When a company’s leadership engages in strategic planning, growing the business is typically at the top of the agenda. This is as it should be — ambition is part and parcel of being a successful business owner. What’s more, in many industries, failing to grow could leave the company at the mercy of competitors.

For a company to be truly successful, its ownership needs to attempt the impossible: see into the future. Forecasting key metrics — such as sales demand, receivables, payables and working capital — can help you manage overhead, offer competitive prices…

Nothing is certain but death and taxes. While this may apply to federal taxes, state taxes are a bit more uncertain. Manufacturers operating in more than one state may be subject to taxation in multiple states. But with proper planning,…

Is your business hiring? Many companies are — in fact, an employment report released by the U.S. Department of Labor earlier this month revealed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 390,000 in May, and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.6%….

If your manufacturing company is like many others in the industry, you’re having difficulty finding top-notch new hires to expand your workforce as well as to replace employees who are retiring or quitting. At the same time, you’d like to…

Manufacturing company owners may mistakenly believe that the misclassification of employees as independent contractors doesn’t really matter, so long as contractors satisfy all of their tax obligations. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Improper classification of workers can…

While many economic indicators remain strong, the U.S. economy is still giving business owners plenty to think about. The nation’s gross domestic product unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter of 2022. Rising inflation is on everyone’s mind.

A buy-sell agreement is a critical tool for owners of closely held manufacturing companies. It ensures an orderly ownership and management transition when an owner dies, becomes disabled, or otherwise leaves the company. And it creates a market for departing owners’ shares, providing owners and their families with liquidity and ensuring that the business stays in the family or other tight-knit ownership group.

Common sense dictates that every company, no matter how small, should carry various forms of business insurance. But that doesn’t mean you should pay unnecessarily high premiums just to retain the coverage you need. Here are five ways to better control your insurance costs without sacrificing the quality of your policies:

Managing and improving cash flow can help manufacturers survive tough times and prosper during better times. Every manufacturer is different, so the right cash flow strategies depend on your situation. Let’s take a look at several strategies that might be right for your manufacturing company.

Many of us have thought about how to best transfer our wealth to our heirs someday. It’s vital to understand the importance of your values when it comes to your wealth and sense of purpose in life. Here’s how to show your kids the connection between the two so they see the “why” behind decisions made with the family money. 

Business owners are regularly urged to create and update their succession plans. And rightfully so — in the event of an ownership change, a solid succession plan can help prevent conflicts and preserve the legacy you’ve spent years or decades building.

If you’re struggling to find novel ways to grow your company, know this: There are essentially a handful of proven growth avenues.

Have you created a viable succession plan for your business? This daunting task can be made easier by choosing the right perspective.