Many small business owners find themselves stuck behind a desk for hours just to keep up with payroll and HR compliance. Sound familiar?

By Cassie Yatcilla, PrimePay

You may think it would be too expensive or that you have too few employees to outsource your payroll. However, it is quite the opposite. The time you’ll gain back to focus on your company’s needs will surely reward your bottom line and give you and your employees peace of mind.

Here are five ways you can improve your business with your new free time:

1. Learn Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

   SEO is the process of increasing website traffic by gaining a high rank on the list of search results in search engines like Google. With a majority of people researching products and services before they buy, it is key for your business to be seen.

   For example, if you run a small remodeling business, you want to be at the top of the search results when someone Googles “remodelers near me.” This allows the potential customer to easily find your business.

   The good news? You don’t have to be a computer whiz to make a difference in your search results ranking! You can improve your ranking just by adding a few keywords to page titles on your website.

   Having basic knowledge of SEO can drastically improve your websites search ranking, thus increasing traffic. A good place to start is by reading The Beginners Guide to SEO and begin to implement some tips and tricks into your website design.

2. Take Google Analytics and AdWords courses

   Don’t know where your web traffic is coming from? Consider joining Google’s Analytics Academy to learn how to grow your business through data collection and analysis. This will allow you to find out if people are accessing your website from their phones or desktops and where people are looking for you. For example, let’s say you run an appliance showroom and find out that most of your website traffic is coming from people ages 45–54. They’re finding you from their desktop computers, are within a ten-mile radius, and are visiting your website on evenings and weekends. You can assume they are searching “appliance stores near me” from their nearby home.

   Use this knowledge to target advertisements to those people when they search for appliances on Google. You can do that by using Google AdWords. The Academy for Ads is where you will gain new digital skills, create new awareness, and learn how you can succeed with Google Ads. This will allow you to create ads that appear on Google, as well as have ads pop-up on other websites when your potential buyer is browsing the internet. Google Analytics will then help you measure your conversion rate to see what is working and what is not. Hello, future!

   

3. Talk to your target market
   

   Nothing is better for a business than keeping a great relationship with your target market. Make surveys and interview your top customers to discover what they love and what their biggest pain point is for your line of business. There are plenty of free survey tools, like Survey Monkey, that you can use to get answers to your business questions.

   This will help you stay in line with your current customers and help you gain new ones. Don’t forget to confirm who your target market is with Google Analytics. Remember, Google Analytics can show you who is searching for you and through what medium they are finding you.

4. Outline a hiring plan

   Many small businesses feel that hiring new employees is one of their biggest challenges. Take time to campaign your open position on social sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. Learn new interview questions to ask, like the Behavioral Event question, and what personality traits and skills to look for in your ideal candidate.

   Just because the perfect candidate agreed to join your team doesn’t mean that they are planning on staying for the long run. Make sure to have seamless employee onboarding to present your company as professional and organized to the new employee. Check out three ways to implement employee onboarding that increases retention.

5. Hold weekly brainstorming sessions with your team

   You may think, “Why do I need to do this? We see each other every day.” As a small business owner, you have the unique advantage of being able to get to know your employees on a more personal level. Because of that, it is important to carve out time to speak to your employees weekly. Use these brainstorming sessions to follow-up on projects, learn about trends your employees are noticing, and how you can better help your employees succeed. This will create an open conversion where employees should not be afraid to state their opinions and explain their new ideas.

Outsourcing payroll can improve your business.

Think about your current process for handling payroll. How much time are you spending on managing time sheets, tracking down employees to confirm their hours worked, and cross-referencing federal and state regulations to ensure you’re reporting taxes properly?

When you remove those duties from your work schedule, all the extra time gained can be spent experimenting with the tasks outlined above, improving your business. PrimePay's all-inclusive payroll, tax, and HR bundle lets you get back to business quicker. Get 60 days free today!

And be sure to check out more exclusive MBAKS member benefits with PrimePay.

Your home is likely your biggest investment so any renovations should be taken very seriously (courtesy Nip Tuck Remodeling)

Q: We’re stressing over a potential remodel project. Any tips to help us along the way?

