News for Smaller Firms

• Association Health Plans - The Department of Labor proposes to aid small business owners in purchasing health insurance through AHPs. Read more at the DOL website.

• Saving the Corporate Dollar - Analyze your expenses so you know exactly where your money is going.

• The Rules of Advertising - Seven tips to help you keep a handle on your ads.

• Intranets: Your office efficiency tool. From Rough Notes.

• Between the Building and the Street - Security design and the landscape architect.

• In Service Businesses, Does Growth Always Lead to Profits? Think Again - From Knowledge @ Wharton

• CRM - The first round didn't deliver, but this new generation of products shows promise.

• A Unique Marketing Tool - Read how a graphic design firm uses blogs to position themselves as experts in their field.

• Return on People - Invest in your employees to benefit your business; this week's column: creating flexible work environments.

• Brushing the Dust off Your Business Plan - Business plans are meant to keep your business on track. See how you can use yours effectively.

• Change Marketing Plans To Survive the Squeeze - Tips on sales and marketing that will help keep you in business in this tough economy.

• The Most Effective Single Sheet of Paper in Marketing Is: - A press release. Find out how two press releases a month can greatly improve your business's exposure.

• Disaster-Proof Your Small Business - From Microsoft's B Central.

• The Greatest Companies Are Founded on Ethics - For entrepreneurs, ethical behavior often is overlooked as the chaos of everyday business obscures the philosophical side of their company.

• Small Firm Makes It Big - ArchitectureWeek profiles the successful 13-person architecture firm Form4, based in San Francisco.

Archive

• What happens when key leaders are ready to leave the company or retire? — How to plan for succession without diminishing the effectiveness of the firm.
  
• How Attention to Safety Can Boost Your Profits—The best way to lower your insurance premium may be to decrease workplace injuries by turning an eye to safety. Many firms are hiring safety consultants to improve their margins while improving their work environment.
  
• What insurance is necessary to start your business—A little unsure as to what kind of insurance an emerging design firm might require? The following management advisory answers questions about professional liability for design professionals – why they need it, where they can get it and what to look for in a policy.
  
• What Happens When Employees Leave?
  
• How to survive ownership transition due to buyouts, mergers, takeovers, etc.
  
• Reviewing and Negotiating a Contract
  
• Exposure—What is it? What is your professional liability risk?