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MCDA Business Brief
Insights on operations, finance, HR, and communications for growing businesses
How to Communicate a Price Increase to Clients
Deciding to raise prices is often easier than telling clients. A practical look at timing, tone, and preparing your team before the announcement goes out.
Riley Murr
2027 California Employment Laws: What to Update Before January
Most years, the employment laws that arrive on January 1 get a quick read in December and a handbook update sometime in spring. This year, that timeline may be harder to keep. Governor Newsom signed a long list of employment bills this fall, and most of them take effect January 1, 2027. For a business without a dedicated HR team, the harder part is usually sorting out which changes actually reach your workplace, and which documents, pay practices, and conversations need to ch
Riley Murr
Seasonal Employees and Temporary Workers: What to Get Right This Holiday Season
Temporary help can carry a business through the holidays. In California, seasonal employees are covered by most of the same rules as permanent staff, many of them from day one.
Marilyn Murua
Business Continuity Plan: What It Actually Needs to Cover
What a Business Continuity Plan Actually Needs to Cover Most business owners have thought about business continuity planning at some point, usually after hearing about it from an insurance agent, a client contract requirement, or a story about a company that didn't recover from a disruption. The instinct that follows is often the same: write a document, save it somewhere, and consider the topic handled. That instinct treats continuity planning as a compliance task. In practic
Sep 243 min read
How to Know When Your Business Is Ready for Outside Support
Many business owners wait too long to ask for help. In the early stages of a company, handling multiple responsibilities is often necessary. Owners may oversee sales, finances, operations, hiring, customer service, marketing, and long-term planning at the same time. That level of involvement can help a leader understand the business deeply and keep expenses under control. As the company grows, however, the same approach can begin to create problems. Tasks take longer. Importa
Jul 239 min read
The Rise of Agentic AI in Consulting and Business Operations
Artificial intelligence is evolving beyond tools that simply respond to prompts or automate isolated tasks. A new phase is emerging, often referred to as “agentic AI,” where systems are designed to take initiative, execute multi-step processes, and operate with a level of autonomy within defined parameters. For consulting and operations, this shift represents a meaningful change. It is not just about doing work faster. It is about rethinking how work is structured, executed,
Jun 43 min read
DIY vs. Hiring Experts: What It’s Really Costing Your Business
For many businesses, especially in the early stages, a do-it-yourself approach feels practical. It allows for cost control, flexibility, and a sense of ownership across operations. However, as a business grows, the decision to continue handling everything internally or to bring in outside expertise becomes more complex. The true cost of DIY is not always visible in a budget line. It often appears in missed opportunities, slower execution, and decisions made without the benefi
Jun 23 min read
When Should You Hire a Business Consultant? Key Signs to Look For
At different stages of growth, every business reaches a point where internal resources, perspective, or structure are no longer enough to support what comes next. While many organizations wait until a problem becomes urgent, the decision to hire a business consultant is most effective when approached proactively. A consultant does not replace internal leadership. Instead, they provide clarity, structure, and an external perspective that helps businesses move forward with grea
May 13 min read
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