The straight line

Smart company owners and executives obtain business interruption insurance — and possibly contingent business income coverage if the operation relies heavily on outsourcing or a particular supplier. The idea is that the policy will compensate the company for lost earnings if a devastating event forces it to temporarily close down. But the calculations and coverage of...

With the SEC requiring greater transparency with regard to executive compensation, many organizations — not just public corporations that are bound by SEC disclosure rules — have begun to rethink the issue. Shifting public expectations are causing organizations to redefine how, and to what extent, executive initiative and leadership is rewarded. At most organizations, base salary is...

Favorable depreciation rules for business use of “heavy” SUVs, pickups and vans were locked in by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. By taking advantage of these rules, you may be able to write off the entire business-use portion of a heavy vehicle’s cost in the first year. Here’s how it works....

When you consider going into business for yourself, you have three basic choices: Start from scratch, buy an existing business, or look for opportunities to purchase a franchise. A franchise gives you the licensed right to use a service mark, trademark, or business concept. Each franchisee signs an agreement that governs how the business is operated....

Salaries are a tough expense for most businesses. You want to hold them down but reining them in too tightly doesn’t always work well. Good employees can often go elsewhere and replacing them can cost your company a bundle. So, if you’re in a spot where every salary dollar counts, here are eight ideas for getting...

Last year, the average U.S. wedding cost $32,641 — including engagement rings but excluding honeymoons — according to the 2015 Real Weddings Study published by The Knot, a wedding marketplace and concierge service. That staggering amount represents an increase of more than $5,500 over the past five years. On average, the couple foots 43% of the...