BrandingRebecca Deczynski Delta, Omicron, BA.4 , BA.5. Covid-19 Variant Names Hold a Lesson in Bad BrandingWHO's communication strategy around Covid variant names has driven some criticism. Here's what branding pros have to say about it.
Reshape BusinessBrit Morse Back to the Office? Here's Your Workplace Guide to the New BA.5 Covid SubvariantWhile the U.S. has largely shifted on Covid risk, there's no denying the latest variant is concerning. Learn what to factor into your plans when it comes to the most contagious strain yet.
MoneyMelissa Angell SBA Helps 4 Million Small Businesses Into Disaster Loans, Marking $390 Billion in Low-Cost Covid AidBuckle up: Borrowing costs are only going higher.
StrategyBrit Morse CDC Lifts Mask Requirements for Most Transportation--and Businesses Follow SuitMasks are no long required in airports, cabs, and ride shares. It's a major sign of a return to normalcy.
Social MediaChristopher R. Duncan How This TikTok Consultant Engineered a Viral Video to Help a Struggling RestaurantBouta founder Eli Stone thought he could get a struggling restaurant at least 10,000 views and some foot traffic. The video ended up getting 580,000 views. Here's how to emulate his success.
MoneyDiana Ransom The Senate's $10 Billion Covid-19 Testing Plan Would Slash Small Business Rescue AidMoney for Covid-19 testing is vital. But the pay-fors come at a cost.
SafeguardsBrit Morse The Senate Approved More Money for Covid Testing. It's Good News for EmployersIt means companies can continue to encourage testing without insurance premium spikes.
Economic OutlookMelissa Angell Forget the Billionaire Tax. Here Are 5 Ways Biden's Budget Might Actually Help Spur Small BusinessPresident Joe Biden's budget request allocates a larger chunk of change to the Small Business Administration.
MoneyMelissa Angell SBA Extends Deferment Period for Disaster Loan ProgramThe Small Business Administration is giving small businesses some grace.
SafeguardsJason Aten This Is the Worst Trend in Hybrid Work. It Has to StopJust because something saves money, it doesn't mean there isn't a cost.
SafeguardsDiana Ransom Didn't Get Your PPP Loan Fully Forgiven? SBA Wants to Hear About It The agency overseeing the $790 billion forgivable loan program issued some new guidance for those looking to appeal their forgiveness loan decisions.
Inspiring AchievementMelissa Angell With Omicron, Supply Chain Issues, and Spiraling Inflation, Businesses Call on Congress for More AidThere's a brief window to get something passed ahead of President Biden's State of the Union address on March 1.
SafeguardsBrit Morse States Have Begun Dropping Mask Mandates. How That May Affect Your Return-to-the-Office PlansWhile some employers may see the changes as a sign to bring remote workers back, the coronavirus remains very much a moving target.
Icons & InnovatorsMinda Zetlin Bill Gates Says After the Current Omicron Wave, Covid Will Be More Like the FluThe new variant will create widespread immunity for at least a year, he predicts.
Health CareMelissa Angell An Omicron-Specific Vaccine Is on the WayThe heads of Pfizer and Moderna both discussed their work on updating vaccines during health care's biggest conference.
SafeguardsSuzanne Lucas Will Your Company Require Vaccinations Monday? U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide SoonIt's possible that a decision may come as early as Monday, when the Emergency Temporary Standard is set go into effect.
Covid Resource CenterSteven I. Weiss You Could be Eligible for More Pandemic-Related Grants and LoansAs the Omicron variant surges, there are new grants for small businesses being made available. And plenty of funds remaining in state programs.
Covid Resource CenterHoward Tullman Business Needs to Step Up to VaccinesIf you own a company or run one, it's time to step up and tell employees to get vaxxed or get lost. Nothing less will stop this pandemic, and our own government can't get the job done on its own.
SafeguardsGabrielle Bienasz Survey: Smaller Businesses Have Looser Vaccination Proof Rules for CustomersSmaller businesses are less likely than larger ones to mandate that customers produce vaccination cards before letting them take off their masks indoors, according to a new survey.
Taking CareBrit Morse SBA Provides $2.7 Million in Funding for Women Business Centers in 13 StatesThe agency is targeting locations in small, diverse, and rural communities.
Taking CareBrit Morse San Francisco Bars and Restaurants Are Asking for Proof of Vaccination. Who's Next?With the Delta variant on the rise, business owners in the hospitality space are changing their policies.
Taking CareBrit Morse 3 Ways Businesses Are Responding to the Delta VariantWith the country facing a new wave of the pandemic, businesses are considering reinstalling mask mandates and other requirements for employees.
Taking CareBrit Morse The CDC Will Recommend Some People Wear Masks Indoors. What That Means for Maskless BusinessesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention once again changed its guidance, in light of the ongoing spread of the Delta variant.
Taking CareDiana Ransom SBA to Drop Its Review of PPP Loans of $2 Million and Above After more than a year of the Paycheck Protection Program and attendant legal challenges, the SBA is dropping its request that larger borrowers provide supplemental financial information.
Best WorkplacesSuzanne Lucas What You Should Not Say When Employees Return to WorkAs the boss, what you say goes. But first consider these important legal and interpersonal issues in your return to the office plan.
Taking CareDiana Ransom Biden Greenlights $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure FrameworkBut there are some elements that small businesses might miss.
BorrowingDiana Ransom Biden's Small Business Administration: More Lenders, Easier Terms, Fewer HurdlesThe pandemic presented fissures in the small-business resources and financing continuum. SBA administrator Isabel Guzman shares her plans to fix it.
