Trends
The latest trends business owners should be paying attention to.
- Analysis: What a Housing Bust Means for Business , August 31, 2005
- A downturn would likely cut consumer spending and throw industries such as construction and mortgage finance into a slump.
- Consumer Confidence Up, Conference Board Figures Show , August 30, 2005
- The board's upbeat assessment challenges earlier reports of decling optimism for August.
- Finding Workers Getting Tougher , August 29, 2005
- Jobless claims fall, help wanted ads rise, and small businesses find it harder to hire.
- Bankruptcy Deadline Prompting Filings , August 26, 2005
- Under law that goes into effect Oct. 17, businesses would face greater restrictions.
- Companies Address Impact of Energy Costs , August 26, 2005
- Small businesses have yet to pass on costs to consumers, but they're increasingly feeling the squeeze.
- Consumer Confidence Falls, Small Business Rises , August 26, 2005
- Concerns over energy costs bringing consumer concerns down, but small business optimism remains up.
- Surplus Corporate Savings to Prompt Spending , August 25, 2005
- As second-quarter earnings come in higher, smaller businesses could benefit from the extra income.
- Research Not Being Applied to Innovations , August 24, 2005
- Study says university research on innovations could realize greater potential.
- Slow Back-to-School Sales Expected for Small Retailers , August 24, 2005
- As back-to-school market shifts toward college market, smaller retailers seen lagging trend.
- Small Businesses Providing Less Health Coverage , August 23, 2005
- As prices rise, companies look to share cost with employees, or downscale their plans.
- Online Consumers Happy with Google , August 16, 2005
- A new study shows the search engine is number one in satisfying customers, but Yahoo is closing the gap.
- Businesses Getting Squeezed on Prices , August 16, 2005
- Consumer prices rise .5% in July, suggesting businesses may be losing the ability to pass along price increases to customers.
- Work-Life Not an Issue for Owners , August 10, 2005
- A survey finds that small business owners are satisfied with the balance of their personal lives and work schedules.
- Small Business Optimism Up , August 10, 2005
- Fed rate hike indicates growing economy despite slower productivity in the second quarter.
- Images Helped NASA with Discovery Re-entry , August 8, 2005
- Small Kansas firm supplied key image-transmitting technology for the first shuttle trip since the failed Columbia mission in 2003.
- Modest Job Growth at Small Businesses , August 5, 2005
- Hiring improved by .1% in July, half of the growth seen by the general economy.
- Small Cities Innovate, Too , August 4, 2005
- Study shows lower-populated areas log high number of patents in mature technology fields.
- Economy Grew More Slowly in Second Quarter , August 1, 2005
- Smaller businesses seen as more robust segment, however.
- Small Businesses More Vulnerable to Tech Threats, July 28, 2005
- Survey shows small business owners have complacent attitudes toward security issues.
- Hurricane Season Gives Business a Boost in Florida, July 26, 2005
- Last year's hurricanes boosted business for many in Florida, increasing job creation and creating billions in unexpected tax revenue.
- Teamsters, SEIU Disaffiliate from AFL-CIO, July 26, 2005
- The two unions look to large and small businesses to increase organization activity.
- Employers Seen Increasing Pay Levels, July 25, 2005
- As larger employers raise salaries, small businesses are feeling pressure to follow along.
- Workers' Compensation Costs Rising, July 25, 2005
- Report says workers' compensation costs are rising faster than those for employee benefits and medical care.
- Wasting Time at Work Costs Companies Billions, July 22, 2005
- A recent survey reveals the high cost of time wasted by employees.
- Center Opens to Help Minority Entrepreneurs, July 21, 2005
- First center under Urban Entrepreneur Partnership opens in Kansas City, Missouri.
- VC Fundraising Grows in the Second Quarter, July 20, 2005
- The climate for businesses seeking venture capital may be improving, especially for smaller firms and start-ups.
- Entrepreneurship on the Rise in Rural America, July 20, 2005
- A recent study of Nebraskans suggests business ownership is on the rise, but notes high cost of health insurance as a possible hindrance to continued entrepreneurial expansion.
