Software products put red tape on fast-forward
Sacramento Business Journal - by Robert Celaschi / Staff Writer
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has come out with a computer program to help small businesses navigate the endless stream of government regulations that flows from Washington, D.C.
The chamber's H.R. Task Counselor is Windows-based software that does the functions of a human resources department (what we used to call "personnel" in the old days). It prepares essential documents such as W-4 forms, has a model employee handbook and job descriptions, and connects you with an online law library.
The full program costs $500, but chamber members get a 20 percent discount, and you can get a free demonstrator copy by calling (800) 772-4606. For a catalog of other goodies, call (800) 872-2724.
Tape cutter, take 2: The wonders of modern electronics also have come to occupational safety orders. Instead of fumbling through the ink-and-paper regs, you can now do it on computer with a software product called ReadyReg from Boyer Safety Services Inc.
The program contains all the Cal/OSHA Title 8 General Industry Safety Orders, plus the federal OSHA standards and Field Inspection Reference Manual.
It's designed to run on IBM PCs and clones with Windows 3.1 or better. (Tough luck, Mac fans.)
This one runs $150 for the basic package, plus and optional $70 for an annual update.
Test drive it on the Internet at http://www.boyersafety.com.
House calls: There's a new free sales consulting service on the Internet at http://www.salesdoctors.com. The site, run by SalesDoctors Magazine, taps the knowledge of a dozen sales experts who agreed to answer questions e-mailed from readers. SalesDoctors offers no hints about who these experts are.
Topics include sales management, customer service, sales automation and anything else you might think up.
Holding on line: The International Franchise Association is explaining the world of franchising each Friday this month from 11 p.m. to midnight, Sacramento time, through the much-maligned America Online via key word CCH. Visitor get to ask questions of some franchise mucky-mucks as well.
On Feb. 14 the topic will be how to choose a franchise system; on Feb. 21, what franchisers look for in prospective franchisees; and on Feb. 28, the benefits of good franchise relations.
Scary factoid: One in 12 U.S. businesses is a franchise.
Money finder: The National Federation of Small Business has published The Small Business Financial Resource Guide, which lists small-business financial resources across the nation, including a state-by-state list of phone numbers. The guide also has information on the most common reasons businesses fail, when to seek financing and how to write a business plan.
The $13 publication runs 151 pages, and is available from Resource Guide, Dept. PRC, 600 Maryland Ave., S.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20024.
Changing of the guard: The California Small Business Association has a new chairman and chief executive officer: Scott Hauge, owner of CAL Insurance and Associates in San Francisco. He takes over for Betty Jo Toccoli, who was named president and chief operating officer.
The association itself has its headquarters down in Los Angeles.
To talk to the new Fearless Leader himself, call (415) 661-6500.
Instant board of directors: The accounting firm of Gordon, Odom & Davis Inc. has launched a program called Building a Better Business. It's one of those programs where a small group of top executive or financial people from noncompeting companies are brought together once a month to learn from each other and from outside sources.
The firm does this out of the goodness of its heart, and for the $200-per-meeting fee from each member.
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