We’ve all experienced toxic coworkers in the past.  You know, the controlling manager, the pessimistic team mate, even the difficult to please client.

The truth is, difficult people are everywhere.  They exist in all facets of life and can sometimes seem especially prevalent in business.  While you can’t change these people, it is possible to deal with them.  Below are five tips for dealing with toxic coworkers:

1. Identify the “problem people.” Toxic coworkers come in all forms.  In fact, there is no formula for identifying those coworkers who are most likely to turn toxic.  Anyone who backstabs, gossips, or is harshly competitive or critical has the potential to poison your staff and company culture.
2. Asses the situation. The initial realization that you’re being treated unfairly or unprofessionally may be a shock at first.  Take a step back and realize that you’re not the only one in a toxic situation.  There may be others who are able to help you.
3. Take action. Rather than letting the problem get worse, face it head on.  Addressing issues with the coworker in question immediately will help you avoid taking emotional or irrational actions down the line.  Tackle the problem early to help maintain your objectivity in the situation.
4. Maintain your reputation. Constant discussion of the situation with others may earn you the title of “office whiner” and make you seem unable to handle issues on your own.  Avoid this unfortunate title and maintain your reputation by handling issues privately and professionally.
5. Agree to disagree. Despite your efforts, it is possible that issues with a coworker may still exist.  If this is the case, chalk it up to differences in opinion and move on.  Do not hold a grudge and try to work with the person as professionally as possible despite obvious differences.

Toxic coworkers are everywhere.  The key to managing in an environment with these types of people is to maintain professionalism at all times.  If problems persist despite your efforts, don’t be afraid to approach a higher-up with your concerns.  In the end, you’ll know that you did everything in your power to manage the situation.

How do you handle toxic coworkers?  What advice do you have for readers in a similar situation?

It’s finally happened.  After nearly a year of back and forth, the House of Representatives finally passed a health care reform bill.  President Obama is expected to sign the main piece of the bill into law this week, maybe as early as Tuesday.  However, full provisions of the bill won’t kick in until 2014.

As a business owner, what do these new health care rules mean to you?  Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect over the next couple of years:

•    By 2014, states must set up Small Business Health Options Programs – or SHOP exchanges – where small businesses can club together to purchase insurance.
•    Small businesses are defined as having less than 100 employees, but states can limit the company size by as much as 50 employees through 2016.  Any company that outgrows these size limits will be grandfathered in.
•    Companies with less than 50 employees will not face penalties for not offering insurance.
•    Those companies with fewer than 25 employees and an average pay of $40,000 or less can receive up to 35% of the cost of premiums in the form of tax credits.
•    Companies with less than 10 employees and an average pay of less than $25,000 may qualify for full premium cost credits.
•    Tax breaks will last for the two years a company buys insurance through its state exchange.
•    Companies with more than 50 employees that don’t offer coverage would face fines up to $750 for any employee relying on government subsidies.  The compromise bill being considered by the Senate this week could hike fines up to $2,000 per full time employee.
•    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicts that small-group premiums could fall anywhere between 1 and 4 percent.  However, before these drops occur, premiums will likely spike considerably as insurance companies try to make as much money as possible prior to the 2014 deadline.
•    In order to increase premiums, insurance companies will have to provide justification for the raise.  States will then have the option to ban companies that appear to raise premiums without just cause from exchanges.

This is a monumental time for the government and business alike.  To find out more about health care and its affect on your business, please visit http://www.healthreform.gov/.

Good customer service should be a key part of your business strategy. Stressing that your employees listen to customers, dealing with issues as they arise, and working to prevent issues from happening are the simplest ways to ensure quality customer service every time. Below are a few more tips for getting your customers to come back:

Create a welcoming atmosphere: You only get one chance to make a first impression. With this in mind, encourage employees to smile and make eye contact.

Focus your team: The best way to ensure quality customer service is to think backwards. As a customer, what kind of experience do you want to have? Hire people that will fit that mold.

Equip employees to meet customer needs: Give all employees, not just managers, the training and power to address customer needs as they arise. Doing so offers the customer an immediate feeling that they are the priority.

Listen to customers: It’s not always about right and wrong with customers. Sometimes, they just want you to listen. Do whatever you can to meet their request. If you can’t, be adaptable and work with them to come up with a solution.

The ultimate goal of a business is to keep customers coming back, right? Start from the beginning and build a customer service culture within your company that does just that.

So the entrepreneurial spirit has struck. You’ve come up with a concept, written a business plan. Now what? Here are some of the things the IRS says you should do to get your startup off the ground:

1. Decide what type of business you’re establishing. The tax forms you file are based on the type of business you own. The type of business you operate also determines the taxes you pay and how you pay them. The most common types of businesses include partnerships, sole proprietorships, and corporations.

2. Get an Employer Identification Number. This number is used to identify business entities. Most businesses need them. Not sure if yours does? Visit www.irs.gov for information and to apply for an EIN.

