One of the most important roles in any business belongs to the person who is overseeing the day-to-day operations. In other words, the manager — the person trusted to represent the business well, make sure that rules and requirements are followed by the staff, maintain a welcoming and efficient workplace for customers and all the other oversight tasks that keep a business running. So, if you’re new to the role of manager or you want to be more effective in that role, you may wonder what keys will make you a success. How do you become a better manager? And

Picture this: One million people or more, all who have served their country, in need of jobs. According to the Hire Our Heroes Program, a national non-profit organization that matches veterans with available jobs in the automotive industry, and an article entitled “Hiring Veterans in the Automotive Industry” on the AutoCare Career Hub, that’s the number of military personnel we can expect to be returning stateside in the next five years due to the drawdown in Afghanistan and a shrinking Pentagon budget.These dedicated men and women will come back looking for steady civilian work. And it makes sense that some

Did you know the IRS could penalize your small business if you help your workers pay for their health insurance by reimbursing them for their personal medical policies?File this under the “sad but true” category for small business owners — at least for now. A new IRS rule that took effect July 1, 2015, can get you in trouble if you don’t provide group health insurance, yet you do offer some kind of monetary benefit instead to help your employees buy their own insurance policies or pay their medical bills.Employers who are guilty of violating this new IRS rule,

If you feel lost at sea whenever you hear someone say your business needs to leverage social media, Facebook, SEO keywords and an online presence, you’re not alone. Sometimes, it takes all your energy to get your day-to-day duties done by closing time. For many small business owners, the idea of being on social media is overwhelming, and every new piece of advice feels like another wave striking your boat.But the world of online connectivity doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With just a little working knowledge, you can use social media to build your business.The first essential to success

High-quality lubricants and top-notch service — that’s the goal behind ExxonMobil’s chain of Mobil 1 Lube Express shops. For quick lubes wanting to connect with a national oil brand, Mobil 1 offers some good incentives for lube businesses and their customers.The first Mobil 1 Lube Express opened in 2003. As Thomas Neuner, field marketing advisor – PVL Installed for ExxonMobil Fuels, Lubricants & Specialties Marketing Company explained, the program quickly ramped up success. Mobil 1 Lube Express was named the Fastest Growing Quick Lube chain for three consecutive years from 2004-2007, experiencing the highest store unit of growth of

If there’s one thing in this world you can count on, it’s the fact that nothing lasts forever. Even the most common things are subject to change — including the way businesses run customer credit cards. It’s something we do every day as consumers and business owners. But starting October 2015, if you’re not following new regulations for credit card processing, your automotive business could be subject to a serious liability problem.Why the new rules for credit cards and business owners? The answer is simple: to cut down on the credit card fraud and data breaches that have become

Many people don’t like change. We grow comfortable where we are, and we prefer not to move if we don’t have to. This can happen in any area of our lives, but it’s particularly bad for businesses because a failure to evolve can be fatal to your continued success. Change is inevitable. The only question is, will you accept it and adapt?One of the most basic areas your business can stay current — an area that many business owners neglect — is keeping their systems up-to-date. That includes computer hardware and software. These technological workhorses help you automate your

If you’ve seen “Back to the Future,” you’ll remember the moment Marty McFly realizes he has traveled back in time. He wanders around a charmingly old-fashioned Main Street, featuring a full-service gas station with a friendly, smartly dressed staff. The message: This doesn’t happen in modern-day America anymore.But it does happen. You can get the upbeat, smart service of a 1950s gas station, the style of 1920s art deco and the technological advancements of 2015 at Oil Can Henry’s.Founded in 1978, Oil Can Henry’s is a premium oil change and preventive vehicle maintenance company that provides quick, convenient and

When you hear the phrase “team-building,” you probably imagine heading out of the office to run a ropes course or falling backwards to let your co-workers catch you. If those ideas seem overdone or just aren’t right for your business, not to worry! Today, there are more creative team-building opportunities than ever. With minimal planning, you can make them work for you.Why plan a team-building event in the first place? It’s simple — when your employees work well together, it’s good for them, good for your customers and good for business. Studies show effective team-building events help improve communication,