A: You’ve made the decision to turn your dream home into a reality. Congratulations. Here’s what you need to know: basic dos and don’ts, with don’ts placed first because, like your remodel, we want you to end on a good note.

DON’T leave any detail unnoticed, no matter how trivial you might think it is. Experienced remodelers will tell you to put together an extensive file with inspiration images and features you envision for your renovation.

DON’T panic over things you can’t control. Dust and dirt happen during a renovation, as do unforeseen circumstances like material and permitting delays, and design changes mid-remodel. You adapt, you move on, and you might even get what you wanted without realizing you wanted it in the first place.

DON’T try to take things on yourself. Your home is likely your biggest investment, and any renovations done within that realm need to be taken accordingly. Performing surgery on yourself? Performing a home remodel? Don’t try either unless you want a ton of painful recuperation.

DO plan ahead. You might be surprised at the waiting list of many Puget Sound remodelers, some of which rival Santa’s annual Naughty or Nice list. If a home remodel is on your wish list this year or next, don’t hesitate—meet with potential remodelers and get a timeline going. They’ll happily walk you through a realistic estimate of how long each aspect of your project will take, which can include permitting and materials availability, depending on the size and scope of what you want done.

DO interview your potential contractors. Treat it like any other working relationship. You need to know you can trust and get along with the person in charge of your sizable investment and that they’ll be able to deliver what you’re asking for—realistically, of course.

DO hire a professional to get the job done right. You might think your non-licensed brother-in-law can do the job for a quarter of the price, but you’ll soon realize that you probably aren’t as handy as you think you are and that your brother-in-law is only about a quarter qualified for the job. Renovations done right will likely cost you, but it’s nothing compared to the safety and sanity you’ll risk trying to go cheap—not to mention the costs to fix things that weren’t done right the first time around.

On that note…

DO visit the Oct. 26 and 27 Remodeled Homes Tour, a free, open-house tour taking place in 15 convenient locations throughout King County. Stops include beautifully remodeled homes in Shoreline, Renton, Queen Anne, and throughout the Eastside, including Issaquah. The Remodeled Homes Tour occurs annually and is produced by professional remodeler members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.

With all homes open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and select homes available during the same period Sunday, visitors get a hands-on look at the latest and greatest in residential renovation and in-home technology. Guests can also chat with the remodel pros themselves, all of whom will be on site to talk through their work and answer questions you might have on your own upcoming project.

Remodeled Home Tour tickets are free and available at remodeltour.com/free-tickets.

Cameron Poague is a content specialist at the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The Employment Security Department’s latest Monthly Employment Report shows a strong labor market in Washington and Seattle. As reported in the November Builder’s Bulletin, Washington’s unemployment rate for September fell to 4.4 percent, representing a 42-year low based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics data series. The Seattle/Bellevue/Everett unemployment rate was 3.4 percent.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report:

By Jennifer Hill, Dataworks Consulting

It’s that time of year again.

October is budget season. Advertising, hiring costs, and accounting services may be high on your list, but have you factored system updates into your 2019 budget? It may not yet be on your radar, but Microsoft has announced that the Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 systems’ end-of-life will be January 14, 2020.

Did You Know?

System replacement can be a huge expense and undertaking, especially in small-to-midsized businesses or if technology isn’t typically on your radar. It is such an undertaking, in fact, that it is tempting to ignore the problem altogether. However, that’s not a temptation you want to indulge! When Microsoft deems a product “end-of-life,” that means they no longer release security patches and updates. As such, every end-of-life operating system you have becomes a security risk. Hackers and malicious software creators know this.

Additionally, if you are not actively patching all your systems regularly now, you are leaving backdoors open to your network and data. The release of security patches by software manufacturers is essentially an announcement of vulnerability. Even if your data is in the cloud, it can be accessed through your local systems if they are breached.

Given the challenges of year-end and a new year, Dataworks recommends that all Server 2008 and Windows 7 systems be replaced well before the end of 2019.

