Category: American Business News

Best Business Simulation Games

by  on  in Best Business Newspaper

Do you want to start a business without the risk and hard work? If so, play a business simulation game. These apps can help you strengthen your skills without all the drama that comes with operating a real business. You can manage an amusement park, head a gaming development company or start a farm — all from the comfort of your home.

Here’s a look at how business simulation games can help burgeoning entrepreneurs and existing business owners, along with an overview of the best business simulation games on the market.  

The 16 best business simulation games

Ready to improve your business skills without making real-life mistakes that have actual consequences? Get started with the 16 business simulation games below.

1. Youtubers Life

While there was a time when operating a YouTube channel might not have been considered running a business, it’s hard to argue that now. Youtubers Life puts you in the humble shoes of a YouTuber trying to start a channel with some basic equipment. 

Like real-life YouTubers, you are motivated by subscribers and views, building your arsenal of equipment to make better videos, expanding your following and growing your channel. In addition to developing a social media presence in this fictional setting, you must also manage a social life, education and eventually employees. 

Youtubers Life is a single-player video game available on Steam and compatible with Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. 

You can also play Youtubers Life 2. This sequel has features like in-game real-life YouTubers, different types of content to cover and a city you can explore to inspire your content. You can find Youtubers Life 2 on Steam and access it via Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

2. Virtonomics

Used for entertainment,

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How To Get A Business Credit Card With An EIN Only

by  on  in Business Card Companies

 

Key takeaways

  • As a business owner, having access to credit can streamline your cash flow, enable you to grow more quickly and offer valuable rewards.
  • To keep your business and personal finances separate, you may not want to apply for a business credit card with your personal SSN.
  • Depending on the size of your business, you may be able to apply for a business credit card using your EIN only, though opportunities are rare and may be difficult to qualify for.

Small Business Saturday is November 25. Take advantage of our Small Business Saturday Guide for tips and advice from small business owners.

Most business credit card issuers ask for your Social Security number (SSN) when you apply. This also means that applying for a business credit card will result in a hard inquiry on your personal credit report, which isn’t something everyone wants.

Fortunately, if you’re looking to apply for a business credit card without revealing too much personal information, there’s a workaround to explore that allows you to pick up a business credit card with just your EIN: Apply for a corporate credit card instead of a small business credit card. Corporate cards, despite having stricter application requirements, often allow applicants to apply with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead of an SSN.

Unfortunately, if you’re just starting your business, the corporate card trick probably doesn’t apply to you. Corporate credit cards often require high revenue and good business credit. Your other option to explore is a business credit card that doesn’t require a personal guarantee.

Here are your options when applying for a credit card with an EIN only.

Can you get a business credit card without a SSN?

In almost every case, you will fall short when applying for a business credit card without an SSN.

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6 Best Business Credit Cards for Fair Credit (2023)

by  on  in Business Card Companies
Best Business Credit Cards for Fair CreditThe best business credit card for fair credit is Capital One Spark Classic (see Rates & Fees) because it has a $0 annual fee and gives 1% cash back on all purchases. Even small business owners with limited credit history can get Capital One Spark Classic, so applicants with fair/average credit should have solid approval odds. That is especially true if your score is closer to good credit (700-749) than bad credit (below 640).

More generally, the best business credit cards for average credit aren’t always branded specifically for business use. Not all of them can be used to make purchases everywhere, either. Rather, the best offers for small business owners with credit scores between 640 and 699 are those offering reasonable odds of approval, annual fees that are as close to $0 as possible, and maybe even some modest rewards. Your top priority should be improving your credit standing at the lowest possible cost in order to qualify for one of the market’s best overall business credit cards sooner.

So our editors analyzed hundreds of credit card offers for people with fair credit, including personal cards and store-specific offers, in search of the top credit card deals for small business owners with fair credit scores.
 

Best Business Credit Cards for Fair Credit Comparison

  *Note: While this card is not a business card, business owners with fair credit are encouraged to also consider personal credit cards, given that they will be personally liable with either type of card.

In choosing an offer, remember that we recommend business-branded credit cards only for everyday purchases that you can pay in full within a single billing period. Personal cards are much better equipped to meet small business financing needs given their superior user protections. In short, they’ll protect you from the arbitrary

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SMU business school faculty members clinch Best Paper Awards for their impactful research

by  on  in Best Business Newspaper

In a remarkable testament to the academic prowess housed within Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB), two faculty members – Professor of Communication Management Augustine Pang and Associate Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship Kenneth Goh – have recently clinched ‘Best Paper’ awards by journals in their respectively disciplines, solidifying the School’s reputation for scholarly excellence.

The accolades not only underscore the calibre of research emanating from SMU but also highlight the pivotal role the university plays in shaping thought leadership and contributing to advancements in various fields.

2023 Outstanding Article in the International Journal of Business Communication

Each year, the Association for Business Communication (US) names an article in the International Journal of Business Communication that contributes significantly to scholarship, research, and/or pedagogy; and demonstrates originality of thought and careful investigation.

Breaking the Sound of Silence: Explication in the use of strategic silence in crisis communication was recognised as the 2023 Outstanding Article in the International Journal of Business Communication.  The article is by Augustine Pang (SMU), Yan Jin (University of Georgia), Youngji Seo (Syracuse University), Sung In Choi (University of Georgia), Hui-Xun Teo, Le Duc Phuong (Prof Pang’s  former masters’ students at NTU) and Bryan Reber (University of Georgia).

The study is the second in the stream of research on silence in crisis communication conducted by Professor Pang, who is also Associate Dean (Partnerships & Engagement) and Academic Director, Master of Science in Communication Management at SMU LKCSB. The first study, When is silence golden? The use of strategic silence in crisis communication had also won the Outstanding Article on Business Communication in Non-ABC Journal in 2021, also awarded by the Association for Business Communication (US).

“For decades, silence is not recognised as a type of crisis response in crisis research hence

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Which business credit cards report to Dun and Bradstreet?

by  on  in Business Card Companies

Your personal credit score is a report card (of sorts) for how responsible you’ve been with your credit. If you apply for a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card, the lender will run your credit to gauge your trustworthiness.

There’s another type of credit score solely for businesses to reflect how responsible an entity has been with its credit. In other words, this is a company report card, not an analysis of the business owner’s personal credit. You can get a business credit score by using credit that reports to business credit bureaus.

Dun and Bradstreet is one of the three major business credit bureaus (along with Experian and Equifax). Because of this, it’s a good idea to open and responsibly use business credit cards that report to it. Let’s look at how to build a credit profile with Dun and Bradstreet.

How business credit cards report to credit bureaus

The credit bureaus to which your business credit card reports will vary depending on several factors. Let’s take a quick look at them.

Credit card issuer

Many business credit cards will not show up on your personal credit report. Your credit card activity will remain separate even if you use your Social Security number to apply. However, if your account defaults, your personal credit will bear those blemishes.

Note that this isn’t the case for all business credit cards. Some issuers deliberately report small business card activity to your personal credit.

Attaching an EIN to your application

During the application process for a business credit card, you can add an Employee Identification Number (EIN) along with your Social Security number (SSN). An EIN is an IRS-issued Federal Tax Identification Number that businesses can apply for. It’s sort of like a SSN for your business–though not as sensitive.

Adding an

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Our favorite local businesses to shop

by  on  in Best Business Newspaper

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday — historically the biggest and busiest retail days of the year — there’s another standout shopping event: Small Business Saturday. Started by American Express in 2010 and co-sponsored by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) since 2011, Small Business Saturday aims to create awareness about the impact shoppers have when they buy “small” year round, whether they physically visit stores or shop online.

This year, 85% of consumers say they’re likely to shop “small” during the holiday season, according to the American Express 2023 Shop Small Impact Study. That represents a multibillion dollar opportunity — consumers are expected to spend an estimated $125 billion at small businesses this holiday season, up 42% from $88 billion in 2022, as reported by Intuit QuickBooks. 

We spoke with experts about resources you can use to support small businesses and what impact your purchases have. We also rounded up some Select-staff favorite products from small businesses we love.

SKIP AHEAD What is a small business | Select’s favorite small businesses | Current state of small businesses | How to support small businesses year round

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Best deals to shop on Small Business Saturday today

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small business saturday

Amazon / Amazon


Today is Small Business Saturday, an annual shopping holiday that takes place the day after Black Friday. The event encourages shoppers to support small businesses and local shops. Many people focus their Black Friday shopping on big name retailers like Walmart, Amazon and Wayfair. Today is the day to pay some special attention to smaller businesses — many of which are offering excellent Cyber Weekend deals as well.

