Local Business Talk

If you're an entrepreneur, you've probably asked yourself "how do I know when I can afford to hire someone?" After you listen to this episode, you'll know exactly what the answer is for your business...listen now!

It takes a special person to support their family through entrepreneurship. When you listen to this episode, you are going to find how much impact it really makes!

You probably know that successful businesses are a marathon not a sprint, right? After you listen to this episode you will learn how to level up from the short term DIY mentality!

If you're like most business owners, multitasking is a natural thing. But you may not realize yet how much this habit is actually costing you. After you listen you'll know why!

If you're like most entrepreneurs, you probably started your business to have freedom, impact, and income. And as you know, that freedom can quickly disappear as you get pulled into putting out fires, wearing all the hats, and more. After you listen to this episode, you will discover 4 simple ways to become the Dialed in CEO with the freedom you dreamed of!

If you're someone ready to take your business to the next level, this episode is for you! You probably know that great businesses are built by great teams. You will discover 4 simple steps to hiring your BEST team after you listen!

If your like most entrepreneurs, you may have thought "I'll hire someone when I have more revenue." But when you listen to this episode, you will realize that is exactly what's keeping you stuck!

When you listen to this episode, you will realize how one simple word can impact how you see your business. The more you understand this concept, the higher you can take your own business!

Starting a small business can be tough, but starting in a pandemic can be almost impossible...until you adapt and thrive! Patrick Patino was forced out of his corporate gig and into entrepreneurship in 30 days. Listen to discover how he found what he loves to do and is now thriving in his own business!

Life gets busy...and it gets especially busy when running a small business! In today's start-up series episode, Kelly Spurgeon CEO/Founder of Zeal tells us her story of how she went from corporate to start-up during a pandemic! If you enjoy small business

You probably have heard before that the golden rule in business is to “begin with the end in mind.” And if you’re like most entrepreneurs, you already know that before you can achieve huge results, you must understand the steps needed to get there. That’s exactly why we speak with Jill and Brad from Exit Playbook as part of our “IDEAL Start-Up Series!” after you hear this episode you will fully understand why it’s so important to have a plan in place from Day 1!

When building a successful business, finding great employees can make or break your company. Today Mike Zeigle from Careerlink brings us proven ways to help your business find and hire the best staff possible! Mike’s many years of experience will benefit you whether you’re hiring your 1st or your 100th employee! Click and take a listen!

There’s a lot of chaos in the world today. There’s more division than ever before. If you’re tired of all the negativity and suffering you see on the news and online, take a few minutes to watch this video.   Tara Bowne shares a deeply personal and amazing story of how her family brings light into the world through their son Ryker. Do yourself a favor and shut off the news, close your social media apps, and embrace this story of love and good-will that makes our world a better place.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with your business?  Trying to juggle home, work, and personal life all at once? Well, today we speak with Jenny Alford of Davis & Co Designs, who had a new born baby, started a business, AND navigated the impact of COVID right as she opened her doors!    Jenny has an amazing start-up story to share as part of our “IDEAL Start-Up Series!”  Her business is thriving through all the turmoil of 2020 and has a bright future ahead.    Watch the video now and click the link in the comments for future updates!

This one is for the dreamers, the doers, the entrepreneurs...who have not started yet.Or maybe you’ve started your business but you’re questioning if you made the right move. Or maybe you’ve been at this start-up game for a while and you’re just having one of those days where you think having a “real job” would be much easier! So if you dream of having a small business, if your goal is to work for YOU, but you continue believing that the risk is too great, then you are leaving your fate up to something outside of your control. And where will that get you in life?

Have you ever dreamed of starting a business? Today we hear an amazing story of risk, reward and, most importantly, donuts as part of our “IDEAL Start-Up Series!” Elizabeth Pooley, founder of Square Donut in Omaha, is our guest and she tells us about the obstacles she faced, the divine intervention she experienced, and what it’s like starting a new food business during COVID! If you’re someone who appreciates determination, entrepreneurship, and sweet tasty treats then click and listen to her story now!

One of the biggest mistakes people make in business is not fully understanding their numbers before hiring an employee. Hiring without knowing the true costs is like buying a new car without checking the sticker price!  If you’re someone who is serious about running a successful business then you already know the value of planning ahead.  Listen now to learn exactly how to budget for your next employee!

