Business Columns
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Cook County’s tax system is driving businesses, residents awayApr 12, 2025 1:45 pm - To the surprise of no one, Cook County property taxes went up again.
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ESPN wants to be a leader in youth sports. Can we trust the network?Apr 10, 2025 5:37 pm - ESPN plans to enter the realm of youth sports. Is that a good thing?
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Employee ownership made my retirement possible; let’s make every worker an ownerApr 10, 2025 2:47 pm - Most Americans have little to nothing saved for retirement, and retiring early, like Steven Schmidt did, is out of the question. Schmidt credits his good fortune to the employee stock ownership plan at the company where he worked for 41 years.
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How much does a beer and a hot dog cost you at Wrigley Field or the Rate? I did the mathApr 10, 2025 10:45 am - It’s not breaking news, but nothing is cheap at a professional sporting event, let alone Wrigley Field, where the Cubs pack ’em in, rain or shine, snow or sun. Starting with tickets, a parent taking a family of four to a game — or one person drinking for four — can experience losses of “biblical” proportions in their bank account.
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How tariffs will impact your dining experienceApr 09, 2025 8:51 am - Just when the restaurant industry thought it had finally recovered from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is facing new headwinds in the form of the tariffs the Trump administration imposed on imports from other countries.
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Energy and sustainability in the office settingApr 05, 2025 1:58 pm - Business owners understand the importance of being energy efficient. It’s the right thing to do. However, it may not always be top of mind to a business owner, with the day-to-day challenges of running a company in as efficient a manner as possible.
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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.