This week is National Small Business week, and that means it's time to celebrate America's job creators. To highlight the importance of the small business sector in America, the NFIB Research Foundation compiled a list of facts and figures that indicate exactly how much small businesses have done for their communities, employees and local economies. Here are a few highlights:

• 91 percent of small business owners contributed to their community in the last year through volunteering, in-kind contributions, and/or direct cash donations. About 41 percent contributed all three ways.
• Small firms provide the first job for most entrants to the labor force. Many of the skills learned in these first jobs, such as showing up on time, learning respect for owners and customers, and learning how to get along with co-workers, last a lifetime.
• Small businesses have developed a significant number of this nation's most important inventions and innovations, such as heart valves and the airplane. Small firms are twice as innovative per employee as larger firms.

To view the complete report, check out this article in the "Issues in the News" section on NFIB.com--and don't forget to thank a small business owner this week.

Posted by Megan Pacella on April 22, 2008 02:54 PM

If you're in real estate, you felt the pinch of a slowing economy months ago. But for many other small business owners, the only indication of a slowdown is in the news. Yet owners like Carol Yenne, who is profiled in this San Francisco Chronicle article, are thinking ahead and taking small steps to protect themselves from any potential setbacks.

For Yenne, it meant waiting to fill shifts left vacant by employees who cut back their hours. Not a drastic move--just one that makes Yenne feel more cautious. Check out these other commonsense tips on how to be smart in times of economic uncertainty.

Posted by Shannon McRae on March 24, 2008 09:17 AM

This news will come as no shock to you, but small businesses, despite a resillient economy, continued to lead growth in the U.S. economy in 2006, according to a report issued this week by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. The report, The Small Business Economy, which is issued annually, covers everything from financing to federal procurement. It also includes statistics on minority- and veteran-owned business.

Posted by Lena Basha on December 20, 2007 03:44 PM

I am your typical first-born child--responsible, punctual, an overachiever and a few people have told me I can be bossy. My younger brother is just the opposite. He's laid-back, kind-hearted and spends large parts of his days looking for stuff he misplaced. On the surface, I'd think would have a much better chance at business success than my brother. But this study says entrepreneurial success has nothing to do with birth order. Instead researchers found that your parents' career paths are more likely to influence your decision to start a business.

"Entrepreneurs are made, they are not born," says Michael Alter, president of SurePayroll which conducted the survey. "There's no DNA sequence that determines whether you will succeed or fail. But the earlier you start to think entrepreneurially, the bigger advantage you have. That's a gift that you receive naturally when you are fortunate enough to be raised by entrepreneurs."

Posted by Shannon McRae on November 18, 2007 07:33 AM

Even in the good times, running a business is risky. But when a disaster strikes a small business, the effects can be devastating. In one day, Norm Osborne lost hundreds of thousands of dollars when his San Diego pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm burned to the ground as wildfires swept through southern California. Farms and other small business were hit hard by the randomness of the fires, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Some were spared; others lost everything.

But even the fires haven't been able to put out out the indomitable spirit of many small-business owners. After being forced to shut down for a week as fires blazed through his community, Leon Herzog, owner of Barrett Junction Cafe in Dulzura, fired up his grill to serve free meals to residents and emergency workers. Despite four canceled events last week, Beverly Ireland, owner of Jasmine Creek Florist in El Cajon, expressed optimism that a "better than ever" holiday season would help her get back on track. And Steve Bovee, owner of Reed's Hobby Shop in La Mesa, made plans to increase his advertising to recover lost revenue.

"You have to be totally optimistic and come out swinging in these situations," Bovee told the Union-Tribune. "Otherwise you'll go crazy."

Posted by Emily McMackin on November 2, 2007 07:39 AM

Doesn't it feel good to be appreciated? For years global companies have touted their strategies to lure small-business customers like you. Last week when IBM announced stronger-than-expected third quarter earnings, the company said its sales to small business are making a big difference, according to USA Today's Small Business blog. "I think that took some people by surprise, since IBM is not really known as a small-business vendor," said analyst Charles King, a researcher at Pund-IT. "But they could really get a toe into this market."