Four Ways to Prepare for Windows 7 and Server 2008 End-of-Life:

• Identify what systems need to be upgraded. Older hardware and equipment may be unable to support operating system upgrades, and so we recommend system replacement rather than merely updating the operating system.
• Develop a timeline and budget for system replacements now. If preparing for Windows 7 and 2008 end-of-life is not there already, it’s time to get them in your 2019 budget. The sooner you can begin to plan for this transition, the more strategic you can be in budgeting.
• If any old systems are business-critical and your business must run old systems, work with your IT provider to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place, namely segmentation. However, running outdated software and OS is never recommended.
• Train employees on the new operating systems. Training should accompany rollouts and your IT provider should offer training with new systems. With a couple tips and tricks, Windows 10 is easy to navigate. Just be sure to account for the learning curve.

Budgets and end-of-year checklists are a headache. Taxes and paperwork are just the tip of the iceberg. As a small-to-midsized business, you have to think about end-of-year bonuses and commissions, getting employees up to speed about their FSA funds, and rounding out 401(k) contributions. The bottom line is that you do not want to be worrying about system replacements on top of year-end tasks. Start now on your system replacement plans.

As you add the final touches to your business’ 2019 budget, make sure to account for the replacement of any end of life systems, as well as other technology platforms that need improvement. Do you need a new software to enhance productivity? Do you need faster internet? Consider outsourcing your IT to ensure these upgrades are done correctly and timely.

If you and your business are looking for assistance preparing for Windows 7 and Server 2008 end-of-life or improving any of your technology platforms, give us a call at 425.687.6185.

MBAKS member Dataworks Consulting is a managed service provider for small-to-midsized businesses in the Seattle metro area. We are passionate about enabling you to do what you do best by removing the hassle and uncertainty that often comes with technology. You are not in the business of solving technology problems—we are.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Caia Caldwell, Public Relations & Media Specialist
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.460.8213
m 717.479.1231

Sen. Palumbo, Matthew Gardner to Speak at Housing Solutions Breakfast

There is growing momentum in Olympia for housing reform in the upcoming 2019 legislative session. Come hear a wide range of views from the Seattle area’s top housing experts as we work to increase housing supply and address our housing affordability crisis. Featuring Sen. Palumbo and chief economist for Windemere Real Estate, Matthew Gardner, the breakfast will include researchers, policy makers, and business professionals. Legislative priorities will be discussed, including condominium liability reform and the establishment of an urban net density standard in residential zones. Sen. Palumbo will make himself available to the media following his presentation. #HousingActionNow

More information on speakers and panelists: mbaks.com/hsb

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With nearly 3,000 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service, and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region. 

Painting a Better Tomorrow is a one-day experience unlike any other. Join us Nov. 10 to help us paint and change someone’s life forever—maybe even your own.

Few things feel better than closing the books on a successful project. Especially one fueled by kindness and compassion.

Whatever your designation in the world of residential homebuilding, you have a calling. Sometimes that calling extends beyond the job site or office. Because, at the end of the day, our collective job is to provide housing for the millions of people who make the Puget Sound region home.

Shoreline Veterans Center

We are the lucky ones. We get to give people a place they can call their very own. Sometimes this space is temporary or shared with others. But it doesn’t make it any less theirs. Take the folks who reside at the Shoreline Veterans Center, a Compass Housing Alliance property. The center is a 25-bed facility for honorably discharged homeless veterans who seek rehabilitation from drug, alcohol, or other issues. The goal of the center and its internal program is to help residents resolve their issues and learn to live on their own as contributing citizens to their communities. Upon graduation from the two-year program, veterans are then moved into their own apartment, but return to the center for ongoing counseling.

This year, MBAKS is proud to partner with the Veterans Center for Painting a Better Tomorrow 2018. Painting a Better Tomorrow, or PBT, is an annual one-day service event where association members and community volunteers add fresh paint to the walls and surfaces of a local nonprofit organization. This is where you come in. Even if you’re not a painter by trade, we want you to volunteer! There are plenty of tasks to keep you busy throughout the day and we can all but guarantee that you’ll have a fantastic time helping out a few of our well-deserving neighbors in need.

