Small Business News

Current Small Business News

Businesses are specifically classified as small, medium and large. That is so because each is confronted with issues specific to their size. For a small business, one of the tools it can have to help it survive the challenges it usually face is information. By knowing the problems it has to deal with and what help it can get from outside sources, business owners can make wise decisions for the good of the enterprise.

Be updated about issues that many small business owners face, the government policies that affect them, loan and educational opportunities that are made available to them, and even the latest tools that they can use to help them effectively manage the business.

  • Businesses Should Not Neglect Customer Service on Facebook
    You have to know that your business’ Facebook page is important; it is just as important as facing your customer or potential customer, so you must not neglect or ignore your Facebook page but rather take time in maintaining it. You have to offer an online customer service.

  • Top 20 among the 100 Best Companies to Work For
    Millions of new recruitment is going on everyday but it is really interesting to know who all companies are sitting at the top choice list of job seekers'.

  • Hiring Slows Down Dramatically
    In March, hiring slowed down since it is reported last Friday by the Labor Department that employers just added about 120,000 jobs.

  • Some Barbie, Disney Toys Have High Lead Content
    Some models of Barbie and Disney toys have been found to have high level of lead, a health advocacy group showed on Tuesday.

  • UN Votes for Lifting of US Embargo on Cuba
    The UN, for the 18th straight years, has voted against the continued embargo of the United States on the communist island of Cuba.

  • US Congress Passes Bill Creating Consumer Protection Agency
    The Democrats have proven themselves against full force lobbying of multimillion businesses by passing a new legislation that would ensure consumer protection from abuses being committed by big companies in the US.

  • Mattel Releases Real Black Barbies
    Christie, the popular Barbie doll made by Mattel, now has three new BFFs namely Kara, Grace, and Trichelle.

  • US Housing Market Recovery Will Take More Time, Fannie Mae Exec
    It will be a long road ahead for the US housing marker as major investors remained cautious in putting their money into home stocks, an executive of mortgage giant Fannie Mae said on Monday.

  • Upcoming Federal Grant for Health System Infrastructure
    Joe Biden, US Vice President, announced the upcoming federal grant for health system infrastructure. Beginning October 1, there will be a total of $1.162 billion to begin the creation of infrastructure needed for hospitals to use and implement electronic health records.

  • Warrants Released by Financial Institutions
    Warrants are simply securities (legal obligations) that companies issue to entitle the holder to payment if the company stock will rise up past a certain level. Take note that financial institutions issued warrants to government last year in exchange for capital infusions.

  • Tap Water Safer Than Bottled Water- Experts
    Bottled manufacturers were urged by the government and a non-profit organization to label their products accordingly to know its safety standards and to go at par with the tap water that the city is distributing.

  • Start Your Business Easily with Government Grants
    People don’t know that they can apply for government grants and start up the business that they’ve been dreaming of for many years. This is money that they don’t have to pay. So whatever business that you want to open, you can own your business and be your own boss with a little help from Uncle Sam.

  • The Fearful Return of Bank Problems
    Banking confidence showed sharp improvements in April and May. However, the key market measure determining the health of big financial institutions globally has deteriorated this month.

  • The Growth of Online Payday Loan Industry
    Do you think that the payday loan business will be a new trend in America? Some say that it’s a saving grace for the economic crisis while some are convinced that it’s a trap exploiting most families.

  • Survey Says Consumer Confidence Improves in May
    In a recent survey conducted by the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, consumer sentiment increased to 68.7 points from 65.1 in April.

  • The Meaning of Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights
    As soon as President Obama signs the “Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights” into law, you need to know how it will affect your credit card use. If you are a student or minor, this law will affect you the most.

  • Smartphone Sales Remain Strong Amid Financial Crisis
    According to IT research company Gartner, smartphone sales in the second quarter increased by 12.7 percent to nearly 36 million devices sold around the world despite that the overall sales of mobile phones has dropped 9.4 percent or 296 million units.

  • Online Hackers Target Businesses
    A recent report shows that online hackers have started using popular social networking sites and other online properties such as Facebook, MySpace, Multiply, Twitter, and Linkedln to attack companies.

  • Subprime Lending comes back
    Do you think using tax credit to subsidize the down payment and closing costs for first time homebuyers is a good initiative? Despite criticisms, the federal government and the states are employing schemes to make this possible. In fact, they are finding creative ways to advance this tax credit to potential home buyers.

  • Planning to Survive Recession
    Now is the time for the community to bring their leadership team together in order to rethink about how they can support existing businesses and attract new investments. The three primary tasks are essential whether they’re updating an existing plan or bringing together their local leadership team.

  • Worst Cities for Business
    According to a research study by Joel Kotkin (urban futures presidential fellow at Chapman University) and Michael Shires (public policy associate professor at Pepperdine University), Ohio and Michigan are the worst cities to look for a job or put up your business.

  • More People Buy Chocolate Amid Recession, Cadbury Sales Up
    Chocolate companies are enjoying strong sales amid global financial crisis as more consumers are spending their money to buy comfort foods especially chocolates. According to report, Swiss chocolate makers enjoy 2 percent increase in sales during the fourth quarter in 2008.

  • Foreclosure Increases 24 Percent in March
    Experts fear that the number of Americans facing foreclosure threats is on the rise as a study revealed that foreclosure filings increased by 24 percent in March from 7 percent of the previous month.

