Spring Cleaning

Spring is in the Air . . .

Spring has arrived along with the warmer weather.  Spring is the perfect time to make that check list of To Do’s. Below is a list of reminders for small business owners’.  It’s the little things we sometimes miss that can have an impact on our businesses. We hope that you find these reminders helpful.

• Annual Business Reports – have you filed yours? The deadline is April 1^st. Before you file, confirm that all your information for your business is correct and make any necessary changes before you file. Depending on the change, you may need to complete another form. You can find forms and file your report online by visiting the State of New Hampshire website at: sos.nh.gov. You will need your business ID number which is included on the notice or you can find it on the previous year’s report.
• Corporate & Payroll Taxes – have you file your corporate and payroll tax returns and your estimated quarterly taxes? The IRS provides a calendar of important dates for small businesses to help you stay current with your business’ tax responsibilities. Visit IRS.gov for more information and to obtain the calendar: http://www.tax.gov/calendar. If you need to file an extension of time to file your tax return, contact your CPA. It’s also an opportunity to explore avenues to save on taxes for the next tax year.
• Department of Labor Posters – make sure all your posters are current and in a place where all employees have access. The Department of Labor provides free posters. To obtain posters, Visit: Mandatory Posters | Inspection Division | NH Department of Labor.
• Website and Social Media – it’s a great time to make sure all the links on your site(s) are working properly and to update contact information, pictures, and your copyright notice at the bottom of your website.
• Website Domains – these typically renew on an annual basis. You should review who has access to your domains on an annual basis and make any changes necessary. The owner of the domain is the only one that can transfer your domain to another registrar. Your IT service provider should be able to service your account but not have the ability to move your domain without your permission. You can renew your domain for several years and save money by paying in advance. Check with your provider at renewal.
• Trademarks and/or Patents– Is yours up for renewal if you have one? If you’re not sure of the renewal date, contact the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You can access your information by visiting: United States Patent and Trademark Office (uspto.gov).
• Business Changes – have you moved your office or made any changes to your business name? If you’ve made any changes, you need to update your business information with the Secretary of State at sos.nh.gov.
• Building or Equipment Leases – Are your leases expiring soon? It’s important to know when your leases expire so that you have the opportunity to renegotiate the terms. Typically, you will receive a notice at least 30-60 days prior to the expiration of the lease.
• Building Fire Extinguishers– your fire extinguishers should be inspected at least annually to make sure they are still in working order. You can check by looking at the meter.  If it is in the “green”, you are all set.  All extinguishers should have a tag that displays the last inspection date and the tag should be updated with the date of each inspection. Don’t forget to check you’re your fire/carbon monoxide detectors at personal residence.
• Building Security/Alarms – Your security systems should be check at least annually to make sure everything is working properly. Many alarms have “contacts” that contain a battery and those should be checked to ensure the batteries still have life. Your alarm technician can check this quickly and at minimal cost.  In addition, if your business has “panic” buttons, those batteries should be checked as well.
• Insurance Policies – are your policies up to date? If you’ve moved your business or purchased a new building with additional equipment, it’s important to make sure your policies are updated to include these. It’s important to make sure you have adequate coverage for your business based on its current status and value.
• Computer Software – are your software programs up to date? If you use a software to process your payroll, you may need to update them due to the withholding table changes that occur periodically. In addition, other software programs you may be using simply need an “update” for programs to run more efficiently and improve functionality. Also, you should remove any programs that you no longer use and purge any old electronic files that you no longer need.  This will create more space on your computer hard drive and increase its efficiency.
• Employee Handbooks – you may want to review any recent law changes that may affect your Employee Manual. It’s important to keep these up to date. Contact your employment attorney for any new laws that may affect your business.
• Employee Performance Reviews – Employee performance reviews are important and meaningful to both employees and the business. Most employees expect face-to-face meetings at least once a year. It is a good time to communicate with your employees and receive feedback. It also provides an opportunity to set goals for professional development and ultimately contributes to the success of your business.