United delays all flights nationwide following ground stop due to ‘equipment outage’ | CNN Business

September 6, 2023September 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

United Airlines delayed more than 300 flights after the FAA lifted a brief ground stop that continued to disrupt the carrier’s service nationwide.

On Tuesday afternoon, United Airlines delayed all flights nationwide due to an “equipment outage,” according to an alert from the Federal Aviation Administration.

In an update about an hour later, the FAA alert said the “ground stop is cancelled.”

“We have identified a fix for the technology issue and flights have resumed. We’re working with impacted customers to help them reach their destinations as soon as possible,” United Airlines posted on social media.

Warner Bros. Discovery cuts profit outlook due to writers and actors strikes | CNN Business

September 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Warner Bros. Discovery trimmed its full-year earnings guidance for 2023 on Tuesday by $300 million to $500 million because of the continued strike by actors and writers, which has stopped production of most shows and movies.

The corporate parent of CNN had previously told investors that it expected the strike to be over by early September. But WBD now says it cannot predict when the strike will ultimately end, and it assumes the impact will continue through the rest of this year.

“WBD is hopeful that these strikes will be resolved soon,” said a filing the company made with the Securities and Exchange Commission with its new guidance early Tuesday.

CRISPR used to ‘reprogram’ cancer cells into healthy muscle in the lab | Live Science

September 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Scientists have transformed cancer cells into healthy muscle tissue in the lab using CRISPR gene-editing technology — and they hope new cancer treatments can be built on the back of this experiment.

In a study published Aug. 28 in the journal PNAS, researchers found that disabling a particular protein complex in cells of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) — a rare cancer in skeletal muscle tissue that mainly affects children under age 10 — in the laboratory causes the tumor cells to turn into healthy muscle cells.

Although the research is still in its early days, this process of “resetting” cancer cells into healthy cells, broadly known as differentiation therapy, has already been tested in other types of cancer, such as bone and blood cancer. Four drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the latter disease and generally work by inhibiting a specific protein in the cancer cells.

Accountant vs. Bookkeeper: What’s the Difference? | Business News Daily

September 1, 2023August 31, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Both accounting and bookkeeping play an important financial role in business, there is a difference between the two. Bookkeeping is a direct record of all purchases and sales your business conducts, while accounting is a subjective look at what that data means for your business and cash flow strategies. An accountant can be considered a bookkeeper, but a bookkeeper can’t be an accountant without proper certification.

Learn more about the differences between accounting and bookkeeping below.

How to Get a Federal Employer Identification Number | businessnewsdaily.com

September 1, 2023August 31, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A federal employer identification number (FEIN), also known as a tax identification number, is issued to entities that do business in the United States. The FEIN is a unique nine-digit corporate ID number that works the same way a Social Security number does for individuals. A FEIN is required for businesses to get a business license.

Read on to learn what a FEIN is and how to get one.

What is the purpose of a FEIN?

A FEIN is a way for the IRS and other government entities to identify and track business entities’ tax and financial activities. It’s required to file tax returns, as well as to set up retirement accounts and health accounts to offer medical and dental benefits to employees, among other uses.

Hiring in a Tight Labor Market: 3 Creative Ways | AllBusiness.com

August 31, 2023August 28, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The number one issue facing small businesses today is no longer inflation, but rather finding and retaining competent, reliable employees. Workers today, especially millennials, are demanding more than a paycheck to take a job, and remote work has allowed many to take jobs all over the country without leaving their couch.

So, with unemployment at 50-year lows, what are some strategies to find the workers your business needs?

To start, the obvious solution should be offering higher wages. While this practice may work, it is unsustainable for many small businesses that run on tight budgets. Mike Zaffaroni, CEO of Liberty Landscape Supply in Jacksonville, Florida, explains how one of his toughest years garnered a 10% increase in revenue, but a 40% increase in payroll expenses. “It is impossible to run a successful business and grow with that equation,” Zaffaroni says.

SBA Eases Construction Contracting for Small Businesses Amidst COVID-19 Repercussions | Small Biz Trends

August 30, 2023August 28, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended the moratorium on the 8(a) Business Development Bona Fide Place of Business (BFPOB) Requirement through September 30, 2024. Announced by Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman during her inaugural day of a multi-city Alaska tour, this decision underscores the SBA’s commitment to empowering small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduced in 2021 as a swift response to the pandemic and the ensuing trend of remote work, the BFPOB Requirement Moratorium is a part of the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. Initially, it was created to alleviate the pressure on participating businesses from the mandate of maintaining a physical presence to be eligible for any 8(a) construction contract. This means that a participating small business aiming for an 8(a) construction contract can now bypass the need for a BFPOB within any geographic boundary.

Amazon Deploys Generative AI to Enhance Product Review Summaries | Small Biz Trends

August 30, 2023August 28, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Amazon has unveiled generative AI technology to synthesize product reviews. This innovative approach will allow small business owners and customers to quickly gauge products without sifting through countless individual reviews to streamline online shopping experiences,

Amazon aims to feature a concise paragraph on the product details page, encapsulating the primary features and the collective sentiment gathered from customer reviews. This summarization aims to give readers an immediate grasp of recurring themes and insights from the reviews, negating the need to go through each one.

Questions Job Applicants Are Scared to Ask | Business

August 29, 2023August 27, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Interviews can be extremely stressful for hopeful job seekers – especially in economic climates like ours where so much is on the line. With all that pressure, it’s no wonder job candidates are scared to ask certain questions in interviews. When you keep in mind the important points that applicants want to know but shy away from asking, you can incorporate that sought-after information within the interview or make the applicant feel comfortable enough to discuss it with you.

Here are common questions interviewees may be too afraid to ask and how you as their potential employer can get them to open up – which, in turn, can help you make better, more informed hires.