There is a lot of experiential learning that supports why businesses lost $3 billion each year because of childcare-related issues. These costs, let alone your employees’ blood pressure and exhaustion level, can dramatically decrease if there is an on-site remedy available.

A security system is probably a good idea for anyone who owns any structure. But for a business’s office, a quality alarm system is a must.

A trademark is an item that helps a consumer distinguish between one company’s product and that of another. It could be a word, phrase, logo, sound, or package design — anything that identifies for the consumer that one brand is different from the next.

Every computer should be scanned regularly to protect against threats and to ensure stability, but for businesses, it’s absolutely vital. Business computers are targeted more often because the information they contain is often more sensitive, and therefore more valuable to identity thieves, hackers, and online vandals.

The era of paper bookkeeping is long gone. Keeping track of what’s coming in and what’s going out, however, is as important as it’s ever been.

For most small businesses, payroll is a recurring headache. No matter how many employees you have, payroll must be done, done accurately, and done on time.

If you sell things online—or if you’re planning to set up a Web page or blog associated with a store that does—you have to accept online payments. To ask someone to mail a check or call in a credit card number not only inconveniences your customers and denies them options that your competitors almost certainly offer, but it makes you—and your business—appear amateurish and unprofessional.

If you’re operating a business online—or have a store that allows online purchases, you must be able to accept mobile payments. If you’re not already, start now. If you haven’t started the Web site yet, put that high on your to-do list.

Greg McNeil is like Wayne Gretzky… but not quite. Learn how this “Wayne Gretzky of the Personal Training world” built his successful business.

That’s right, we are sponsoring our first Small Biz Summit in Albuquerque, NM. While the event is named after the host state of New Mexico, we have received several inquiries from out of state. You do not need to be a NM resident to attend. Join us as we share with Small Business owners from all industries the “Keys to the Kingdom” of Small Business Success. These keys include: Marketing, Sales, Service, Management and Finance.