If you are starting a new business, one of the hardest things to navigate is the paperwork needed with your state. Where do you start? Do you need a registered agent? Can I file all the paperwork myself? We discuss these questions and more with Amy Purdy of URS Agents today as part of the “IDEAL Start-Up Series!” If you’re someone who wants to start your business off right, you’ll want to listen to Amy in this interview!

Small business makes a big impact in our communities.   In fact, small businesses are responsible for creating millions of jobs and provide income for families all over the world.    By supporting local businesses, we help improve our economy and increase our sense of togetherness.   Our mission at Ideal is “Local Business Success!”  Let’s make a conscious effort to stand behind local and build a better future together!

We are featuring new businesses to support in our "IDEAL Start-Up Series!" Today we speak with Christen Scofield from the Bright Side of Happy! Christen tells her start-up story of juggling health, family, and a new business through the challenges of COVID-19!

Additional guidance was provided on a common PPP question about early forgiveness last week. We discuss how this impacts your loan along with additional grant opportunities that are available. We also cover some free marketing tools provided by Google and Facebook that can give your business a boost along with an open Q&A.

Another week brings more changes to the PPP program. This week the SBA released a new simplified forgiveness application so we cover the details during this call. In addition, a common question has been "what do I do when PPP funds run out?" We cover two possible solutions to look for along with updating the Nebraska Stabilization Grant process

The PPP forgiveness process has changed once again. Luckily the changes are not as dramatic as last week, however there are things to note as you use the funds. Also, the state of Nebraska announced a new grant program offering up to $12K for businesses impacted by COVID-19. We discuss these topics and more with a live Q&A.

The PPP Flexibility Act significantly changed the PPP loan forgiveness process. Most of the changes are postiive and will help business owners achieve full forgiveness. However, there are a few landmines to watch out for with the new law. We discussed these changes with an open Q&A on our Monday discussion call.

New guidance was issued regarding the PPP Loan forgiveness process. Today we cover the important aspects of the application along with potential changes that can impact how the funds are used. Listen now for the latest update!

Small businesses are taking small steps towards normalcy and re-opening as of May 4th. The Governor established a business task force to provide information on best practices for re-opening and to get real-time feedback from local businesses. Dept of Economic Development Director Tony Goins is the chair of that task force and joined us to discuss. 

There are still questions remaining about PPP forgiveness, the EIDL program, and more for businesses to answer. We went straight to the source and invited the District Director of the Small Business Administration Leon Milobar to join our weekly round-table. Leon was generous with his time and very helpful answering questions many of us face during COVID-19

I hosted a round-table discussion on Monday April 20th with 60+ small businesses. We discussed the steps needed to ensure you get PPP loan forgiveness and what to do if you were not able to get the first round of funding. We also covered what to do as the world starts to "normalize" again

The impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt by small businesses across the nation. To help us through this, we held a round-table discussion with small businesses on April 13th. We cover details on SBA loan programs along with creating our future as entrepreneurs through these changes.

There is a lot of new "stuff" out there for small businesses including the PPP Loan, EIDL advance program, tax deferrals, tax credits, and more. If you are feeling uncertain and overwhelmed, you are not alone! We hosted a round-table discussion on April 6th to clarify the different programs available for your small business.

There are many ways a small businesses can receive help through the new CARES Act. Today we cover the details of the new forgivable SBA loan program, potential payroll tax deferrals, and more. We hosted 50+ like-minded small business owners for a round-table Q&A

Things move fast in this COVID-19 environment and there is a lot of uncertainty with how to handle HR details. At Ideal Payroll, we are getting many human resource related questions on Family Medical Leave, Emergency Paid Sick Leave, how to handle layoffs, PTO balances, and more. On March 27th, Doug Pedersen of HR Systems Inc joined us for a Q&A. Doug has 25+ years of HR experience and helps businesses of all sizes. If you need further help, you can reach out to Doug and/or consult your attorney.

We have all felt the impact of COVID-19. Small business is hurting, but if we stand together we can get through to the other side of this issue. I held a conference call of approximately 50 small businesses on Monday March 23rd. We discuss multiple issues facing small business including SBA loans, Dept of Labor unemployment options, marketing your business, and much much more. This episode brings the roundtable discussion to you. We are all in this together!

