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Federal Reserve encourages you to “Go Direct”
May 29, 2006 - Valuable information for your business from Citizens State Bank - Go Direct is a national campaign designed to motivate Americans to select direct deposit for their federal benefit payments, such as Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Web Designer = Graphic Designer?
May 16, 2006 by Russ Cuthrell - When you think business website designs, do you picture a talented artistic person working hard to create a work of art using expensive graphic design software? If so, you’re not entirely wrong – just 99% wrong.

Family Meetings Can Help Pass On Family Assets And Values
April 18, 2006 - Submitted by Thomas B. Horton - Passing on the family wealth from one generation to the next—whether involving a network of businesses and philanthropic organizations or simply the family home and prized heirlooms—is never easy.

Auto Safety and the Teenage Driver
April 11, 2006 - By Kevin Counihan, Falvay-Counihan Insurance, Inc. - It isn’t easy being a teenager – or the parent of one. Most teens would rather get the keys to the family car than listen to a lecture about safe driving. But parental concern over letting a teenager get behind the wheel is grounded in harsh reality.

Develop a business strategy that preserves your business and your net worth
March 30, 2006 - by Scott Orts, Citizens State Bank - A business without a written plan and defined vision is like a ship with no sail. Your business plan should provide details on: your unique financial goals and objectives; a timeframe to achieve your goals; a strategic plan for growth.

HSAs: Help for employers offering health insurance
March 30, 2006 - Submitted by Citizens State Bank - In an effort to assist employers and the American public with rising health care costs, the federal government and health providers have introduced the Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Should You Use a Credit Card or Debit Card for Your Small Business?
March 29, 2006 - Submitted by Citizens State Bank - As business owners and managers address the financial services they need, business credit cards are an important tool to assist with cash management and financial reporting.

“Be A Name Dropper…”
November 17, 2005 - By Rachele Carl - Are you a “Name Dropper”? Being a name dropper has a negative connotation. But what I’m talking about, is putting your business’ name out in front of potential clients, customers and associates. Otherwise known as promoting and maintaining name recognition.

ReFi-Fo-Fum - Slaying the Mortgage Beast
October 27, 2005 - By Thomas B. Horton - Are you worried interest rates are beginning to rise, and you’ve missed out on the refinancing boom? Assuming you have no prepayment penalty in your loan documents (most do not these days), you may be wondering if you should take any action.

How Do I Get The Best Rate On My Mortgage? 
October 22, 2005 by Steve Puchalski - It is NEVER about the best rate.  It is about the best MATH.  Meaning, consumers should consider the best combination of rate AND cost when shopping for a mortgage.  There is no other answer than that.  So why isn't the lowest rate the best deal?  

Phishing Scams: Don’t Take the Bait
October 17, 2005 - From Citizens State Bank - Internet phishing scams, like other forms of fraud, prey on the unwary.Phishing con artists claim to be from a reputable company and send out thousands of fake e-mails and fake Web page images in hopes that consumers...

The Value of Web Marketing...
October 13, 2005 - By Russ Cuthrell - With unlimited amounts of information, instantaneous communication, and the ability for both large corporations and small home business owners to compete globally, the Internet has undeniably changed how business is conducted. However, one factor remains the same: advertisement.

Should Your System be ‘Smart Card’ Compatible?
October 6, 2005 - From Citizens State Bank - Understanding your options is the first step to saving time and money on your credit card program. In an effort to keep their merchant service program current, business owners often ask if their current systems should accomodate ‘Smart Cards.’

How Do Colleges Calculate Financial Aid?
September 28, 2005 - By Thomas B. Horton - Some financial aid is more desirable than others. Unfortunately, colleges award different amounts of each type. The question is how to position yourself to get the most desirable package.

The Power of One
September 13, 2005 - By John M. Bomarito - OK boys and girls, it’s story problem time. Don’t worry, this will be an open book test and you may use your calculators. So grab a piece of paper, a number two pencil, the adult beverage of your choice and let’s begin.

Taking credit cards can increase your business by 20-30%
September 7, 2005 - by Citizens State Bank - Taking credit cards can increase your business by 20-30%, but processing charges can eat up your profit. Understanding your options is the first step to saving time and money on your credit card program! When considering a credit card program for your business, or...

DO YOU FEEL WORTHLESS SOMETIMES, A LOT OF THE TIME?
September 1, 2005 - by Bill Douglass - How often are you feeling worthlessness or hopelessness? Maybe more than you allow yourself to realize. Being small business people we have ample opportunity to be self-critical when things go wrong or when we fall short of our ambitious goals or expectations.

Things to Consider when Working a Tradeshow Exhibit
August 24, 2005 - By Rachele Carl - Tradeshows are a great way to market your company to a large number of prospective clients. The way you run your exhibit booth is a major factor in determining the success of your show. Here are a few things to consider:

What Do You Get In A Financial Plan?
August 17, 2005 - by Thomas B. Horton - Financial plans used to be forbidding and lengthy. These days, a plan tends to be more of an outline, spelling out goals and the means for achieving them. But whatever a plan looks like, its purpose is the same. It is the connection between the parts of your financial life.

PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY!
August 8, 2005 - In the past five years, The Federal Trade Commission estimates that about 27.3 million Americans have been victims of identity theft. By remaining alert and aware, you can help to stop these thieves.

When All You Have is a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail
August 5, 2005 - By John M. Bomarito - Do you remember your Junior-High Shop or Home Economics class? Two critical components we learned were 1) Plan Your Project 2) Use the right tools or ingredients to achieve your purpose.

Let’s play catch-up!
July 21, 2005 - by Scott Orts - Nest egg? What nest egg? Whether you lost it all in the dot-com crash, or you never had it to begin with, remember it’s never too late! Here are some tips to help get your savings on track...

