On behalf of Arizona Capitol Times, Best Companies Group and BestCompaniesAZ, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest has been honored as a 2023 Top Companies to Work for in Arizona. This award program recognizes the best organizations across the state as voted by their employees and celebrates companies that go above and beyond to set high standards for workplace environments.

“It is an honor to be awarded again as a Top Company to Work for in Arizona! Inclusive, diverse, caring, honest and fun are words that our employees have used to describe the workplace culture at BBB. We understand that now more than ever, employers need to be flexible to the changing needs of employees. We are committed to being open to new ideas and ways of getting things done while serving our mission. We have the best employees around. This award is for them and the important work they do by increasing trust in the communities that we serve. It’s great to be a top company in Arizona!” shares Noelle Rooke, BBB Pacific Southwest Vice President of People and Culture.

BBB takes pride in the culture it offers to its employees and strives to make the work environment better every day. To meet the needs of an evolving landscape, BBB continues to reimagine its campuses to fit the needs of staff in a modern, flexible space. On any given day, employees enjoy unlimited snacks, team lunches, family-friendly events, access to innovative benefits, and paid holidays including four paid days to volunteer at a charity of choice. Best of all, they are surrounded by a like-minded, welcoming team. To learn more about BBB Pacific Southwest’s social impact and community initiatives, visit impact.bbbcommunity.org.

 

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2023.

The meaning of trust in business is evolving. Consumer expectations for companies to lead with purpose continues to rise, as studies show 84% of consumers call for transparency on how they are following through on their promises to people, the planet and society. Better Business Bureau® Pacific Southwest (BBB) is proud to announce BBB4Good^SM to validate and spotlight the growing sector of purpose-driven businesses that are positively impacting their communities through the power of business.

BBB4Good builds upon BBB Accreditation and enables trustworthy, purpose-driven businesses to become ”BBB4Good Verified” by vetting their activities against both BBB Standards for Trust and BBB4Good Standards of higher purpose, community engagement, authentic marketing, and social and/or environmental impact substantiation.

“At BBB, we stand for what’s right not only in business, but for our entire ecosystem. We are guided by our mission to ethically contribute to social well-being and support those bringing value to our people, community and environment. We’re thrilled to be among the first of only six BBB locations in the U.S. and Canada to spearhead this important program to identify businesses that are committed to the same philosophy,” said Matthew Fehling, President/CEO for BBB Pacific Southwest.

By searching the growing list of purpose-driven businesses on BBB.org, consumers can find businesses that are creating value in their communities and have their dollars impact causes they care about. BBB4Good Verified Businesses will display the BBB4Good Trustmark.

“There are many trustworthy organizations in Greater Arizona and Southern California providing products and services while additionally addressing important social issues. These efforts are commendable, and BBB can play an important role in recognizing these companies and helping consumers find them,” additionally shares Fehling.

“BBB is building trust in this new sector of the marketplace by verifying that these businesses are, in fact, investing time, talent, and resources into the communities they serve.”

Businesses interested in BBB4Good Verification can apply at bbb.org/bbb4good. BBB4Good is being launched in six communities in the United States and Canada via the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, BBB’s educational foundation, following a two-year pilot program.

 

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2023.

This year, United States taxpayers must file their income tax forms before the April 18, 2023 deadline. Major life changes, business ownership, or a lack of knowledge about the ever-changing tax laws make finding a trustworthy tax preparer important. Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB) shares tips for finding someone you can trust with your finances and sensitive personal information.

How to choose the right tax preparer:

• Review the tax preparer’s credentials. EAs, CPAs, and tax attorneys are all qualified to represent their clients to the IRS on all matters. Other preparers can help you with forms and basic matters but cannot represent you in case of an audit. Don’t be afraid to ask about these or other qualifications before you hire someone.
• Be wary of spectacular promises. If a tax preparer promises you larger refunds than the competition, this is a red flag. Many such tax preparers base their fees on the amount of your return and may be likely to use shady tax preparation tactics. In addition, it’s wise to avoid tax preparers who offer “refund anticipation loans” as you’ll probably lose a large percentage of your return to commission fees.
• Get referrals from friends and family. One of the best ways to find a trustworthy tax preparer is to ask your loved ones for recommendations. Once you have a few options, check org, paying careful attention to other consumers’ reviews or complaint details. This will give you a clear view of what you can expect.
• Think about availability. If the IRS finds errors in your tax forms or decides to perform an audit, will your tax preparer be available to help you with the details? Find out whether you can contact the tax preparer all year long or only during tax season.
• Ask about fees ahead of time. Before you agree to any services, read the contracts carefully and understand how much the tax preparer charges for their services. Ask about extra fees for e-filing state, federal, and local returns, as well as fees for any unexpected complications.
• If things don’t add up, find someone else. If a tax preparer can’t verify their credentials, has a record of bad reviews from previous clients, or their business practices don’t seem convincing, don’t do business with them. Remember that if you hire them, this individual will handle your sensitive personal information – information you need to keep safe from corrupt or fraudulent tax preparers.

 

Read the full article on BBB.org.

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2023.

Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB), together with the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA), are looking for the next BBB Ethical Athlete. The BBB Ethical Athlete Scholarship honors Arizona high school student athletes who do the right thing, no matter who is watching.

