FastUpFront Small Business Blog

If your to-do list is fast becoming unsustainable, you do not have to wait till you are literally drowning in tasks you do not have the time, skills, nor expertise to accomplish. You could hire a virtual assistant (VA) to help you. As small business profit margins stay slim and trim while sales continue to [...]

Most people know Google+ as another social network for individuals to connect with friends and companies to connect with customers. However, many colleges and universities know Google+ to work well in a different way—a great tool for recruiting.   The website Mashable recently found that many universities are using the networking tool as an opportunity [...]

Even with the somewhat promising employment report and holiday shopping rush that the media has been sticking under our noses, sluggish sales and strained cash flow are still making headlines for countless small business owners. In order to sustain the prolonged economic restraint, many small businesses have had to restructure their workforce. Often, that means [...]

According to a recent Wells Fargo Business Insights survey, poor cash flow continues to be a major worry point for small business owners across the nation. These findings come as no surprise given the overall decrease in consumer spending and consumer confidence coupled with inflationary pressures and high rates of unemployment.   But as more [...]

Part of the fallout of all the economic uncertainty, the government’s petulant turf wars, and the day-to-day struggle with money, has been an overall increase of stress, anxiety, and depression among the majority of Americans.   There is a well-know correlation between chronic stress and anxiety and the increase of stress-related illnesses, and according to [...]

As a small business owner, offering a employer-sponsored 401k retirement plan to your employees is an attractive benefit that will generate both goodwill and loyalty among your workforce. This is especially true these days, when countless businesses big and small have been reducing or dropping altogether their health care and retirement plans.     But, [...]

Even though the economy may be showing some signs of life, when it comes to small businesses and hiring, slow and steady seem to be the operative words. If you are running a small business and have been asking for more from your employees while providing fewer resources, then your employees may be at risk [...]

When times get tough, companies increasingly look to temporary employees to fill their needs- at least that’s what this recent article over at CNN suggests.   As a small business owner, relying on temporary or contractual hires may seem like a quick and cheap solution to getting a particular job done, and these days with [...]

According to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project, an estimated 26% (the equivalent of 36 million) of the 139 million currently employed workers in the United States endured at least one period of unemployment during the recent recession that began in December, 2007.   The survey indicated [...]

Don’t leave your employees off your holiday gift list! Take advantage of the holiday deals and update your office with the latest in business technology. New software and business tools will revamp the office energy, and may even boost business productivity. Here are the top five business tools employees are adding to their wish list: [...]