Posted by Shannon McRae on October 22, 2007 08:17 AM

What does small business have to do with global warming? More than you think, according to an article on this week's CNNMoney Web site. Small businesses constitute half of the economy—and consume approximately half of all energy used for commercial and industrial purposes, the article points out. If every small business came up with ways to be more energy-efficient, the impact would be tremendous.

Nearly 500 auto dealers have already pledged to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent, an action that will save energy costs and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. What can you do to help save the environment—and reduce your energy costs? Check out www.energystar.com/smallbiz to find out how to conserve energy in small but significant ways and learn about how NFIB members are going green in our August/September "In the Green" feature.

Posted by Emily McMackin on October 5, 2007 11:02 AM

Men and women are different--and driving across the country with my husband only reinforced that idea. While I wanted to turn around as soon as we thought we were headed in the wrong direction, make hotel reservations before we arrived in a town, and stop to use the restroom more than once a day--he didn't. Both of our methods for cross-country travel would take one from point A to point B--just in different ways.

So I wasn't surprised at all to see a study released last week from the SBA Office of Advocacy that found while gender doesn't affect new venture performance in a small business, several factors vary between men and women business owners, including expectations, motivations and reasons for starting a business.

Posted by Shannon McRae on September 17, 2007 08:06 AM

The news is old, but its implication is as pressing as ever: Small-business owners are finding it harder and harder to provide health insurance—and the health of their businesses and employees are suffering as a result. A recent survey released by the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index confirms what employers already know: The current health-care system is broken and in need of a partial, if not complete, overhaul.

The survey found that 55 percent of small-business owners do not offer any health insurance to their employees—and they cite cost as the No. 1 reason. Employers said that they would be more likely to offer such benefits if the federal government provided some financial incentives for coverage. What's more, a third of the small-business owners said they were cutting back on non-capital investments so they could provide health care for employees.

Small-business owners want to take care of their employees. And, according to the survey, they also know that adequate coverage attracts the most qualified workers and boosts employee loyalty. Now if someone could just tell that to lawmakers! Fortunately, someone is. Go here to learn how NFIB is fighting to make health-care more accessible and affordable for small-business owners. Want to know what you can do? Be on the lookout for a new regular health-care column in our upcoming Oct./Nov. issue to learn more.

Posted by Emily McMackin on September 14, 2007 01:15 PM

Survey results recently released by the American Red Cross and FedEx found that while 94 percent of small-business owners can see their business being seriously disrupted by a disaster within the next two years, not nearly as many feel prepared. According to the Red Cross and FedEx, only 43 percent of small-business owners feel prepared to handle a one-week disruption to their business, and only 22 percent feel they could deal with a disruption lasting one month.

Noting that one in four businesses doesn't reopen after a major disaster, the Red Cross and Fed Ex have announced plans to develop tools to help small-business owners ready themselves.

For tips on how to prepare your business and employees for an emergency, check out NFIB.com's disaster planning section.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on September 13, 2007 03:00 PM

Here's news you could probably see coming: The number of people without health-care insurance increased from 45 million to 47 million. That's despite a decrease in the U.S. poverty rate for the first time this decade.

Read more here about the latest U.S. Census Bureau data and then find out what small business' premier advocacy group, NFIB, is doing to help reverse this staggering trend—and how you can help.

Posted by Lena Basha on August 29, 2007 04:14 PM

Every month, the Discover Small Business Watch compiles information gathered from telephone interviews and surveys with small-business owners and consumers of small-business products and services. This data helps gauge the levels of economic confidence and the status of business growth and spending according to small-business owners. Such information can help you make informed decisions that will help your business grow and withstand adverse economic conditions. Here are some highlights of August's results:

• 35 percent said recent changes in the housing market have had a significant impact on their business.
• 69 percent of small-business owners said they prefer to have their business remain small.
• 41 percent said they have experienced cash-flow issues in the last 90 days, an increase over last month’s 35 percent.
• 36 percent of small-business owners feel that economic conditions for their businesses are getting better, a significant decrease from 41 percent in July.

Visit Discover's business Web site to learn more about the August survey.

Posted by Megan Pacella on August 28, 2007 10:28 AM

Two thousand fewer people applied for unemployment insurance for the week ending Aug. 18, according to this BusinessWeek article. According to the Department of Labor, this marks the first drop in new unemployment claims in about a month.

The NFIB Research Foundation recently released results of a poll measuring unemployment compensation, also finding fewer workers leaving their place of employment. The poll found that during the last year, nearly half of all small businesses experienced no employee turnover. Seventy-three percent of the small businesses did not fire any workers, and 87 percent did not have to lay anyone off for economic reasons.

Read more about the results, or access the complete poll at NFIB.com/research.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on August 23, 2007 02:54 PM

I hate airports. Maybe it's the long security lines, the bad food or the (sometimes) frustrating customer service. I often find myself waiting at baggage claim and wondering if it would have been easier to drive.

But maybe there's hope. This article from Fast Company promises new technology will soon change the airline industry. These new systems will allow airlines to remember my preferences, bring in bigger aircraft when capacity surges, and even notify me if an earlier flight has an empty seat. Now if every airport would offer a lounge like this one in Amsterdam (for when when you take the tikes along), the actual trip would almost be as enjoyable as the destination.

Posted by Shannon McRae on August 13, 2007 07:42 AM

"The Call of the Entrepreneur," a documentary from the Acton Institute that "explores how entrepreneurs shape our world," has been scheduled to premiere around the country. The film focuses on the stories of three men from completely different backgrounds—a failing dairy farmer from Michigan, a merchant banker from New York and a refugee from Communist China. A Sept. 10 showing in Nashville, Tenn., was recently added, and other premieres scheduled for September include Chicago, Houston, New York and Washington, D.C.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on August 9, 2007 09:17 AM

The release of the Michael Moore movie "Sicko" has Americans everywhere talking about the inadequacies of our nation's health-care system and the bureaucracy of the health-insurance industry. One scene in the movie shows Moore taking a boatload of former 9/11 rescue workers to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in a futile attempt to get them the same care given to suspected Al Qaeda prisoners. Eve Tahmincioglu, author of the MSNBC.com Your Biz column, suggests that Moore should have taken entrepreneurs with him instead.

"We all think of lack of health-care coverage as a problem for the poor and unemployed, but small-business owners are also drowning in this nation's medical black hole," says Tahmincioglu, citing NFIB statistics as evidence of the burgeoning problem.

Coverage is so expensive that it sends some would-be small-business owners back to the corporate world; others simply go without, hoping against hope that their health will hold. One thing is certain, Tahmincioglu writes: With the majority of the country's jobs created by small business, it's in our best interest to find a fix.

Visit www.NFIB.com to find out what NFIB is doing to secure better health care for entrepreneurs or to learn more about Small-Business Health Plans, legislation that would allow small-business owners to join together through membership in trade associations to purchase health insurance at bulk rates.

Posted by Emily McMackin on July 31, 2007 08:56 AM

Cordia Harrington probably went to sleep last night exhausted. The Nashville, Tenn.-based small-business owner, who runs the Nashville Bun Company, hosted President Bush yesterday at her business—and she only found out about it last Friday.

"We spent hours walking through the bakery and plotting how the visit would flow," Harrington told BusinessWeek. "We usually think we're pretty good at drop-in company, but this is definitely short notice."

Still, for business owners like Harrington who get the chance to play host to the president, the ensuing fame and surge of interest in their businesses probably makes it all worthwhile.

Harrington has been famous to us for a while now, ever since she appeared on the cover of our December/January 2004 issue talking about how she defines success.

Posted by Lena Basha on July 20, 2007 08:18 AM

If I had a baby tomorrow, I would name her Apple. But not because I love the fruit that much or think Gwenyth Paltrow is clever—I am a hard-core Apple Computer enthusiast, and tomorrow brings the birth of the iPhone.

Sure, it sounds a little (OK, a lot) crazy to name a child after a company, but according to this article at StartupJournal.com, baby-naming is becoming much more about branding and marketing than family tradition. "We live in a marketing-oriented society," says Bruce Lansky, a former advertising executive and author of several baby name books. "People who understand branding know that when you pick the right name, you're giving your child a head start."