Taking CareAlicia Doniger Companies Are Offering Incentives to Vaccinated Consumers, but More Important: Why?To make their communities safe--and maybe even boost sales--businesses have joined governments in using behavioral economics to coax consumers to get vaccinated. The fun factor matters.
Covid Resource CenterAnna Meyer A Sudden Surge of Vaccinated Patrons Is Forcing Businesses to Get CreativeStrapped for resources and staff, businesses are hoping a triage of quick fixes will help them ride the wave of consumers looking to get out and spend.
Taking CareBrit Morse It's Getting Easier to Vaccinate Your Whole Staff at the Office. But Should You?Vaccine drives can be incredibly efficient, but also have a cost. Here's a look at the factors to consider before hosting your own event.
Taking CareBrit Morse Fully Vaccinated People Can Go Mask Free in Most CasesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed public guidelines, allowing vaccinated individuals to resume regular activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart.
Town HallAmrita Khalid Small Business Week Town Hall: 3 Tips to Thrive in the New NormalBusiness leaders weigh in on how companies can flourish as they take the uncharted path ahead.
WireCameron Albert-Deitch 3 Ways to Build Stronger Small-Business Communities in a Post-Covid WorldThe economic recovery could present a new opportunity for Main Street businesses and startups nationwide--with some strategic planning.
Taking CareDiana Ransom SBA Releases New Details for Its $28.6 Billion Restaurant Revitalization FundWhile the RRF grant program is styled similarly to the Shuttered Venue Operators Program, look forward to a different rollout.
Taking CareDiana Ransom Pandemic-Era Shipping Delays and Product Scarcity to Last Through Summer The reasons for the squeeze are manifold, but it all mostly comes down to finding workers.
Taking CareDiana Ransom After 1 Year of PPP, a Former SBA Official on the 'Herculean' Effort Getting the $750 Billion Program Off the GroundThe forgivable loan program has helped millions of small businesses access about $750 billion in aid. Bill Briggs was there for it all.
Taking CareBrit Morse No Vaccine, No Entry? Understanding the Vaccine Passport DebateThe technology is emerging--and so are concerns about privacy, security, and other issues.
Taking CareDiana Ransom SBA Halts Its $16 Billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program on Day 1Business owners were in a constant state of refresh yesterday as the SBA tried (fruitlessly) to resolve its tech issues.
Taking CareDiana Ransom 4 Reasons to Apply for PPP Right NowThe forgivable loan program could run out of money this month. But if you act now, you may get cash easier and faster than before.
Taking CareDiana Ransom It's Prime Time for SBA's $16 Billion Live Events Grant Program--FinallyAfter several months of waiting for the Small Business Administration to kick off its inaugural shuttered venue operators grant program, today's the day.
Taking CareBrit Morse Assessing Whether You Can (or Should) Ask Customers to See Their Vaccine CardsHigher vaccination rates can signal a quicker return to the workplace, but requiring proof of said vaccinations can be a minefield for businesses.
Taking CareAmi Kassar Biden's American Jobs Plan Is Only Half of the EquationIt's a great first step, but for this 'bottom-up' approach to work, entrepreneurs need mentorship, resources, and on-the-ground help.
Taking CareAnna Meyer Spring Break Spending Harbingers a Mixed Bag for Summer Hot SpotsBeach towns have been busy with customers. But community tensions and business capacity restrictions continue to present challenges.
Taking CareMinda Zetlin Krispy Kreme Gives Free Doughnuts All Year to Anyone Who's Had a Vaccine. Here's Why That's SmartMany large and small businesses are offering vaccine incentives. Maybe yours should too.
PivotAmy George 3 Critical Lessons From the Pandemic to Build Into Your Crisis PlanIt's time to document all of the pivots and best practices--for the next unprecedented event.
Taking CareBrit Morse 3 Reasons You Should Buy a Business NowWith financial options available and an aging population looking to sell, there's never been a better time to buy a business.
Taking CareDiana Ransom With 190,000 Applications on Hold and $79 Billion Remaining in Funds, Biden Approves PPP ExtensionSmall businesses will get another two months of access to the program, but the SBA says funds could be gone by mid-April.
Covid Resource CenterCarol Sankar 3 Ways Companies Have Shown Corporate Social Responsibility During the PandemicHere are some of the ways companies have provided relief in the past year-- and it's not too late to join them.
Taking CareBrit Morse Business Leaders to Washington: Paid Family and Medical Leave Shouldn't Be OptionalAnd they say the crisis-era program should last long after the pandemic subsides.
Taking CareDiana Ransom 3 Ways the PPP Could Soon Change Lawmakers have bigger aspirations for reforming the program. Their ideas include making one of Biden's recent changes retroactive.
Covid Resource CenterJohn Hall How You Can Make a Comeback With Your Business in 2021You worked hard to build your small business. Don't let Covid-19 have the last word.
Taking CareBrit Morse The House Votes to Extend the PPP to May 31The bipartisan program is expected to swiftly pass the Senate--which could help last-minute PPP filers or those who've been stymied by delays get the money they need to survive.
Covid Resource CenterDiana Ransom Senate Confirms New SBA Boss Isabel GuzmanHer top job will be overseeing the launch of two vital grant programs for shuttered venues and restaurants.
Taking CareBrit Morse What You Need to Know About Employee Retention CreditsThe American Rescue Plan extends a key crisis-era tax credit that could get you some serious cash. But you have to act fast.
Covid Resource CenterBrit Morse Lawmakers Strike a Deal to Extend the PPPThe bipartisan agreement would extend the forgivable loan program for two months. The House is expected to vote on the measure next week.