- Women Reentering Workforce Look for Opportunity in Small Business, July 19, 2005
- Women who have taken time off from corporate America target smaller companies for work.
- Start-up Sales Decline, But Prices Rise, July 18, 2005
- Median selling price of a new business hits highest level since 2000.
- 180s CEO Steps Down, July 18, 2005
- Cofounder and CEO leaves as the two-time Inc. 500 company enters new stages of development.
- Small Businesses to Get Boost from Retail Sales, July 14, 2005
- Strong car sales suggested smaller firms in other industries could see a sales boost in the near future.
- Microsoft Targets Vertical Markets, July 14, 2005
- Microsoft to release off-the-shelf software for specific industries.
- Ports to Stay Open Late, July 13, 2005
- New port plan in California has ramifications for truckers and retailers alike.
- Universal Health Care Is Back, July 12, 2005
- Advocates make another push for a universal health care system to help alleviate the rising cost of health insurance.
- Employment Picture Warms in June, July 11, 2005
- More people employed than at any time since September 2001.
- VCs to Increase Overseas Investment, July 8, 2005
- Nearly double the number of venture capital firms will make investments outside the U.S. this year.
- Employment Picture Warms in June, July 8, 2005
- More people employed than at any time since September 2001.
- Study Sees Obstacles to Minority Business Growth, July 7, 2005
- Minority owners tend to cap growth after self-sufficiency, report finds.
- Retail Sales Up in June, July 7, 2005
- Strong results quell fears that rising energy prices would impinge spending.
- Study Predicts Increase in Offshoring, July 6, 2005
- By 2008, 4.1 million service-side jobs will be offshored, according to a recent McKinsey study.
- Joe Mansueto Agrees to Buy Inc. andFast Company , June 27, 2005
- Morningstar chairman and chief executive to form new publishing entity, magazines to operate from New York.
- Foreign Investment Hits Record High, June 27, 2005
- Investments driven partly by mergers and acquisitions in financial and real estate sectors.
- Antitrust Suit Filed Against Visa, Mastercard, June 24, 2005
- Companies assert "interchange fee" on every charge is exorbitant and unfair.
- Study: Fewer Engaed in Entrepreneurial Activities, June 23, 2005
- The Entrepreneurship Research Institute says start-up activity declined by 20% from 2003 to 2004.
- Study: Mobile Offices to Foster Worker Burn-Out, June 20, 2005
- Employment Agency claims that handhelds and the like will make it easier to work harder and longer in the future.
- 'Pharming' Is Latest Internet Security Threat, June 20, 2005
- Report finds rising evidence of new scam tricking consumers into visiting phony e-commerce sites.
- Leading Indicators Index Falls in May, June 20, 2005
- Increases in state unemployment claims and a drop in building permits drive figures down.
- Small Businesses Turn Bullish in May, June 17, 2005
- Earnings growth and planned hiring reverses five straight months of declining optimism.
- Small Business Travelers Missing out on Savings, June 16, 2005
- Most small business travelers don't belong to travel clubs, survey finds.
- Popular Entrepreneurship Organizations Unite Under One Name, June 14, 2005
- The Young Entrepreneurs' Organization and the World Entrepreneurs' Organization have a new name.
- Employees Standing Up to Muscle Pain on the Job, June 14, 2005
- Experts say providing oppurtunities for employers to stand while working during the day boosts productivity, bottom lines.
- Program Aims to Train Rural Entrepreneurs, June 13, 2005
- Entrepeneurship seen as economic antidote to regional declines in farming and manufacturing.
- Small Businesses Offered Deal on Rental Cars, June 10, 2005
- Budget Rent a Car launches a new program for companies that rents cars at least five times a year.
- Ebay to Launch New Website, June 9, 2005
- Launch of a website devoted to the sale of business equipment is just one part of the company's push to further capitalize on a recent explosion of online business-related purchases.
- Employees View Leadership Through Lens of Work-Life Balance, June 8, 2005
- According to a recent study, Employees who strike a good balance between work and home have more confidence in family leaders.
