Author Archives: CorpStrat News

How to Tackle Health Benefits in The 4th Quarter

Behind in the game? Here’s how you can finish strong and tackle health benefits in the 4th quarter.

Despite ACA/Obamacare, your health insurance rates are likely slated to increase this 4th quarter, with 90% of small businesses in California due to renew their health insurance plans by December 1st.

Not to mention that deductibles and out of pocket expenses will likely rise for most plans, regardless of the carrier (all of whom by-the-way will be overwhelmed since just about every single health insurance plan will be renewing at the exact same time.) So what can you do to avoid some of the stress?

Prepare Don’t Procrastinate

“A task left undone remains undone in two places — at the actual location of the task, and inside your head. Incomplete tasks in your head consume the energy of your attention as they gnaw at your conscience.” – Brahma Kumari

We are all a bit guilty of procrastinating from time to time, especially when it comes to tasks we think may be unpleasant, but success was never found in procrastination, it was seized through action and in effort. In the long run, and this applies to almost every situation, procrastinating will only drain you of more energy, time, and money than if you had gone ahead and taken care of it, so it’s best to take steps now, however small, before the flood gates open in Q4.

Just imagine if someone dropped a years worth of work on your desk all at once and asked you to complete it ASAP. Do you think you could give every matter it’s full attention? Would you be able to sift through each detail?

That’s what Q4 will be like if you fail to prep, not to mention that some important money saving and even regulatory details may be overlooked, putting you and your business at risk. Those who are unprepared or uninformed can expect rocky times ahead. In other words, it won’t be pleasant for those who procrastinate.

Consult With A Broker To Develop A Game Plan

Not sure where to start? Well that’s where strong, skilled brokers like us come in to play, as seasoned brokers can help clients navigate and review the market, benchmark opportunities, as well as help to build vibrant benefit plans that are perfectly suited for your business.

If you’re looking to hire and retain great employees in 2017 then you need to ensure the plans you put in place are more than just cost effective and within regulation, they should also be designed to help your business attract and retain top talent in order to keep your business moving forward. Experienced brokers can provide you with valuable insight and put together plans that will ultimately lead to improved retention rates and happier employees.

Ask Questions

Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions, a lot of questions. Great brokers love their clients, but most importantly, they love educating them. If you consult with a broker who isn’t happy answering all your questions, then find one who is, because trust and open communication is vital in an industry such as this and you don’t want to get left in the dark.

Own Up and Speak Up

It’s not easy for some to reach out and admit they’ve made a poor decision or that they’ve procrastinated. For some managers and business owners, pride trumps all, but it shouldn’t. Great leaders know that trail, error, and failure are all a part of the game, so if you’re worried about appearances, don’t be. If the plans you have in place now are questionable at best, then say so. Honesty with your broker is an important step when it comes to the success of your business so don’t be afraid to say what works and what doesn’t either.

So in the end, if you’re a bit behind in the game, dreading the final quarter, and not sure where to turn then finding a strong broker to take charge is the best way to win.

* We here at Corporate Strategies are one of the leading employee benefit brokers in CA, ranking as Premier Partner status for most carriers, making us an excellent choice for small and medium sized businesses seeking change and assistance in tackling health benefit plans.

10 Quotes That Will Help You Stay Positive While Processing Payroll

Positive Payroll

Need a pick-me-up while processing payroll? If you work in HR you know full well what the term “Quit” means, but beyond the definition is the feeling, the thought, the stress, and the “I’m done” attitude where even if you don’t physically leave, you’ve mentally or emotionally checked out (especially when processing payroll) But before you have a manager level meltdown, take a deep breath and give these ten inspiring quotes a read to reconstruct your work attitude and stay positive.

Of course, for long term payroll solutions and stress-free paydays we recommend giving us a call, as we can help you set up or manage a new or existing payroll system where information is easily accessible (even from mobile devices) for you and your employees, not to mention secure, simple to use, and affordable. No 1 (800) numbers, No call centers, No ridiculous spreadsheets. Just concise, modern, dedicated, and frustration-free payroll.

