Small business posts
FeedPosted Nov 21st 2010 11:10AM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Economic Data, Entrepreneurs, Small Business, Recession
Fewer business start-ups are being launched, reports the the Wall Street Journal. The Labor Department said that the number of companies with at least one employee fell by 100,000, or 2%, in the year ended March 31. That was the second worst performance in 18 years -- the worst one was a drop of 3.4% the previous year.
Why are these numbers important? In past recessions small business start-ups were the key to spurring the economy. In the three quarters that ended in March, newly formed companies created only 2.6 million jobs, 15% fewer than in the first three quarters of the last recovery.
Continue reading Fewer Small Business Start-Ups Mean Fewer Jobs
Posted Apr 18th 2010 5:40PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Entrepreneurs, Workspace, Small Business, Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV)
All in all, there are many advantages to a home business. For example, you have more time to spend with your family, you do not have to deal with aggravating commutes, and there is even the home office tax deduction. If anything, the overall costs should be lower -- making it easier to get traction for your business.
Yet, there are definitely considerable risks, which are often overlooked. But the good news is that smart insurance planning can provide sufficient protection. And the prices are affordable, costing as little as $500 per year.
Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Insuring Your Home Business from Disaster
Posted Dec 14th 2009 4:00PM by Douglas McIntyre (RSS feed)
Filed under: After the Bell, Exxon Mobil (XOM), Citigroup Inc. (C), S and P 500, DJIA, NASDAQ

The markets were slightly up most of the day, but traders seemed to be unsurprised by big news from Dubai and Citi. Many of the "most actives" only moved up or down a percentage point or two. It was not a day in which the market showed any conviction which was surprising given the number of potential catalysts early in the day.
The numbers:
Dow 10,501.43 +29.93 (0.29%)
S&P 500 1,114.10 +7.69 (0.70%)
Nasdaq 2,212.10 +21.79 (0.99%)
Continue reading Closing bell: a lot of news and nothing to show for it (XOM, XTO, C)
Posted Nov 1st 2009 5:40PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Competitive Strategy, Small Business
Unfortunately, when a company cannot pay its debt, the consequences can be severe. In fact, when it comes to bank debt, liquidation may be the only alternative.
However, with the recession, creditors realize that it may make more sense to work things out, especially since there are signs that the economy is making a comeback.
So, if you're behind on your debt payments, there certainly steps you can take to work things out. Have a look:
Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Smart ways to renegotiate with your creditors
Posted Oct 25th 2009 5:40PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Competitive Strategy, Entrepreneurs, Small Business
There are certainly many advantages to getting a franchise. You receive leverage from higher marketing dollars, an existing platform that increases the speed to market, a brand, and helpful techniques and systems to improve success.
Great, huh? Well, as with any investment, there are risks. And, you need to get a sense of these before acquiring a franchise.
This means conducting an extensive due diligence. So, here are some tips:
Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: The hidden dangers of getting a franchise
Posted Oct 11th 2009 5:40PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Small Business
I recently talked to someone who wanted to start a business. He said, "But there is something I don't like to do: sales. It's something I'm really not good at."
Well, I said to him, "You better learn fast."
Sales is critical for any successful business owner. In fact, it is more than just about nabbing customers. It's also about hiring, forming partnerships, and even courting the media.
And, in the current economic environment, sales is perhaps even more important. After all, who wants to part with his or her money right now?
Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Becoming a sales pro
Posted Aug 16th 2009 6:10PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Columns, Small Business
If you take a look at a book on microeconomics, you'll see a section on bartering. Generally, it will say that the process is fairly inefficient. Hey, that's why societies have invented currencies, right?
This is all true. Yet, for those who are trying to run a business, bartering may be a good thing. Perhaps the biggest reason is that it saves on cash. It also can be a great way to build relationships and perhaps even get new customers.
Continue reading Entrepreneur's Journal: Save some bucks with bartering
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