corporation to reduce how much I have to pay in taxes?​ A: Congratulations on your success and keep up the good work. Don’t forget that over 70% of all new jobs in this country come from small business owners just like you, so well done. As your business continues to grow there may very well be good reasons to consider different entity forms but a material reduction in taxes is not one of them.

Most of us associate February with Valentine’s Day flowers, Ground Hog’s Day, or maybe even the birthday month of Abraham Lincoln. But for all of us who are also small business owners it is time to start thinking about that dreaded tax return. And worst of all is the thought that what if that tax return gets audited. It’s a random Saturday morning and the weather is nice. You walk out to the mailbox with your fresh morning coffee almost skipping with a song in your step. Life is good. But then a big white envelope appears with the return address reading…Internal Revenue Service. Suddenly, the Saturday is not so bright and the coffee is not so fresh.

As a 15 year entrepreneur, I have naturally acclimated towards fellow creative business minds. Enjoying hearing ideas of our youth and supporting educational efforts from serving as an adjunct educator at our local junior college to volunteering with junior achievement, small business has been a passion of mine. From owning and failing a small grocery business in a small town to successfully franchising a service model that truly disrupts the liquidation market, I have felt the sting of making mistakes and finding success! As an entrepreneurship author, speaking at national BPA (Business Professionals of America) and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) conferences across the US, the excitement of the youth has continued to motivate me. Having a business fail drove me to write books. The first was a youth entrepreneurship book, “Cardinal Rules: Financial Resources for Young Adults”. A few years later I wrote the second book for adult use. Like myself, many adults need a second chance. Speaking in prison ministry programs, conducting my own boot camp, or assisting adult workforce development agencies were a nice fit for my work.

Q: I am getting ready to do my taxes for last year and not sure how to treat stuff I bought for my business like my laptop, printer, and office furniture. What line on my business tax return do I include these expenses? A: The costs associated with the new equipment and furniture will certainly provide a tax deduction to the extent the items are used in the ordinary course of business. However, unlike many other expenses these items are not direct expenses to be included on a particular line of your Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business. The items you mentioned are considered capital assets which basically mean they will typically last your business more than just one year and therefore must be capitalized. The total cost of the business assets will still generate a full deduction over time but must be allocated over the expected useful life of each asset recognizing a portion of the expense for each year for which there is a benefit.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2016, President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address to the country. What is usually a laundry list of “to do” items for the Congress, the President realizing that his final 12 months in office will be lame duck, elected to use his speech to discuss his progress as President over the past seven years and reassure the country that things are headed in the right direction.

For 28.2 million small business owners mastering the art of change is a major requirement to growing a business. A significant catalyst behind the winds of change is technology. For established family businesses, and especially for micro business owners, technology has changed the entrepreneurial landscape making it a more level playing field. The bottom line is that technology saves business owners both time and money spurring enormous growth and success.

Have you ever wanted to talk with a Lawyer but thought it would cost too much money? How about an accountant or financial planner? It is easy to think that getting expert advice is hard to come by because it may either cost too much for that experts time or you simply might not know who to ask. That’s why the NASE provides this service free of charge to our members. We know experts can be costly and we know that not everyone knows who to turn to for sound advice. Included in every NASE membership is the ability to use our Expert Portal to ask specific questions you have about your business (or future business) and your own situation.

Every savvy business owner loves a great deal, and we’ve got one for you. As we approach the holiday season, I want to share with you about an amazing event that NASE is proud to be a part of. The Abounding Business Conference is a day of empowerment for small business owners, coming to 10 cities across the US in 2016 and I am excited to be a part of it.

Can you believe it, 2015 is already coming to an end? We know that you have been hard at work this past year either starting or growing your business and we invite you to share your story with us and your fellow self-employed colleagues. If you are interested in sharing, please fill our or Publicity form!

On December 9, 2015, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship approved Mr. Darryl DePriest to be Chief Counsel for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Accidents happen. No matter how careful you are, there’s always the chance that someone will slip and fall down in your store. If they’re injured, they could sue you for the damages and the lawsuit can easily cripple your business. For example, when a woman fell down in Costco in 2012, she won over $415,000 in her settlement. This is not something you want to pay for by yourself. We at the National Association for the Self-Employed have taken a look at this issue to help you figure out ways to protect your business from a costly lawsuit.

Q: This year has gone by really quickly and I don’t want to wait until April to start thinking about taxes. Is there anything that I need to do before the end of the year to help reduce how much tax I have to pay? A: Happy Thanksgiving and congratulations on getting a head start on tax planning. It is important to note that most tax savings ideas end with the New Year’s Eve party so acting prior to the end of the year is critical. There are two sides to the overall calculation of your taxable income. The first is the recognition of income and the second is the recording of deductible expenses. Therefore, effective tax savings can be accomplished by either reducing total income or increasing total deductions.

Joe Pielago is the cofounder of JJKR Enterprise Inc. It is a family run business used to manage long term holdings and early start-ups. In 2009, Joe received the Future Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the NASE and used that scholarship to attend the University of San Francisco. In May of 2013 Joe graduated with a Degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Since graduation, Joe has participated in three start-ups and is about to launch his fourth next year.

On Wednesday, November 4, 2015, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced the launch of MyRA, a retirement savings tools for American workers who don’t have access to a retirement plan (401k, pension, etc) through work or haven’t taken advantage of retirement plan previously.

Maybe you’re in the beginning phases of growing and building a business and are just starting to put your website together. Or you’ve already built a website for your small business and have been online for years. Once your website is live, you want to drive traffic to attract more customers and get more sales. Getting traffic to your website is one thing. Keeping people on your website is an entirely different skill.

Q: I saw one of your seminar videos and you talked about creating a job for my child. How do I know if this works for me? A: First of all, thank you for viewing the on-line seminar and I hope you found many ways to save thousands in tax dollars including my favorite which is to Hire Your Kid. If you operate a sole proprietorship and you have a child that can help in the business this idea is right for you. Period! Those are the only two factors that matter in putting you in position to reduce your overall tax liability by as much as $2,500.

Do you want free publicity for your business? If you're an NASE Member, the NASE can help you promote your business! Simply fill out our "Get Publicity!" form here, and you and your business could be featured in an NASE publication, like our monthly member e-newsletter, SelfInformed.

In a stunning turn of events, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced on Friday, September 23, 2015 he would resign from the speakership and Congress by mid-October, setting the stage for the election of a new Speaker amongst a fractured and dysfunctional Republican party.

