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  • Small business owners put in a lot of work to make their business succeed. Unfortunately, there are some hurdles that can prevent a small business from a bigger, more lucrative future. Here are three issues that small business owners may have to face when growing their company.

    Image of small business owners. Grow your business with exper HR management like employee training and risk management.

    Managing Cash Flow

    Business owners have to do more than just make money. They also have to manage their cash flow so that they are able to pay expenses and reinvest in their business. Unfortunately, managing cash flow isn’t easy.

    It can be easy to lose track of all the money being transferred in and out of a business. Cash flow allows a business to track what funds are available and what needs to be reserved for expenses and other costs. A well-managed cash flow allows owners to understand where their business is at financially, giving them the ability to make informed judgements about how money should be allocated for growth.

    The Right Team

    It’s hard to grow as a business without bringing on new people. However, adding to your team takes more than just hiring more employees. It’s important to find the right people for your company so that you don’t have to deal with ineffective or problematic employees while you’re trying to grow your business.

    As you grow, it’s also important to put people in the right positions. Business owners can’t do all the work, so it’s important to have the right senior and mid-level managers in place to work on areas that will help your business grow.

    Not Enough Time

    Plans for growth are great, but plans cannot be executed without the time to implement them. Small business owners are wracked for time, which can slow progress for their company. According to a survey by OnDeck Capital, the average small business owner works 53 hours per week. Of those interviewed, 86 percent said that good time management is critical for small business owners.

    Unfortunately, there’s only so much time in a day, especially when you’re trying to maintain a personal life. Group Management Services helps business owners grow their business by taking on important administrative burdens that owners don’t have time to properly manage.

    Build Your Business with a PEO

    As a professional employer organization (PEO), we can help owners manage cash flow through expert payroll administration and risk management services. We can also help business build and retain the right team with employee training and recruitment services.

    We can partner with your business and save you time while making your HR functions simpler, safer, and stronger. Contact GMS today about what we can do to help your business grow.

  • It can be hard to manage HR functions internally. That’s why a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) provides comprehensive services for businesses in need of help. 

    However, some people aren’t as familiar with how PEOs operate and may be concerned about working with them. Fortunately, we’re here to help answer your questions. We’ve debunked three myths about PEOs that you shouldn’t worry about.

    Image of a man with a magnifying glass. Learn about how a professional employer organization helps businesses.

    PEOs Don’t Take Control of Your Business

    Myth: A PEO will take over your company.

    Nobody wants to lose control. Unlike what some people may think, hiring a PEO won’t lead to a takeover. PEOs partner with companies to help them make more informed business decisions and save them time and money. Our experts help you manage HR functions and stay compliant with any necessary laws, but you always stay in control and run your business.

    Small Businesses Can Benefit from PEOs, Too

    Myth: PEOs can’t help small businesses.

    You don’t need to run a huge company to benefit from a PEO. Small companies encounter headaches with HR functions just like any company. Figuring out payroll or handling HR for any number of people can lead to late hours and costly inefficiencies and errors. A PEO can help a small business solve these problems and save money while doing it.

    PEOs are a Smart Investment

    Myth: PEOs are too expensive.

    PEOs typically charge a fee per employee per month, but the costs of hiring a PEO are often covered by savings on your HR functions. Not only can PEOs uncover costly issues, they also put measures in place to make sure the “inevitable HR issues” don’t happen. Plus, you don’t have to spend countless hours trying to manage HR functions. PEO experts can manage that part of your business so that you can spend your time focusing on other important areas. 

    Complete Guide to PEOs

    Work with a Professional Employer Organization

    Over the years, GMS has helped over a thousand clients manage their HR functions. Contact GMS today to talk to one of our experts about how a PEO can help your company improve its HR functions.

  • Paid time off (PTO) is a powerful tool to help employees stay refreshed and motivated. Unfortunately, the prospect of falling behind on projects or being hit by a deluge of missed emails can be more terrifying than a prolonged visit with your in-laws.

    Employees shouldn’t be afraid to take PTO, whether it’s due to potential workplace stress or a fear to take time off. Here are three ways that your business can make vacations less stressful for employees.

    Image of a frustrated employee. Help releive stress with open PTO policies for your workplace.

    Make it Known that Vacations are Good

    Refreshed, focused employees are more productive than burnt-out workers. The occasional vacation gives employees a chance to recharge their proverbial batteries, but American workers don’t always take advantage of this benefit. However, not all employees feel comfortable using their PTO.

    A survey from Project: Time Off shows that over half of American workers had unused vacation days last year. That same survey reported that 22 percent of people felt that using their vacation time made them seem replaceable. Nervous, overworked employees aren’t going to be able to give you their best. Make sure that you have a very clear, open policy about taking time off and encourage workers to use their PTO days. That way your employees won’t be too worried to take a well-deserved break.

    Vacation Preparation Time

    Even if employees aren’t worried about asking to use vacation time, they might be afraid of what will happen if they leave for a week. Roughly 37 percent of employees are afraid that nobody will do their work while they’re away on vacation. Another 30 percent are concerned that nobody else could do their job.

    Proper vacation planning can help mitigate these fears and set your business up for success. Help employees decide which tasks can be handled by other employees while they’re gone. Set up a direct backup employee who can answer questions while an employee is gone. It’s also good to block off some time so that a vacationing employee can catch up on everything instead of rushing straight back to their regular work.

    Protect Your Business from Problematic Vacation Requests

    Vacations can cause problems for business owners as well. An impromptu mental health day here and there isn’t a big deal, but last-minute vacation requests can mess up work flows and deadlines. 

    A good PTO policy should set guidelines for how far in advance employees need to request time off. This will help protect your business from sudden departures and give employees fair notice why you have to turn down a request without ample notice.

    Have a PTO Policy in Place

    Employees get a set amount of PTO days for a reason. Group Management Services can help your business set up a clear PTO policy that will keep track of used PTO days and streamline vacation requests. Contact GMS today about employee benefits administration and how a PTO policy will make your vacation process a lot less stressful.

  • Let’s face it; employees don’t always want to be indoors during the summer. Having unmotivated, daydreaming employees can lead to unproductive work days, but some summer perks can help motivate your workers. Here are three ways that you can help boost team morale during the summer.

    Image of a employee working from home. GMS assists businesses with services like employee performance management.

    Work Flexibility

    Air conditioning is great on scorching days, but it’s not hard to think of laying on the beach or strolling through the park when it’s a picture perfect summer afternoon. You can’t let your employees run off at every chance for great weather, but you can offer some work flexibility.

    Employees can get a morale boost by working from home or any other different location. Even something like one or more work-from-home days can help. That could mean they can work from their backyard patio or their favorite coffee shop. All it takes is Wi-Fi and technology like Skype or conference calls to easily connect with co-workers. Plus, this is a nice option for employees who have to pick up kids from summer activities.

    Outdoor Work Events

    If employees really want to go outside, it might be time to take business outdoors for a day. Company parties, team-building exercises, and other outdoor activities are great ways to appease your employees’ desire to enjoy the nice weather while building company chemistry and team morale.

    Relaxed Dress Code

    Suits and ties don’t mesh well with summer. Hot days can make for uncomfortable employees. Even if your business pumps the AC all summer, employees will have to go outside at some point, and full business attire can make them sweaty and tired before they even make it to their desk.

    Depending on your business, a relaxed summer dress code could make employees a little more comfortable. This could mean casual Fridays or an option to dress down on days when an employee won’t be directly interacting with clients or customers. If someone has a business meeting, they can switch back to the full dress code for the day.

    Taking Care of Employees

    Good employees are a major asset for your business. A motivated team can lead to great returns, but employee management can be a test for many businesses. Group Management Services can help you through employee performance management tools, offering a variety of services to tackle this challenge. Contact GMS today to talk to one of our experts about how we can help you manage your employees.

  • Accessing all of your benefits information used to be a pain. Even if you had all of your documents and details organized nicely in a folder, you still wouldn’t be able to access it if you were outside of your home or office. That’s why GMS made it possible to have total access to your health plan no matter where you are.

    The GMS Mobile Benefits App for the self-insured plan option allows business owners and their employees to see all of their health plan information on their phone. GMS customers can simply download the app and set-up their account and see info on their eligibility, deductibles, claims, and applicable links to their network and other benefits information. Here’s how the GMS Mobile Benefits App saves you from future hassles.

    Image of a man using a PEO mobile app on his phone.

    No Need for a Card

    It’s always aggravating to reach into your wallet or purse and realize that the card you need isn’t in there. It’s even more problematic when someone at the doctor’s office is asking for your insurance information.

    The Mobile Benefits App lets you pull up everything they need right on your phone. You can even email a copy of your ID card directly to whoever needs your information. Either way, that gets you one step closer to seeing a medical professional instead of heading home to find a lost card or calling up customer service for some last-second help.

    No Need for Customer Service

    Does anybody like being put on hold? The Mobile Benefits App lets you know when a customer service rep has an answer to your question instead of forcing you to hold a phone up to your ear and play the waiting game.

    If you have a question, now you can submit them directly in the app. A GMS expert will review your question and respond. Once they do, you’ll get an email to let you know that you can see the response right in your app, all without having to sit through a whole lot of background music on your phone.

    Get Total Health Plan Access on Your Phone

    All the information you need can be contained in your pocket. The GMS Mobile Benefits App gives you and your employees the freedom to access the info about your GMS plan at any time. Contact GMS today about the GMS App and employee benefits administration today. You can even go and download the GMS App and test it out for yourself. Follow these steps to set your phone up for total health plan access.