- Web-Based Companies Significant Part of the U.S. Small Business, June 7, 2005
- A new study shows the new generation od Web entrepreneurs makes up 25% of all U.S. small businesses.
- Employee Development Still informal in Most Companies, June 7, 2005
- Despit the retirement of baby boomers and a predicted labor shortage, many companies have not formalized employee development training, which could help stem the loss of organizational knowledge.
- Study: Oil Price Hikes Barrier to Growth, June 6, 2005
- While debate rages over the impact of rising energy costs, one study finds it's drilling into the bottom line.
- Change at the Top at Harvard Business School, June 6, 2005
- kim B. clark, who was credited with raising the profile of entrepreneurial studies at the Harvard Business School during his decade as its dean, announces that he is leaving Harvard.
- Productivity, Labor Costs Up in the First Quarter, June 2, 2005
- Revised data from the labor department pushed figures much lower than expected.
- Boutique hotel Chain Secures Ivy League Financing, June 2, 2005
- Two months after being named one of the 26 Entrepreneurs We Love Best by Inc. magazine, Tom latour's company, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, secures funding from Yale University.
- Small Biz Owners eye Summer Vacations, June 1, 2005
- Surveys say uncertainties about the economy drive desire to reflect and recharge.
- Consumer confidence Up, June 1, 2005
- Increased consumer optimism points to a rosier outlook for businesses.
- Mixed Messages on the Economy, May 25, 2005
- Latest Commerce Department report shows personal income up, but spending slowed down in April.
- Increased Use of Reservists Impacts Small Businesses, May 25, 2005
- Recent study finds small businesses have been hit hard by vacancies caused by reservist activations.
- Task Force Sees Technology as Engine for Growth, May 24, 2005
- A task force organized by Microsoft and the Minority Business Development Agency seeks to improve the use of technology in women and minority-owned businesses.
- Software Piracy Worldwide a $33 Billion Loss, May 23, 2005
- Despite best efforts, piracy remains rampant globally, with highest rates in developing countries.
- China Imposes Higher Export Tax on Textiles, May 23, 2005
- Tariffs seen as a way for smaller domestic manufacturers to regain their footing in the global textile trade.
- Number of Health Savings Accounts Increases, May 18, 2005
- A recent study shows more employers, employees taking advantage of the healthcare option.
- Microsoft Venture Offers Access to Entrepreneurs, May 17, 2005
- Microsoft offers start-ups access to technology by opening up R&D division.
- Women Business Owners Legislative Concerns Outlined, May 17, 2005
- Small business organizations representing women owned businesses cite affordable health care as primary concern.
- Trade Deficit Falls in March, May 12, 2005
- Surge in U.S. exports leads decline in deficit.
- Steak n Shake Boss Tells Grads to Find the Meaning of Life, May 11, 2005
- Peter Dunn, president and CEO of Steak n Shake, offers graduates at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business a bit of leadership advice.
- Large Defense Contractor Purchases Inc. 500 Company, May 10, 2005
- Inc. 500 company, Intelligence Data Systems, is purchased by Titan National Security Systems for $42.5 million.
- Retail Sales Take Hit in April, May 9, 2005
- Early Easter partly to blame for slowdown.
- Cost of Doing Business Highest in Northeast, May 9, 2005
- A new study ranks Boston as the costliest metropolitan area for doing business in the nation.
- Small Businesses Withstand Another Round of Rate Hikes, May 6, 2005
- Though small businesses are being squeezed by rising interest rates, expansion plans and appetite for capital remain healthy.
- Inc. 500 Hall of Famer Goes Public with a Bang, May 5, 2005
- Five-time Inc. 500 winner, Morningstar, offers shares in a Dutch auction.
- Most Shoppers Think Local, May 4, 2005
- Survey finds 93 percent of Americans factor support for local businesses into purchases decisions.
- Tech Spending Top Small Business Concern, April 28, 2005
- A new survey suggests small business owners plan to boost IT spending to help cut costs and grow businesses.