Volunteer—Just Do It!

Pull together a team of co-workers, friends, or family—or come as an individual and make some new friends and memories! MBAKS provides all the supplies for the event, including breakfast snacks and lunch, as well as our ever-popular, totally stylish PBT t-shirt so you look good while doing good. When you close the books on this project, your life, and those of the Shoreline Veterans Center, will be forever brighter.

Contact Michell Filleau-Maas, 425.460.8232, today, right now, to volunteer.

Step Up With Sponsorship

Over the years, we've painted hundreds of thousands of square feet of service organizations' walls. That wouldn't be possible without the help of our generous sponsors. If your company is interested in sponsoring a fresh coat of paint for the Veterans Center this year, contact Business Development Manager Ty Coleman, 425.278.0222 by October 10.

Photo courtesy Alabastro Photography

By Paul Kocharhook, Pathway Design & Construction

Q: My aging mother and newborn nieces and nephews love visiting our home, but we fear it’s not safe at times. How can we accommodate our extended family to minimize potential dangers and stress for all?

A:

A: Articulating a clear goal and vision for your home space will help clarify what you want to get from your remodel project when it’s time to talk with design and construction firms.

Defining what you want with words (and even pictures or vision boards) can be challenging, especially if you’re undertaking your first remodel experience. This bit of challenge can yield a longer-lasting project, and this term may help: visitability.

Visitability is a gauge. Incorporating visitability design elements during your remodel will make your home more … well, easy to visit. Easy not only to approach and enter, but also to stay and socialize. Components of a visitable house include:

• A clear exterior and interior path.
• One zero-step entrance.
• Doorways and hallways that are wide enough to navigate through easily (for scooters, wheelchairs, crutches, etc.).
• A bathroom that is located on the main floor and large enough to easily use by the person with additional mobility requirements without any more support or care than they typically use.

In terms of your home and your potential remodel project, let’s think about you and your loved ones specifically, while taking a fresh look at your current space. Consider these scenarios:

Are you starting a family? Once you have a stroller, a baby, a bag or two and a dog, how will it feel to navigate several steps to each door? Could you use a no-step entrance as one of your entry points?

Do you have relatives close by and a yen to host Thanksgiving Day gatherings or holiday parties? As your relations age (and as you age, too), how will they get to and through your home?

Does anyone in your family or friend circle have additional mobility requirements due to multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy? What’s the plan to get them in and comfortable should they come for a visit?

What about those around you (and let’s include you as well)? Would a more visitable home improve your quality of life or that of your family? Picture the same home, same loved ones and yourself 10–20 years into your future.

Perhaps in the future your kids have finished or are finishing college, or have moved out, and their ground-floor room is unoccupied. Let’s also say the room is not already needed for crafts, a game room or storage. The room could be made to accommodate an elder parent in that future, couldn’t it?

Or, maybe you’re just ready for a bigger bathroom, a no-stairs walkway to the back door and wider doorways? It works in hotel rooms and feels wonderfully spacious, doesn’t it? Who knew that these few changes could also positively impact a friend or relation?

Have you considered that improved visitability could also be a positive selling point? When it’s time for you to move on from your current home, and you’ve got easier access, a larger bathroom and wider passages throughout your home, it’s going to appeal to more people — especially if those new owners are looking for a home they can stay in for a long time to come.

Visitability really has more to do with improving the quality of life, not only for who is living in the home but also for those who come to visit and connect.

Paul Kocharhook is a certified aging-in-place specialist and owner of Pathway Design & Construction in Seattle. He is also a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of the MBAKS’s nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Statistics from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, highlighted in the October Builder’s Bulletin, show an increasing supply of homes for sale in the month of August. King County had 1.92 months’ supply of inventory, up from 0.93 months’ supply a year ago. Snohomish County had 1.70 months of inventory, up from 1.11 a year ago. This increase in supply, while still low, has moderated price increases.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report: