Business Columns
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From hidden to highlighted: Mastering the new era of generative AI searchApr 05, 2025 1:51 pm - AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini are transforming how people find information. This is where answer engine optimization (AEO) comes into play.
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Advice for restaurant owners right now: Refresh, rejuvenate, ask and investApr 02, 2025 10:04 am - The COVID pandemic is in the rearview mirror and I give restaurant owners a huge amount of credit for making it through what was the most difficult era for the hospitality industry in more than 50 years. However, it is time to look forward and set the course for success in the next decade.
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Small businesses are anxious over lack of clarity on tariffsMar 29, 2025 1:44 pm - The chaotic and unpredictable nature of tariff negotiations have caused the small business community great uncertainty, as small businesses attempt to navigate the changing landscape.
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Illinois’ current sales tax system does not reflect a modern economyMar 26, 2025 9:23 am - Tax policy is a deeply misunderstood topic. In general, most people believe that “conservative” states levy fewer taxes than states with more “left-leaning” leadership.
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The power of feedback — both positive and negativeMar 19, 2025 9:26 am - Every month during HR Source’s all-hands-on-deck, in-person Team Collaboration Day, we set time aside to share feedback from our members (i.e., customers) as well as give personal shout-outs to our co-workers.
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Pritzker’s budget sleight of hand ignores Illinois’ fiscal problemsMar 15, 2025 1:01 pm - While Gov. JB Pritzker points fingers at Washington, D.C., as the source of Illinois’ problems, his budgeting tells a different story, says Matt Paprocki, president/CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute.
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Business owners should play the local connection for growthMar 08, 2025 1:45 pm - Many businesses have a hidden advantage that they often overlook: the power of playing the “local card.”
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5 years since COVID: Here’s how the restaurant industry has changed for businesses, consumersMar 05, 2025 9:41 am - Consumers have seen a lot of changes in the restaurant industry since COVID hit five years ago.
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SBAC aims to champion a robust small business agendaMar 01, 2025 1:20 pm - The latest data from the U.S. Small Business Administration shows that more than 97% of Illinois businesses have fewer than 20 employees. These small businesses are the backbone of our economy, fostering economic development and supporting local communities throughout our state.
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Tariffs could adversely affect Illinois’ businesses and familiesFeb 22, 2025 1:02 pm - A tariff is simply a sales tax on items brought into the United States from other countries. They are paid by companies that purchase the imports, who proceed to pass on the costs to consumers in the form of higher prices.