April 20, 2022
The NBA Playoffs kicked off this past weekend. Whoâs setting up the office bracket?
In this week's edition:
SHARING IS CARING
Remind me â whatâs the gig economy?
Chances are youâve seen a few headlines promoting the ârise of the gig economy.â AKA, a system where people work independently and take part-time work or projects rather than (or in addition to) full-time work. And itâs booming.
Whatâs with all the hype?
The most recent data shows that the U.S. has reached a grand total of 59M gig workers (and counting). The Statistica Research Department even predicts that by 2027, the U.S. will have more âgiggers'' than non-gig workers.
Why? Simply put, gig workers report being healthier and happier working on their own terms. After all, independent work brings freedom and flexibility that just doesnât come with regular, full-time work.
How about me? Can I reel in some gig economy benefits?
Good news: small businesses stand to reap some of the biggest benefits from the gig economy. Why? You can hire an independent worker from any country, with any level of expertise, for any amount of time. And just in the U.S. alone, over one-third of workers participate in the gig economy. Talk about a huge candidate pool.
Plus, when you hire gig workers:
Okay, Iâm sold. How can I get in on hiring gig talent?
When it comes to hiring gig workers, just remember: you donât want to share all of your secret-sauce with independent workers. After all, theyâre not one of your devoted full-timers.
So before you hire your next gig worker, youâll want to implement a useful training process just for them that shares just the right amount of info. Weâve created a helpful guideline for what documentation SMBs should share with freelancers, contractors, and consultants:
đ Learn what else to share with gig workers.
GOING GREEN
Weâre talking cash money, right?
Yes! Since itâs almost Earth Day, we want to give you two big reasons your business should give sustainability a shot: to make green and to save green.
How does that work?
âGoing greenâ and âbeing sustainableâ have become popular catchphrases in the last few years. Especially when it comes to how companies do business.
Recently, Starbucks made headlines when they announced plans to phase out their disposable cups. By 2025, the coffee-and-frap titan plans to have customers bring in their own mugs or use one of Starbucksâs own reusable versions.
A big reason so many businesses are embracing sustainability: itâs a popular cause amongst consumers. In fact, 70% of millennials said they would be willing to pay more for products and services from eco-friendly businesses. Plus, green practices can help businesses save money in the long run, from lower energy bills to tax credits.
Okay, so how do I start?
Here are a few easy tips:
đ See all five tips.
KA-CHING KA-CHING
Whatâs a small business grant?
Hereâs the long definition: a small business grant is a limited investment from government agencies, nonprofits, or major corporations that provides funding for startups and smaller companies.
TL;DR: itâs money. And itâs a great choice for business leaders who might not be ready for the capital funding process.
Whatâs the catch?
There are tons of grants to choose from, but your businessâs eligibility to apply depends on a lot of different factors, like your size, industry, or demographics.
Plus, these applications can be longgg. Meaning, youâre going to be putting in a lot of time and effort for a grant that you may not end up getting, especially if itâs competitive. Alongside the research into each grant, youâll need to prepare the application and an essay or video about who you are, why youâre applying for the grant, and what you plan to do with the funds.
But the payout is pretty sweet: you wonât have to repay most grants (theyâre not loans) or promise equity in exchange for the funding.
Which grants should I look at?
Again, the grants you want to look into will be super dependent on your unique business situation. Look at search engines like Grants.gov and GrantWatch. Here are some to get you started:
đ See the full list.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Thatâs great, but what does it all mean?
2020 was pretty bleak. No need to rehash the-pandemic-that-shall-not-be-named. But the truth is, it forced a lot of companies and businesses across the country to shut down their offices, close their storefronts, and board up their warehouses. Good news, though: a recent analysis by a Washington think tank says that business isnât just back  â itâs thriving. Their research shows that âby the third quarter 2021, the number of physical locations had bounced up by 7% above what it was two years prior, pre-COVID.â
That was fast.
Yeah. This particular rebound was faster than the post-2008 crash. And for a couple of good reasons:
Must be all gravy from here on out!
Not so fast. While itâs definitely good news, this positive trend may be impacted by supply chain snags, shifts to remote work models, and labor supply. The best advice is to use this hectic time for some introspection â focus on whatâs working for your business and lean into that.
TL;DR
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Were you a busy bee this week? We got you â here's the hottest SMB news: