One of the most exciting parts of becoming an adult is moving out of your old place and starting your own life. However, as is the case with most major life events, moving out comes with a lot of added responsibility. Part of this duty is knowing and understanding your budget when shopping for the perfect apartment, condo, duplex, or rental house. So how much should you really spend on rent?

The 30 Percent Threshold

The first step in deciding how much you should spend on rent is calculating how much rent you can afford. This is done by finding your fixed income-to-rent ratio. Simply put, this is the percentage of your income that is budgeted towards rent.

As a general rule of thumb, allocating 30 percent of your net income towards rent is a good place to start. Government studies consider people who spend more than 30 percent on … Read the rest

Meanwhile, Trump thinks the US treasury should get a cut of any sale.

The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) announced the launch of its COVID-19 Relief Fund.

According to a press release, the NBMBAA, is making a push to help Black Americans, who have been severely and disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic and its wide-ranging repercussions.

The fund will support emergency student funding, including for basic needs, educational expenses, and technology requirements necessitated by virtual learning. The fund will also provide small business support, including training and assistance in gaining access to funding and resources to aid business reopenings, employment, and stabilization and the fund will provide skill development for displaced members and students.

The NBMBAA will also help community-based organizations that face increasing demands in meeting basic human needs due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“In the midst of a global pandemic which disproportionately impacts communities of color in America, it is imperative to provide tangible support to the Black community,” … Read the rest

A letter from 100 industry leaders urged lawmakers to consider a new relief effort aimed at supporting small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic for the next several months.

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Tech is becoming a big part of our daily lives. The education space is no different, and teacher websites are becoming popular bridges for communicating with students, whether you see them in a brick-and-mortar classroom or a virtual one.

Whether it’s online classes, laptops in the classroom or multimedia-based lessons, the ways we teach and learn are continuously evolving. This is a lesson that the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly made clear to educators nationwide.

Luckily, several tools can greatly improve or help you build your website, without having to learn any new technical skills.

Whether you’re a full-time teacher looking for a better way to deliver course materials or a part-time tutor who’s trying to build up your side hustle, this article can help.

Below you’ll learn why every modern educator today needs a website, along with five tips … Read the rest

We’re four months into our new pandemic-altered reality, and while businesses straddle the line between reopening and shuttering (again), many Americans are finding their jobs no longer exist. Last week, 1.3 million Americans applied for unemployment insurance for the first time. Self-employed, independent contractors and gig economy workers — a vital and burgeoning contingent of today’s workforce — remain especially hard hit. 

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? It depends on who you ask and how you approach it.

Nearly 13 million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits via the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which aims to help gig economy workers and those not traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits. PUA recipients make up 41% of the 31.5 million total unemployment benefit recipients nationwide as of June 13, according to recent Labor Department statistics. 

Even with these guardrails in place, not everyone is benefitting.

The racial

Diversity and inclusion have been hot topics as of late, inspiring an onslaught of reactive commentary, corporate initiatives, and organizations scrambling to behave thoughtfully and with a sense of urgency in response to the current state of affairs. Employing a more proactive approach, especially informed by a seasoned practitioner, generally yields greater returns. Enter Korn Ferry Executive Search Consultant and Practice Leader Louis Montgomery Jr.

Black Enterprise sat down with Montgomery to discuss key issues associated with D&I and how organizations can successfully chart the way forward. Having held multifaceted roles in the human resources and D&I space with several major Fortune 100 firms including IBM, Celanese Corp., PepsiCo, Kraft Foods, Altria, AES, and Serco, Montgomery knows his way around the issues that have emerged front and center in today’s volatile business climate. An author and frequent speaker on topics related to workforce talent acquisition and management, leadership and diversity … Read the rest

I get antsy when I haven’t heard anything as a deadline nears.

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A company’s business name is one of its most important brand assets, so as a business owner you want to do everything you can to protect it. Not sure how to legally protect your business name? We’ve got you covered.

Disclaimer: This content should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.

How to legally protect your business name

Here are five steps to help make sure the name you choose for your business is legally yours to use and keep for the long run.

1. Do your homework.
2. Register the business name in your state.
3. Secure a domain name.
4. Trademark your brand.
5. Protect your trademark.

Let’s jump in.

Important note: A business name is completely different from a trademark. Company names can be used as trademarks if they are associated with goods and services, but there … Read the rest