You are probably prepared for any winter weather, but what about your car? How are those tires doing? Do you remember how long ago you got them? A good friend of mine keeps telling me how important it is to regularly check the tires and make sure they are in good condition, especially at this time of year. Here are two simple tests he told me to perform:

In recent years, salons have started to rent more and more chairs or booths instead of hiring employees. This is a great working model for many salons; it allows both parties a lot of flexibility. But it’s very important to set this system up right. If you are a stylist considering renting a chair in a salon, you should remember to pay attention to several details:

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Salons, for many women, are a safe haven, a place to relax with girlfriends and escape life’s many stresses. When getting their hair or nails done, they aren’t thinking about the salon’s potential liabilities. You wouldn’t necessarily think beauty salons would have many, but when you think about it, a lot could go wrong.

Luckily, there are many precautions a smart salon owner can take to reduce their business’s liability. These preventa ...

Between friends, advice is given with the best possible intent and is usually supported by well-informed opinion. At least with the friends you would seek advice from.

An umbrella is used as a shield against the elements, protection from rain and wind when the weather turns sour. In the world of finance, through insurance, umbrellas perform the same helpful function. Umbrella insurance is a form of liability insurance that protects the policy holder from accidents and lawsuits that could generate liability costs beyond what their regular policies cover.

For someone visiting Sequim, WA for the first time in ten years, the change in the small coastal town would be dramatic. Sequim, though not quite yet a bustling metropolis, has experienced a boom in building and a surge in shopping. New developments have sprung up on both sides of the highway (that also until recently wasn’t there), including additions to real estate. With the rising popularity of condos, and the influx of retirees to the Sequim area, it’s not surprising that part of the new construction has been devoted to condominiums.

There are several reasons people may contemplate chartering their boats in the greater Seattle and Tacoma area, and the most common is to “help cover the expenses.” It sounds like a good idea, but there are many factors to consider.

There are two common types of charters that one can do with a pleasure vessel. First is the “bare boat charter,” where someone pays you money and then drives off with your boat for a day, a week, or longer. These charters are usually handled through a commercial charter company that manages a fleet of charter boats and does the guest check-outs and check-ins. They also handle the vessel insurance on a “fleet” basis, mean ...

It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. A lot. This is especially true for the winter months. Because of the damp climate, many residents leave the soggy shores of Puget Sound for the sunny skies of the South West. Homes amongst the foggy evergreens are left behind, sitting vacant for potentially months. These empty homes pose a concern for homeowners—how to protect their home while away.

It’s one of many homeowners’ nightmares—frozen pipes. With temperatures plummeting across the country, the Pacific Northwest could be due for its own cold snap. Freezing nights may mean frozen pipes, which themselves are a pain. But it’s when frozen pipes burst that the real headache begins. The water damage can result in costly reconstruction projects, anything from replacing drywall to ceilings (neve ...