Recently, we’ve seen signs that many businesses are reopening during the last quarter of 2020. Yet uncertainty remains. In some states, businesses have reopened in recent weeks only to be told to close or reduce their capacity for customers. It’s becoming increasingly challenging to plan for the future. Consequently, many business owners and leaders might wonder how they can develop a growth strategy for 2021.

What you need is a strategic direction to provide purpose for your business and help you set realistic goals to accomplish in the coming year.

Here are some ways to build your 2021 business strategy during this last quarter of…

Client consultations are full of opportunity for your business. A thorough consultation can help you identify the right products and services for each client, build valuable client relationships, and even upsell services.

The perfect client consultation will do all of this well, but conducting a fantastic consultation can be a challenge. If consultations are a regular part of your business, it’s worth your time to focus on perfecting them.

Steps to the best client consultation experience

A great consultation isn’t as simple as it might seem. A lot of thought and preparation go into creating an effective consultation that converts a prospect into a customer or client.

1. Understand your goals

Before you head into a consultation, outline what you want to achieve. Is your goal to get the customer to sign a contract and officially become a new client? Do you want the customer to sign up for a free trial, or is your goal to interest them in a higher-priced package? …

The coronavirus pandemic has required many businesses, including hotels, to close temporarily. As states reopen, the hotel industry is preparing to welcome guests again.

But it can be challenging to manage staff and guest safety in a hotel, while preventing virus transmission. A detailed, carefully planned hotel reopening guide is key to your hotel’s success. Here are some important items to include.

Start with your local requirements

As states gradually reopen, they’re each releasing their own guidelines for different types of businesses. Most states are reopening in phases, so it’s important to determine which phase includes hotel reopenings in your state.

Check with your state government’s website and your local chamber of commerce for details on when you can reopen to help you plan accordingly. Your state may have additional requirements for reopening that go beyond the details below, such as restrictions on the number of guests you can have in your hotel at any one time. …

The coronavirus pandemic has forced retail stores and businesses to shut down across the United States. With states gradually reopening, more and more of these stores can once again open their doors — with a few changes in place.

If you’re preparing for a store reopening, you’ll need to be ready for an experience that’s not at all like business as usual. However, with the proper precautions in place and some flexibility in your business model, you can successfully reopen your store and welcome customers back.

Check your local requirements

Before planning your store reopening, check with your state government. Many states are reopening in phases, giving different businesses permission to open in each phase. …

You’ve been thinking about starting your own business, and maybe you’ve run the idea past colleagues. Maybe you’re already pursuing it by writing a business plan and actively seeking funding. It has to be the right time and place, or you shouldn’t take the leap, especially considering the challenges faced by entrepreneurs — even in the best of times.

Then the unexpected happens. Months of uncertainty ensue. Long-established businesses struggle and the future is unknown. Everything seems to point to putting entrepreneurial pursuits on hold. Yet this past year could have been one of the best times to launch a business and become an entrepreneur. …

Lots of people are now working from home. On its own, that shift in environment takes some getting used to, especially if you’re used to working in an office. Many working parents are managing their kids' online school and spouses or roommates are spending more time together. It’s feeling more challenging to keep work and home lives separate.

Often adding to these challenges is a lack of space. Not everyone has the square footage to spread out and enjoy a dedicated office. For those in smaller spaces like a condo or studio, there are fewer choices to physically separate work from home. …

With remote work becoming more common, businesses have started to transition to hiring entirely remote employees. These employees may be located in different time zones or states, which has impacted how businesses interview and hire new team members. Now, with COVID-19 forcing remote work on many businesses, remote interviewing and hiring are becoming even more common.

For the remote interview process to be a success, your business needs to use the right tools and software. The following options can help to facilitate virtual interviews, making the process easier for both hiring managers and job applicants.

Interview scheduling tools

Scheduling video interviews or phone interviews can be tricky, especially if you’re corresponding through email. These tools can streamline that process, making it easier for both you and the job applicants. …

According to the 2019 Onpay Small Business Finance and HR Report, just 30 percent of small business owners work with accountants. That’s not surprising, given how much each dollar counts to a small company.

Doing the accounting yourself certainly saves some money in the short term. That said, it might be worth hiring an outside accountant for your company. You, of course, have to weigh the pros and cons yourself, and each business is different, but there is much to be gained by bringing in an outside resource.

Here are four reasons why you should consider hiring an accountant for your small…