Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The 25-year-old employment agency has expanded into Clearwater and Orlando.
Temp agencies are a growth industry, with the success of HH Staffing Services testament to that. Founded in 1988 as Helping Hands, HH Staffing's sales have grown more than 400 percent in the last four years. Forget the notion of an office that just supplies day labor, which was the primary function of employment agencies 20 years ago. Today, these companies are better known as specialized staffing agencies, often providing highly trained professionals or services. The trajectory of HH Staffing, which just expanded into Clearwater and Orlando, demonstrates how vital these agenices are in the competitive economy. The Bradenton-based company has been on an expansion mode since 2009, when Karen Rehn, the CEO and president, bought it. The …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Her passion for supporting local merchants inspired a small business.
Ester Venouziou is an accidental business owner. The viral popularity of a "buy local" Facebook page she launched convinced Venouziou to turn Local Shops1 into a business. In five years, LocalShops1 has evolved into the leading membership-driven small business advocacy collective in the Tampa Bay region. Her collective began in South Pinellas but now serves local businesses and their loyal "buy local" customers throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough and south Pasco counties. One of her most involved members is Billie Jo Grassinger-Bell (billiejo@localshops1.com). In 2012, Grassinger-Bell launched a LocalShops1 chapter covering Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin and Safety Harbor. "It all grew organically…
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The changes will modify income requirements for many of Florida veterans seeking a commercial restricted species endorsement.
Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officially made changes to commercial licensing requirements on Veterans Day. The changes, according to the FWC, will make it easier for Florida veterans and veterans with disabilities to enter the commercial fishing industry. “We have a tremendous opportunity not only to give thanks to the men and women that served our nation so courageously, but also to provide them with more support so they can pursue careers in fishing here in Florida," said Florida Gov. Rick Scott. "This initiative will expand job opportunities for our veterans and get more folks involved in the commercial fishing industry, which is a win-win for Florida.” FWC officials said the changes will modify …
Monday, August 20, 2012
Explore the different ways to incorporate and which model might work best for you.
CONTEST ON: Read below for a link to official rules. This week Debbie T was chosen and asked us to donate to: Humane Society of Pinellas. We will have all past donations out next week and be current by this time next week. Congratulations! You are starting a new business and you want to know what type of business entity you want to establish. Do you want a corporation, a limited liability company, a professional association, a partnership, or be a sole proprietor? Here are three questions to take to your attorney AND your accountant. 1. DO I NEED TO HAVE A LEGALLY ORGANIZED BUSINESS TO CONDUCT BUSINESS SAFELY? You do not need to have a business entity in order to conduct business. In other words, you do not need to incorporate or file …
Monday, November 21, 2011
What you need to know when signing a contract.
My apologies for missing last week’s article. To all of my faithful readers (yes, email me so I know you exist), it was one of those weeks where the M.D. took over my J.D. and sentenced me to B.E.D. Luckily, I got an early release. There are some really exciting articles coming up including mandatory reporting requirements for abuse of children. This piece is influenced by the events that occurred in the Penn State issue. Another great article coming up focuses on the right to bear arms after a felony conviction or a domestic violence injunction. I am going to expand my scope and actually interview some social workers to get their opinions on the topics. However, this week is much more simple and geared towards our wonderful small …
Monday, April 11, 2011
A business entity will not protect its owners from personal liability if the business is set up or run incorrectly.
Welcome to the first edition of Clearwater Patch's weekly column on legal issues. Each week, we discuss relevant legal issues in your community; the latest legal developments that affect those communities; or answer questions directly from readers. This column is for you, and therefore your comments and questions are highly encouraged. Please send specific legal questions to jts@simonslawfirm.com for potential publication. This week’s column discusses small businesses and some tips on how to protect yours, whether it’s merely an entrepreneur’s great idea or an already-established business. As a small business owner myself, I have constant concerns on how to increase profit, control costs, and limit the exposure to events that will put …
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Marketing and PR strategies do not need to be beyond the reach of small businesses. Here are four steps for success.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Whether you're an established business leader or an emerging entrepreneur, you have the same goal: to attract new customers, expand your business, and increase your profit. Have you tried to place a print ad, only to find it's too expensive? Have you sent press releases to a newsroom, only to get no response? Have you fiddled with social media, but can't seem to gain new followers? To be successful, you need to focus on four key areas: 1) Establish a budget. Just like every other part of your business, you need to know how much you have to spend on branding and exposure. Here's one tip that many business owners miss: ensure you have invested enough money in the graphic design and creative direction of your ad. If it doesn't' look…
Monday, February 1, 2010
Entrepreneurs are great at dreaming big, but how do you turn that dream into a reality? Here are three tips to get you started.
- OPINION
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Monday, February 1, 2010
I remember when I first left Pittsburgh with $814 and a dream of becoming a mover and shaker in the world. It’s hard, especially when you’re first starting out and don’t have a big budget. In my case, I didn’t have a budget, period. The first step feels like the hardest one, and it is to get yourself noticed. The term for that these days is branding. Connecting with your customers and establishing a name for yourself is a make-or-break endeavor for small businesses. Here are three ways to do that: These three ways to meet people and convince them to do business with you won’t cost you much, but refusing to do them will absolutely cost you clients and opportunities. And when you’re a small business looking to grow, you can’t afford to …
Jeremy T. Simons, Esq.
5:43 pm on Monday, April 11, 2011
I can promise you that this article is by attorneys, for the community, and we hope for your comments and suggestions and questions. Jeremy T. Simons. more ›