The shopping team at CBS Essentials has put together this list to help you find great small businesses to support during your Cyber Weekend shopping. Many of these brands have made Oprah’s Favorite Things List over the years and some are available on Amazon with Prime shipping. Plus, these items make excellent holiday gifts.

Keep reading to shop our favorite Small Business Saturday picks or check out Amazon’s top small business deals by clicking the button below.

UnHide Marshmallow faux fur blanket: Save $100

UnHide marshmallow blanket

UnHide


This luxuriously soft faux fur blanket has taken social media by storm this year. It’s made by the small business UnHide, a vegan lifestyle brand dedicated to making ultra-cozy and cruelty-free home goods. 

“I don’t do reviews, but I had to leave one for this blanket,” says one Amazon reviewer. “I have never had a blanket that was so soft, so cuddly or so warm! Yes, it’s pricey, but 1000% is worth the money! If you’re a blanket lover, I highly suggest you buy this one. You will not be disappointed!”

The Unhide Marshmallow is featured as one of Amazon’s top Cyber Monday deals at 20% off. But right now, you can get an even better deal on UnHide’s website where it is on sale for $149 ($100 off the regular price of $250)

Tushy Basic 2.0 toilet seat attachment bidet:

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4 Best Business Credit Cards with Rewards [November 2023]

by  on  in Business Card Companies

 

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

 
The best business rewards credit card overall is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.
 

Why We Like It: Ink Cash has an initial bonus of $900 for new cardholders who spend $6,000 in the first 3 months. It also gives 1 – 5% cash back on purchases normally. The Ink Cash card has a $0 annual fee, too.

 

What We Don’t Like: Applicants need good or excellent credit for approval, and this card is not a good choice for carrying a balance from month to month.

 

Who Should Get It: Apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card if you have good credit or better personally and its rewards match up well with the transactions you plan to make.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The Capital One Spark Cash Plus is another good option for cash back, and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has great travel rewards.
 

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

 

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is the best business credit card for bonus rewards.

 

Why We Like It: Chase Ink Preferred offers a bonus of 100,000 points, worth $1,250 in travel booked through Chase, for spending $8,000 in the first 3 months. Cardholders also earn 1 – 3 points per $1 spent on purchases normally.

 

What We Don’t Like: There is an annual fee of $95 and a high APR.

 

Who Should Get It: Apply for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card if you have good or better personally and travel a lot for business.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Capital One Spark Miles for Business both offer a lot of rewards value.
 

Capital One Spark Miles for Business

 

The Capital One Spark Miles for Business (see Rates &

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Best Workforce Management Software of 2023

by  on  in Best Business Newspaper

Looking for Workforce Management Software

When evaluating the best workforce management software for your organization, give special consideration to the following factors.

Compatibility and Integrations: Compatibility with existing systems or software is a crucial consideration when selecting the best workforce management software. Ensuring that the chosen solution seamlessly integrates with your current apps and software stack not only simplifies implementation but also maximizes efficiency.

Compatibility enables data sharing and reduces the need for duplicate data entry, minimizing errors and streamlining workflows. It’s vital to maintain productivity and prevent disruptions, making compatibility an important factor in the decision-making process. Laia Quintana, Head of Marketing and Sales at TeamUp explains how the right software is “not just limited to the HR and operations teams who use it for scheduling, time tracking, and leave management. [TeamUp’s] marketing team, for instance, uses it extensively for content creation and approval processes.”

Scalability: Accommodating future growth is essential because businesses are dynamic and ever-evolving. Workforce management software should not only meet your current needs but also adapt to your organization’s growth. Scalability ensures that as your workforce expands, the software can handle increased data, hires, users, and more complex requirements with no costly transition to a new solution.

Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface is paramount for successful adoption and efficient operation. If the software is not intuitive and user-friendly, employees may struggle to navigate it, leading to reduced productivity and potential resistance to its use. A user-friendly interface reduces the learning curve and encourages staff to readily embrace the workforce system. It enhances overall workforce management effectiveness by making it accessible to a broader range of users within your organization.

Customer Support: Available customer support and technical help are vital for addressing issues and challenges that may arise during the software’s

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