1. “Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.” – Tony Hsieh, Founder of Zappos

2. “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar

3. “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, and it sparks extraordinary results.” – Wade Boggs

4. “If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one.” – Cavett Robert

5. “It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.” – Robert H. Schuller

6. “Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is. Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world. Love what you do or don’t do it.” – Mark Cuban

7. “Change your thoughts and you change your world”. – Norman Vincent Peale

8. “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller

9. “The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon

10. “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz

3 Easy Steps To Ensure Compliance

Compliance Stress

Business Regulations Driving You Nuts? 3 easy steps to help you ensure compliance.

Compliance is a hot topic right now, OK, so maybe not as hot as Pokémon GO or the DNC, but with news stories coming out almost daily about companies facing legal trouble from regulatory missteps or illegal business activity it’s clear that compliance is a hot topic at least in the business world.
What causes a business to become non-compliant?

Non-compliance may be the result of cutting corners, negligence, ignorance, or misinformation about the ever-changing laws, but whatever the reason, the penalties are the typically the same, hefty fines or the loss of one’s company.

“But how am I supposed to focus on my business when my days are spent constantly learning about compliance?”

Luckily, we work with thousands of companies likes yours every day to help them maintain compliance so they don’t have to. With that said, here are three tips for navigating the regulatory environment around your business – without losing focus of your core business or going insane trying.

1. Identify Compliance Issues Outside Your Realm of Expertise

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Every business whether it’s a local restaurant or a hedge fund dealing with millions of dollars has compliance issues central to their business. Compliance issues arise from the moment you open your business and increase from there on out.

From how and when you pay your employees to where your business name is registered. Even the requirements on your website, compliance demands are in every piece of your business.

If that weren’t stressful enough, these regulations are constantly changing and increasing in complexity. For example, the Affordable Care Act has introduced and refined compliance issues that touch on everything from medical benefit availability, employer responsibility, tax reporting, benefit plan design, to the way insurance can be sold and then some.

So while you may know the best way to make and serve Zitti, if you don’t know how to design a good benefits plan, then you should be honest with yourself and seek help from those who can manage that aspect of your business.

2. Find Trusted Partners

Partners at CorpStrat

It’s imperative when you decide to seek help, that you find partners you can count on. One’s that won’t cut corners and who are certified and licensed. Also look for those who are active in peer groups, trade organizations or their own community.

You should also ensure they have a solid reputation in the industry. Be sure to check and see if they have long-standing clients that can back their claims and great reviews online.

Just as you are the expert in your area of business, there are other businesses whose expertise is keeping companies like yours compliant.

3. Never Stop Learning or Asking Questions

Compliance Questions

Did you know top business leaders like Bill Gates, Oprah, and Warren Buffet commit to 5 hours a week of deliberate learning?

Even industry giant like these realize the importance of learning and how it adds to their continued success.

Once you’ve selected a group to help you ensure compliance, don’t just stop there. After all, this is your business and the more you know, the better.

Don’t be afraid to check in and ask questions. After all, it’s important to know how they are continuing to learn and evolve to meet new regulations. An expert should always be able to educate their clients and make them feel comfortable.

– This communication is for informational purposes only; it is not legal, tax or accounting advice; and is not an offer to sell, buy or procure insurance.

Top 3 Most Affordable Cities To Launch Your Business

Unlike New York, San Francisco, or Vancouver, these three cities are perfectly affordable when it comes to launching your business.

1. Oklahoma City, OK

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Oklahoma City pairs small-business lending opportunities with affordable living, making it a wonderful startup nest.

If you’re looking for great talent too then you’re in luck! This fast-growing city is perfect as it also plays home to several bright-eyed new grads. But the perks don’t stop there.

To top it all off, the necessary paperwork to launch your business can be completed in just one day. With so many great reasons to live in OKC, the only question we have is, why would anyone leave? We’ll have to ask Kevin Durant . . .

2. Boulder, CO

Affordable Startup City Boulder

Silicon Valley is “So 2001.”

Boulder is the new hub for tech startups which isn’t too shocking given that the University of Colorado and other reputable institutions are located in the area.

What was shocking was the report published by The American Electronics Association. In it, the report states that Boulder has the highest concentration of software engineers per capita in the nation.

So if you’re an IT wiz looking to launch your business in an affordable area with oodles of tech talent at your disposal – then Boulder is the place to be. The best part is the year-round sunshine is included for free!

3. Minneapolis, MN

Affordable Startup City

If you don’t mind cold weather then Minneapolis is the spot for your startup.

Why? Aside from the low cost of living it has the fourth highest concentration of successful small-businesses in the nation and offers a variety of financing programs specifically designed to help Minneapolis-based businesses.

Minnesota also boasts the 15th lowest business-tax rate in the U.S. With a highly-educated work force of 1.6 million people it truly is a sound choice for any entrepreneur. Well, an entrepreneur that doesn’t mind shoveling snow anyways.

How Human Resource Management Technology Benefits Startups

HR Management Technology

Is HR Management Technology on your check list?

Lets see, Innovative Idea? Check. Investors? Check. Modern Office Space, Furniture, and Computers? Check. HR Management Technology? . . . .

So wait, you really mean to say that you have everything in place to get your company off the ground running, except the technology needed to simplify and streamline the way you staff for and manage it? Oh boy. You see, you can’t sell yourself as innovative much less expect to grow unless you surround yourself with the right talent and best technologies.

With that said, here is how your business can benefit from HR Management Technology:

Compliance

When it comes to all the wonderful, exciting aspects of starting or running a business, lets face it, compliance is not one of them. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that if compliance were really into us, we would only want to be “friends” at best.

But all businesses, even very small businesses (those with 1-14 employees) must ensure they remain compliant, whether it be with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the Equal Pay Act or others. (As if you didn’t already have enough to deal with) So while you may know your business inside and out, if you’re not as well-versed when it comes to compliance or you simply don’t want to add it to your plate, then HR management technologies like ours are here to help.

Hire, Track, and Manage Employees With Ease

Start-ups and small businesses can be real war-zones, long hours, chaotic atmospheres, and constant change. While this can be exciting and rewarding for some, it takes a certain kind of individual to fit within such a culture, one who can keep pace and truly contribute to it’s success. Unfortunately one of the last things anyone thinks about when it comes to starting or running a small business is how they’ll find, track, hire and manage future employees (interesting since so many hope to grow and expand!)

Due to this lack of planning, many employers find themselves struggling to establish a system for tracking and hiring the individuals they need and potential talent winds up falling though the cracks as you try and sort out a million other tasks to keep your business running.

Having an online HR Management System like ours however, can help eliminate this stress, and it allows you to keep track of and hire talent that fits perfectly with your company culture.

Easily Manage Benefits

While your start-up or small business may not offer benefits of the same depth as larger companies, there is still a good deal of (you guessed it) work involved in managing them. For today’s employees however, the importance is placed not so much on the benefits offered, but the simplicity in which they may access and view them.

Online HR management technology makes it possible for you to accomplish all this, from selecting and managing the benefits you provide (which typically requires a great deal of work and attention to detail) to allowing employees access to view and edit their plans online and on the go.

Successfully On-board, Train, and Develop Employees

Proper on-boarding, training and development is vital to the success and growth of any company, but for start-ups and small businesses it’s crucial, especially when it comes to cross-training as most employees will undoubtedly need to cover multiple job functions or tasks to start. Online HR management technology however and provides employers with a stress-free, low-cost solution for the on-boarding, training, and development of their employees.

Seamlessly Integrate Existing Technology

One of the biggest perks of HR Management technologies like ours is that it can be easily integrated into existing business processes. For example, if you already have a system to process payroll, you can simply integrate it into your HR Management System, allowing you to easily manage all of your HR tasks (benefits, compliance, job postings, etc) along with your payroll from just one easy-to-use platform.