Features

• How To Set Up and Structure Multiple Businesses

  May 03, 2013

  Today’s small business owners often earn income through a variety of ventures. For example, a restaurateur may open a wine shop or a caterer may also double as a part-time copy editor. If you’re running multiple business projects, you’ve probably wondered what’s the best way to structure all these ventures. Should you form one corporation to cover them all? Should you form an LLC for each one?

• Is Saving Money By Hiring Independent Contractors A Good Idea?

  May 02, 2013

  Businesses utilizing independent contractors rather than employees can save significant money when payday rolls around, with some savings estimates at 25%. Given the obvious benefits, doesn’t it make sense for every business to use contractors exclusively?

• FiveStar Customer Service Strategies Focuses on Front Line to Grow the Bottom Line

  May 01, 2013

  Every company needs customers to stay in business. Rita Suiter built FiveStar Customer Service Strategies from scratch over the last 12 years by focusing on that one commonality for all businesses. Suiter provides customized training to a diverse client base with an approach that helps employees upgrade interpersonal skills, improve attitudes and develop positive "customer service" habits.

• Commentary: Does Obamacare Have A Death Panel?

  April 29, 2013

  Bloomberg Businessweek’s January article entitled “Wanted: Obamacare Death Panelists” corrects misperceptions of the law, but also highlights serious challenges in fighting fraud and rising health care costs. This references the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which was created to slow the growth in Medicare spending when President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

• Has Your Sales Team Met Their New Best Friend?

  April 25, 2013

  This month local sales trainer and author Doug Robinson talks about asking questions and how “You will question your way into many more sales than you will ever talk yourself into.”

• Drawdy Roofing Turns its CEO’s Interest into a New Business Venture

  April 24, 2013

  Drawdy Roofing and Vinyl Siding has been an integral part of South Georgia for more than 40 years. Fifteen years ago, Ken Drawdy took over the family business and two years ago acquired Albany Sheet Metal, a sheet metal fabrication business serving industrial, residential, and commercial customers.

• Daniel Titus on When to Upgrade Your Website

  April 22, 2013

  You upgrade your cellphone every two years, your workout routine every three months, and you wish you could upgrade your kids almost daily. How do you know when its time to upgrade your website? Daniel Titus of DanielTitus.com shares instances when you need an upgrade.

• Scott Hunter on How Changing Interest Rates May Affect Your Investments

  April 18, 2013

  Even if you didn’t take Economics 101 in college, just navigating through the past several years has given you hands-on experience with one of the course’s most valuable lessons: The rise and fall of interest rates is one of the biggest factors influencing global economies, financial markets, and our daily lives. Wells Fargo Financial Advisor Scott Hunter shares why it is important to have a basic understanding of how interest rate changes could affect not only your wallet but also your investment portfolio.

• Georgia Credit Unions Continue to Add Members

  April 17, 2013

  Credit union membership and deposits in Georgia grew in 2012, continuing a national trend that began with Bank Transfer Day in the fall of 2011. In a exclusive interview with Albany CEO, President/CEO of the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates Mike Mercer speaks as to why credit unions across the state have encountered such growth.

• Commentary: Will Health Care Reform Hit A Snag?

  April 15, 2013

  Reports are that a key target of the Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama in 2010 appears ambivalent about buying health insurance. Specifically, the young and healthy have so far not been interested in buying health insurance. However, it is still early and none of the insurance exchanges have been set up. Plus, it is possible that they are waiting until the last minute before having to pay a fee for not being insured.

• MillerCoors, P&G, Mars Chocolate Win Albany EDC Industry Awards

  April 11, 2013

  The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission announced today the winners of its 2013 Industry Awards, an annual event highlighting the community’s roster of industries and their successes. Honorees for economic impact, excellence in innovation, and community citizenship were all recognized.

• MSA Offers New Approach to Pain Management

  April 09, 2013

  Business is growing at Musculoskeletal Associates (MSA), a primary-care orthopedic practice with an emphasis on spine and interventional pain management procedures and diagnostics. It offers physical therapy, imaging services such as MRIs and CTs, neurodiagostics; and it has an ambulatory surgery center. With a full spectrum of services, MSA can in many cases enable patients to receive the treatment they need without going to a hospital.

• Do You Trust Your Employees to Work Remotely?

  April 08, 2013

  Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer unleashed a firestorm of commentary throughout the business world with her recent announcement that remote working was off the table for the tech company’s staffers, who will now be expected to show up in the office every day. If you’ve still got a nagging feeling that letting employees work at home means paying them to watch Cartoon Network in their jammies all day, how can you get over it?

• Commentary: Immigration Enhances Local Economies

  April 04, 2013

  Immigration is a divisive topic. Whenever a new segment of workers enter the market, it causes apprehension and distrust. While Arizona, Georgia, and Alabama are passing laws to restrict immigration, cities like St. Louis are openly courting immigrants in order to stem a steady loss of population.

• Prince Automotive Group Closes Purchase of Albany's Tri-State Peterbilt

  April 03, 2013

  On March 28, Prince Automotive Group completed its purchase of Tri-State Peterbilt in Albany. Tri-State Peterbilt, which has been in business for about 38 years, sells heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, which are any trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 33,000 lbs. and all tractor-trailers.

• Former Albany Chamber Executive Deborah Bowie Joining Gainesville Chamber as VP of Chamber Development

  April 01, 2013

  In an exclusive interview with Albany CEO, former Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications for the Albany Chamber Deborah Bowie announces her move to join the Gainesville Chamber in Gainesville, Florida.

• Film & Music Day at the Capitol Spotlights Industry's Impact on Georgia

  March 28, 2013

  The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today celebrated the 40th anniversary of film and television productions in Georgia during Film & Music Day at the Capitol. Gov. Nathan Deal, Speaker David Ralston and Rep. Ron Stephens headlined the celebration, an annual recognition of the film and music industry’s importance to Georgia’s economy.

• 5 Tips for Buying a Franchise

  March 27, 2013

  For those entrepreneurs itching to start their own business, purchasing a franchise can be a good alternative. Franchising can be less risky than starting a business from scratch. The franchisor has done a lot of the work for you. The business plan is ready made; there’s already strong brand name recognition, and the franchisor is often responsible for the marketing and advertising. However, any new business is risky, even a franchise. You may get an established name and business plan, but your success is ultimately up to you.

• 10 Rules of Mobile Etiquette for Small Businesses

  March 25, 2013

  As small business owners, the mobile phone is one of our most important tools. So important, that we may forget that “anywhere and everywhere” is not our office. And as your business grows, it’s not just your own behavior with a cell phone you have to think about. You also have to make sure your employees exhibit professionalism, stay safe and present a positive public image of your business while using mobile devices.

• Why a Good February Jobs Report Might Be Deceiving

  March 22, 2013

  The February jobs report exceeded expectations with the unemployment rate falling to 7.7% and 236,000 jobs added. Darton State Economic Professor Aaron Johnson says while that suggests optimism, self-inflicted wounds from congressional gridlock may eventually lead to unnecessary damage to economic growth and unemployment.

• The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia Fights Cancer Here at Home

  March 21, 2013

  Cancer is at home in South Georgia. In many counties in the region, the incidence rate of cancer is higher than both the state average and the U.S. average. The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia is the only local collaborative cancer organization focused on preventing cancer and increasing survival among the people of South Georgia.

• International Dignitaries to Tour Southwest Georgia Today

  March 20, 2013

  More than two dozen consular and trade officials from 23 countries will visit business and tourism centers in southwestern Georgia March 20-22 during Georgia’s 28th annual International VIP Tour. The tour, conducted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), will showcase tourism destinations, businesses and economic development partnerships in the region, and provide Georgia’s diplomatic corps opportunities to meet local Georgians in Albany, Americus, Plains, Adel, Lakeland, Thomasville and Tifton.

• Scott Hunter on Why You Shouldn't Overload Your Portfolio with Company Stock

  March 14, 2013

  Many companies offer their employees a stock purchase plan, enabling them to purchase company stock at a discounted price and invest in the company they work for. While this can frequently be a great way to invest in the stock market, as an investor you need to question whether it’s good to load up too much on your company’s stock — or any company’s stock, for that matter. Wells Fargo Financial Advisor Scott Hunter shares more.

• Katz Floorcovering Finds Opportunities with National Partners

  March 13, 2013

  In 2012, Katz Floorcovering became a franchisee of Abbey Carpet & Floor, a national flooring distributor comprised of 800 locally owned and operated showrooms across the United States and Canada. In addition, the Katz Leesburg showroom underwent a full remodel with all new displays and fresh paint. Market response has been very encouraging.

• Maybe The Fed Is The Problem with Weak Recovery

  March 12, 2013

  Aaron Johnson, Economics Professor at Darton State College, digs deeper into reasons behind the weak economic recovery, and what role the Federal Reserve might be playing in it.

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