As a freelancer or entrepreneur, staying on top of trends and continuously growing your skill set to be as current as possible are crucial for success. We’ve put together this list of resources to keep you and your business growing.

… Read More

The post Gig Economy News: Tips to Keep Your Business Growing appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

Sarah, Shiftypop on Fiverr, is a high-spirited, high-energy and talented musician and songwriter living in the U.K. In addition to her Fiverr Gigs®, she works as a freelancer for a toy commercial company based in Italy.

On Fiverr, she … Read More

The post Sarah Created Her Dream Job in Music – Here’s How #SuperSeller appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

(BPT) – Your next tech-tastrophy could take many forms. Maybe it’s the quick flash out of your monitor screen, the smoke coming from your printer or that mysterious clunking sound your favorite device keeps making — just because you accidently dropped it one or five times.

If you’re a small business professional trying to manage the budget, the last thing you have lying around is extra money to replace what you already have. But breathe easily, because these terrible tech tragedies can be prevented. To help you keep your tech safe, Staples Tech Services has teamed up with tech and small business expert Ramon Ray for five tips you’ll want to upload into your daily lifestyle immediately.

Keep software updated

Software problems can render your devices unusable more quickly than hardware damage. To protect against malware and security breaches, your software should be updated regularly. This includes the definition updates for your antivirus software as well as your operating system, which has built-in protections against malware. Businesses with multiple pieces of equipment should make sure they update automatically rather than requiring administrators to manually update each device.

Line up emergency tech support

You rely on your equipment to be functional. So when it’s not, you need an affordable tech support service. For small businesses in particular, tech issues can impact productivity and the bottom line. Staples’ new Next Day Guarantee means that PCs brought in before noon are serviced by 5 p.m. the next day. Staples’ tech team will also handle problems like malware removal and PC tune-ups and select Staples stores will handle mobile repairs, including broken screens, poor batteries, and home buttons.

Educate your staff

Some of the biggest dangers faced by your organization relate to the behaviors of your employees. Poor password-management policies can lead to outsiders guessing your system passwords and finding a way into your databases. Employees can also let in malicious traffic by clicking on links in emails or on social media sites. Hire a technology expert to train your staff on responsible technology use and make sure you sit in on the class as well.

Keep it clean

Don’t discount the importance of keeping your PCs and servers clean. Over the course of multiple months, dust can build up inside desktop units and servers, and over time, that dust can cause components to work inefficiently. With a can of compressed air, cotton swabs and a cleaning cloth, you can keep the internal workings of your computer clean for as long as it’s in use.

Pay extra for quality

If you’re operating on a budget, as every business is, it can be tempting to opt for less expensive equipment, especially if you’re buying multiple items at once. However, less expensive devices can fail more quickly than some of the more expensive options. You’ll be better off for the long-term when you invest in high-quality equipment that will remain reliable for many years.

Your business depends on its technology every single day, so support your bottom line by employing the tips above to keep your tech running as long as possible. Because once you see the smoke, it’s already too late. For more technology help, see the experts at Staples Tech Services today.

(BPT) – The American dream of owning a home comes with a large dose of reality — the often-overwhelming amount of time, energy and money it takes to maintain a property. Light bulbs burn out, furnaces strain and dishwashers leak.

Daily chores like laundry, washing the dishes and vacuuming can become points of contention between couples. The constant upkeep can lead to wear and tear on your relationships. Disagreements about chores with your significant other isn’t romantic, and when there’s so much to get done, who has time for date nights out, family game night or dinner with friends?

The good news is experts predict these dilemmas may not exist in the future. Smart home technology is developing rapidly, and it is dramatically changing the way households function. This equates to less stress and more time to spend with your loved ones.

Could a smart thermostat reduce the divorce rate? Could a connected fridge be the key to unlocking relationship woes? According to the findings of a new survey commissioned by Intel, 58 percent of Americans believe it can.

“Intel Architecting the Smart Home of the Future” delves into expectations for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in our homes and reveals that people desire smart homes for many of the same reasons they seek work-life balance: for increased family time and fewer arguments with partners about chores.

The survey shows respondents are optimistic that adopting smart home technologies will create tangible benefits like reducing the daily grind, improving personal relationships, lessening stress and increasing leisure time. And these benefits feel close to reality, as nearly one in seven (68 percent) are confident smart homes will be as commonplace as smartphones within 10 years.

With fewer household chores, Americans believe the number one benefit of the smart home of 2025 will be more time to connect to the things they care about. This includes spending more quality time with family and friends, with enough left over for a little personal “me time.”

Just imagine your home having a sensor that doesn’t only alert you of a leak, it calls a plumber to fix it, then unlocks the door to let him in. Experts note advancements like these will go beyond residential benefits. Intel envisions “a smart world where our homes, cars, neighborhoods and cities will talk effortlessly to each other.”

Less stress and more time are obvious benefits of smart home technology, but will these changes really improve relationship quality? Professors at Carnegie Mellon University predict it will, saying: “We believe a smart home should provide families with a feeling of control over their lives: being relieved from breakdowns in daily routines, and getting emotional satisfaction from the things they value — identity, time, and relationships.”

Not only can smart homes positively influence relationships, they may also boost your pocketbook. Intel’s survey respondents noted they are open to receiving financial benefits in exchange for sharing behavioral data from their homes. In fact, 78 percent would like tax incentives to off-set install costs and 43 percent would like money.

With the smart home of the future there will be no need to argue about taking the garbage out — the smart home already disposed of it. Everyday chores and inconveniences no longer take up precious time so families can now enjoy life to the fullest, plus maybe get a little cash in the process. Learn more about current smart home technologies available today at intel.com/newsroom/iot.

(BPT) – You bring two types of cupcakes to your first-grader’s school party – chocolate and vanilla. The chocolate cakes are gone in minutes, while the vanilla ones linger. Next time, you’ll probably just buy chocolate cupcakes. Supply and demand is a …

The Gig Economy is growing at an epic rate. According to The Freelancer’s Union, one in three Americans (approx. 53 million) is an independent worker. And as you may have seen, it’s been predicted that by 2020, more of the … Read More

The post Freelancer Takeover – Yes, It’s a Thing appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

(BPT) – Starting a business can be intimidating, but with a solid business plan and guidance from the small business community of experts, it can also be incredibly rewarding. Whether you own a local restaurant or an online Etsy shop, one of the biggest things to get used to as a new small business owner is filing taxes for the first time. If you’re filing a business return, hiring an experienced professional tax preparer can help you avoid making common mistakes that can impact the success of your small business.

To get the most from your deductions, here are five tips for small business owners to keep in mind this tax season:

1. What tax deductions can I claim? Even if the expenses were incurred during the previous calendar year, the IRS allows businesses to deduct up to $5,000 worth of certain start-up expenses in the year the business began (subject to limitations). In addition to these costs, corporations and partnerships are allowed to deduct up to $5,000 of their organizational costs in their first year of operation.

2. Is my car mileage deductible? If you use your home as a place of business and consider it your principal place of business, car owners are typically allowed to deduct mileage costs from their home to business-related stops.

3. Can I deduct business travel expenses? When you are traveling away from your usual business location, you may be able to deduct ordinary and necessary expenses related to your work. These expenses include transportation costs, lodging, dry cleaning or laundry, tips, baggage charges and business equipment usage expenses such as fax machines or phones. Meals can be deducted if the trip is overnight but there is a 50 percent limitation on these deductions.

4. Are personal care and clothing expenses deductible? No, the IRS has a very strict rule against personal clothing being deducted even if they are bought for business use and only worn at work.

5. How does the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affect my taxes and deductions? The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace allows for small business to purchase health insurance for their employees. If you pay at least half of your employee’s premiums and have less than 25 full-time and equivalent employees with an average annual wage of less than $50,000 ($51,600 for 2016), you may be eligible for the small business health care tax credit. See the calculator at healthcare.gov.

Tax preparation is not one-size-fits all, and navigating credits and deductions makes them even trickier — especially for small business owners and individuals with more complicated tax situations. Filing a business return for the first time can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. A new offering is launching this year called Block Advisors that specializes in personalized tax preparation, tax planning, small business taxes and year-round support. For small business owners, Block Advisors also provides back-end needs like payroll and bookkeeping. Visit blockadvisors.com for more information or to find your nearest location.

Peter J. Creedon, CFP®, ChFC, CLU went from working in corporate America to becoming an entrepreneur and business owner in 2013. He is founder and CEO of Crystal Brook Advisors, a NY Registered Investment Advisory firm, focusing on helping young … Read More

The post 10 Tax Hacks for the Self Employed appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

The best part of being an entrepreneur is doing what you love. When you’re growing your business and developing your venture, it’s always important to give it time, attention, and never take it for granted.

With that in mind, … Read More

The post Gig Economy News: Showing Your Business Some Love appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.

Agustin & Clara, known on Fiverr as Agustin86, are a happy couple – and a couple of amazing graphic designers who will design anything you need. Hailing from Argentina, they share everything, including a single Fiverr account, garnering incredible reviews … Read More

The post Graphic Design Couple Work and Travel with Fiverr appeared first on Official Fiverr Blog.