Here are two current small business hot buttons: Merchant account holdbacks and the revolution in online customer reviews. Is your card processing vendor withholding cash from your account that you don't even know about? Better find out! And did you know that customers are now more influenced by online reviews of your product, service or business than they are by prices? We'll show you how to join the customer reviews revolution.

This week's Q&A shows you how to put customer reviews on your own website. As always, visit our What Works for Business blog for timely ideas and news on the latest solutions for small business. Sign up for the What Works for Business RSS feed to receive automatic updates.





Putting Customer Reviews on your Web site

Q. Dear Dan: Customers are starting to review our business online. While this is new to us, my research tells me that customer reviews are becoming really important. How can we get them on our own site? – Reviewed

A. Dear Reviewed: There's a revolution happening with online customer reviews, and there is a lot at stake that could make or break your business... Read More




Merchant Accounts
Holdbacks are Merchant Account Hot Button
By Daniel Kehrer
Merchant accounts for credit card processing can create many headaches, like processing delays, fee hikes, chargebacks – and the latest hot button "holdbacks" that can cost you money. Here's what you need to know:

Health Hot Button
Health Insurance Basics for Small Business
By John Riddle
With costs skyrocketing, many small business owners are finding it more and more difficult to offer health insurance to employees. In turn, this makes it difficult to attract and retain quality people... Read Full Guide

Benefits Hot Button
Employee Benefits Basics for Small Business
By Frances Sharpe
Many small business owners think they can't afford to offer employee benefits. In reality, small businesses can't afford not to offer a benefits package of some type. Here's how to do it:

Tax Audit Hot Button
Avoiding an IRS Audit
By Irwin Speizer
Of all the ways you can be unpleasantly surprised in your business, few measure up to notice of an IRS tax audit.
Here are some things you can do to avoid getting that letter:

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