Today is a "best of" episode featuring Maddie Carson of Carson's Cookie Fix. Maddieo made the decision to re-brand her small business after the prior business had been in existence for 40 years! She shares her story of how building processes, getting team members involved, and focusing on a specific product line lead to her success.

Today we share one of my favorite episodes in a "best of" the podcast edition! RISE is an organization that brings entrepreneurship and business ideas to incarcerated men and women in Nebraska. This incredible program benefits the community, the participants, and the volunteers.

In this episode, we discuss mindset and how to overcome your inner thoughts that may be holding you back. Janelle Roker is a strategy coach that discusses the mental side of business success.

Do you ever have a day when everything goes wrong? Employees have issues, customers are calling, and nothing seems to go the way you want it to go! Believe it or not, but these days are the BEST days for growing your business. Problems can lead to change which sets your business up for long term success! Listen to this episode to hear the details!

Does the name of your business impact your success? Does your logo and branding really matter? Today's episode we discuss how a name can have a big impact on the customers and employees in your business. We also get into why I changed the name of this very podcast and what that means for the future of the show. Take a listen!

Where do you come up with new ideas for your business? Are you creating something entirely brand new every time you do a marketing campaign or build a process? Likely, you are "borrowing" from other ideas and systems that came before you. Today we discuss 4 ethical ways to borrow ideas to help improve your business. There is no reason to re-invent the wheel when you can use concepts and tactics from others that have been there before you.

Do you want more engagement with prospective customers? How about an easy way to qualify leads and get them info they need more efficiently? RJ Redden joins us on the show to discuss how chat bots are a tool to do exactly those things and more! You'll be surprised at how much a bot can do while keeping things personal and not "robotic."

It's January 20th, 2020 and I have a scary question for you. Have you been sticking to your New Year's Resolutions? Have you been taking action towards your 2020 small business goals like you planned back in November/December? If you're like most people, the answer is NO! Most resolutions and goals do not make it past the second week of January. Today we discuss how you can add two easy actions to your day that will help you stay on track for your goals. Take a listen now!

The mental part of small business can be a challenging obstacle to overcome. It's not easy to stay positive when everything around you seems to go wrong! Em Ducharme joins us today to tell her story about staying positive and being mentally strong. These concepts help our business in many ways including building a team to support you during down times.

Can you describe the difference between branding marketing and selling? All three are important concepts to master in your small business if you want to drive growth and success. Today we discuss why it's important to understand each concept, where they overlap, and how to use each to your advantage in 2020!

Big and exciting changes are coming to Local Business Talk for 2020! We are taking a brief break for the holidays and will come back in January with exciting news.

Nobody likes talking about taxes. But it is absolutely necessary in small business to understand your numbers and where taxes comes from. Unemployment tax is often confused with insurance, but it's the only tax small business owners can control. Today we discuss what you need to know about this tax, how it's calculated each year, and what you can do to make sure you keep your rate low.

What if there was a new way to hire employees that would not only keep employees happy, but it would increase productivity in your organization? Hiring and retaining good, quality employees has long been one of the biggest challenge small businesses face. Today Jessica Charlsen joins us to discuss a new way to look at filling the roles in your business called job sharing.

Most small business owners do not want to think about the legal side of operating their business. But we can't bury our heads in the sand and pretend there are no threats to consider. Disputes over contracts, employee issues, landlords, and more all can cause huge issues if not handled the proper way. Jon Brown is Partner at Walentine O'Toole and joins us today to discuss the basics of protecting your small business.

Consistent results are not always common in small business. Our attention can be drawn to several areas every day and sometimes things fall through the cracks. Today we discuss the best way to limit this issue and how to be consistent inside your business so that you can build the business of your dreams!

Are you prepared for year end in your small business? December seemed to sneak up on us as always, but the good news is we have you covered! Today we discuss 5 things every small business needs as we approach 2020. These are simple and easy tasks that will make sure you finish this year on a high note! Click the link to listen to the full episode!

Do you have control of your thoughts? Or do you let your thoughts control you? It's a deep question that is important in our ongoing quest for growth and success. Today Paul Halpine joins us to discuss his book "A Disciplined Mind and a Plan to Achieve It."

What do you do when nothing goes your way? Is it possible to still be grateful even on your worst day? I experienced a day full of roadblocks and momentum stoppers and it was extremely frustrating. But by the end of the day I was grateful for what I experienced and what I have to look forward to next. Listen to the full story on this episode of Local Business Talk!