And as "family names and old religious standbys continue to lose favor," the article says, name-consulting businesses are popping up in numbers. Stressed-out parents are seeking the help of services such as software programs, numerologists and "nameologists" to ensure they make the right choice when "branding" their new bundle of joy. And with "baby names" remaining a top Internet search—and celebrities fueling the unique name fire—it doesn't look like the demand for these services will cease any time soon.

Which makes me wonder: How many years of unusual baby names will it take for my pretty conventional name to reach obscurity?

Posted by Megan Goodchild on June 28, 2007 02:13 PM

Apparently, Harry Potter is too busy casting off evil forces and protecting humanity to fret over the little guys. Well, perhaps Mr. Potter himself is not to blame for the marginal profits small booksellers will receive with the July 21 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but some wicked wizardry must be behind the bookstores’ woes.

According to a Business Week article, many independent bookstores will gain nothing from the highly anticipated release thanks to price slashing by mega-retailers such as Amazon.com and Wal-Mart. In fact, Amazon and Wal-Mart will not make any profit from the book release either, as they will be cutting prices of the book up to 50 percent. But that’s fine by them as long as reduced prices bring in new customers who will buy other books and goods.

While some independent booksellers will retaliate price cuts with midnight book releases complete with costumes and decorations, there is no magic spell that would let them compete with the mammoth companies who have commandeered the final Potter release.

Posted by Grant Thomas on June 27, 2007 12:49 PM

"Why did you decide to start your business?" I've asked that question to almost every small-business owner I've ever interviewed for MyBusiness. Sometimes the question isn't even relevant to what we're talking about, but I think that there's no better way to get someone talking about their business experiences than to get them talking about what made them take the plunge.

For the June Discover Small Business Watch, released this week, small-business owners got the chance to answer that same question, and the results are right in line with what I always hear:

• 46% of owners started a small business to have more flexibility with their time or to be more independent. Only 19% cite making more money as the primary reason.
• 61% would still choose independence over working for someone else—even if offered more money than they currently make.
• Slightly more than half of small business owners (51%) believe that most people can still achieve the American dream, making them more optimistic than the 41% of adults who feel the same.

Posted by Lena Basha on June 26, 2007 07:59 AM

According to a study by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, referenced in a recent article in The New York Times, the United States "was unusual among developed countries in having a higher business start-up rate among its 18- to 24-year-olds than its 35- to 44-year-olds." But how do so many young people get their start here vs. in other countries? What is so special about the United States? The Times looks to a book by young entrepreneur Ben Casnocha to shed some light on the subject, and concludes that "American youths are so successful at entrepreneurship in part because so many older and wealthier people are willing to help them."

Among other societal reasons, the article discusses how the philanthropic spirit of Americans fosters the entrepreneurial spirit, something NFIB is very actively involved with. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation works to educate young people about the role of small business, and helps students interested in pursuing their dreams as an entrepreneur further their education. The foundation recently announced 422 scholarship winners for the Young Entrepreneur Awards, including four $5,000 winners and one top $10,000 winner.

Learn more about how NFIB is helping tomorrow's small-business owners at the Young Entrepreneur Foundation Web site.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on June 14, 2007 02:10 PM

Today Visa introduced an inaugural report on small businesses based on a poll of more than 600 small-business owners and the most current Visa spending data on small business cards. According to the report, while small-business owners are optimistic about revenue growth and profits, they do have concerns in some areas:

• Most small businesses experienced rising energy costs in the year and they expect increased spending to continue in the next six months
• Larger small businesses express concern that cost of health care will continue to increase
• Tax spending for preparation services and payments on VISA small-business cards increased by 80 percent for the 12 months ending in February 2007, and the average spending on tax preparation and payment is three times the size of the average purchase for all VISA business card transactions
• Attracting new customers is also a concern for small businesses as average marketing costs have increased by 56 percent for the year ending in February 2007

Nevertheless, small businesses appear to be remaining optimistic as almost half of the small-business owners expect an increase in revenue as compared to the 10 percent who expect a revenue decrease.

Posted by Lena Basha on June 6, 2007 01:04 PM

The weekend is over--do you feel rested? If you're already wondering how you'll muster the energy to make it through the week, join the club. We're a nation of walking zombies, according to an article on CareerJournal.com. Only 26 percent of adults get the recommended eight hours of sleep a night; compared with 38 percent in 2001. Most plan on making up for lost shut-eye on the weekends. But when Saturday rolls around, there's so much else to do--and for many busy Americans, extra sleep falls to the bottom of their to-do lists. But before you stifle a yawn or reach for another cup of coffee, consider how a lack of sleep might affect the way you run your business. Chronic fatigue dulls your senses and prevents you from concentrating. So do yourself a favor tonight and don't stay up for the late-night show.

Posted by Shannon McRae on June 3, 2007 06:31 PM

On May 25, President George W. Bush signed the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 into law, raising the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour by July 2009. The increase will occur in three phases:

1. Beginning July 23, 2007, the minimum wage will be $5.85 per hour


2. Beginning July 23, 2008, the minimum wage will be $6.55 per hour


3. Beginning July 23, 2009, the minimum wage will be $7.25 per hour

Many states have minimum-wage laws that differ from the federal law, but employees must be paid the higher of the differing wages. Read today's Tools & Tips on NFIB.com for more information on the new federal minimum-wage law, including exceptions.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on May 31, 2007 09:25 AM

When I was in middle school, my biggest concern alternated between finding a ride to the mall and beating the latest Super Mario Bros. game before my friends could. I thought I was pretty ambitious, but boy was I wrong. Venture Beat has the story of 13-year-old Anshul Samar, founder and CEO of Elementeo, a startup that is focusing on a new role-playing board game designed to help students study chemistry by incorporating elements (no pun intended) of fun. And according to Venture Beat, he'd already booked 450 pre-orders as of last week.

To learn how NFIB helps support and encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in students, visit NFIB's Young Entrepreneur Foundation.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on May 24, 2007 03:27 PM

According to an annual study on entrepreneurial activity released today by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, nearly 465,000 people create new businesses each month, which is consistent with last year's growth rate.

What did change this year was the make-up of America's entrepreneurial class, which is becoming increasingly ethnic and foreign-born. The study found that Asians, Latinos and immigrants far outpaced native-born Americans in entrepreneurial activity last year.

Some other highlights:

• Construction boasted the highest rate of increase (1.06 percent); the second highest was the services industry (0.40 percent).


• Entrepreneurial activity decreased in the Midwest from 0.26 percent in 2005 to 0.22 percent
  in 2006. As a result, the Midwest replaced the Northeast as the region with the lowest level of entrepreneurial activity.


• States with the highest levels of entrepreneurial activity in 2006 were Montana, Mississippi, Georgia, Oklahoma and Maine; states with the lowest levels were Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Illinois and Delaware.

Posted by Lena Basha on May 23, 2007 11:12 AM

My name is Shannon, and I'm addicted to e-mail. I admit it. I check it before I go to bed at night and before I get my first cup of coffee in the morning. Within my circle of family, friends and coworkers, my e-mail habits aren't that extreme. But according to a Pew Internet and American Life Survey, I'm in the minority. The recent survey on Americans' use of information and communication tools (ICT) found that 49 percent of Americans report that they rarely or never use computers, cell phones or other ICT tools. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 8 percent of Americans consider themselves "deep users" of participatory Web and mobile applications, and 23 percent rate themselves heavy, pragmatic adopters, using the technology to keep up with work and social networks.

For small-business owners, it's smart to consider in which category of users most of your customers fall. Exploring text-based advertising might be pointless if the majority of your customers say they rarely use cell phones. Before creating your next marketing campaign, find out how much technology touches the lives of your customers.

Posted by Shannon McRae on May 21, 2007 10:38 AM

When I worked in New York City for a few years after college, one of my colleagues (who was born and raised in Brooklyn) was fascinated by my Southern roots. She'd never been south of Washington, D.C., and often asked me questions like, "Do you have stores in your town?" I'm sure she was imagining a land of cows pastures and dirt roads. While both of those exist in my hometown, so does a lot of booming industry--which is why for the second year in a row, the Southeast dominated the top 10 list of Forbes magazine's best places for business. Raleigh, N.C., snagged the No. 1 spot, while four other Southern cities ranking in the top 10 as well (including Nashville, Tenn., home of MyBusiness headquarters). Lower business costs, a highly educated workforce and affordable housing are just some of the criteria researchers used to rank the cities. Y'all are welcome to visit any time to see what all the fuss is about.

Posted by Shannon McRae on April 30, 2007 11:17 AM

The Small Business Administration recently relaunched its Web site. I have to say--it needed an update. The old site was jumbled and hard to navigate. At least the new one looks more organized. There you can find tools, tips and resources to manage and expand your business as well as links to all the programs offered by SBA. Still can't find what you're looking for? Check out USA.gov, the one-stop site for all things government. Formerly FirstGov.gov, this site got a face-lift too.

Posted by Shannon McRae on April 25, 2007 12:47 PM

Small business continues to generate 50 percent of the private, non-farm gross domestic product, according to a study released today by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. The study examined the small-business share of the GDP from 1998-2004, and confirmed earlier findings that it has hovered around 50 percent. NFIB knows just how important small business is to our economy, which is why it continues to promote and protect the right of its members to own, operate and grow their businesses. For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on April 16, 2007 02:58 PM

According to a study on e-mail usage by IDC, nearly 97 billion e-mails will be sent each day worldwide this year, and more than half of those will be spam messages. This is the first year that spam e-mail volumes are expected to exceed person-to-person e-mail volumes sent worldwide, IDC says.

The reason? The study says those pesky image-based spam messages (I know I got about 14 this morning) are really good at getting past spam filters, as are sender-identity spoofers.

The solution? "Deploy multiple layers of commercial antispam software, appliances, and services that are regularly updated to increase effectiveness over time."

Get tips on reducing spam's effect on your inboxes in the "Internet" section of NFIB.com's Business Toolbox.

Posted by Lena Basha on April 11, 2007 12:54 PM

The month of April is in full swing, and one dreadful word is on everyone’s mind—taxes. With the deadline looming, many small-business owners find themselves adding extra stress to their load.

According to the March Discover Small Business Watch survey, 77 percent of small-business owners find keeping up with taxes a stressful and time-consuming ordeal. In order to avoid the distractions, 73 percent hire a tax professional to take care of the hassle instead.

The survey also mentions how small business owners prefer to find a trustworthy accounting firm to file their taxes. For an overview on the survey, check out Andrea Coombes’ article on StartupJournal.com.

Posted by Megan Pacella on April 3, 2007 01:27 PM

The forecast sounds bleak: With a large percentage of baby boomers retiring and a smaller percentage of younger workers left to take their place, businesses can expect a shortage of qualified employees in the coming years, a management-issues.com article reports. A Development Dimensions Interenational and Monster survey confirms this. Nearly three quarters of staffing directors worldwide say competition for talent has worsened since 2005, and many fear it will only intensify. In fact, more than half of hiring managers surveyed said they must "sell" jobs to candidates rather than the other way around—even though many of these applicants are less qualified than in the past.

Before you panic and hike up your compensation rates, check out our April/May feature, "Silver Linings: Finding Gold in a Graying America." With the percentage of employees age 55 and older rising, we explore how small-business owners can fill worker shortages by tapping into the gold mine of skills and experience offered by older applicants. Learn why Brian Hughes of Montvale, N.J.-based Hughes Environmental Engineering, staffs one-third of his business with employees over 50 years old.

Here's the good news: Not only are these workers more qualified, they're looking for the flexibility that small businesses offer. Plus, unlike their younger counterparts, they aren't as preoccupied with compensation packages—or as anxious to move around to different companies. What about technology? Health insurance? Are older workers less savvy and more costly in those areas? You might be surprised by what we found.

Posted by Emily McMackin on March 28, 2007 07:35 AM

Who do most Americans trust the most? According to a recent Harris Poll survey, it's you. The survey found that more people have confidence in leaders of small business than any other type of leaders they were questioned about, including Wall Street titans, military commanders, federal judges, doctors, church leaders, politicians and CEOs of multimillion-dollar corporations.

According to the survey, 54 percent have a great deal of confidence in small-business leaders, while only 16 percent said the same about leaders of major companies. On her Web site, Small-Business Trends editor Anita Campbell notes the wide variance between the two.

"It doesn't take much for the highly-publicized excesses of a few in large public corporations (Enron-like collapses and take-your-breath-away CEO pay packages) to undermine confidence in the entire group," Campbell writes.

Posted by Emily McMackin on March 23, 2007 10:05 AM

Immigrants are not only carving out new lives in the United States, they're creating new jobs, according to Intuit Inc.'s Future of Small Business report. By 2017, the study predicts that more immigrants will be starting new businesses than native-born Americans—and many of these new entrepreneurs will be women.

Immigrant women start businesses because it gives them the flexibility to raise children and allows them to avoid barriers that come with traditional jobs, according to an RXPG News article on the study. Some have skills that don't translate well into corporate America, the article states.

These women have advantages in a global marketplace, the Intuit study says; language skills and relationships from home countries help them find suppliers and customers. The study also identifies other small-business trends on the horizon, including the rise of consulting businesses and entrepreneurial education.

Posted by Emily McMackin on March 9, 2007 08:27 AM

Just in time for tax-filing season, the IRS has released its dirty dozen list of the most blatant scams affecting American taxpayers. Most of the false information comes from scam artists who peddle the schemes by phone, but the IRS also warns taxpayers to be weary of tax preparers who promise inflated returns.

Topping this year's list is abuse of the telephone excise tax, a one-time refund of previously paid long-distance telephone taxes. Early returns show that some filers are requesting refunds on their entire phone bills rather than the 3 percent tax. Find more information on how to determine your telephone excise tax refund on NFIB.com.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 28, 2007 09:13 AM

You've probably seen the statistics about the growing number of immigrant entrepreneurs in the country, but a recent story in the New York Times (registration required) by Nina Bernstein puts faces to the numbers. The article chronicles the rewards and struggles of entrepreneurship for this rising demographic of business owners.

Bernstein tells the story of several Manhattan-based immigrant owners, including Columbian Manuel Miranda, who hopes to take his corn flatbread product nationwide; Sachin Mody, CEO of a burgeoning Indian sweets shop that his father helped found; and Jay Chung, a South Korean who operates one of the most successful souvenir shops in Manhattan. The article, and its accompanying video, capture the pride these owners feel for their businesses as well as the difficulties they face in growing them. The article also details what Manhattan's city leaders are doing to try to give them a boost.

Check out this inspiring story to learn how immigrants are shaping the economy and the future of entrepreneurship in America.

Posted by Emily McMackin on February 9, 2007 09:54 AM

Small-business owners beware: The IRS is watching you. An article in American Business Daily explains that members of the Senate Finance Committee recently asked the IRS to come up with a plan for closing the estimated $290 million tax gap (the difference between what federal taxpayers owe and what they actually pay). Upon hearing its assignment, the agency pointed to business owners as the biggest source of the problem, claiming that underreported business income makes up one-third of the tax gap.

This issue has NFIB written all over it--the small-business advocacy group refuses to stand by and let the government balance its books on the backs of independent-business owners. A story in the current issue of MyBusiness magazine explains why the IRS is barking up the wrong tree.

Posted by Shannon McRae on February 7, 2007 09:01 AM

I thought I had heard it all when I read some time last year that Wal-Mart was "going green." The mammoth retailer announced it would begin selling organic products as well as working to find ways to reduce waste and cut its greenhouse gas emissions. "Whatever," I thought to myself. "Just another desperate attempt at some good PR." (Those of us around the halls of MyBusiness delight in being anti-Wal-Mart.)

