And the winner is…
Finding the McRib just got a lot easier
The McRib is an icon among many fast-food diners that over the past 30 years has developed its own cult following. The sandwich, which debuted between 1981 and 1982, was inspired by Southern barbecue and was created in response to a shortage of chickens. According to an article by Business Insider, Rene Arend, McDonald’s first […]
Sparkmon’s 4th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest
Happy Halloween! In celebration of this year’s “Day of Too Much Candy,” we held our 4th annual pumpkin carving contest. Competition was fierce, but only one can earn the #1 spot. And the winner is……Candy Corn! Have you carved an amazing pumpkin for this Halloween? We’d love to see, so share your photos on our […]
Join Sparkmon at the Baltimore Washington and Raleigh McDonald’s ROA 2016 Events
Be sure to swing by the Sparkmon & Associates booth and say “Hello!” during the upcoming Baltimore Washington and Raleigh McDonald’s ROA 2016 events. Several of our team members will be in attendance, including Carrie Smith and Amy Williams (Baltimore Washington event) and Richard Sparkmon, Emmitt White, Carolyn Allen, Tammy Howell and Kurt Kinoshita (Raleigh […]
Who are you? E-Verify and SSNVS two tools to check ID of employees
Verifying the identity of a new employee is the gateway to putting them to work, so it’s important to know which system is appropriate to use and when. Many states require employers utilize E-Verify for background checks. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from […]
All in the family: New regs could impact valuation of family-owned businesses
Passing the family business on to other members of the family is a longstanding American tradition, if not part and parcel of the American Dream. Employing discounts when transferring interests of the family business to other family members can be an effective estate planning technique since it will reduce your gross estate and potential estate […]
Prevent fraud before it happens
While businesses are faced with threats of competition, economic changes, and rising costs, one of the largest threats to businesses can be fraud. Frank Abagnale, the author of Catch Me If You Can, believes that because punishment for fraud and recovery of stolen funds is so rare, prevention is the only viable course of action. […]
Internal audits of employee forms to be handled carefully
It is a good idea to occasionally review employment authorization forms of your employees, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, has provided employers with guidance to help employers structure and implement internal audits of their Forms I-9. When preparing for an internal audit the employer will need to keep the […]
The Right Support for Every Stage of Business
Challenge: When Terri Flagg became a McDonald’s owner/operator, she was familiar with several firms that serve these stores based on her experience with the McDonald’s corporation. After looking at what each firm offered, she decided to go with Sparkmon because of their vast experience. She also had a personal relationship with the firm, having worked […]
Join Sparkmon at the McDonald’s Atlanta ROA Event
Several of the Sparkmon team will be attending next week’s McDonald’s Atlanta ROA event, including Emmitt White, Richard Sparkmon, Heidi Pearson, Tamra Newman and Kristin Ward. This event is held annually and hosts the best and brightest in the McDonald’s Atlanta region, providing a venue where owner/operators can learn best practices and what is on […]