Q3 is the time of year when innovation is key. Part of innovation is education - if you know how to do more stuff, you have more to offer to your clients both now, and in the future.  As an added bonus, your business will become interesting to you again, which is worth more than money.

Trying to collect on invoices is maddening in the summer - sometimes your client contact is on vacation, and sometimes the accounting person who writes your checks is on a 3-week tour of the Rockies. It's smart to budget for 90-day receivables during the summer, if you can. Here are some ideas to help you ride out the summer:

It seems early to be planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays already, but here's why you should think about it now...

How many times have you peeked over your employees' shoulders this month and seen them booking a summer vacation instead of working? Here are some ideas to keep them motivated during this distracting time of year.

The Economy is coming back! Here's how to capitalize on this trend to capture market share in Q3.

*Hint * It's called "Innovation"

One of my favorite ideas for improving the general health of an office is to implement a formalized Garden Share program.  If your office park has a green space available, ask if it can be turned into a garden that is shared by your employees.

Nobody likes to dress up in the summer - do you let your employees have carte blanche, or should you draw the line somewhere? Let's figure it out together.

If there's one thing we've learned in the last five years, it's that money is a terrible thing to waste. Here are the top six ways to keep your business running well ... on a shoestring budget. Hint: Step 1 is to try Google Apps as your email server.

Saving is saving, right? But what should be your first line of defense as a business owner wants to retire someday? I'll share my personal savings plan, and you can draw your conclusions from there.

Company picnics and mid-year parties can be a great employee and client retention tool. Now that the economy is starting to turn for the better, how can you reflect this new optimism in your celebration, while still keeping an eye on your budget?

Gone are the days of lavish client meals and entertainment budgets. As the keeper of the bottom line, you're scrutinizing every expense. How can you keep your clients entertained without losing your shirt?

We are all looking for low-cost, high impact benefits for our employees these days. Summer Flex Hours has been a consistent hit for decades. Here's how to implement them in your business.

Earth Day is right around the corner, but green can be pretty confusing. If you only do TWO things to be green, do THESE ...

Now that you've filed your taxes it's time to get back to business. Here are three ways to make the most of Q2 for your small company.

At what point in your business does it make sense to put someone on staff to manage your finances and taxes full time, and is there a benefit to doing this vs. paying an accounting firm?

There's a fresh pool of young talent entering your marketplace. They have great skills and almost no experience. What do you look for when hiring new grads?

Is it really a vacation when you're glued to your email the whole time? Is it possible to actually disconnect for a week? Here are some things to think about when planning your getaway this year.

Having a referral-based business is a cost effective way to run your business. How do you keep your referrals coming? What happens if they run out?

As inexpensive as payroll companies are, it seems crazy to do it yourself. Here are some tips to help you decide if it's time to start outsourcing payroll.

As a sole proprietor you're glued to your business all the time. Do you really think this pace is sustainable for the long haul? Here's how to plan for a short getaway to recharge your batteries.

Technology vendors are happy to take all of the money you want to spend with them. And because they speak a language that few understand, they can sell you things you don't need. How do you spend efficiently on Technology?

As an entrepreneur who is married to an entrepreneur, I know first-hand that work comes first, kids second and then a distant third is our romantic life. Every now and then we need to put romance first. What are you going to do to get romantic this Valentines' Day?

The noise level surrounding social media for business is deafening. Can we, as entrepreneurs, actually generate business out of all this stuff? Maybe, if we're smart about it.

Whether you're a sole proprietor or the head of a 20-person company, time management is always an issue. You're the go-to person for emergencies, large and small, as well as new business, and routine issues. How do you find time to do it all? Here's how to eliminate three major time wasters...

How to start doing the right work instead of ALL the work.