It may seem ironic that companies encourage innovation and brilliance while employees are on the payroll, but pull the plug on that ambition if they dare to leave. But non-compete agreements attempt to do just that to control damage. Whether signed when staff members come on board, or as part of a ream of paper presented...

If an employee accuses your company of discrimination and takes you to court, the ensuing battle could take years and cost thousands of dollars. When it’s all over, neither side may have much to show for it. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask employees to agree in advance to binding arbitration if such a...

Even the most efficiently run business occasionally encounters some delinquent accounts – those bills that aren’t paid on time. As a result, you may face the unpleasant task of trying to collect on past-due accounts. Your company probably has its own internal debt collection process, but when additional help is needed, you may need to turn...

Today’s labor market gives workers more opportunity to move from one company to another looking for increased job satisfaction. As a result, many companies are scrambling to find benefits to keep their employees satisfied. The cost of replacing an employee is high — estimated at 25 to 50 percent of the person’s annual salary. Balance the...

Does your business depend on salespeople? If the answer is yes, you probably rate and compensate them based on quotas. While that method of determining compensation is obviously fundamental and hard to dismiss, it’s also important to consider other measures of success. To encourage sales efforts that get results and grow your company, it’s worth paying...

Location, location, location. You know how important it is for your business. So when choosing a location, you probably research foot traffic, car traffic and the occupancy rates of the neighboring buildings. But if you don’t research zoning laws, all your good business judgment could go to waste. Before you sign a lease or buy a...