  • Illnesses and injuries don’t have hours of operation, but your local doctors’ office usually does. However, a closed office doesn’t mean that you and your employees can’t get good medical advice. 

    Group Management Services helps businesses receive quick, convenient access to medical professionals and information through Telemedicine services through Healthiest You. Here’s how Telemedicine can help your company.

    Image of a doctor during a telemedicine call. Telehealth services help your employees get medical help at all times.

    24/7 Telemedicine Access

    With Telehealth, employees don’t need to wait until the next available appointment to find out what’s wrong with them or their families. Telemedicine lets people quickly and conveniently connect with a professional physician via phone, video, or Internet chat.

    Thanks to Telemedicine services, your employees can get quick answers to their health questions without having to go to an in-person appointment. This cuts out costly co-pays without making employees worry about what’s wrong with their four-year-old child or wonder if they should time off from work to head to the doctor’s office.

    In-depth Information Library

    Employees don’t always need to see a physician face-to-face to get the answers they need. Telehealth members also receive access to an extensive information library that covers over 1,000 different topics.

    Even with the option to contact physicians, you may not always want to set up a call or a video meeting for something that you can research. The information library gives you and your employees the ability to easily look up details on health concerns that might not necessarily warrant a call. Plus, you can always follow up with a Telemedicine physician if you decide that you want a doctor’s advice after you search through the library.

    Cut Out Co-pays and In-person Doctor’s Appointments with Telemedicine

    Going to the doctor’s office isn’t always easy. Whether an employee or a member of his or her family is sick, unexpected trips to the doctor can cause scheduling headaches, and that’s if their doctor is even available. 

    Telemedicine lets your employees get the medical access they need without having to move around their work schedule. That can lead to fewer work days missed and healthier employees. Contact GMS today to talk to one of our group healthcare experts about how Telemedicine can benefit your business.

  • A little extra protection can go a long way toward making your employees happy. Traditional group health plans are a great start for many of your employees, but some members of your team or potential recruits may need additional coverage.

    Supplemental insurance plans allow business owners to attract and retain talented employees through additional coverage. A Professional Employer Organization can provide you with extra insurance options to benefit both you and your employees. 

    GMS can help keep and attract talented employees with supplemental insurance plans for businesses.

    How Supplemental Insurance Plans Benefits Your Employees

    One big benefit of supplemental insurance plans is that it can help ease the fears of your employees by covering additional expenses. Supplemental plans can help cover:

    • Deductibles
    • Copayments
    • Coinsurance
    • Medication costs
    • Out-of-network fees
    • Lost wages due to injury or illness

    These benefits will please employees who might be worried about costly charges. Partnering with a PEO like GMS can also give your employees a chance to pick and choose the additional insurance coverage they require; that way they don’t get charged for supplemental benefits they don’t need.

    How Supplemental Insurance Plans Benefit Business Owners

    If an employee is worried that his or her health insurance isn’t enough to cover what he or she needs, they may start looking for better coverage elsewhere. Even if they don’t leave, the worry over their coverage can impact the quality of their work and their morale. 

    Offering an employee peace of mind through supplemental insurance plan can ease their fears and give them more incentive to stay put. These plans can also make your company look much more attractive to potential recruits who will have to decide which business best fits their needs.

    Supplement Your Traditional Insurance Plan

    If your employees are clamoring for supplemental insurance, it might be time to reach out to GMS about what we can do to help you attract and retain good employees. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you offer supplemental insurance.

  • When you’re a business owner, a 401(k) or profit sharing plan is a must to help attract and retain great employees.

    While you may be the owner of a company, you’re likely not an expert on the legal responsibilities of offering these plans to your employees. Most business owners are too focused on running their company to provide an adequate amount of attention on benefits administration.

    Your benefits don’t have to be a hassle. A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) can step in and cut costs, save time, and offer customizable plans for your company.

    GMS can help business owners offer appealing 401(k) and profit sharing plans.

    Saving Time on 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plans

    You may not be an expert on 401(k) and profit sharing plans, but the people who work for a PEO are. By working with a PEO, you won’t waste your valuable time trying to make sense of something that you likely don’t have much experience. Plus, management fees are low, so you won’t have to break the bank to get a professionally managed plan.

    A PEO can work to set you up with a customizable plan that fits what you and your employees want. That means that you can spend your time on ways to build your company instead of getting headaches trying to wrap your head around the legal responsibilities of benefits administration. 

    Retirement Guide

    Work with GMS for a Customizable 401(k) and / or Profit Sharing Plan

    As a PEO, Group Management services works to offer retirement plans that will strengthen your business. GMS can help you establish:

    • 401(k) eligibility requirements
    • Vesting
    • Tax-deductible matching
    • Profit sharing contributions

    We’ve got the experts to help you save time and money on your benefits planning. Contact us today about retirement planning that will help you attract and retain quality employees.