- Small Business Owners See a Sunny Summer Horizon , April 27, 2005
- A new study finds 85% of small business owners see growth on the horizon over the next six months, up from 72% in mid 2004 and soaring above the spring 2003 tally of 56%.
- Report Names Top Regions for Entrepreneurship, April 26, 2005
- A new report measures the top regions for innovation and entrepreneurship in the U.S.
- HP Expanding Into Service Industry, April 26, 2005
- Hewlett-Packard announces plans to provide services critical to small business owners.
- Leading Indicator Falls in March, April 22, 2005
- Data shows possible economic lag, but interest rate spread and consumer goods orders improved.
- Inc. 500 Entrepreneur Kidnapped in Iraq, April 21, 2005
- U.S. government subcontractor had long advocated doing business overseas.
- Jobless Claims See Dramatic Drop, April 21, 2005
- Economists warn perception of strong job market could be a hiccup, pointing to other data.
- Where the Jobs Are, April 21, 2005
- Latest labor data reports fastest growing county for jobs is in Tennessee.
- Small Business IT Spending Likely to Grow in 2005, April 21, 2005
- Recent surveys of small businesses show many expect to end the year with higher IT budgets.
- Business Blogging on the Rise, April 20, 2005
- Weblogs are becoming more popular as a business marketing tool.
- Inc. 500 Company Gets Purchased By Credit Card Giant, April 17, 2005
- The 100th fastest growing business on the 2004 Inc. 500 finds a new home with MBNA.
- Workers Say They Need More Incentive to Save, April 7, 2005
- When it comes to retirement funds, workers seek increase in employer contributions, investment options, says survey.
- March Retail Sales Increase, April 7, 2005
- Sales up 4.1% over previous March, but even greater sales said impaired by weather, early Easter.
- Chinese Imports Flood Apparel Market, April 5, 2005
- U.S. apparel and textile manufacturers seek support from Bush Administration to help stem the flow.
- Hiring Outlook Good, April 1, 2005
- A new survey reports business owners expect to hire more workers as anticipated sales increase.
- Jobless Claims Fall in March, April 1, 2005
- Though demand for jobs also lessened, fewer people filed unemployment claims last month.
- New Tool Assesses Workers' Skills, March 28, 2005
- Business groups ban together to create national test to measure basic abilities of workers.
- Unemployment Doesn't Translate to Self-employment, March 17, 2005
- For the unemployed, switching careers is more attractive than self-employment, according to a recent survey.
- Airfare Competition Pushes Prices Up, Down , March 1, 2005
- If you're trying to budget for business travel this year, good luck. Airfare prices are likely to fluctuate frequently in this competitive industry.
- Report Shows Good News on the Economy, February 28, 2005
- Growth rate picks up steam and is expected to continue throughout the quarter.
- Gas Prices Rise in January, February 16, 2005
- Higher gas prices in January could signal a tough year for small businesses dependent on transportation.
- Companies Stay Home to Save Money, February 15, 2005
- A survey by the NFIB found that 26% of small businesses operate from owners' homes.
- Happy Valentine's Day: Do You Love Your Job?, February 14, 2005
- Complaining about work is always fashionable, but you can "make your job more lovable," says one expert.
- Same-Store Sales Up in January, February 8, 2005
- Sales higher than industry expected.
- Small Biz CEOs Lack Succession Plans, February 2, 2005
- A new study revealed that even though most leaders of fast growth businesses plan to leave their companies within 10 years, succession planning isn't high on their to-do lists.
- Manufacturers Go Online to Boost Business, January 31, 2005
- After a strong 2004, manufacturers are looking to cyberspace to expand growth even further.
- More Teens See Future in Business , January 31, 2005
- Annual study finds increasing number of next generation see business as "ideal job," followed by careers in medicine, education and entertainment.
- Economy Perking Up, January 21, 2005
- One-week dramatic drop in jobless claims, couples with falling consumer prices, seen as encouraging.
- New Studies Show That HSAs Still Have a Long Way to Go , Jan. 12, 2005
- Health savings accounts are largely unused by employers and unheard of by employees, according to new survey results.
- Consumer Confidence Rises in December, Dec. 30, 2004
- Lower energy costs, healthy stock market contribute to rise.
- Small Business Optimism Gains (If You're an Optimist) , Dec. 17, 2004
- New studies report opposing trends in hiring and investment plans.
- Study Shows That Hopeful CEOs Get What They Wish For, Dec. 16, 2004
- A new study shows that those CEOs who hope for productivity growth usually get it -- and a lot more.
- Nation's Trade Deficit Widens to an All-Time High, Dec. 15, 2004
- The Commerce Department announced Tuesday that the nation's trade deficit reached a new all-time high in October.
- U.S. Maintains Innovation Edge Over European Nations, December 14, 2004
- European Commission report shows America, Japan still lead E.U. in innovation.
- Consumer Confidence Up, December 13, 2004
- As gasoline prices fell in early December, U.S. consumer sentiment picked up, according the University of Michigan's Survey of Consumers.
- Pay-per-click Advertising Model Moves to the Telephone Line, Dec. 10, 2004
- New method could help small businesses monitor return on advertising expenditures.
- Websites Seen as a Big Boost to Small Business, December 9, 2004
- New survey shows websites drive sales and help improve competitive advantage; owners also expect strong holiday sales.
- Mixed Signals About Job Forecasts, Dec. 7, 2004
- Nation's CEOs forecast cuts and additions to payroll for coming year.
- Self-Employment Up for Women and Ethnic Groups, December 7, 2004
- A study released by the SBA's Office of Advocacy reveals significant increase in the number of self-employed women, blacks and Latinos.
- A Tough Road Ahead for Rural Entrepreneurs, Nov. 30, 2004
- Rural America is fertile ground for entrepreneurs, but cultivating and keeping local talent is difficult.
- Online Shoppers Say Size Doesn't Matter, December 2, 2004
- A recent survey reveals online shoppers buy from small and large e-businesses alike.
- Thanksgiving Tops Black Friday for Online Shopping Visits, November 30, 2004
- Patterns suggest consumers use Thanksgiving Day to research big-ticket purchases.
- Durable Goods Orders Fall in October, November 29, 2004
- Drop viewed by manufacturing organization as a short-term correction.
- Employers Shifting Away from Traditional Sick Day Policies, November 17, 2004
- Efforts to increase productivity and accommodate employee needs lead to a reduction in sick days offered in favor of more flexible leave time.
- Producer Prices Up 1.7% in October, Nov. 18, 2004
- Sharply higher fuel prices pace modest overall gains.
- Retail Sales Gain in October, Nov. 14, 2004
- Strong apparel and general merchandise figures point to solid holiday retail season.
- Employers Shifting Away from Traditional Sick Day Policies, Nov. 17, 2004
- Efforts to increase productivity and accommodate employee needs lead to a reduction in sick days offered in favor of more flexible leave time.
- Report: Economy Improved Slightly for Small Businesses in 2nd Quarter , September 2, 2004
- Job growth was modest, income soared and interest rates were stable.
- Consumer Confidence Drops in August , September 1, 2004
- Survey results add to confusing data over state of the economy.
- Consumer Spending Improves 0.8 Percent in July , August 31, 2004
- New report also shows weak income growth.
- Small Business Owners Expect Fortunes to Grow , August 31, 2004
- In a survey, majority said their personal financial portfolio was 'excellent' or 'good.'
- GDP Growth Slows in Second Quarter , August 30, 2004
- Larger than expected trade deficit drags down output.
- Durable Goods Orders Jump 1.7% in July , August 26, 2004
- But number is deceiving due to commercial aircraft orders.
- Instant Messaging Displacing E-mail at Work , August 26, 2004
- Study reports workers more productive with IM tools.
- Report: Weak Tech Sector Brought Down Small Businesses , August 24, 2004
- SBA claims tech doldrums' drag on economy cause of falling number of self-employed firms.
- Online Consumers Happiest With Google , August 23, 2004
- In a study, the now-public search engine out-ranks Yahoo, others in customer satisfaction.
- Self-Employed Businesses Unlikely to Hire Employees , August 20, 2004
- The total number of self-employed grew by nearly 370,000 in 2003.
- Summertime Employment Increases for Youth , August 20, 2004
- Labor force participation rate for youth remains at lowest level since 1966.
- Cheap Imports Likely to Push Consumer Prices Lower , August 18, 2004
- Research findings are good news for inflation watchers, bad for factory workers.
- Compensation for IT Start-Up Execs Plateaued in 2003 , August 17, 2004
- Pay is being increasingly based on performance, says study.
- Producer Prices Rise Slightly , August 16, 2004
- Increase in energy prices is offset by decline in food costs.
- New Signs Economy Rebounding , August 13, 2004
- Retail sales grow 0.7 percent in July while jobless claims fall
- Small Businesses Have Pent-Up Hiring Needs, Says Report , August 13, 2004
- Government agency says there is potential for a labor shortage.
- Positive Hiring View Drives Upbeat Outlook , August 12, 2004
- Optimism index drops from January high but continues to remain strong.
- Small Business Optimism Hits Record High , August 11, 2004
- Positive belief in economy highest level since before 1980s expansion.
- Venture-Backed M&A Activity Continues Steady Climb , August 10, 2004
- Number of deals rises for the fifth consecutive quarter.
- Many Small Businesses Expect Big Second Half , August 10, 2004
- Survey shows businesses believe they can beat their budgets without spending more.
- U.S. Economy Added Only 32,000 Jobs in July , August 6, 2004
- Growth is slowest in eight months and creates doubt about the strength of the economic recovery.
- Study Shows Small Businesses Concerned About Health Care , August 6, 2004
- The potential for lawsuits and property taxes also trouble owners.
- U.S. Factory Orders Get Big Boost , August 5, 2004
- The 0.7 percent rise beats Wall Street expectations.
- Jobless Claims Fell Last Week , August 5, 2004
- Improved numbers set stage for Friday's employment report.
- Fewer Americans Receiving Health Insurance Through Their Employers , August 4, 2004
- New study reports many Americans looking to the government for coverage.
- Consumer Spending Plummets in June , August 4, 2004
- Drop is biggest in three years, but economists believe it will be short-lived.
- Sarb-Ox Spurs New Accounting Systems for Small Businesses , August 3, 2004
- Study shows companies are doing away with spreadsheets to meet stricter auditing requirements.
- Consumer Confidence in Economy Hits Two-Year High , July 28, 2004
- Index hits highest level since June 2002 as more jobs improve outlooks.
- Wealthy Report Higher Confidence in the Economy , July 27, 2004
- Jobs and personal finance seen as strong, while concerns over Iraq and energy prices persist.
- VC-Backed Companies Outperform Rest of Economy, Says Study , July 26, 2004
- However, another study points out that venture capital is drying up.
- Meth Use Jumps Among Workers , July 26, 2004
- Overall drug use inches up with amphetamines and opiates leading the way.
- Fast Growing Companies Embrace Cautious Optimism , July 22, 2004
- Small business CEOs see economy improving for next 2 to 3 years.
- Small Firms Don't Look Abroad for Business , July 21, 2004
- Poll shows that owners have difficulty finding customers and reliable sales reps.
- Study Finds Entrepreneurs Not Likely to Hire , July 20, 2004
- Entrepreneurial activity has increased, but most companies remain small.
- U.S. Agency Working to Promote Small Business Exports , July 19, 2004
- Partnerships with private sector should generate more public awareness of agency's services.
- Producer Prices Fall in June , July 16, 2004
- Downward trend is first in months; inflation watchers pleased.
- Retail Sales Fall Sharply , July 15, 2004
- June decline is largest in 16 months; poor weather and high energy prices are blamed.
- Small Businesses Increase Payrolls, Shrink Paychecks , July 13, 2004
- Job survey suggests that it remains a "buyer's market."
