On Small Business: economy


Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 05/17/2013

Small business advice: Should you allow employees to work from home?
By J.D. Harrison
Offering flexibility has its drawbacks, but some entrepreneurs believe it helps them attract top talent.

By J.D. Harrison  |  05:30 AM ET, 05/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, business, economy, entrepreneurs

Posted at 06:30 AM ET, 05/13/2013

Small business weekly: Internet sales tax, increased lending and immigration controversy
By J.D. Harrison
The biggest small business news from the past week.

By J.D. Harrison  |  06:30 AM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, startups, economy, business, congress

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/02/2013

Small business advice: How to keep your corporation or LLC in good standing with the government
By Deborah Sweeney
Own a corporation or LLC? Here’s a checklist to make sure your company remains in good standing.

By Deborah Sweeney  |  06:00 AM ET, 05/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, business, economy, government

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 04/29/2013

Small business weekly: STEM scrutiny, sales tax and smartphone breathalyzers
By J.D. Harrison
The biggest small business news from the past week.

By J.D. Harrison  |  10:00 AM ET, 04/29/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, immigration, business, economy, hiring, startups, congress

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 04/23/2013

Advice: Overstaffing can break your small business — here’s how to know when to fire someone
By Drew McLellan
Overstaffing can break your small business. Here’s a guide to help you decide when to let someone go.

By Drew McLellan  |  10:20 AM ET, 04/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, economy, hiring, jobs, business

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 04/23/2013

Commentary: New credit card surcharge rules offer opportunities, challenges for small businesses
By Odysseas Papadimitriou
There are ways your company can take advantage of the new rules without angering your customers.

By Odysseas Papadimitriou  |  09:15 AM ET, 04/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, business owners, credit cards, credit card surcharge, processing fees, retailers, business, economy, customers

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/04/2013

Small business advice: How to trim your tax bill
By Tony Pica
April 15 is just around the corner, but it’s not too late to trim your tax bill. Start with these eight suggestions.

By Tony Pica  |  08:00 AM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, taxes, economy

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 03/25/2013

Small business weekly: Cannons, crowdfunding and the central bank
By J.D. Harrison
A review of the biggest small business and start-up stories from the past week.

By J.D. Harrison  |  06:00 AM ET, 03/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, economy, health care, hiring, congress, politics

Posted at 09:01 AM ET, 03/18/2013

Commentary: New tax credits and deductions could help small businesses expand this year
By Deborah Sweeney
A few tax breaks and deductions make this the perfect time to take your business to the next level.

By Deborah Sweeney  |  09:01 AM ET, 03/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, business, economy, taxes, tax season, irs

Posted at 08:33 AM ET, 03/18/2013

Five tax season tips for small business owners
By Brian Sutter
By getting organzied early, small business owners can take most of the pain out of tax season.

By Brian Sutter  |  08:33 AM ET, 03/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, economy, tax season, taxes

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 03/18/2013

Small business advice: How to alleviate audit anxiety
By John Nealon
Don’t wait until the IRS comes knocking to get all your documents and information in order.

By John Nealon  |  08:30 AM ET, 03/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, taxes, economy

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 03/18/2013

Small business weekly: Bold accusations, tax proposals and an Alzheimer’s predictor
By J.D. Harrison
A review of the biggest small business and start-up stories from the past week.

By J.D. Harrison  |  07:00 AM ET, 03/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, business, economy, congress, hiring

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 03/11/2013

Small business weekly: Employment and wages improve, but borrowing remains weak
By J.D. Harrison
A review of the biggest small business and start-up stories from the past week.

By J.D. Harrison  |  07:00 AM ET, 03/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, business owners, entrepreneurs, economy

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 02/19/2013

Opinion: Congress must start considering the return on investment for every government expenditure
By Ted Kissel

By Ted Kissel  |  08:30 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, budget, congress, economy, recession

Posted at 07:20 AM ET, 02/19/2013

Opinion: Congress should employ basic small business principles to help balance the budget
By Michelle Benjamin
One entrepreneur suggests a few small business principles that could help policy makers in Washington.