  • Retail Sales Fall as Consumers Spend Less
    The retail industry sales on March dropped 1.1 percent more than the predicted level causing its stock shares to finished lower on Tuesday.

  • Employees' Confidence Falls at Record Low
    Employee Benefit Research Institute conducted a survey in 2008 which revealed that only 13 percent of American workers believe they have a secure future when they reach their retirement age.

  • Retail Business Starts to Recover
    The retail business has posted a slight increase in sales following months of slumping revenue due to low consumer demand. Meanwhile, economists said that these result is a good sign that shows the US economy is starting to bounce from the financial recession which started in September last year.

  • Electronic Companies Scramble over Scarce Metals
    Electronic companies have started to scramble to secure its stockpiles of rare alloys as the demand for electronic gadgets is expected to increase for the next twenty years.

  • Authorities to Chase Scammers Targeting Homeowners
    Government officials and law enforcement agency recently announced their renewed plan to crack down scammers who take advantage of the current financial condition by offering illicit transaction to homeowners.

  • Delinquency Rate Rises Despite Aid to Homeowners
    More Americans homeowners are still facing foreclosure threats despite government aid and mortgage lenders’ record-low interest rates. According to a group of mortgage lenders Hope Now Alliance, there are a growing number of delinquent homeowners or those people who are at least two months delayed in payments.

  • Labor Market Trembles in March
    Automatic Data Process Inc. (ADP) said that US analysts drastically fall short of the projected jobless rate as more than 742, 000 Americans have lost their work in March, adding that the financial slowdown continues to wreak havoc despite the government’s stimulus program which injected billions of dollars in the economy.

  • Consumer Confidence Falls to Record-low
    The AlixPartners LLP and the Institute for Supply Management Chicago Inc. conducted a study which showed said that the economy has declined by 31.4 percent in terms of expenditures. Meanwhile, confidence index of the Conference Board has increased to 26 percent on March compared to April’s 25.3 percent.

  • Workers Complain on Rising Cost of Health Insurance
    Because health insurance policy is continuously increasing, more workers are complaining that there salary, which remained stagnant, is trimmed down significantly because of this expensive government health program. According to a recent study, the cost of health insurance is increasing at a rate of six to eight times faster than the workers’ salary.

  • Consumer Spending Slows Down in February
    Economists said that consumer spending in February has experienced slow growth due to many factors including record-high unemployment rate, weak market, credit crunch, and fragile economy.

  • Mortgage Rates Expected to Go Lower
    Mortgage lender Freddie Mac reported that interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage which reached 5 percent for the last couple of days will continue to go lower amid plans of Federal Reserve to inject more than $1 trillion stimulus money to the housing and credit industry to help people avoid foreclosure.

  • Wii Consoles Sales Rise Amid Crisis
    Despite weakening US economy due to global recession, Nintendo’s popular gaming console Wii is enjoying massive growth sales after consumers bought more than 753,000 units in February alone.

  • Obama to Loosen Credit for Small Industries
    After spending billions of dollars to provide financial assistance to big industries reeling from the economic recession, President Barack Obama has focused his stimulus effort in helping small-scale businesses by injecting more than $15 billion to this economy to buy its loans.

  • 1 out of 8 Homeowners Affected by Foreclosure
    Because of the worsening economic condition, more Americans are facing foreclosure threats. According to a recent survey, 5.4 million homeowners were at least one month delayed in paying for their mortgage loans or facing eviction before the end of 2009.

  • Home Sales Fall in January
    The National Association of Realtors said that home sales in January fell to 7.7 percent compared to the previous month, making this the lowest drift in the housing industry for decades. According to experts, the slumping home sales in the country came not as a surprise since the economy is in full recession.

  • Labor Market Trembles with the Ongoing Crisis
    US labor market continues to tremble with the ongoing economic crisis as the number of unemployed Americans rose to record high. With the grim outlook, experts and economists believe that the depressing labor market merely reflects how volatile the US economy is in this period of global recession that hit most industrialized countries.

  • Consumer Confidence Falls in February
    The latest survey conducted by Conference Board revealed that consumer confidence plummeted to record low because of the ongoing recession that resulted to pessimistic outlook of most Americans who worry about financial situation, unstable labor market, massive layoffs, low-incomes, highly volatile economic condition, credit crunch, and other financial concerns.

  • Consumer Prices Rise Amid Recession
    With the continuous increase of oil value, consumer prices also rose amidst the ongoing global recession, which usually happens when the price of goods remained unchanged for three straight months.

  • Consumer Confidence Falls Record-low
    Consumer confidence falls record-low as the economic condition is trapped in the recession which is expected to be deeper and longer than expected. Meanwhile, majority of Americans expect that this gloomy outlook may last up to five more years in the US as they are constantly worrying about layoffs and unstable economy.

  • Job Losses Continue to Rise
    With the ongoing recession which greatly hit the labor market, unemployment rate in January reached 7.6 percent, with nearly 600,000 people losing their jobs in just a single month. In addition to this, experts warn that the labor condition may get worse, predicting that unemployed Americans can reach as high as 9 percent before the year ends.

  • Starbucks to Shut Down 300 Stores
    Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, has recently announced to shut down its 300 stores in US and abroad amidst the slumping sales and low demand. With this move, it has been estimated that 6,700 employees both from corporate and cafe positions will lose their jobs, adding to already looming unemployment rate.