small business

Small business lobby joins challenge to health law

c d ledbetter — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:49:26 +0000

The nation's most influential small business lobby is joining a court challenge to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, arguing that Americans cannot be required under the Constitution to obtain insurance coverage. A groundswell of opposition to the law from small business owners prompted NFIB's decision to join the court challenge. Full Article.

Mobile Apps to Make Running a Business Easier on the Go

c d ledbetter — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:39:53 +0000

For most small businesses, conducting business on the go is the norm. There is now a variety of mobile applications that can make life a little easier, from processing credit card charges to capturing receipts for expensing. Full Article.

Big Banks' Small-Business Lending Promises

c d ledbetter — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:40:13 +0000

Late last year several of the nation's largest lenders made big promises to expand small business lending in 2010. Two appear to be making progress; figures aren't available yet on the others. Full Article.

10 tax breaks for small businesses

c d ledbetter — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:20:39 +0000

This year, doing your taxes should be slightly less painful for many of you. Congress has recently implemented some cool tax breaks — mainly in The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (a.k.a. the "Recovery Act") — to make things a little easier on small businesses. Full Article.

Bank of America Extends CARD Act Protections to Small Biz

c d ledbetter — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:06:50 +0000

Bank of America recently announced it will give small business relief from fees for going over credit limits and apply their payments to the portion of their balances with the highest interest rate. The announcement makes BofA the first major small business card issuer to commit to not retroactively raising interest rates on old balances. Full Article.

Health Reform Expected to Untether Job-Locked Entrepreneurs

c d ledbetter — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:53:46 +0000

As the health reforms signed into law this week begin to take effect over the next four years, one consequence to watch is to what extent would-be entrepreneurs feel comfortable leaving their jobs to start businesses. The new law won’t unleash a flood of entrepreneurs immediately, but it is likely to shift how and when people decide to start new businesses in the years ahead. Full Article.

Social Media for Small Business

c d ledbetter — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:50:08 +0000

Social media is fast becoming part of the savvy small business owner’s world. The most popular sites coming out of the revolution are social networking sites. At the most basic level, a social networking site allows you to identify your business contacts—from prospects and customers to partners and associates—and establish a personal link between you and each of them. Full Article.

Dell to offer more credit to small businesses

c d ledbetter — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:18:17 +0000

Dell Inc. relies on sales to small businesses for a big chunk of its revenue. It sells more personal computers to small companies than any tech supplier. Now, it is offering more credit to spur small business purchases. Full Article.

Why cloud computing matters to small biz

c d ledbetter — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:52:05 +0000

It is a known fact that cloud computing advantages come packed with some serious risks. For small and midsize businesses, though, many of the objections to cloud computing simply don't hold the same power. The most important thing about cloud computing, aside from specific savings, is that small businesses can now afford to do the things they couldn't do on their own. Full Article.

LA to Concentrate on Retaining/Expanding Companies

c d ledbetter — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:08:53 +0000

Louisiana’s economic development head is shifting resources from the recruitment of out-of-state businesses to the retention of existing companies and helping them to expand. Full Article

What States and Cities Are Doing to Help Small Businesses

c d ledbetter — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:16:33 +0000

States and municipalities have stepped up with an array of initiatives to stanch small business closings and save jobs. Some of their initiatives include grants, subsidizing wages for new hires, and mixing federal, state and private dollars. Full Article.

How To Make $1 Million Before You Graduate

c d ledbetter — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:00:56 +0000

In 2004 while studying for final exams at University of the West of England, Jamie Murray Wells, then age 21, went shopping for a pair of prescription glasses. Nonplussed by the $150 pound ($300) price tag, Wells decided to funnel his $2,000 student loan into what would become Glasses Direct, a London-based online retailer that now generates $5 million in annual revenue. Full Article.

Bankers Urged to Get to Know Small Business Borrowers

c d ledbetter — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:23:18 +0000

Regulators want the nation’s banks to get to know their small business customers better. Federal and state regulators recently said banks shouldn’t curtail credit based on negative trends in an industry or location. Instead, they should evaluate each business on its own ability to repay. Full Article.

Free Social Networking Class For Small Business

c d ledbetter — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:58:22 +0000

Learn how to schedule your social and business updates by using two new programs that interface with Twitter, Facebook, Digg and other social networks. Enter information once, then schedule the date and time you want it released to multiple venues.

Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce Names Bailey’s Bakery 2009 Small Business of the Year

c d ledbetter — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:43:59 +0000

The Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce recently held its Annual Banquet, and awarded Bailey’s Bakery 2009 Small Business of the Year. Bailey’s Bakery is owned and operated by Mr. & Mrs. Russell Bailey.