The Shultz family opened the doors to Books and Borrow in Pittsburg, Kan., in November 2020. Darcie Shultz acknowledges that "opening during the pandemic was kind of crazy," but moving quickly helped family members overcome their initial fears.

Logo Design CEO Zaheer Dodhia advises new businesses to consider values, authenticity and visual cohesion when developing their brand strategies. He also recommends maintaining consistent social media activity, including responding to all customer interactions.

Linqia's survey of 163 marketers revealed that 71% of respondents plan to increase their influencer budgets for 2021 with 90% intending to put more emphasis on microinfluencers compared with 80% last year. Most brands favored using 5 to 10 influencers for each campaign and favor Instagram, but TikTok will see the biggest growth this year, per the report.

Reflecting on the hardships faced by small-business owners in the pandemic, Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, explains what's needed to move gracefully into the next season. Start by recognizing the efforts you've made, accept the long-term changes, take care of your team, and implement a daily wellness practice.

Chances are good your pre-pandemic goals have been upended. Meanwhile, many employees have worked while living in fear and experiencing agonizing circumstances. Performance reviews need to be adjusted to reflect these circumstances.

Managing payroll is a challenge for many entrepreneurs, so David Gargaro provides insight into understanding the process and how it applies in your business. Covering the information you need to collect from an employee as well as tips to boost efficiency, Gargaro gives a checklist of steps for business owners to follow.

Streamlined service, proper equipment, beauty and comfort are keys to outdoor restaurant service, operators say. "Effective training is key here, and having a team who can safely deliver these experiences is vital," says Chris Saenz, general manager of a Seattle restaurant.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, are proposing a bill that would provide additional funding to seasonal small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program. The proposal would modify "a provision in the Paycheck Protection Program to provide additional funds to some seasonal businesses who applied in the early days of the PPP, helping to equalize their treatment with that of other seasonal small businesses," the senators say.