February 28, 2024

Gary Klaben on the Economic Advantages of Solar Energy for Businesses

Gary Klaben is a chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and has a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS). He is an author, gentleman farmer, and savvy businessperson. Recently he has been developing an expertise espousing the economic advantages of solar energy for businesses, an area that combines all his interests and skills. He spoke to…

December 13, 2023

Small Business Alert: Complying with the Corporate Transparency Act

Starting January 1, 2024, many companies will be required to report information to the U.S. government about who ultimately owns and controls them. That identifying information is known as beneficial ownership information (BOI) and is part of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). They will have to report the information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network…

October 12, 2023

10 Reasons Why Your Company’s LinkedIn Page Needs to Stay Sharp

Just like electricity and indoor plumbing are “must haves” for living in a house, a website and a LinkedIn page are the bare minimums any business needs if they want to be taken seriously. What can a LinkedIn page do for your business? Let us show you the ways. It serves as a professional showcase…

September 13, 2023

6 Ways Small Businesses Can Use ChatGPT Right Now

The recent emergence of easily accessible AI-backed tools and technology has acted as a disruptive force across a variety of settings – and small and large business settings are no exception. One of the most talked-about recent AI tools is ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot that can create unique, human-like replies in response to prompts…

April 20, 2023

Recruiting Best Practices: An Expert Weighs In

Employees are a business’s most valuable asset. They are the engine that powers your organization, the people who perform the work and make the company go. Hiring the right individuals for the right roles is absolutely critical. With that in mind, we asked Kari Thompson, Weiss & Company’s Talent Acquisition Manager, to share her thoughts…

January 21, 2022

How to Help Protect Your Business from Cyberattacks

Think your small business is safe from cybercriminals? Think again. Through phishing emails and ransomware, cybercriminals can infiltrate small businesses, often as way to gain access to their larger partner businesses. During the pandemic, when many employees worked from home, thieves took the opportunity to prey on small businesses through unsecured home networks. It’s important…

February 12, 2021

Protecting Yourself from Fraudulent Unemployment Claims

Identity theft has always been a pressing issue, and has become more prevalent with the rise of digital transactions over the past two decades. In the past year, the Coronavirus pandemic has produced an environment ripe for identity theft and fraudulent claims. For individuals, it’s important to note that you can be a target of…

November 25, 2020

Business Outlook Webinar 12/8/2020: Featuring Steve Goluch

Mark Your Calendar. . . December 8, 2020 / 9:00-10:00am 2021 Business Outlook Webinar Don’t miss this informative production sponsored by the Daily Herald Business Ledger and featuring a panel of economic experts including Weiss & Company LLP partner Steve Goluch. Participation is free, so Register Now!…

May 23, 2020

SBA Disaster Loans: A 3-Step Guide

March 23 – If your business has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, you may well be eligible for a disaster loan from the U.S. Small Administration. Applying for one is a relatively simple process; for a step by step guide to the process or specific instructions on how to complete an application, click on…

April 24, 2020

New Coronavirus Relief Bill Passes

Yesterday, the House overwhelmingly approved a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill and sent it to the White House, where President Trump signed it into law this morning. As expected, the legislation primarily targets small businesses and hospitals that have been devastated by the ongoing pandemic. Included: $310 billion in new funds for the Paycheck Protection…

April 20, 2020

Payback Protection Program Update: The Road to Forgiveness

Guidance concerning the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is continually changing as the program itself continues to evolve. As of this morning, Congress and the White House were close to a deal to pump an additional $310 billion into the CARES Act’s massive relief measure for small businesses. In the meantime, for the many companies that…

March 30, 2020

CARES Act Update: Paycheck Protection Program Guide

For many of our clients, one of the most important portions of the CARES Act is the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which provides small business loans which may ultimately be forgiven if payrolls are maintained through the crisis or restored afterward. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has just issued a “CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY LOANS: Small…

March 20, 2020

New Federal, City Assistance Available to Illinois Small Businesses

March 20 – Illinois has been added to the list of states now eligible for new low-interest disaster loans offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The low-interest loans offer up to $2 million in working capital to any qualifying small business or non-profit organization that applies. The loans…

November 14, 2019

Illinois Regulatory Roundup

While the lingering effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 continue to dominate tax planning discussions for small businesses, there has been plenty of action at the state level that demands attention, as well. We asked Larry Sexauer, who heads Weiss’s Audits & Assurance Service, to weigh in on the Illinois state…

October 18, 2019

Final Deadline Approaching for Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Implementation

November 8th marks the deadline for the third and final implementation phase of the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, the state’s new retirement savings program for individual workers who lack access to a qualified private plan through their employers. Under the terms of the program, Illinois employers with 25 or more employees who don’t offer…

September 9, 2019

How to Prevent Cyber Fraud in your Small Business

Millions of phishing e-mails are sent daily. Hackers from foreign countries are tirelessly trying to find openings in networks to exploit companies for Bitcoin. While larger companies, city networks, and hospitals tend to make the news, it is typically the smaller companies that get hurt the most. There are several steps your company can take…

September 2, 2019

How to Know if You’ve Been Hacked

It seems like every day, there’s a new headline: a company has been hacked, exposing its data and the data of millions of its customers. Small business are no exception: surveys show that up to 80 percent of small businesses have been hacked, often because business owners do not prioritize cybersecurity. What’s at stake? In…

July 16, 2019

Q and A: Getting a Business Valuation

Business valuations are a key tool for privately-held businesses who are looking to create a succession plan or are getting ready to sell. Weiss & Company LLP’s accountants have decades of experience creating these valuations. Frank Lee, CPA, CVA, a partner who manages the firm’s tax department, has been certified as an official CVA (Certified…

July 9, 2019

Chris Bozarth Earns Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) Credential

Chris Bozarth, accounting services partner who leads Weiss & Company LLP’s Client Accounting Services Department, has earned the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) designation from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). The CVA designation is granted to those who undergo intensive training and pass an exam testing both theory and application in the…