President Obama has been trying to figure out new ways to help U.S. small businesses thrive. The new programs are hoped to jumpstart the countries slow economy. A new tax cut proposed by House Republican for small businesses could do just that.
If passed, businesses with less than 500 employees will qualify for a tax cut of up to 20 per cent. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-VA spoke about his hopes that the proposal would help small businesses “retain and create new jobs” to help boost the overall economy during the announcement of the proposed tax cuts. The republicans hope [...]

Lots of small business consultants talk a lot about technical means to an end, for example, using specific kinds of tech tools or other strategies to compile a list of possible investors for a small business – but some of today’s business leaders are looking in a somewhat new direction, considering how in many cases, it’s the outlook, personality and drive of an entrepreneur that makes business happen, rather than a methodical, technical approach to fund-raising.

A recent article on Entrepreneur.com illustrates this principle rather well. The article talks about people called “connectors” and how they function. The basic point is [...]

T-Mobile recently announced a new partnership with Square that will help small businesses accept debit and credit cards more easily and in more places. The Square chip that plugs into your mobile phone will allow customers to swipe and pay for their purchases on the spot.  This technology could be great for small businesses, especially given that in 2011 U.S. mobile commerce sales hit $5.3 billion, an 83% increase from 2010.  Being able to purchase the Square in a T-Mobile store will make it easier for small businesses to get on the mobile commerce train.
With this new technology, businesses will [...]

The first thing you need to do when it comes to flipping real estate is to step away from the television and put down the remote control. Good, now you won’t be tempted to follow any of the late night real estate “gurus” who try to sell you on the idea that you don’t need money to flip real estate. Maybe, in a utopian-real-estate-flipping-universe you might be able to buy a house for no-money-down, have contractors volunteer to renovate the place and you could sell it before your first mortgage, insurance or utility bill came due. In addition, in this [...]

As tax quickly approaches, many small business owners turn to their tax advisors to prepare and file their taxes for them. In fact, a poll of over 1,200 respondents determined that 72% of business owners use external tax advisors. Although 78% of those polled are happy with their tax advice, there are many things to consider when gathering all the documentation for your tax advisor. Tax advisors may work wonders with all the information you give them, but there may be a few items you are leaving out.
Receipts Under $75
Although tax laws do not require a receipt for purchases under [...]

As many marketing experts have pointed out to startup leaders and small business pioneers, there’s a big difference between trying to grow a business with an e-commerce component by grabbing web traffic, and using a web site or online element as a greater “bridge” to generating more buzz about a company, service or product. Part of the difference has to do with the scale of an entrepreneur’s aspirations, but there are also a few other considerations that will help small business owners or managers to chart a course for the future of an online project.
Some Exclusive Results of Brand Building
In [...]

We’ve been in small business finance for a while (over 10 years), we work with many banks to get small businesses funding across the US.  We have a ton of knowledge and experience we’d like to share.  Our priority is to help get you funding.  For this reason we’ve decided to launch a new series discussing current banking programs and what’s available for your business.
Bank of America is possibly the biggest bank in the US, and we do a lot of business with them. Here are some highlights for small businesses seeking financing through Bank of America.
If you’re seeking less [...]

Over at the “X-Factor,” three on-camera personalities – Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Steve Jones – were given their walking papers this week, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Seems lead judge Simon Cowell decided it was time for a shake up before the second season returns this fall. Apparently the three didn’t have what Cowell needed.
According to the LAT article, “In some ways, the departures are not a surprise. The singing groups mentored by Abdul were eliminated in short order on last fall’s shows, a result that irked Cowell. Scherzinger’s contestants – all over 30 – fared better, but Cowell [...]

Recently, IBIS World conducted a research study of the fastest rising industries in 2012.  The Los Angeles-based publisher of U.S. industry research based its findings on the projected revenue growth, forecast enterprise growth over five years, 2011 profit margins, the low barrier to starting such a business, and the amount of capital required.
According to Brian Bueno, economic research analyst at IBIS World, the economy beginning to stabilize and other conditions such as job growth, credit conditions, and consumer spending will put “more money in the pockets of consumers and various opportunities for new businesses.”
If you’re ready to start a business [...]

There’s a lot of talk about the two teams headed to Super Bowl XLVI this coming Sunday.
Which team has got the better offense? Which team can neutralize the defense? Which team can put the kibosh on big plays? Who will come out on top of the Brady/Manning matchup?
Comparing two very different football teams is like comparing the sales teams in different organizations. There are too many factors to get an honest comparison. Things like company and sales force size, industry, market focus and more, can make it tough to predict success rate.
However, Profiles International (PI) recently released the 2011 Large [...]