Nominations from parents, coaches, teachers, students and other community members are accepted. Applications share the story of what attributes make the student an ethical athlete and students must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Six winning students will be selected after scoring from a panel of community judges and awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

“In my heart I knew I had to tell the ref the truth as that is how I was raised. Ethics and integrity can be instilled in all of us,” shared 2022 scholarship recipient, MiMi Harris.

Nominated for the scholarship by her mentor, Harris received national media recognitions because of her decision to do the right thing, even though it cost her team the win. She is currently attending Alabama State University and plays on the women’s volleyball team.

Three Ethical Athletes will be selected from two nomination periods with applications received from January 1 to February 28 and again from March 1 to April 30. To learn more about the scholarship and to nominate Arizona high school athletes visit athlete.bbbcommunity.org. Sponsors who are interested in supporting this year’s scholarship can email scholarships@bbbcommunity.org for more information.

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2023.

 

 

Scaling and sustainability will continue to be the main focus for any small business owner in 2023. There is a multitude of ways to go about achieving revenue growth, attracting top talent, instilling a healthy culture, delighting customers, and so much more. Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB) is sharing the following tips to ensure your small business starts off on the right foot this year. Read more in the full article on BBB.org.

1. Continue building a strong digital footprint  – A solid content marketing strategy that will help you create valuable content pieces will drive engagement and sales. Read BBB’s tips on improving your website.
2. Promote your business consistently  – Find ways to creatively promote your business to stay top of mind for your target customers. Check out BBB’s tips on how you can expand your current offerings for growth.
   
3. Personalize the entire buyer journey – 71% of consumers feel frustrated when a shopping experience is impersonal, so offer products/services based on your customers’ purchase behavior.
4. Embrace an effective technology stack – From social media to email marketing, every piece of technology you leverage to communicate with your customers must effectively impact your business goals. More specifically, here are five tips your business can start using today.
5. Reduce costs – Here’s how small businesses can cut costs without sacrificing growth.
   
6. Have a positive workplace culture – Your employees are the lifeblood of your company, and 94% of executives stated that distinct business culture is important to business success.
7. Push customer reviews – Reputation can mean everything, especially for a small business owner trying to attract and retain customers. Approximately 81% of consumers say that they must trust a brand before buying a product or service.
8. Exercise transparency – Operating with transparency builds authentic relationships that turn curious browsers into buyers, and buyers into raving fans.
9. Be purpose-driven – By understanding what is most important to your customers, you can leverage their values and use your platform to make a larger impact over just making sales, and 66% of consumers are willing to switch from their regular product to a new one for a purpose-driven company.  Verify your social impact by applying for BBB4Good, a new program designed to elevate purpose-driven businesses.
10. Establish trust – Trust and transparency matter more now than ever before. In a market saturated with companies competing for customers, BBB Accreditation gives consumers confidence that they are dealing with an ethical and vetted business. See the BBB Advantage.

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2023.

Two $2,500 scholarships to be awarded

Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB), together with the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA), are looking for the next BBB Ethical Athlete. The scholarship honors Arizona high school student athletes who do the right thing, no matter who is watching.

Members of the community can nominate student athletes and self-nominations are also accepted. Students must have a minimum 2.75 GPA and share their story on what attributes make them an ethical athlete. A panel of judges will screen and score the nominations. Two students will be selected and awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

“Being an ethical athlete is more than doing the right thing, it’s also about being honorable, dedicated, compassionate, trustworthy and reliable,” said BBB Pacific Southwest President/CEO Matthew Fehling.

Applications are now open until Sunday, May 1. To learn more about the scholarship and to nominate Arizona high school athletes visit athlete.bbbcommunity.org. Sponsors who are interested in supporting this year’s scholarship can email scholarships@bbbcommunity.org for more information.

 

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2022.

Business program provides tools for success and growth

Better Business Bureau Serving Pacific Southwest (BBB) and GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY) are now accepting applications for their 2022 Empower by GoDaddy and BBB Main St. Accelerator Program. The hybrid in-person/virtual program is open to those operating in Greater Arizona and Southern California, and will offer attendees educational classes, networking, mentoring and GoDaddy products to help their businesses grow.

The business development program is seeking established business owners looking to increase revenue, improve online presence and grow ethically. Unlike tech-focused business accelerators, the goal of this program is to serve everyday entrepreneurs who comprise the majority of our small business economy. As a nonprofit trade organization, BBB is ensuring the tools offered through this program meet the needs of tradespeople and mom-and-pop stores.

“BBB is dedicated to helping build better businesses with ethics at the forefront. Our priority is to ensure that business acceleration and education are widely available to all

entrepreneurs, which is why we have built this inclusive program with our partners at GoDaddy,” said Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneur Programs at BBB, Kimberly Roland.

Participants will learn and work alongside leaders from GoDaddy, Better Business Bureau, Desert Financial Credit Union, Snell and Wilmer, Lifeguides and other industry leaders. Topics covered will include creating a standout virtual brand, website and e-commerce presence, leveraging ethical values, legal and financial auditing, marketing strategies and social and emotional support for entrepreneurs.

Applications are being accepted at bbbempower.com until mid-March and the cohort session of 50 businesses will run for two months. Accepted participants will receive a full scholarship that covers the cost of programming, valued over $3,000 and will be responsible for a one-time materials fee of $99 to BBB before the start of the program. For more information email innovation@bbbcommunity.org.

 

Reprinted by permission of the Better Business Bureau, © 2022.