3. Enlist a recordkeeping system. A recordkeeping system that clearly shows your income and expenses is essential in your business’ success. With a few exceptions, the law doesn’t require any special records, but the type of business you are in determines the kind of records you must keep for federal tax purposes.

4. Determine your tax year and accounting method. Decide whether your business will operate on a calendar or fiscal year and then choose a consistent accounting method. The two most common accounting methods are cash and accrual.

5. Visit www.irs.gov. The Business section of the IRS web site offers a plethora of resources for entrepreneurs, including tips for starting and operating a new business.

Start your business out on the right foot. Get all of the information from the IRS that you can and make the tax decisions that will best suit your company’s needs. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.

As a business person, your card is not only an extension of the company you work for, but a reflection of your personal brand as well. The way you present your business card can say a lot about the type of person you are. It may even be a determining factor in whether or not someone does business with you.

With this in mind, here are a few tips for properly presenting your business card:

• Carry your cards in a wallet or card case to keep them fresh and professional-looking. Never hand out damaged or out-of-date cards.

• Always present your card with the print facing the person you’re handing it to. This allows the recipient to scan the information without being forced to turn the card over or around.

• In business meetings, place the cards you receive on the table in front of you to help you keep names, faces, and positions in order.

• Always present your card before a serious discussion begins. Never hand out cards at the end of a meeting.

In addition to these tips, always keep in mind that business cards should be handed out as discreetly as possible. Don’t exclude anyone and never force your card on someone.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re at a networking event or business meeting. Remember, a professional-looking business card that is properly presented can make a lasting impression.

With budget cuts and salary freezes as two of the biggest trends in business in 2009, how can you entertain clients and boost employee moral without breaking the bank?

Throw an office party. Keep your next client happy hour in the office. It gives clients a chance to “see where the magic happens” while mingling with your employees. This can also help you save money on a venue so you can focus more on catering and décor for the party.

Partner with another business. Why not try teaming up with a business associate or vendor to host an educational seminar? Attendees should be able to learn something new and network at the same time. As an added bonus, you and your company can share the costs of the event with someone else.

Do it yourself. Nominate, or take volunteers, for a committee to be in charge of planning all company events. You’ll save extra money by not hiring an event planner and your employees will get a confidence boost by planning a great event.

The days of entertaining clients in expensive luxury boxes at sporting events and high-class happy hours in the city are gone, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to be too. The next time you’re planning a client event, give these entertaining tips a try. You just might like what you see.

Do you have any ideas?

According to Webster’s Dictionary, an entrepreneur is someone who “organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.”

Marinate on that for a second…

Is it the person who’s willing to accept an extreme amount of risk in order to pursue his or her passions? Is it the ambitious leader? Could it be the crazy person pursuing his or her dreams? A wise man once told me he knew he was an entrepreneur when he had to put payroll on his credit card.

What does the word entrepreneur mean to you? I’m interested to see what you guys think.

It is only four months into the New Year and we have heard many ideas policies and advice for small business owners to fight this recession. While the talk has been there, the action has subdued into oblivion with many opportunities.

Intuit the company that designed Quickbooks Accounting Software has stepped up to the challenge. They have released a free version of their software for small business owners to keep better track of their books, Simple Start Free. As everyone knows, bookkeeping is one of the most tedious tasks a business owner can embark in, and if a mistake is made, it could very well be the end of the road.

Quickbooks has been around for a while and have gained a huge market share for the versatilities of processing invoices, tracking receivables, and even printing payroll. While Intuit has not offered some of the more advanced functions of their software in this free version, it is still enough for some Mom & Pops to look and feel more professional. Some of the included features are payroll and payroll taxes, track invoices, and accept credit card payments. Of course, your bigger companies may still need to breakdown and buy the Pro version.

So while we are waiting for the small business owners to receive a stimulus check to keep them afloat, they can bide their time keeping better track of their books. What do you think? Is Intuit saving the day?

I don’t think there is any one who would disagree that the past 12 months have been tough, with the struggling economy, high gas prices, increase in products, supplies and everything else under the sun. It has been difficult to maintain for everyone from business owners, to independent contractors, to even those with good government jobs. We have seen the demise of so many small businesses that I have decided to specifically address today’s economy in my blog entries during the coming weeks in the hope of being able to provide some words of assistance to someone out there. How do you become or stay successful in a recession?

As a small business, I can relate to the unstable income of many of my business colleagues. However, even through a recession, my role as President means I have to figure out a way to take lemons and make lemonade. After all, my team’s counting on me.

While we are energized by the expectations of the future promised by President Obama, as company leaders, we have to continue to sustain or increase our income even when times are tough. We have to learn to tighten up, by earning more and spending less.

Check into this blog often! I will be discussing vital business information to help you sustain the profitability of your investment. And as always, your comments are welcomed. Share your insights and who knows, the comments you post today could make the difference in the survival of a fellow small business tomorrow.