Kate Harrington

Kate Harrington

Founder, Thumbtack Austin

Kate Harrington is a writer based out of Austin, Texas, with a background in business reporting. During her time as a reporter for the Austin Business Journal, she covered the health care industry, economic development, transportation, and commercial real estate. In 2010 she launched Thumbtack Communications, providing writing and marketing services to Austin-area businesses. She has had articles published in Austin Monthly, USA Today, the Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, McCombs Today, and is a regular contributor to the ChooseWhat.com STARTicles. She lives in Austin with her husband, son, dog, and two grumpy cats.

Find Kate Harrington on:

Twitter

All STARTicles by Kate Harrington

STARTicles offer you tactical information and insights on how to lay the foundation of your business so you can focus on building success.

Business tax 2015

Tax Season Is Coming: What Small Businesses Need to Know to Prepare

Monday, November 30, 2015

Tax season will again be upon us soon, and many business owners are wondering what they can expect for 2015 taxes and how best to prepare for 2016 taxes. We spoke … Continue Reading

Comments (2)
Startup Step: Management

What Employers Need to Know About Changes to Overtime Pay Rules

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

In the summer of 2015, the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would change overtime pay. Specifically, the proposed changes update the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and would … Continue Reading

Comments (1)
Startup Step: Build Your Team / Management

Big Health Insurance Changes Are Coming in 2016 – Is Your Business Ready?

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, but that doesn’t mean it’s been consistent since then. A multi-year rollout has meant plenty of changes, and in some cases plenty of … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Management

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book Vs. iPad Pro and MacBook Air

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Microsoft recently released a few new products that have definitely been turning heads. The Surface Pro 4 and the Microsoft Surface Book have been compared – by reviewers and by … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Select the Best Small Business Computer / Uncategorized

The Benefits of Having an EIN As a Sole Proprietor

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Sole proprietors don’t file a business tax return, so many decide to use a social security number instead of an employer identification number (EIN), on forms like W-9s. But there … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Get an EIN

Going Virtual With Davinci

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Virtual office services give small businesses and sole proprietors the resources of a large business space, including receptionist services, a business address, and live web chat capabilities. One of the … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Find Office Space / Get a Business Phone System / Set Up a Fax Number / Set Up a Phone Number / Set Up Your Business Mailing Address

What Is a Virtual Mailroom, And Should Your Business Use One?

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

A virtual mailroom is a service that combines physical, paper mail with the convenience of the Internet; for a monthly fee, your mail will go to a business mailing address … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Set Up Your Business Mailing Address

Preparing for the Workplace of the Future

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

The workplace is changing – you need only to think back to the dial-up days to realize how quickly it’s doing so, and the role technology is playing in that … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Management

The Best Virtual Meeting Tools

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

With more and more companies embracing telework, and with online tools increasing their reach, virtual meetings have become an invaluable business tool. File sharing, video conferencing, and online collaboration have … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Management

How To Use YouTube To Market Your Business

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Online and social media audiences have been moving away from text alone and toward images and video over the last few years – which is why platforms like Instagram, Vine, … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Create Basic Marketing Materials / Promote With Social Media

WordPress versus Website Builders – Which Should You Use?

Thursday, May 21, 2015

When it comes to having a good website for your business or organization, it can be hard to decide which platform or system to go with. There are lots of … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Build Your Website

What Does The Future Hold For QuickBooks Desktop?

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

If you’re a QuickBooks user, you may have noticed that Intuit is shifting a lot of focus onto QuickBooks online. In 2014 Inuit dropped the prices on QuickBooks’ Simple Start, … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Get Basic Business Software / Management

Media Monitoring With Mention

Friday, April 17, 2015

There are a few different tools for monitoring the Internet for brands or topics; most people know Google alerts, for instance. But what if you want to expand your monitoring … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Create Basic Marketing Materials / Management

Using Twitter For Your Business

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Twitter is a social media platform that businesses of any size can leverage. It’s an ongoing exchange of ideas, services, and information, and getting your business’s name into the mix … Continue Reading

Comments (1)
Startup Step: Promote With Social Media

Putting Facebook To Work For Your Business

Thursday, February 12, 2015

You probably know that if you’re looking to use social media to boost business, Facebook is the largest player in that space, with more than 1 billion total users worldwide; … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Promote With Social Media

Three Things Independent Contractors Should Do To Prepare For Tax Season

Friday, February 6, 2015

Tax season is upon us again, and it’s time to start gathering the materials you’ll need in order to file. If you’re an independent contractor, tax season brings with it … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Small Business Tax Tips

What Is Google Domains, And How Can Your Business Use It?

Saturday, January 17, 2015

In June 2014, Google announced it was rolling out a domain registry service, Google Domains. Initially it was an invitation-only beta, but the service is now publicly available. The new … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Build Your Website

What Microsoft’s Office for Everyone News Means for Mobile Customers

Friday, January 9, 2015

Microsoft made a surprising announcement at the end of 2014: it is releasing new and updated free Office apps – which include Excel, Word, and PowerPoint – for iPad, iPhone, … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Get Basic Business Software

QuickBooks Online Drops Pricing

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Small businesses looking into online accounting tools should take note of the fact that Inuit’s QuickBooks online has dropped the prices on its Simple Start, Online Essentials, and Online Plus. … Continue Reading

Comments (1)
Startup Step: Get Basic Business Software

Project Management App Review: Trello

Friday, December 5, 2014

There are myriad productivity and organization tools out there, and even more books on the subject. So many in fact, that trying them all out could make life feel more … Continue Reading

Comments (0)
Startup Step: Management
back to top