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February 28, 2014 Creating a community and a voice for small business. |
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Welcome new and renewing members! Bren Murphy, LegalShield independent agent Jerry H Biese, New York Life Ins. independent agent Knuth Accounting and Business Services, LLC Minnesota Craniofacial Center, P.C. Rachel Johannsen, LegalShield independent agent
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Export your goods and services? Minnesota is on the map. Small Business Minnesota recently met with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Trade Office. We were surprised to learn about the types of goods and services that are being exported - from plates to consulting services. The state's trade office offers assistance in locating export opportunities, translations, website development and more. Check out their calendar of weekly events and more.
Small Business Minnesota partners with Move MN "Small businesses have made it clear that they need to get employees to work and goods to market in a safe, timely and efficient manner," said Audrey Britton, Small Business Minnesota government and public relations chair. "While we may not be in complete agreement with the final funding decision, we understand that this is an important issue to the business community and we need to move forward."
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Your membership matters. Join or renew today. More than likely, you're already benefiting from public advocacy work done by Small Business Minnesota. If you accept credit cards, your swipe fees have been lowered. We worked to repeal most proposed business-to-business sales taxes and will work to repeal the remaining few. We worked to ensure you would not pay a marketing fee for the health insurance exchange. Become a sustaining member for just $6.50 a month. Please join or renew today. Read more.
Featured new member: Kelco Services Want to be a featured member? Join or be sure your membership dues are up to date email your business' description to audrey@smallbusinessmn.org.
Congratulations to member Sanctuary Restaurant Sanctuary garnered the rating of "EXTRAORDINARY TO PERFECTION" with 27 points (out of 30) for food, 27 points for decor and 28 points for service - making it one of the best restaurants in Minnesota based on customer reviews. Read more.
Major changes to Minnesota LLC laws expected The Minnesota Legislature is expected to make major changes to Minnesota LLC law during the 2014 legislative session. The legislation has overwhelming bipartisan support. If enacted, the changes would affect nearly 200,000 limited liability companies formed in Minnesota since 1993. The changes include shifting from a corporation-based model to the partnership-based model used by all other states, permitting a "series LLC,” and adopting best practices recommended by business law experts. The legislation has a grandfather clause allowing existing LLCs to continue under some of the old provisions. Read more.
MNsure for small business update
Enrollment ends March 31 for one-person shops: Open enrollment ends March 31 for single-person shops (businesses with no employees) wanting coverage in 2014.
Small Business Minnesota's take on the MNsure rollout The Affordable Care Act also requires each state to have an online insurance exchange where people can shop for insurance. In Minnesota that is known as "MNsure." Like many large IT rollouts, MNsure's was less than ideal but is continually improving. Beyond the IT concerns, Small Business Minnesota met with the MNsure board chair, the new MNsure executive director and members of the MNsure small business advisory committee to discuss other concerns and provide recommendations. Many of our recommendations have been implemented.
This MPR report provides an accurate, concise outline of the reasons behind the MNsure rocky rollout.
More small businesses are adding their voices to a growing coalition concerned about sustainable and safe businesses practices, and safe food and products for their employees, customers and families. What small businesses say: Nine out of 10 small businesses surveyed by the American Sustainable Business Council believe that chemical manufacturers should be held responsible for ensuring that chemicals they use are safe and 94 percent support disclosure of potentially harmful chemicals used in products. Additionally, the survey found that 87 percent of small businesses think government regulations should ensure that chemicals used in growing food are safe and 73 percent support government regulation to assure that consumer products are free of toxins. The challenge: The federal regulation of industrial chemicals through the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is ineffective in controlling the more than 80,000 chemicals used in commerce today. Over its 35-year history, only five chemicals have been restricted under TSCA and the EPA has required testing on only 200 chemicals. TSCA is so weak the EPA could not even regulate asbestos, despite 10 years of rule making. Read more.
Follow Small Business Minnesota on social media. SBA seeks small business owners for leadership training program. Must have annual revenues of at least $400,000. Applications due March 11. Completing your taxes? Some tools and tips from the MN Department of Revenue. New corporate structure fits between a for-profit and a nonprofit. Some restaurant owners pushing back on Minneapolis' 70/30 (food/alcohol) rule. DEED grants to help manufacturers grow, address ‘skills gap’. Minnesota ranks fourth in Gallup Job Creation Index. Minnesota summit spotlights importance of women’s economic status. A history of minimum wage in Minnesota.
Small Business Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan small business organization. All of our members are small business owners with less than 100 employees. Small Business Minnesota provides public advocacy, networking, educational forums and the latest small business news. |
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PO BOX 462665 Plymouth MN 55446 (763) 280-3313 smallbusinessmn.org |
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