By Michelle Benjamin  |  07:20 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, entrepreneurs, business advice, budget, congress, debt, economy

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 02/19/2013

Opinion: Congress should adopt ‘no budget, no pay’ approach — just like small businesses
By Eric Basu
If business owners don’t create a budget, they don’t get paid. Why should it work differently in D.C.?

By Eric Basu  |  05:30 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, congess, budget, deficit, debt, budget deal, sequestration, economy

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 01/31/2013

Opinion: Washington’s immigration solutions must address shortage of computer developers, engineers
By Shane Snow
A number of founders explain why their young firms are in desperate need of immigration reform.

By Shane Snow  |  07:30 AM ET, 01/31/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, immigration, jobs, economy, start-ups, talent, congress

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 01/18/2013

Small business advice: Five things to work on if your company’s loan application is denied
By Mary Ellen Biery
Credit denied? Here are the five areas where your company likely failed to impress the bank.

By Mary Ellen Biery  |  07:30 AM ET, 01/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, loans, economy, lending, banking

Posted at 06:30 AM ET, 12/31/2012

Get started: On the edge of the fiscal cliff, a fall could pit big firms against small businesses
By J.D. Harrison
Our daily blend of news, tips and trends for start-ups and small businesses.

By J.D. Harrison  |  06:30 AM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, entrepreneurs, tax cliff, taxes, congress, obama, boehner, biden, economy

Posted at 06:30 AM ET, 12/28/2012

Get started: Entrepreneurs looking overseas earlier, unemployment claims dropping steadily
By J.D. Harrison
Our daily blend of news, tips and trends for start-ups and small businesses.

By J.D. Harrison  |  06:30 AM ET, 12/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, entrepreneurs, exporting, economy, recession

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 12/20/2012

Franchise industry’s growth expected to slow in 2013, held back by uncertainty in Washington
By J.D. Harrison
Economists expect franchise job growth to slow next year due largely to political turmoil in Washington.

By J.D. Harrison  |  11:45 AM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, franchises, taxes, health care, economy, jobs

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 12/17/2012

For a cash-strapped small business, holiday gifts get less expensive but more personal
By Mike Mitternight

By Mike Mitternight  |  08:00 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, small business advice, holidays, economy, entrepreneurs

Posted at 07:15 AM ET, 12/17/2012

Small business savings: Employer giving extra paid vacation instead of holiday bonuses
By Cynthia Kay
One idea: Consider giving them an extra week of paid vacation instead of the traditional holiday bonus.

By Cynthia Kay  |  07:15 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, small business advice, holidays, economy, entrepreneurs

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 12/17/2012

Four inexpensive ways to show appreciation to your small business employees this holiday season
By Michelle Benjamin

By Michelle Benjamin  |  05:30 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, small business advice, holidays, economy, entrepreneurs

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 12/13/2012

Online sales tax legislation: How three bills could affect small retailers
By Steven Aldrich
A guide to three bills that are meant to level the playing field for online and brick-and-mortar retailers.

By Steven Aldrich  |  12:30 PM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, taxes, retail, e-commerce, economy, sales tax

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012

Opinion: Why a tax credit for small businesses goes underused — and what Congress can do about it
By Dean Zerbe
One expert explains why many small firms miss this opportunity and what Congress can do about it.

By Dean Zerbe  |  08:00 AM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, tax credits, congress, economy, taxes, research

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 12/06/2012

Ho, Ho, Hackers: How to protect your small business from holiday credit card scams
By Rob Bertke
One expert provides four tips for small business owners ahead of an expected surge in scams.

By Rob Bertke  |  08:00 AM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, holiday shopping, cybersecurity, hackers, economy

Posted at 02:55 PM ET, 12/04/2012

Washington suburbs home to eight of the nation’s fastest growing small businesses
By J.D. Harrison
N. Virginia is home to some of the country’s fastest growing small businesses, most benefitting from their proximity to Washington.

By J.D. Harrison  |  02:55 PM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, economy, jobs, local, startups, hiring

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012

Small business secrets to help you create an employee-friendly workspace
By J.D. Harrison
Entrepreneurs offer a few inexpensive tips to help you create an environment where workers actually want to spend their time.