Maximum Exposure
July 18, 2005 - by Charlie Shelton - All small business owners want to receive a maximum amount of advertising for a minimum amount of expense. I'd like to share an easy method that you can utilize right now...

Identity Theft on the Rise
July 11, 2005 - By Thomas B. Horton - Identity Theft is the fastest growing white collar crime now! Every week, thousands of consumers fall victim to identity theft, with far-reaching, lasting consequences. So what can you do...

Me, Set-Up a Tradeshow Exhibit? Where Do I Start?
July 7, 2005 - By Rachele Carl – Participating in a tradeshow will increase the awareness of the products and/or services offered by your company to both your competition and potential customers. You are probably saying,...

Summer Sales Sizzling or Fizzling? Let's Throw Some Lighter Fluid on Those Smoldering Coals
June 28, 2005 - By John M. Bomarito - Michigan small business owners know that summertime provides different opportunities, depending on their location. Businesses serving our beautiful resort communities look forward to lots of seasonal visitors spending money on accommodations, meals, golf, boating, fuel and entertainment.

HEALTH INSURANCE….CHOICES! CHOICES! CHOICES!
June 7, 2005 - By Chuck Dargis - Consumers should be aware that they can have a lot to say about their health insurance policy. In fact, it is possible to customize a policy to the needs of an individual or an entire family. Health insurance simply does not need to be “one size fits all.” For example, you can choose a policy that allows you to do all of the following...

Rebate Versus Low Interest Rate – How Do You Decide?
June 2 , 2005 by Cindy Holmes - Are you shopping for a new vehicle for your business or personal use? The many ‘special deals’ out there can be confusing! The 'factory rebate' is a very effective manufacturer incentive that dealers use...

Consistency & Frequency: Proven Results Over Time
May 28, 2005 By John M. Bomarito - One of the biggest mistakes I see small business owners make is to jump in and out of advertising vehicles before their investment has a chance to build a return for them.Regardless of...

Results...Guaranteed!
May 27, 2005 By Charlie Shelton - What does a small business owner need, starting from day one? New business, of course! Whether you sell products or services, your small business can only gain success and stability by capturing and retaining new customers. Step one is gaining new customers. So, how does a small business get new client base?

Contractor Tips For Working With Home Owners
May 21, 2005 - By Mitch Groeter - Whether it’s doing a renovation project or building their dream home your clients are under stress! Most of them have had little experience or bad experiences with hiring contractors for their projects and they will have questions and concerns throughout the project.

Tips For Working With Home Improvement Contractors
May 20, 2005 - By Mitch Groeter -Whether it's the honey do list, a home renovation project or building your dream home, choosing a contractor often involves more than just shopping for price. The selection of a contractor has much of the same criteria as choosing a school for your children or finding a good doctor. You need to know something about their track record and future plans.

What’s The Rate?
May 5, 2005 - By Doug Dunkelberg - The question asked most often of an individual or business owner seeking a loan is, “What’s the rate?” The answer is not as definitive as one might expect. When granting a loan, the borrower’s...

FINANCIAL PLANNING – WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
April 27, 2005 - By Thomas B. Horton - Think of financial planning as a road map, a way to get from where you are today to where you want to be in a designated time with the fewest detours and potholes. You most likely have...

Planning a smooth transition to a new career
April 27, 2005 - By Thomas B. Horton - If you are reading this, chances are you are about to embark on the fascinating and sometimes scary journey of opening your own business. This journey often results in a change of financial...

Get Your Financial House In Order
April 27, 2005 - By Thomas B. Horton - When it comes to getting your financial house in order there are a few easy steps you can take that will get you well on your way to becoming truly organized. 1. Learn what to keep and what to toss...

Do I Need To Spy Proof My Computer?
Posted April 22, 2005 - by Elizabeth Ward - I think the question should be, do I use my computer for anything that would best remain private and confidential? Computer monitoring has become a huge industry, involving...

Web site Banner Ads 101
April 20, 2005 - By Russ Cuthrell - Banner advertising is the most common method of online advertising. Banner ads come in all different sizes and types but the objective is the same; entice the web visitor to click on it to see what is on the “other side”. Banner ads can be static, just displaying a logo or tag line or they can be animated with graphics, text, and movement.

Life and Golf, Golf and Life
April 17, 2005 - By Bill Douglass - I recently took the first golf lesson of my life. I am not a newcomer to the game with 45 years under my belt (I’m not that old, I started playing at age 7). For some reason these days, it isn’t enough for me to enjoy the camaraderie and fresh outdoor experience, so I signed up for a three-hole lesson with a golf-pro...

Multi-tasking
April 15, 2005 - By Bill Douglass - Welcome to Michigan Small business web site and I hope you enjoy and benefit from your visit here. I will be contributing regular articles to this site that I hope you will find helpful or at least entertaining. So here we go. Multi-tasking is something we are all trying to do in our lives. If I am painfully honest with myself I’m really not very good...

Direct Marketing: An Investment in Your Business Success
April 14, 2005 - By John Bomarito - As a small business owner, you have many choices on where to invest your advertising and marketing dollars. While the best strategy may employ the blend of several advertising vehicles, today our focus will be on the direct marketing tool in the marketing mix. We will cover other advertising vehicles in future articles...

BUSINESS BOOTCAMP: Basics for the New Business Owner
April 14, 2005 - By Charles Shelton - Are you a new business owner trying to make the transformation from years of being someone else’s employee to owning your own business? If you are, you already know that IT IS NOT EASY! Sometimes new business owners think that advertising, products, services, pricing, profits and/or payroll are...