But then I noticed that Wal-Mart wasn't the only one in corporate America clamoring to be known as environmentally friendly. Over the past few years, "green" has taken on a new meaning in some businesses. NPR's Marketplace interviewed Yale professor Daniel Etsy earlier this week about how some smart companies (including Wal-Mart) have realized that tree-hugging can be good for the environment and their bottom lines.

So how are small businesses fitting into this trend? Has your business--or one you know--adopted new practices that will sustain Mother Earth? If so, we want to hear from you. E-mail us at feedback@mybusinessmag.com.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 31, 2007 09:00 AM

"What did you do this weekend?" "Oh, raised $4.1 million in venture funding for my new Web site." I don't know about you, but I didn't have too many conversations like this in high school. Yet last week, investors announced they were sinking cash--and lots of it--into myYearbook.com, a site created by 17-year-old Catherine Cook that lets teens create their own digital yearbooks.

Teenagers today are proving that age isn't a barrier to the business world if you have a good idea and know how to execute it. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation hears stories of amazing young businesspeople all the time. Joe Pascaretta, a former winner of the Foundation's annual scholarship award, didn't waste his first semester of college skipping class and eating pizza. Instead, the University of Michigan freshman's landscaping firm grew more than 239 percent to gross more than $1 million in 2006. Kind of puts to shame that "B" in biology that I was so proud to earn my freshman semester.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 29, 2007 10:48 AM

Ever wish that you could peer into a crystal ball and foresee the spending habits of your customers? While that may be impossible, your experience, along with good market research, can help you make an educated guess. U.S. News & World Report recently published an article based on the latest Pew survey on Americans' spending and saving habits. A few highlights include:
•Americans confess to splurging on food and dining out more than any other expense.
•The most common surprise expenses fall into the medical, automotive and home or housing catagories.
•When Americans need to cut back costs, they often tighten their belts on entertainment first, then eating out and shopping.

Posted by Emily McMackin on January 26, 2007 10:54 AM

One of the most pressing concerns of small-business owners is finding--or maintaining--access to affordable health care in the face of skyrocketing costs. NFIB has been urging Congress to deliver a solution for years, and NFIB members have been fighting right alongside by calling, faxing, e-mailing and meeting with their lawmakers to share their stories and demand the same health-care opportunities as big business enjoys.

Today, NFIB member and small-business owner Jim Henderson, along with NFIB member Software to Go employee Dan Jones, took their efforts one step further by participating in a roundtable discussion with President George W. Bush, where they provided a unique perspective on health-care initiatives.

Posted by Megan Goodchild on January 25, 2007 08:38 PM

Last night was one of those rare occasions in my house where we ate dinner in front of the television. I usually make my husband turn off whatever ball game is on so that we can have a civilized discussion about our days. But we broke the rule last night so that we could watch the president's State of the Union address (we live on the West Coast, so it was on during our dinner time).

In addition to hearing what Bush had to say, it was also fun to watch the sideshows: Obama was seated directly in front of Clinton. Did you notice how that basketball player towered over Laura Bush?! And how cool that the president pointed to a successful small-business owner--the founder of Baby Einstein. Even more impressive: NFIB member Joe Balsarotti and his employee Dan Jones were among the guests included in the first lady's viewing box.

Bush outlined a lot of important initiatives, but none hit as close to home for small businesses as his health-insurance plans. Independent-business owners don't have to be told there's a crisis in this country. Maybe this Congress will finally solve it instead of fighting about it. In case you missed it, here's his speech in its entirety. And check out NFIB's response to the president's health-care plans.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 24, 2007 09:00 AM

Small-business owners ended 2006 on a serious note, according to the latest NFIB Research Foundation Small-Business Economic Trends Report. Declines in job-creation plans as well as a drop in the number of business owners who expected the economy to improve sent the Small-Business Optimism level down 3.2 points to 96.5 (1986=100).

October readings showed near record-high rates of business owners planning to create new jobs. But by December, that number dropped sharply to just 10 percent. Ten percent of the owners reported that the availability of qualified labor was their top business problem, down two points from November and five points from October, indicating that labor market conditions may be easing.

Read more about what the survey predicts about the first quarter of this year here.

Posted by Shannon McRae on January 11, 2007 08:31 AM