By J.D. Harrison  |  08:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, entrepreneurs, startups, the yec, economy, offices

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 12/04/2012

Small business perspectives: Do employees’ hours matter if they get the job done?
By J.D. Harrison
As performance metrics evolve, does it really matter whether your employees clock in and out?

By J.D. Harrison  |  07:30 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, entrepreneurs, economy

Posted at 05:30 AM ET, 12/04/2012

Entrepreneurs: Here’s the secret to retaining your most talented employees
By J.D. Harrison
Now that you found that perfect person for the position, how do you make sure they stay put?

By J.D. Harrison  |  05:30 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  entrepreneurs, small business, business owners, economy

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 11/28/2012

Three immediate small business implications if Congress can reach a fiscal cliff deal
By John Paglia
How will small businesses respond to the debt deal? A finance professor lays out the most likely scenarios.

By John Paglia  |  01:00 PM ET, 11/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, tax cliff, president obama, economy

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 11/28/2012

Obama consults small business owners on tax policy, fiscal cliff negotiations
By J.D. Harrison
The president sat down with employers to discuss his tax policies and their recommendations for avoiding the fiscal cliff.

By J.D. Harrison  |  06:00 AM ET, 11/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, president obama, fiscal cliff, taxes, economy, politics

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 11/19/2012

Five tips to help you capi­tal­ize on Small Business Saturday
By Wiley Cerilli
Search engines, smartphones and social media — tackle all three to lure shoppers to your store.

By Wiley Cerilli  |  11:00 AM ET, 11/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, small business saturday, business, economy, black friday

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 11/15/2012

Washington small business owners expect to grow without borrowing in 2013
By J.D. Harrison
Report suggests a majority of local business owners expect payrolls and revenues to increase next year.

By J.D. Harrison  |  10:00 AM ET, 11/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, local business, local, washington d.c., economy

Posted at 03:10 PM ET, 11/14/2012

Obama emphasizes his plans for small business taxes, skilled immigrants during news conference
By J.D. Harrison
During his press conference, the president addressed two of the most pressing concerns for start-ups and small businesses.

By J.D. Harrison  |  03:10 PM ET, 11/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, economy, fiscal cliff, taxes, immigration

Posted at 10:15 AM ET, 11/13/2012

Opinion: Small businesses need clarity and consistency in the tax code
By Grafton Willey IV
When rates change every year, small employers have trouble planning for the future.

By Grafton Willey IV  |  10:15 AM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, taxes, fiscal cliff, spending, economy, debt

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 11/13/2012

Congress could learn a thing or two from small businesses
By ML Mackey
A small contractor says threats like the tax cliff and sequestration underline a lack of business prowess in Washington.

By ML Mackey  |  09:00 AM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, small business, taxes, deficit, business owners, economy, budget, obama

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 11/13/2012

Opinion: Regulations rival tax cliff among small business owners’ biggest concerns
By Keith A. Ashmus
The country is teetering on the edge of the fiscal cliff, but one employer is more worried about red tape.

By Keith A. Ashmus  |  08:00 AM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, small business, taxes, deficit, business owners, economy, budget, obama

Posted at 12:37 PM ET, 11/12/2012

A digital marketing guide to prepare for Small Business Saturday
By Heath Clarke
Customers are expected to ‘shop small’ on Nov. 24. But to lure them in, you’ll need a big online presence.

By Heath Clarke  |  12:37 PM ET, 11/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, small business saturday, retail, economy

Posted at 03:56 PM ET, 11/02/2012

5 takeaways from The Washington Post’s small business exporting event
By Mohana Ravindranath and J.D. Harrison
Small business owners trying to expand your business should start by looking abroad, experts say.

By Mohana Ravindranath and J.D. Harrison  |  03:56 PM ET, 11/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, exports, economy

Posted at 10:15 AM ET, 11/01/2012

Small business lending sinks to lowest level of 2012
By J.D. Harrison
More companies are falling behind on their loan payments even as the Federal Reserve tries to make it easier for them to borrow.

By J.D. Harrison  |  10:15 AM ET, 11/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  small business, lending, borrowing, election, economy