Where Do Good Employees Come From?
While many small businesses are reacting to tough times by cutting costs, one area you shouldn't skimp on is in hiring and retention.

Consultant Laura Harris, CLU, CIC and ChFC, and author of the new small business self-help book, Surrender to Win (Greenleaf Publishing), suggests the following when hiring:
1. Introduce the potential employee to key staff to determine how your team will interact.
2. First impressions count: Don't hire someone with an unprofessional phone voice or sloppy appearance.
3. Hire an inexperienced person you can train to your leadership style.
4. "Steal" good employees from other industries.
5. Hire someone with different strengths and weaknesses than your existing team to expand what your business has to offer.
And to retain and grow employees:

1. Create a detailed employee handbook and stick to the guidelines so everyone (including you) knows the company policy.
2. Invest in employee education by paying for courses and offering time off to take classes.
3. Help employees put their families first by allowing time off for children and parents when it's needed.
4. Hire responsible people, train them well and avoid micromanagement. Spend time investing in the right person so they stay with you.

Ringing Up NO SALE
Many businesses are skimping on the purchase of liability protection because company owners don't believe their risk exposure justifies the expense.