Dear Andrea,

You are smart to be concerned about appearing more professional to your high-level corporate clients. Small business owners, especially sole proprietors must do everything possible to appear stable and reputable. Using your personal email for business purposes is a mistake.

I would recommend going online to register the name of your business and then establish an email account with that extension. My email is jane@theapplegategroup.com. Yahoo! Small Business offers excellent and affordable small business email and web hosting services. There are other options as well.

If you don't have a web site now, work with a good graphic designer to set up a simple informational site. Post your full contact information on the home page. Add a picture of yourself (if appropriate) and a list of clients who have given you permission to use their names. Describe exactly what kind of consulting services you offer and why you are an expert in your field. Be sure to list all your professional and educational credentials.

Make sure you have an elegant business card and a great logo. While you can print your own letterhead on high-quality paper and attach your digital logo to documents emailed to clients, invest in good quality business cards. Never print business cards on a home printer. It looks cheap makes a poor impression.

Dear Jack,

Retaining good workers is a big challenge for every small business owner. Even if you can't afford a deluxe benefit package, you should offer your crew some attractive employee benefits.

Because many people have medical insurance through a working spouse, consider offering a variety of other benefits, including dental or vision care, disability insurance, accident insurance or a new form of "mini-medical" plan that provides limited hospital coverage and peace of mind.

Be sure to ask your employees what kind of benefits they would like to have rather than making decisions for them. The fact that you care enough to offer them any sort of benefits will boost their morale and build loyalty.

In addition to paying a competitive wage, offer your crew as much flexibility as you can. Since most construction crews start early in the morning, make sure someone who needs to pick up their kids from school or attend a sporting event can do so without penalty.

Providing a fair salary and valuable benefits is the secret to retaining good workers. But don't forget to praise and thank your team for their efforts every day. A simple "good job" goes a long way to building both loyalty and pride.