  • As a business owner, offering excellent health care benefits is key to attracting and retaining top talent. However, the rising costs of health care premiums can make it challenging to find a group health plan that balances quality with affordability. In 2024, this challenge is more significant than ever as health care costs continue to rise.

    This is where partnering with a professional employer organization (PEO) like Group Management Services (GMS) can make a substantial difference. By leveraging the collective power of a PEO, your business can access premier group health insurance coverage without breaking the bank. Let’s explore how GMS can help you secure better group health coverage for your employees.

    Enhanced Buying Power And Cost Efficiency

    A PEO provides your business with the buying power typically reserved for large corporations. GMS represents more than 50,000 employees, which allows us to help small businesses purchase group health insurance for an average of 26% lower for employee premiums and 15% lower for family premiums than the U.S. average.

    GMS combines the collective strength of all its clients, allowing small to midsize businesses to gain access to the same competitive premiums as large companies. This means your business can benefit from lower health insurance premiums while still offering comprehensive coverage to your employees. With health care costs rising, this buying power is more valuable than ever, allowing you to provide top-tier benefits without sacrificing your bottom line.

    Diverse Group Health Coverage Options

    One of the biggest advantages of partnering with GMS is the ability to offer your employees a wide range of group health coverage options. Contrary to what some might believe, lower premiums through a PEO do not mean compromising on the quality of the health plans available to your employees. GMS partners with many major insurance carriers to provide various options tailored to meet the diverse needs of your workforce. These options include:

    • Medical insurance
    • Dental insurance
    • Vision insurance
    • Group life insurance
    • Short-term and long-term disability
    • Flexible spending account (FSA)
    • Health savings account (HSA)
    • Employee assistance program (EAP)
    • 401(k) plan
    • Telemedicine
    • Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)

    These options allow you to customize a benefits package that meets your employees’ needs, helping you stand out as an employer of choice in a competitive job market.

    Streamlined Administration And Compliance

    Managing group health insurance can be complex and time-consuming, especially with the ever-changing landscape of health care regulations. GMS not only helps you access better group health coverage but also takes on the administrative burden. This includes managing enrollments, handling claims, staying on top of Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

    You gain access to a team of experts who can train your employees on how your plan works and answer difficult health plan questions. With GMS, you can focus on growing your business while we manage the intricacies of your employee benefits program.

    Lower Your Group Health Care Premiums With GMS

    In today’s economic environment, maximizing every dollar spent on employee benefits is crucial. By partnering with GMS, you can offer high-quality health care benefits at the reduced premiums typically enjoyed by larger businesses. This partnership not only improves the health and satisfaction of your employees but also enhances your company’s financial health.

    By leveraging our collective buying power, diverse coverage options, and comprehensive administrative support, you can significantly lower your group health care premiums while providing your employees with top-tier benefits. Contact GMS today to speak with one of our health care experts and learn more about how partnering with a PEO can benefit your business.

  • Healthcare is an important part of any small business. That’s why it’s important that you ask your medical insurance company about their services. It can be easy to turn a blind eye to what your insurance company is doing, but you should get a better understanding of how they’re serving you so that you can evaluate what they’re doing to help you. Here are four healthcare topics you should ask about.

    Image of a doctor. Healthcare administration can give small business owners the service they need.

    Plan Coverage

    It’s important to know exactly what your plan covers. This may seem a bit obvious, but you never want to be surprised when you get a bill. While you need to know the limits of your coverage, it’s also good to find out if you’re paying for unnecessary benefits. Not all benefits will fit you and your employees, so asking for more information can help uncover these areas and potentially save you money.

    Healthcare Cost Negotiation

    Don’t be afraid to ask your healthcare provider how they negotiate costs. Different negotiation strategies can lead to realistic healthcare pricing, so it’s good to inquire about what your provider is doing to make healthcare costs more manageable.

    Medical Bills Audits

    No one wants to get incorrectly charged on a bill. Ask your health insurance company about how they audit medical bills to make sure that you get the coverage you pay for. Double billing and other mistakes can happen, so it’s important to know that your bills are checked every time. If your insurance company is less than transparent about this, you might not be getting the attention you deserve.

    Customer Service

    You and your employees should never have trouble getting answers about your health insurance. Asking about a provider’s customer service can help you get an understanding about how well they will be able to assist your company when there are any questions or issues. If they’re not very forthcoming with information about the type of customer service they provide, they might not be that great at helping you when you have an actual insurance concern.

    Healthcare Administration Services

    You and your employees deserve to be more than just a number to medical insurance companies. Your business deserves high-quality service, which is why we offer employee benefit administration to help you get the care you need. Contact GMS today to talk to one of our experts about how a Professional Employer Organization like GMS can help you regain control of your healthcare coverage.