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How Much Does Workers Comp Cost for Small Business Owners?

Workers’ compensation insurance is a legally mandated policy in most states, including Louisiana. It provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured on the job.

The cost of this insurance is not fixed. It varies by industry, location, business size, and several other factors. Understanding how this pricing works is key to controlling your overhead without sacrificing legal responsibilities.

Should You Outsource Payroll for Small Business Employees?

Running a small business comes with countless responsibilities—from managing employees to ensuring compliance with ever-changing labor laws. One of the most critical, and often time-consuming, tasks is payroll processing. Mistakes in payroll can lead to unhappy employees, IRS penalties, and unnecessary stress.

peo for the retail industry

Best Professional Employer Organization​ (PEO) for the Retail Industry

Retail businesses operate in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment where managing employees efficiently is essential to success. However, human resources (HR) challenges like high turnover, payroll complexities, compliance risks, and benefits administration often create operational hurdles. This is where a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) for the retail industry can make a significant impact.

Restaurant Risk Management

Restaurant Owner’s Guide to Risk Management: Reducing Liability in the Kitchen

Owning a restaurant is an exciting and rewarding business, but it comes with its fair share of risks. From employee injuries to food safety violations, kitchen hazards can lead to costly lawsuits and damage your reputation. Implementing a strong restaurant risk management plan is essential for minimizing liability and ensuring a safe working environment in an industry with one of the highest workplace injury rates.

Independent Contractor vs. Employee: A Louisiana Business Owner’s Guide by Canal HR

One of the most critical compliance issues businesses face is determining whether a worker should be classified as an independent contractor or an employee. Misclassification can lead to penalties, lawsuits, and unexpected tax liabilities. This guide will walk you through the key differences and how Canal HR can help your business stay on the right side of the law.

Two businessmen sitting indoors with coffee laptop and folder

What’s the Difference Between a PEO and EOR?

In the world of HR outsourcing, understanding the difference between a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and an Employer of Record (EOR) is critical for business leaders looking to streamline operations, ensure compliance, and focus on growth. Both solutions are designed to reduce administrative burdens, but they cater to different business needs.

A woman in a sling on the phone and holding a paper statement looking sad

Should You Add Employee Benefits Liability Coverage?

As a business owner, providing comprehensive benefits packages is essential to attracting and retaining top talent. Employee benefits support your employees’ financial security and well-being, fostering trust and commitment to your organization. However, even with the best intentions, errors in benefits administration can occur. These mistakes can lead to financial losses, strained employee relationships, and even legal claims. That’s where Employee Benefits Liability (EBL) coverage becomes invaluable, protecting your business and employees from the unexpected consequences of administrative errors.

Four restaurant employees all high fiving and smiling.

Benefits of Hiring a PEO for Restaurants

Running a restaurant is a rewarding yet demanding business. From managing inventory and staff to ensuring customer satisfaction, restaurant owners juggle countless responsibilities every day. Amidst these challenges, managing administrative tasks like payroll, employee benefits, and workers’ compensation can often feel overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s where a PEO for restaurants can make a substantial difference. By outsourcing these critical business functions to a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), restaurant owners can focus on what they do best: running their business and serving customers.

An auditor holding a pencil, working on filing company payroll

Payroll Trends for 2025: What to Look Out For

As we look ahead to 2025, the payroll landscape continues to evolve rapidly with new technologies, changing workforce dynamics, and evolving regulations. For small and medium-sized businesses, staying ahead of these trends isn’t just about compliance. It’s both about maintaining competitiveness and cost-efficiency in an increasingly complex business environment.

Red beach chair on a calendar signifying employee vacation time

How to Create Your Small Business PTO Strategy: A Complete Guide

Whether you’re a growing startup or an established local business in the Southeast, creating an effective small business PTO strategy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With proper planning and clear guidelines, you can develop a policy that serves both your business needs and your employees’ well-being.

Girl with red hair rating her company

Employee Benefits Survey Template

Benefits are often described according to their monetary value to the employee, but the problem with describing benefits in this way is that many benefits are worth more to some employees than others. Especially for smaller businesses, offering benefits that are higher value to your specific employees will help earn the most rapport from your employees.

Best Employee Benefits for Small Businesses

Benefits are routinely one of the most cited reasons for staying at a company. While salary is also a critical factor, benefits can often sway employees more than small changes in their salary. As a result, reviewing your benefit offerings and finding creative ways to offer more to your employees can help attract and retain top talent in your field.