News & editorial
From the editorial desk, 2013
Archive of pieces from the editorial desk dated 2013.
OSHA Hazard Communication: Labels and Training Basics
OSHA hazard communication is moving to standard label elements and 16-section safety data sheets. Worker training on both came due on December 1, 2013.
Gift card rules retailers must follow: expiration and fees
Gift card rules retailers must follow: money lasts at least five years, and inactivity and service fees start only after a year of no use. A plain guide.
Fake Online Reviews: How Buyers Can Spot Them
Fake online reviews are hard to spot by reading alone. What New York's attorney general found in 2013, plus five checks to run before you hire.
Freight Broker Bond Rules: What Shippers Should Know
Freight broker bond rules: FMCSA says the minimum for general freight brokers rises from $10,000 to $75,000 on October 1, 2013. See what the bond covers.
CAN-SPAM Requirements: A Checklist for Email Senders
CAN-SPAM requirements in seven checks: honest headers, a postal address, a working opt-out and the 10 business day limit. A plain guide for email senders.
Local Business Listings: Get Your Name and Address Right
Local business listings should show the same name, address and phone everywhere. Here is how to check yours and fix mismatches.
Health care tax credit: how small businesses qualify
The health care tax credit is worth up to 35 percent of staff premiums for small employers. See who qualifies, how it works and how to claim it on Form 8941.
Form I-9 new hires: a simple checklist for employers
Form I-9 new hires: Section 1 is due by day one, Section 2 within three business days. A simple checklist using the 03/08/13 N edition.
Online Ad Disclosures: What the FTC Expects of Sellers
Online ad disclosures that prevent deception must be clear and should sit near the claim. What the March 2013 FTC guide says about mobile and social ads.
SAM registration federal contracts: a step by step guide
SAM registration federal contracts guide: get a free DUNS number, register at SAM.gov, and renew every year so you can be awarded and paid.
Family Business Succession Plan: Where to Start
A family business succession plan starts with clear goals, a trained successor, written roles and early advice. Plain first steps and the 2013 tax figures.
FDIC insurance business accounts: what changed
FDIC insurance business accounts: unlimited coverage on noninterest checking ended Dec. 31, 2012. The $250,000 limit now applies. What owners should check.