Category Archives: Resources

Paid sick leave is now required by state law.

PaidSickLeaveFactsheet

Initiative 1433, which was approved by Washington voters in fall 2016, contains four primary changes to state law:

  • ƒ  Requires employers to provide paid sick leave to most employees beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
  • ƒ  Increases the minimum wage over the next several years.
  • ƒ  Ensures tips and service charges are given to the appropriate staff.
  • Protects employees from retaliation when exercising their rights under the Minimum Wage Requirements and Labor Standards Act.

Learn more. Click here to download a PaidSickLeaveFactsheet

The Megaphone of Main Street Small Business Jobs Report, Infographic #2: The Gig Economy

Business owners reported an increase in hiring in all categories of workers over the past six months, with the greatest growth in one-time project or gig workers (37%).

SCORE’s latest infographic explores the rise of the gig economy in small business hiring.

This infographic highlights the findings of part 2 of The Megaphone of Main Street Small Business Jobs Report.

Continue reading →

Surety Bond Guarantee Program

The SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program helps small and emerging contractors obtain bid, performance and payment bonds. The SBA guarantees up to 90% of a bond issued by a surety company for construction, service, supply and manufacturing contracts. To qualify as a small business an applicant’s annual receipts must meet the NAICS standard.

The Seattle Bond Office handles applications for bond guarantees on behalf of contractors domiciled in nine western states and thirteen southern states.

Learn more here… http://www.sba.gov/surety-bonds

Continue reading →

Contract Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veterans

Small Business Concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans has been established under The Veterans Bene ts Act of 2003 – Public Law 108-183. This act assists federal agencies in meeting the 3% veteran contracting goal.

Federal contracting of cers may now set-aside or award sole- source contracts to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVO) Small Business Concerns (SBC).

Eligibility:

  1. 51% or more owned by one or more service-disabled veterans.
  2. Management and daily business operations is controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or the spouse of such veteran if the veteran is permanently and severely disabled.
  3. At the time of contract offer, an SDVO SBC is small as defined by the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code (13 CFR 121.201) assigned to the contract.

Small business concerns self-certify. You should obtain a letter from the VA certifying that you are a service-disabled veteran in the event another business protests your award.  Continue reading →

How to find the right investor for your small business.

By Caron Beesley, Contributor

Although small businesses still turn to credit unions, community banks, and traditional banks for their capital needs, outside equity such as angel investment and venture capital, are  valid options. In fact, the venture and angel capital industries are experiencing a sharp increase in demand thanks to a greater certainty in the domestic economy.

If you’re looking for a private equity firm, venture or angel capitalist to fund your business, what are your options? Below are some tips for identifying the right fit for your needs and taking those important first steps.  Continue reading →

Ask SCORE: How can I protect my ideas?

Got a great idea? Follow these first steps from SCORE Counselor, Alan Tratner of Santa Barbara, CA.

1. Put all your ideas, notes and drawings in an inventor’s journal, and have it signed, witnessed and dated. Be careful about disclosing your ideas to anyone—use a confidentiality or non-disclosure document when discussing your ideas.

2. Decide whether to file a provisional patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. For more  information on the benefits and how to file, visit the USPTO Web site at http://www.uspto.gov.

3. Conduct a Preliminary Patentability Search to discover what patents exist like your ideas — and get a patent attorney to render you a Patentability Opinion. There are many ways to conduct the search, including the Patent Depository Libraries on the uspto.gov Web site. File a PTO Provisional Patent Application for one year if all looks good.  Continue reading →

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