You’re in business for yourself. And it’s an exciting ride! You want to prosper and grow your business. Have you ever thought about what steps to take to strategically grow your business? 1. SET GOALS Write it down. What are your financial goals for the year? The quarter? Break down how you will achieve these goals. How many widgets do you need to sell? Or how many insurance policies do you need to write? Put your goals in a frame in a place where you can see it throughout the day.

Q: As a real estate agent for residential property, should I form an LLC to reduce my taxes? A: The easiest and quickest answer to your question is simply NO! The first key point to consider is that the form of entity under which you choose to operate will not have a material impact on your overall income tax liability.

Russel Edwards is the owner of Major Appliance HQ, a family owned and operated appliance business for 40 years located in Chuckey, Tennessee. Major Appliance HQ serves the local community not just as a place where customers can purchase appliances for their homes but also rely on to install and service their appliances properly.

Under a proposed rule issued by the Department of Labor, millions of exempted employees would become eligible for overtime and would raise workers’ wages by $1.2 billion in a plan outlined by Secretary Perez. The salary threshold for an employee to be eligible for overtime would be raised to about $970 week/$50,440 annually and the threshold for highly compensated employees would move from $100,000 to $122,148.

Owning your own business can be a very rewarding experience. Conducting diligent research prior to venturing into entrepreneurship, utilizing available resources, and keeping a close eye on the financial picture will enhance your chances of operating at a profitable level. The U.S. Small Business Administration classifies a small business as a venture with fewer than 500 employees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that accounts for 99.7% of all businesses in the United States.

Q: I just started my new small business and was looking for a list of what is deductible and what isn’t. Does such a list exist? A: The question is a very good one, but also one that I don’t like to answer. The first key point is that any ordinary and necessary expense that you incur in facilitating your trade or business is deductible. If you pay for a license or a sign, business cards or thank you cards, file folders or file cabinets, air fare or restaurant fare, it’s always deductible if the primary purpose of the expense is business. Be careful reading from a list provided by your CPA or even the IRS that might lead you to spend money that you don’t really need to spend.

Bridgette John is the owner of Get Snackin Las Vegas, a locally owned, family operated vending company delivering top-notch vending solutions to customers in Las Vegas, Nevada and the surrounding area. Bridgette transitioned her past experiences with customer service in the restaurant and catering industry to owning her own business in the vending industry. Get Snacking Las Vegas now services four locations with seven machines and is looking to place three more within this next year.

On July 22, 2015, Senator Vitter, Chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, introduced a huge package of tax deductions for small businesses, including the full deductibility of health insurance for the self-employed.

We live in an information age! The manner that your data is managed provides an essential competitive edge to your business. The right data can help you unlock the potential of your business. A robust data management plan will provide insights growing or starting your business by focusing on building revenue and reducing costs. It is therefore imperative that due diligence is applied to the gathering, processing, storage and interpretation of your data to maximize its productive impact.

Q: I have hired a new 1099 employee and I don’t know what paperwork I need to complete at the end of the year? Do I prepare a W-2 or a 1099? Help? A: Congratulations on creating a new position! Don’t forget that over 70% of all new jobs created in the United States come from small business owners just like you, so keep up the good work. Let me start with a few definitions related to your new worker to whom you referred to as a new “1099 employee.” This is a very common phrase and confirms the confusion related to worker classification since an employee would receive a W-2 at the end of the year, while an independent contractor would receive a 1099. From a definition standpoint, the term “1099 employee” is similar to an orange apple, meaning the two words just should not be used together.

Joseph Swanson is the owner of Swanson’s Evergreen Nursery located in Niagara, Wisconsin. Throughout High School Joey was very active, keeping a 3.9 GPA (second in his class) while participating on the Basketball, Football, Soccer, and Track teams. Upon Graduation, it was no surprise to anyone that Joey was already running his own business. Swanson’s Evergreen Nursery grows most of their Evergreen trees (Christmas Trees) from seed, and ships and sells their products throughout the Midwest.

Last week in congress, Reps. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) in the U.S. House and Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) in the U.S. Senate introduced bipartisan legislation, Small Business Healthcare Relief Act (S. 1697/H.R. 2911). The legislation would enable small businesses to continue to use Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), which allow employers to provide pre-tax dollars to employees to pay for medical care and services.

After a natural disaster or catastrophic accident, most news stories focus on individuals and families who suffered injuries, lost their homes or property, or lost loved ones. But after a few days, the TV cameras move on, and there is little exploration of the economic damage that emerges in the days and weeks that follow.

Let me start out by saying that I love Google. I work with their applications all day, every day for both personal and work and here’s why. I’m rather paranoid. I know that one day my house can burn down, the critical papers could get flooded and destroyed, or a hurricane may well come and take everything away. For that reason I went paperless years ago. It wasn’t difficult. I built a simple computer and used it as a file server. I purchased an inexpensive scanner and scanned directly to the server. I then backed up the server to a portable hard drive on a recurring basis and stashed it in my office desk “just in case”. This was nice. I finally had a backup of everything and could easily send documents and such to people when needed.

John M. Collins Jr. is the President and Founder of the Forensic Foundations Group. As a 20-year veteran of forensic science in federal, state, and local crime laboratories, John founded the business in 2013 to help build advanced occupational competencies among employees and administrators working in the forensic laboratory sciences. In 2013, John joined the NASE as he was starting his business and found it critically important to him that NASE advocate for the interests of the self-employed in Washington, D.C. Not only that but also that we keep members informed of what we are doing, which in turn keeps our members informed about what is happening on the Hill and how that impacts their business.

Representative Erik Paulsen (R-MN) re-introduced legislation that hopes to clarify the relationship between a business owner and independent contractor. Mr. Paulsen has worked collaboratively with interested groups to address concerns raised by small employers over the changing landscape, especially with the growth of the “freelance economy,” in recent years.

Partnering is a topic that arises for many business owners. If you are a micro business owner, small business owner or other entrepreneur, partnering can be an effective way to access and tap resources that do not currently exist within your business. Partnering can also be a means for growing a business. In addition, you may opt to partner with one or more founders to start a new business. Although business partners can provide numerous benefits, it is very important to be aware of and to understand the risks and pitfalls associated with partnerships to ensure you choose the best options to strengthen and grow your business.

Answering these questions might help you to decide it is time to at least hire a bookkeeper or accountant. How much time do you have in daily business operations to actually do all the things an accountant could do for you?

David Temkin is the Founder & CEO of The SoLa Look, a makeup line launched in December 2013 that targets the growing Latina and Spanish-speaking population. David was born and raised in Boston, MA and graduated from Umass-Amherst with a BA in Business Administration. He went on to earn his MA from Emerson College in Media Arts. He joined the NASE in 2012 and finds the NASE Member Directory of other NASE businesses one of the most valuable member benefits.

Last month the Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved S.335, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve 529 plans, following the House Ways and Means committee which approved, H.R. 529, an identical measure in February.

When you run a small business, sometimes you won’t have enough cash to cover all your needs. You might want to fund an expansion, stock up on inventory, or just get some extra money to cover your expenses during a slow stretch. To help with these expenses, you could take out a business loan. There are a number of different lending options available for small business owners and each its own strengths and weakness. To help you find the best choice, here is a review of the top lending options for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Business Grants - Being awarded a business grant can be a big boost to your business as you don’t have to pay it back. However, the process to get a grant can be difficult and there is no guarantee that you will receive the funds. There are a lot of organizations that offer business grants; you just need to search for them. The NASE Growth Grants are a good example of business grants available to you.

Mark Dominiak is the Principle Strategist of Insight Garden, located in Whiting, Indiana outside of Chicago. Insight Garden’s mission is to cultivate ideas that will have a powerful marketplace impact for their clients. Mark also serves on the Board of Directors for the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce and continues the long time practice of traveling to his alma mater, Ball State University, to lecture at advertising classes every Spring. Joining in 2004, the most important benefit was access to quality health insurance. Once he knew he could provide quality coverage for his family, Mark was confident I could go into business for myself.

Whether it’s the private car service Uber or Lyft, the online marketplace Etsy or an accommodation provider called Airbnb, these small and individual entrepreneurs operating in the shared services space are part of the growing small business community in what is being called, the “freelance economy”.

Gene Perret once said of retirement, “It’s nice to get out of the rat race, but you have to get along with less cheese.” One of the greatest fears as a business owner or a self-employed entrepreneur is the inevitable time at which they will have to step away from everything they have created. As the owner of a consulting business and a financial planner for the last 6 years, I often meet with business owners to help design their retirement packages. The truth is, there are quite a number of options for retirement plans, and most of my clients are not even aware of most of the types of retirement accounts available. In this article, we will discuss the various types of retirement plans and offer insights into a few strategies that are commonly used by small business owners and self-employed entrepreneurs. For the sake of brevity and clarity, this article will only cover retirement plans and strategies available to for-profit businesses.

Q: I am finishing up my tax return and want to make sure I am not missing any deductions. What deductions are most commonly missed? A: As you probably know, most business deductions come right out of your business checkbook. Any expense that is incurred in the course of your business activity that is ordinary and necessary will be deductible in some form. Therefore, the first step is to make sure you have captured all the data from your business checkbook and any other expenses that were incurred even if you paid some of those from another account. Try to avoid paying business expenses with cash simply to make sure documentation is adequate. However, if valid business expenses were indeed paid with cash, the amounts are still deductible; just make sure you maintain adequate support for the expenditures.

Alan DeValerio is the Founder of White House Memories located in Frederick, Md. Alan joined the NASE in 2005. He first joined for the discounted dental insurance and has continued to enjoy the various benefits the NASE offers. Alan worked as a contract butler at the White House in Washington D.C from 1980 to 1989 and began giving presentations about his experiences in 2012.

In September 2013, the Departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor, released Technical Release No. 2013-03, ”Application of Market Reform and other Provisions of the Affordable Care Act to HRAs, Health FSAs, and Certain other Employer Healthcare Arrangements.” The guidance stipulates that an employer that offers an HRA to two or more employees, but does not offer a group health care plan, is not compliant with annual limit regulations and the business would be subject to penalty. However, a single employee business can still offer an HRA plan and would not run afoul of compliance issues under the ACA.

With the unstable economy, and more and more companies downsizing or going out of business, people have decided to hang up their 9-5 hats. Job security, what’s that? That, my friends, has seemingly taken a nose dive and fallen by the wayside. Seniority seems to have taken a back seat to the economic downturn. Whether you have decided to become an entrepreneur, start a business, whether that is a small business, a family owned business, a micro business, or you decide to do freelance work, The National Association for The Self-Employed (NASE) commends you, as you should be. NASE offers various resources to assist you with starting a business or building an existing business. In addition, NASE offers advice to help business owners minimize business expenses and much more. Can’t find an answer to a tax question? Ask the NASE Tax Experts here.

Q: I am attempting to complete my first Schedule C for my new business and I am not sure what is deductible. Do you have a list of deductible expenses that I can use? A: There are certainly expenses that are common to all small businesses and those that are common to specific industries. Perhaps the best place to start a list of common expenses is right on that same Schedule C that you are preparing to complete. Part II of the Schedule C is titled “Expenses” and provides a great place to start from advertising to car and truck expenses to insurance and interest expense to travel and wages. The fact that the detailed expense items are listed right on the Schedule C indicates those are indeed common expense categories for small business owners.

Darci E. McConnell is the President ,of McConnell Communications, Inc. located in Detroit, Michigan has been a NASE member since 2014. Darci joined the NASE after learning about its existence while conducting a search for grants for small businesses (The NASE offers $4,000 Growth Grants to our members). She was also excited to see other benefits for small firms such as growth tips and insurance discounts. As President, Darci is a publicist, crisis manager, entrepreneur, teacher, communicator and mentor. McConnell Communications has served clients large and small, ranging from Fortune 500 firms such as Feld Entertainment and Northwest Airlines to local non-profits such as 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit and the Detroit Branch NAACP.

Over 66% of small business owners responding to a new survey conducted by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) ranked “decreasing monthly premiums” as the one thing they would change about their current health care plan. The survey, conducted October 27, 2014 through January 19, 2015, gauges the opinions of 188 small business owners and self-employed entrepreneurs nationwide on the issue of health care.

Since it passed in 2010, the Patient and Protection and Affordable Care Act (the full title of the bill) or “ACA” has transformed the way Americans and business buy health insurance. From access to availability, minimum requirements of health care coverage, and enhanced consumer protections, every single American’s health insurance has been impacted. This year additional changes could be coming down the pipe, including implementation of the individual coverage penalty, a Supreme Court challenge to health care subsidies, and repeal of the entire bill by the Republican controlled Congress. As a business owner, it is important that you keep abreast of the latest health care news!

Q: I know most people are confused, but exactly how much will my penalty be if I didn’t have the required ACA compliant health insurance policy? A: The most difficult part of your question is the word ‘exactly’ since the actual amount that any of us would pay is kind of a moving target. Let’s start with the basic idea of how much your penalty could be. There are two calculations and you will be required to pay the HIGHER of these two amounts:

Fred Diamond is the President of Diamond Strategic Marketing (DSM) and Founder of the Institute for Excellence in Sales & Business Development (IES&BD). Though Fred joined the NASE in 2004 initially for the health insurance, he agrees the NASE has proven over the years to offer much more than just a source of health insurance. Diamond Strategic Marketing helps growing companies (local, national and international) develop sound and smart product and vertical marketing strategies that lead to revenue rewards. The Institute for Excellence in Sales & Business Development provides thought leader-led workshops for selling professionals across the US.

In the closing days of the 113th Congress, Representatives Boustany (R-LA) and Thompson (D-CA) introduced H.R. 5860, the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act of 2014, which would allow for standalone health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) for small employers (49 or less employees).

Starting a small business is just the beginning of a complicated yet rewarding way of life for entrepreneurs. Evolving from having an idea to taking all the necessary legal steps to creating a small business is just the beginning. Once your business has been created, it’s time to focus on growing it. The action of growing a small business includes many different subjects. Marketing, creating an online presence, getting financial accounts squared away, and building a loyal customer base is just the beginning. The challenge of building a small business into a successful endeavor is only exacerbated by a lack of one very important aspect: organization.

Access to Affordable Health, Life and Dental Insurance Representatives have a wide array of small business health insurance and financial products available to protect you and your assets, including Life insurance, Dental discounts and health insurance. Dental Insurance is provided by Renaissance Dental. Life insurance is provided by MetLife.

Q: I am struggling with the Affordable Care Act and how to guess what my income will be for 2015. My 2014 tax return is not completed yet so I am using my 2013 tax return as a guide. Which numbers should I use to determine if I am eligible for a subsidy? Do I use the gross income from my business or do I also count expenses?

Elena Hines, Owner of Golden Leaf Café located in Menomonie, Wisconsin has been a NASE member since 2013. Elena enjoys all the benefits of the NASE, but especially likes the newsletters and everything the NASE is doing to keep members informed about what is going on in the small business world and in Washington D.C.

The midterm elections mean a Republican majority with a vastly different congressional agenda. As many anticipate this new set of legislative priorities, there’s much discussion around the potential for a “grand bargain.” Polls have consistently shown Republican and Democratic voters overwhelmingly united on one key issue — growing America’s economy.

For some entrepreneurs, establishing your niche business was one of the easiest decisions you have ever made. There was a subject, a topic or a hobby of great interest to you. In fact, you couldn’t get enough of the learning and growing process. You gravitated to the business because it was a natural fit for your skills and interests.

Congratulations! You’re the boss of a small company! It’s both exciting and scary at the same time. You need to focus on bringing in revenue so you can provide for your family and your growing business. There are many necessary expenses but spending wisely can mean the difference between success and failure. Here are a few suggestions on how to save some money with Information Technology (IT).

Michael O’Brien, Founder and Principal of MOB Advocacy, based Fairfax City, Virginia has been a NASE member since 2013. Originally, Michael joined for the tax help (offered in our Ask The Experts benefit) as he hates taxes. As he is in the advocacy business himself, he also values the advocacy work that NASE does in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Nations Self-Employed. MOB Advocacy is a full-service, multi-state government relations firm that specializes in helping start-ups, small businesses and nonprofits navigate the complex world of state and local legislative and regulatory affairs, procurement bureaucracy and appropriations processes.

Prior to the November 2014 mid-term elections, we here at the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) launched a survey and it showed that women entrepreneurs are engaged and looking for candidates who support the small business community.

If you’re self-employed with a family, at some point you’re going to ask yourself the question: is my small business going to become the family business? There are plenty of reasons to get your family involved in your small business. First, it helps your spouse and children understand exactly what is involved in starting a business and running it from the ground up. Second, it helps teach your children about the value of hard work and taking pride in a good job. Third, your spouse and your children are often your business’s most valuable assets!

Q: I have been self employed for over 10 years and love what I do. My biggest client wants to change my classification to an employee instead of continuing as an independent contractor. Is it better for me to switch to employee or to stay as an independent contractor?

Marla Duran, Owner of Marla Duran Designs, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, has been a NASE member since 2000. Her primary reasons for joining were for the great benefits and health insurance options. Marla’s company designs and creates women’s clothing; she gained notoriety for being on the Television show Project Runway in 2005.

Have you wondered what “Direct Marketing” is and if it would work to help grow your business. Maybe you’ve asked these questions: What type of advertising will work for my business? How often should I advertise? Where should I advertise? How much should I spend on advertising? And, the big one—How will I know if my advertising is working? Direct Marketing could work for your business—and when it’s done correctly, it’s measurable so you can know if it’s working.

“While the first thing that comes to mind when a business closes its doors is that they didn’t have the customers to generate enough revenue to survive, there is another edge to the sword,” says Fairbrother. “Failure can also occur when a business grows too fast and the company can’t handle it.

Gary Gygi is president of Gygi Capital Management, an investment advisory firm in Cedar Hills, Utah that he founded in 2003. The company caters to high net worth individuals, corporations and institutions. He has been managing money since 1989 and before starting his company he spent 15 years as an investment advisor and management executive for Morgan Stanley. He is also the mayor of Cedar Hills and has been a NASE member since 2003.

Q: My wife and I own a limited liability corporation. We just elected to be treated as an s corporation. We are trying to determine salary levels, and I read something about how the owner’s salary must be greater than employee’s for s corporations to minimize the chance of an IRS audit. What criteria should we use to establish our salaries.

In early May 2014, the District of Columbia (DC) City Council unanimously supported PR20-0744 — Health Benefit Exchange Authority Financial Sustainability Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014, enacting a 1 percent tax on all health-insurance carriers with gross receipts of $50,000 or more within the District of Columbia.

Of all the marketing activities your company might consider, exhibiting a tradeshow can provide a unique opportunity for face-to-face meetings with targeted prospects. With a focused audience of buyers and sellers wanting to see what you have to offer, you can often achieve at a trade show what would take months to do with traditional sales methods at home.

Q: We are an LLC partnership in Texas. I own 51 percent and my business partner owns 49 percent. This is based on being classified as a minority and woman-owned business. We each operate under our own separate home-based offices.

Ann Brown, president of Virtual Admins Plus, based in Cleveland, Ohio, has been a NASE member since 2005, shortly after she became self-employed. Her company provides outsourced marketing, web development, and administrative tasks.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is our nation’s direct link between the administration and America’s small business community. The agency provides benefits such as advocacy and support, loans, and access to capital and entrepreneurial development to ensure the small business community continues to move our economy forward.

Affordable help can be difficult to find for small businesses, especially when only part time or seasonal help is needed. Several sources for this help include teenagers, interns and foreign students. These potential employees can bring with them enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, and a vast wealth of untapped knowledge.

Q: My husband and I operate a corporation together, although business has slowed considerably. Last October, my husband got a job as a full-time employee for a government agency in Alaska, but he does most of the work remotely (there are others in the office who are also based elsewhere). However, he is required to show up in-person for two weeks each in January and April. We are wondering what, if any, of his related expenses can be deducted? Here are some examples of things we have purchased that we hope can be deducted:

Mary G. Mora, founder of MGM Speakers Bureau, has been a NASE member since 2011. Her company is a talent agency that provides speakers for a wide range of engagements – they include inspirational and motivational speakers, keynoters, entertainers, masters of ceremonies, athletes, international authors, training consultants, life/business coaches, and more. MGM Speakers Bureau is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

On September 13, 2013, the Departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor released Technical Release No. 2013-03, ”Application of Market Reform and other Provisions of the Affordable Care Act to HRAs, Health FSAs, and Certain other Employer Healthcare Arrangements.”

All businesses, big or small, need to generate leads in order to generate sales and profit. Without leads, a business will not grow and could fail. In larger companies, the marketing department is usually responsible for lead generation, but quality leads can be obtained by even solo entrepreneurs if they look in the right places.

Q: I have a few delinquent accounts receivable for my business. Can my company receive a tax break for people who don’t pay? We’ve been blessed to only have a small handful of them in the 14 years we’ve been in business, amazingly.

Ben Seidel has been a NASE member since 2011, the same year he won the NASE Future Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2012 he founded Igniting Business, a company that offers web solutions, technology services, and marketing consulting.

On February 11, 2014, the Obama Administration yet again delayed another federal requirement for employers to provide health care, commonly known as the “employer mandate.”

Now that the holidays are over, the real “wonderful time of the year” begins for small business owners: Tax season! As usual, the U.S. tax code is full of changes this year. For starters, entrepreneurs face a new landscape of tax rates for higher income individuals: a 39.6 percent income tax rate, a 20 percent maximum tax rate on capital gains and dividends, a 3.8 percent net investment income tax and a 0.9 percent Medicare compensation surtax. New as well are requirements and opportunities surrounding the tax treatment of repairs, improvements, acquisition costs and other common business expenses.

Q: My health insurance plan was just canceled. My business is too small for group insurance. My insurance increased from a good PPO policy with a rate of $300 per month and a $1,000 deductible to a similar policy at $1,250 per month and a $10,000 deductible. I’m leery of giving my information to the new Health Care Exchange. I can’t believe I’m going to have to pay more for my monthly health coverage than my mortgage. What is NASE doing about health insurance?

Q: What inspired you to enter the field you are in? My main inspiration for doing the work I do is because I’ve done my own healing work and know the profound impact it has had on my life. So I want to offer that to others. I also believe that being a therapist is my calling; it’s what I’m meant to be doing with my life.

Individuals and families will see a little less in their paychecks starting January 1, 2014 – wage earners and self-employed individuals who make more than $200,000 (individual) and $250,000 (couple) will be assessed an additional 0.9 percent Medicare surtax on top of the existing 1.45% Medicare payroll tax as well as a 3.8% Medicare tax on unearned income ((investment dividends, rental income, interest and capital gains on property).

For nearly three years, millions of Americans have been patiently waiting for October 1, 2013, the day they could access and shop for affordable health care on a virtual platform known as the Exchange Marketplace. The marketplace is the key tenet of President Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), otherwise known as health care reform, ACA, or Obamacare.

Q: Before I started my small business I worked for a construction company. The owner and the bookkeeper always spent the last few days of each year with “tax planning.” I am not sure what they were doing. Should I be considering some year-end planning for my business?

Karen, Eddie, and Karli Renz run a family business called Bay Arts Center in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi and have been NASE members since 2005.

In 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) was signed into law to “increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies.”

If you have seen the ABC Television show “Shark Tank,” you can picture the scene. An enthusiastic, passionate, entrepreneur is about to pitch his product to the panel of uber-successful investors, hoping to land that desperately needed funding to launch his business to the next level. With 22 million self-employed people in the United States, there are bound to be a fair number hoping for that big chance.

Q: I have reviewed several resources regarding how a consultant typically sets rates. There are many variables to consider, including factoring in “down time” and determining profit levels. What guidance can you provide about setting consulting fees?

Carl Surges has been an NASE member since 2007 and is president of Pier of d’Nort, a company that sells lake piers that can be easily installed and removed.

Millions of America’s small business owners who were eagerly awaiting the opening of the Exchange Marketplace found themselves experiencing a computer system fraught with “time out” delays, broken links, and software bugs. In the end, very few interested individuals have been able to purchase health insurance on the Exchange Marketplace.

It is amazing the ideas that children and young adults come up with. Many of these ideas can become successful businesses if children are given a strong foundation upon which to build. It is extremely important for children to be taught the principles of what it takes to become an entrepreneur, for if we don’t prepare them for the future, who will become our next generation of entrepreneurs?

Q: I just hired my first full-time employee and have established a payroll account and a process to do all the required payroll reporting and tax withholding. My question is, now that I have the system in place should I add myself to the payroll system and pay myself a set salary as a W2 employee and then change how I file my taxes? I currently include the LLC income and expenses on an IRS Schedule C under my personal income tax return.

Susan Fortner has been an NASE member since 2011 and has won both a growth grant and a scholarship grant from NASE. She is president of Bowers PR & Marketing.

NASE and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council), an advocacy and research organization for entrepreneurs, and Fundable, a crowdfunding platform partner focused exclusively on startup companies, sponsored a national crowdfunding contest in September 2013. The national contest was committed to supporting America’s small business community in its goal of raising and securing capital through the powerful platform of crowdfunding.

Currently, over 14.5 million people in the U.S. are self-employed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2020, about 65 million Americans—almost 40 percent of the workforce—will be employed as freelancers, independent contractors, or entrepreneurs. Many will be running businesses from their homes.

Filing as an LLC versus a corporation is not simple to answer without additional information. My first comment is that with very few exceptions, I would not operate any business as a bare sole proprietor or general partnership.

We provide customized English language courses for international professionals and families living, working, or studying in the Washington, D.C. metro area. We specialize in private tutorials for adults, young adults and children in need of extra support and an individualized approach to language learning.

Technology can help transform business. It can help a business run more efficiently, save resources, and generate more profits. Technology can help improve the everyday running of your business, sales, cash flow, and customer communication. Your business will also look more professional.

I own a sole proprietorship. I have begun to recommend other businesses and their products on my website. It is my understanding that I need to have a disclaimer to protect my business as much as possible. If this is the case, what kind of disclaimer is best and how do I create one? Also, where is the best location for the disclaimer on my website?

During nearly 20 years in management and leadership roles, I developed a true passion for leadership. As a result, I chose to devote my adult life to advancing leadership and making a difference for a wide array of businesses, leaders, managers and employees. For 17 years, businessPATHS consulting has been helping people become the leaders they want to be, getting employees actively involved in the business, and getting results.

Prior to the July 4th recess, Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced bi-partisan legislation (S. 1260) to make the home office deduction permanent. While the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service announced in January that they would offer a simplified home office deduction calculation for the 2013 tax year, the intent of the new legislation is to ensure that the Treasury Department’s administrative action cannot, at a later time, be reversed by a future administrative declaration.

SMART. FOCUSED. CREATIVE. DRIVEN. MULTI-DIMENSIONAL. CONTROL-FREAK? These are the qualities that make a great entrepreneur, but are also the qualities that can get in the way of growing a business. Most small-business owners start out as, and often continue to be, one-person operations.

Q: I remember reading an article in your magazine a few years ago that said something like if you pay your 15-year-old child $500 per month until they are 21 years old and they save the money in an account, it would be worth over a million dollars when they turned 50. Can you clarify the specifics of this for me?

Suspension Experts is the go-to destination for suspension system repair, tuning, and sales for mountain bikers; a service partner for bike shops; and a trusted associate for bike manufacturers. Kevin and I founded the business together in 2005 based on Kevin’s 20 years of experience as a mountain bike rider, racer, and bicycle industry rep. We make it our business to understand the complexity of each manufacturer’s suspension system, and how to achieve the best results for each rider. That intimate knowledge led has led our team of five to develop and manufacture custom tools and procedures that let us give customers the best service possible.

California, home to the largest state-operated individual health care exchange, recently announced premium rates for 2014. Thirteen insurers will offer a wide range of plans in four categories: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, for the anticipated 5.3 million Californians who will enroll in the exchange market.

Qualifying for personal loans when you are self-employed can be very difficult, especially in today’s economic climate.

Q: I’m about to hire my first employee and I have a few questions. Am I required to provide health insurance? Can I provide a health insurance stipend and have that qualify as providing health insurance? What is a reasonable amount to provide as a health insurance stipend?

Michael Malone has been an NASE Member since 2005. He owns Fitness and Nutrition For Life in East Greenwich, R.I. You can also find him on Twitter, @Michael_getfit, and on Facebook.

Many business owners are following with interest the recent passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 (S. 734) by the United States Senate. The legislation would allow for states to collect and remit sales taxes from Internet sales. Businesses with revenue less than $1 million in online sales are exempt.

When the frustration of the daily grind or the thoughts that “I could do this and be my own boss” start to cross your mind, then it is time to sit down and plan how to get from the “here” of a job to the “there” of starting your own business.

Scott Ford has been an NASE Member since 2005. He owns Twerp in Hollywood, Calif.

The NASE enthusiastically supports H.R. 886, America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2013, introduced by Representative Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) and cosponsored by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), which makes several key small-business tax deductions permanent, including the health insurance deduction for the self-employed, the signature legislative priority of the NASE.

Somewhere between that “ah-ha” moment of a great business idea and cashing your first paycheck should be a lot of research to determine what the market is like for your idea. Many entrepreneurs are very good at coming up with services or products that sound like they fill a need, but fall short in how to enter the market. Often they will blindly jump into the business arena, only to find that they either failed to do any market research or grossly misunderstood the market.

Q: I've been a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist for 21 years, and I've been in solo private practice since 1999 and have always rented office space. My wife and I are in the beginning stages of looking into arranging for me to work out of our home. Could you please provide us with any ideas or issues we need to be paying attention to in this endeavor?

Max Maxwell has been an NASE Member since 2011. He owns SANDIGITAL, LLC, in San Tan Valley, Ariz.

The 113th Congress is underway and it seems that both Democrats and Republicans have latched on to the idea that they will be defined by the efforts they make to reform two of America's most complicated issues: taxes and immigration.

Career setbacks and restarts can be particularly challenging for the self-employed. Rather than just focusing on updating one’s resume and strategizing on whom to send it to, the self-employed often have to reinvent their brand, find a new way of doing business and uncover a fresh customer base. This can be a gut-wrenching process requiring a lot of introspection, faith, courage, and above all, confidence. Learn from the stories of three NASE Members who weren't afraid to reboot their businesses.

Q: I'm filing 1099 forms for independent contractors that I worked with this year. Can I complete the forms myself or do I need to pay a service to do it for me? Q: Can I deduct my NASE Membership dues on my taxes?

Elizabeth Power has been an NASE Member since 2004. She owns EPower & Associates, Inc., in Nashville, Tenn.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law by President Obama on January 2, 2013. While the Act avoided hitting many self-employed Americans with higher income tax rates (individuals making less than $400,000 and couples making less than $450,000 will see their income tax rates remain the same), those with income exceeding those levels will see their tax liability increase to a rate of 39.6 percent. In addition all Americans will see their paychecks a little lighter in 2013 due to expiring tax holidays and two new health reform law-related taxes.

Have a great idea or product that you think will make you money? Or do you already have a small business that is ready to grow? Where will you get the money you need to start up or grow? Many forms of financing are available, but few business owners are aware of the potential of crowdfunding.

For many people, a job description of “blacksmith” conjures up the image of an early American in a heavy apron making sure the town’s horses are properly shod. However, there are no horseshoes to be found at Wallace Metal Works, LLC, in Charleston, W. Va. Instead, company owners and NASE Members Tessie and Matt Wallace are artist blacksmiths who create hand-forged decorative and architectural wrought iron—much more complicated than just making horseshoes!

Q: I have a product that I am going to manufacture. I will have to contract out the manufacturing, and I’ll also need the manufacturer’s engineers to help me with the final design of the product. How do I prevent the manufacturer from stealing my product idea?

Vince Wallace has been an NASE Member since 2006. He owns Silver Hill Images in Franklin, Tenn.

The Senate and House Committees with jurisdiction over small business and entrepreneurship issues will be led, for the most part, by the same members in the upcoming 113th Congress. The biggest change will be on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, as Ranking Member Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) chose not to seek re-election and therefore her position as chair will be filled by another Republican.

Don’t have a smartphone? You’re not alone. Fifty-six percent of mobile phone users in this country don’t either, according to the research firm eMarketer. But if you’re thinking of switching to a phone with more tools that could help you work more efficiently, you have some decisions to make.

Q: My wife has a small janitorial business with three part-time employees. The only benefit offered is a health reimbursement arrangement for one of her employees (I am that employee). We are currently bidding on our first large contract, which will require a full-time employee. What benefits are we required to provide to this full-time employee?

Dave Tapley has been an NASE Member since 2000. He owns Tapley Entertainment Inc. in Highland Village, Texas.

President Obama sailed to re-election in November, winning all but two of the states he carried in 2008. Little will change when the 113th Congress is sworn in on Jan. 9, 2013. The Senate will be controlled by the Democrats and the House of Representatives by the Republicans. The critical issues facing the country and America’s self-employed remain, with tax reform being of the utmost importance to ensuring continued economic recovery.

In the age of big-box home improvement stores, many people have started handling fix-it projects themselves. The worst that can usually happen is a plumbing repair springs a leak. Do-it-yourself lawyering, however, is another story.

Q: I purchased a business in 2000 and am currently in negotiations to sell it to a corporation. At the time, I took depreciation for goodwill, equipment, restrictive covenant, etc. I will be selling this business at a loss. Am I permitted to deduct the loss on my taxes?

David Seidel has been an NASE Member since 2003. He owns Seidel Research and Development Company (SRADCO) in Columbia, Mo.

On Nov. 6, 2012, voters will head to the polls not just to elect the President, but also cast their votes in crucial down ballot elections including gubernatorial, senate, congressional and other state-related races. While control of the White House is the prime objective for both Democrats and Republicans, the majorities in the Senate and House are equally important in order for legislative priorities to move forward.

Thankfully, most micro-businesses will never suffer damage from an EF5 tornado. Yet, there are all too many kinds of crises that could befall a firm, and when one does, it’s important to have a strong leader at the helm. That person need not be a natural-born leader, though. There are skills owners can hone now to best position themselves to lead through any kind of disaster

The NASE believes it is important for our members to know how both candidates have positioned themselves in the self-employed arena. We have evaluated the candidates on three issues: small business, taxes and health care.

Q: I’m just starting a business. I’ve heard about having to track certain kinds of vendors (or customers) in order to send them a Form 1099 at the end of the year. Does that exist? If so, how is it done, what needs to be tracked, and where is it reported?

Deborah Reisdorph has been an NASE Member since 2009. She owns Skanadore Reisdorph Law Office in Huntington Beach, Calif.

In the 63 days between Labor Day and Election Day, Congress will spend 13 days in session working in Washington, D.C.—a relaxed work schedule by any measure. And what will Congress accomplish in those 13 days? If past experience is any guide, they’ll likely spend those working days making floor speeches, naming post offices and playing political games, instead of passing meaningful policy improvements.

By the time you start looking for cash for your startup business, you’ve put in a considerable amount of hard work. Now all that’s left is the final—and crucial—step of finding the funds.

You could say that entrepreneurship runs in Abigail Dahl’s blood. Five of her close family members have owned their own businesses. That includes her mother, Suzie, who recently opened Avenue 30, a retail store selling wine and gifts in Scappoose, Ore.

This year the NASE awarded a $4,000 scholarship to 12 deserving dependents of NASE Members. These students can use their scholarships to study any subject at the college of their choice.

Q: We are wondering if buying a new vehicle would be a good tax deduction for us. Our current work vehicle is paid for, but it’s 8 years old.

Sydni Craig-Hart has been an NASE Member since 2005. She owns Smart Simple Marketing in Emeryville, Calif.

The NASE recently submitted a letter to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax and Select Revenue formally requesting a hearing on H.R. 6102, America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2012.

For all micro-businesses, customer service and marketing no longer need to exist in separate silos: Given the high costs of finding new customers and consumers’ widespread use of digital media to both communicate with companies and spread tales of glee and woe, it’s time to make customer service a successful marketing strategy

Q: Can you recommend a partnership agreement that we should use and advise us about any other steps we should take in starting our new business?

Ellen Bruseau has been an NASE Member since 2008. She owns Handy Human LLC in Manassas, Va.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s final ruling on the Affordable Care Act, the self-employed are concerned about the impact it will have on their health care budgets when the law goes into full effect in 2014.

Crafting an informal business plan is a simple, straightforward way to monitor the health of your business. It’s a vital tool that will help you diagnose problems, cut costs and implement new strategies. It also helps you capitalize on the things you’re doing right and correct the things you’re doing wrong.

Q: Can you tell me which employment forms a contract employee needs to complete before starting to work for my company?

Charlie Arnold has been an NASE Member since 2004. He owns Arnold Powerwash LLC in Lewes, Del.

The NASE is encouraging its members to contact their representatives in Washington and urge them to support three pieces of legislation that are critically important to the self-employed.

Your network—the people you know—is one of your most vital business assets. Collectively, these folks are like a superhuman assistant that can help you earn money, meet people, brainstorm ideas and troubleshoot problems. Such connections are invaluable. But first you have to make them.

Q: I’ve operated a handyman business for several years as a sole proprietor. I’m now starting a second business as a voice-over artist. I’ll be operating both businesses for at least two years. What would be the best business structure?

Tessie Wallace and her husband, Matt, have been NASE Members since 2010. They own Wallace Metal Works LLC in Charleston, W.Va.

November 2012 is just six months away. Along with the presidential race, voters will be tasked with electing leaders on the local and federal level, shouldering the responsibility of steering their states and country forward.

Many small-business owners assume they’ll just know when it’s time to expand operations. The decision seems intuitive: If business is booming, and you feel overwhelmed, it’s time to hire help. But, like most things in life, hiring decisions are rarely straightforward.

Q: Can you take Section 179 depreciation on used equipment? Where is this deduction explained in the IRS rules? I’ve been struggling through Publication 946 and can’t find any requirement that the equipment has to be new to qualify for the deduction.

Jacqueline Crosby has been an NASE Member since 2011. She owns Crosby Legal Seminars in Newton, N.J.

In an unprecedented 5 ½ hours of oral questioning, the Supreme Court recently heard the challenge to President Obama’s biggest legislative accomplishment in his presidency, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

If you're just launching a micro-business, you're likely in need of effective marketing strategies that can kick in quickly and won't decimate a limited budget.

Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) eligibility

Chris Allen has been an NASE Member since 2005. He owns Twelve60 Enterprises LLC in Palmerton, Pa.

Legislation that passed in February did more than just extend the federal payroll tax deduction. It also made changes to the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program. This voluntary program allows states to pay a self-employment allowance to unemployed individuals who are in the process of establishing businesses and realizing the dream of self-employment.

The number of Americans who go back into business after retirement is on the rise. The 2010 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity showed 23 percent of new entrepreneurs are 55 to 64, a figure that was just 18 percent in 2000.

Q: As a small-business owner, what tax changes should I be aware of when completing my 2011 tax forms?

Kathy Johnson has been an NASE Member since 2006. She owns Kathy Johnson Graphics in Poway, Calif.

The nation’s 22 million self-employed business owners are building companies and contributing to the economic turnaround. However, they are disproportionately challenged by burdensome regulatory compliance, including an unfair tax burden and excessive paperwork requirements. The NASE continues to advocate for simple changes to federal law that would address these challenges and ensure an even playing field for small businesses.

Would it be a blessing or a business killer if the whole world knew what your customers thought of your micro-business? In the social media age, the question isn’t if, but in what format, people tell others what they think of your company.

According to a 2011 report on social media issued by research company Nielsen, Americans spend almost a quarter of their Internet time visiting social networking sites and blogs. That means potential clients are far more likely to learn about your freelance business on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn—the sites where they spend most of their time—than any other place on the Web.

What is the best way to establish a trademark for a business?

Tasha Scott has been an NASE Member since 2011. She owns Scott Realtime Reporting LLC in Montgomery, Ala.

Congress closed out 2011 by agreeing to a short-term extension of the payroll tax cut. Now that they are back in session, your lawmakers are wrangling to come to a longer one-year deal. As they debate another payroll tax extension proposal, I again encourage them to put partisan politics aside and pass the payroll tax extension.

Millions of American entrepreneurs are also military veterans. The overlap is hardly surprising. The demands of military service require sharp skills and steady discipline—the same qualities that business owners need to succeed.

Should our business own a vehicle? Which business software is best for my company? The NASE Experts answer your questions.

Capitol Hill is sifting through the remnants of last year’s supercommittee talks, looking for tax plans to keep after the collapse. We can expect to hear many proposals about closing tax loopholes. With a new year beginning, lawmakers are also looking for ways to reduce the budget deficit and get our country back on track. Tax reform is one way to do that, and is something the NASE has long advocated for in Washington.

Working in a home office can be notoriously isolating, but many micro-business owners can’t justify the expense or the commitment required to lease a commercial office space. Recently, a thriving alternative to home offices and coffee shops emerged: co-working.

Remember when grocery store baggers started asking whether you wanted paper or plastic bags? Now many micro-business owners have to answer a similar question when it comes to their payment systems: Do you want to send and receive payments via paper or electronically?

Would it be a blessing or a business killer if the whole world knew what your customers thought of your micro-business? In the social media age, the question isn’t if, but in what format, people tell others what they think of your company.

We can all agree that the tax code could be more fair for Americans who want to start their own small business. It’s one of the pillars of the national self-employment initiative that the NASE has been urging policymakers to adopt.

It’s a jungle out there—the tangled thicket of government rules and regulations companies must navigate to protect employees’ health and privacy rights. Naturally, you want to do what’s best for your workers. But good intentions won’t keep you from a brush with the health police—the numerous federal and state agencies that enforce key health provisions.

Most business owners would jump at the chance to have a client like Lucy. Although she doesn’t say much about it, she played an integral role in Pat Bennett’s decision to start what is now a growing manufacturing business.

Washington, D.C., is awash in rhetoric about the importance of America’s small businesses as engines of economic recovery. But there is little to no action coming out of the policy arena to help these businesses actually fuel economic growth. Instead, they have been largely left out of the policy discussion when it comes to the president’s American Jobs Act and our national debt.

Most people associate YouTube, the video sharing website, with zany pet tricks, the antics of silly children and the latest releases from pop stars like Lady Gaga. But, resourceful micro-business owners are finding that posting videos is great for business, too.

Ten years ago a discussion of online marketing probably started with “So, do you have a website?” Today, having a website is a given even for the smallest micro-businesses and solo entrepreneurs. But having a website is just the start.

With a little help from family and friends, Ben Seidel is fast becoming a serial entrepreneur.

This year the NASE awarded a $4,000 scholarship to 10 deserving dependents of NASE Members. These students can use their scholarships to study any subject at the college of their choice.

Although it may not be with pencils, crayons and textbooks, the NASE is helping its members go back to school. In 2011, the NASE launched its new Succeed Scholarship™ Program to help members obtain the knowledge they need to succeed.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued its grim prediction that unemployment will remain above 8 percent until 2014. The CBO isn’t limiting its bad news to unemployment—it also predicts our budget deficit will be bleak at $1.3 trillion for fiscal 2011.

The economic slump has caused an existential crisis for many small-business owners who are struggling to redefine themselves according to the whims of a volatile market.

Nearly every day of the year, conferences for every industry, every niche and every type of business convene across the world. Attending a conference in your industry or area of interest can boost your market insight, expose you to new ideas, help you grow professionally and offer opportunities to meet new contacts.

Most micro-business owners know health insurance terms like copay, deductible and individual policy. But the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that passed in 2010 has thrown a new term into the health insurance market: exchange.

Who are you? A whole bunch of folks in the marketplace are seeking the answer, like prospects visiting your website, reporters looking for expert sources, potential Twitter followers, Facebook fans and LinkedIn connections. Wow all of them with an accurate and polished bio that communicates your high points.

The U.S. government purchases $500 billion worth of goods and services each year and is required to spend at least 23 percent of it with small businesses. Fortunately, you don’t have to build tanks or manufacture parts for fighter jets to enter this market.

Small Business Legal Services was a name that said it all, but maybe too much. The problem: Many companies on the larger end of the small-business spectrum didn’t classify themselves as small at all.

It’s the big challenge every summer for self-employed parents who work from home: How to keep the kids busy during those hot, school-less days...and run a business at the same time.

The federal government recently announced that it has reached the debt ceiling and has shuffled funds to meet the nation’s financial commitments. Meanwhile, micro-businesses and the self-employed believe that spending for domestic programs, job creation initiatives, tax cuts and federal subsidies should be scaled back to address the deficit, according to a recent survey by the NASE

The way you handle billing could be costing you money. An independent study funded by Intuit in 2008 found that America’s small businesses wait for $33 billion in overdue payments each year.

A photography studio. A financial education firm. A computer repair company. Each of these micro-businesses—plus 14 more—were awarded an NASE Growth Grant in 2010.

In the past year, creating jobs and growing the economy have been the subjects of many debates here in Washington, D.C. When it comes to this topic, the NASE knows that our nation’s entrepreneurs are helping to lead the way.