- Small Business Optimism Up, For Now , July 13, 2004
- Concerns over falling inventories and rising prices temper long-term enthusiasm about the economy.
- Well-Stocked Shelves Keep Wholesale Inventories High , July 12, 2004
- Sales of goods slow mildly, though demand still strong.
- Software Piracy Hits $29 Billion in Losses , July 9, 2004
- More than one-third of all software installed in 2003 was pirated.
- Online Pornography Popping Up At Small Businesses , July 8, 2004
- Many employees are hitting porn sites unwittingly.
- Economy Gets Better Even as it Slows , July 7, 2004
- Business activity rose in June, but sales fell; economists anticipate a strong year.
- June Job Numbers Disappoint , July 5, 2004
- Small businesses continue to make strong contribution.
- Cost of Benefits Outpaces Compensation Growth , June 30, 2004
- Benefits as a percentage of total compensation hits highest level in ten years.
- Women Want Top Job, Says Survey , June 29, 2004
- Women aspire to CEO position as much as men do.
- The End of Internet Users? , June 24, 2004
- "Resistors" and the "unconnected" are increasingly difficult to get online.
- Bosses Don't See Link Between Profit and Smiles , June 24, 2004
- Survey finds many managers unaware that employee relations can make a bottom-line difference.
- Small Manufacturers Get a Boost , June 23, 2004
- New bill supporting research and development passes the House Science Committee.
- Entrepreneurial Ventures Surge, Says Census Data , June 21, 2004
- United States adds 2.2 million non-employer businesses between 1997 and 2002.
- Private Companies Make SarbOx Changes , June 21, 2004
- Reform is voluntary, and most companies are focusing on compensation practices.
- Lenders Target Smaller Businesses for Bigger Returns , June 18, 2004
- MasterCard, NetBank launch new campaigns aimed at this market.
- Teens Pose On-the-Job Safety Risks , June 17, 2004
- 70,000 young laborers visit the emergency room each year.
- Women Entrepreneurs Face Venture Capital Gender Gap , June 17, 2004
- Study finds just 4.2 percent of venture capital went to women in 2003.
- Online Banking Scam: Hook, Line and Sinker , June 16, 2004
- "Phishing" is latest brainchild of America's tech-savvy thieves.
- Ebay Most Trusted For Privacy, Says Study , June 15, 2004
- Reputation for product and service quality is key.
- Few U.S. Jobs Moving Overseas, Survey Says , June 14, 2004
- Less than 7% of lay-offs lost to outsourcing.
- Bank Mergers Worry Business Owners , June 14, 2004
- Small business owners consider banking elsewhere when mergers happen.
- Private Health Care Spending Slowing , June 10, 2004
- Increase still outpaces economic growth by a wide margin.
- IT Workers Unhappy, But Earning More , June 10, 2004
- Worker morale a major concern of employers, even though most IT workers are paid more than other workers.
- Small Business Optimism Dips , June 9, 2004
- Survey shows inflation concerns are growing.
- Hotel Rates on the Rise , June 9, 2004
- Hotels are sacrificing occupancy for higher prices.
- CEOs Unfazed by Looming Fed Hike , June 8, 2004
- Many plan on hiring more and raising prices over the next year.
- Hispanic Businesses on Growth Path , June 7, 2004
- Data shows Hispanic businesses will have revenues of $465 billion within six years.
- HMO Rate Increases Expected to Slow in 2005, June 7, 2004
- Double-digit increases are still likely.
- Small Businesses Boost Employment, June 4, 2004
- Firms added workers in May, fueling the quickly improving job market.
- CEOs Expect to Add Workers, June 3, 2004
- Survey shows more CEOs expecting to add workers in the next six months.
- As Gas Prices Surge, Businesses Feel Pinch, May 2004
- Business owners are worrying more about gas prices.
- Time May Be Ripe to Move Online, May 2004
- Studies show consumers buying more online and small businesses are getting the message.
- Business Bankruptcies Decline, May 2004
- Personal bankruptcies climb 2.8% as spending catches up.
- Outsource at Your Own Risk, May 2004
- Outsource at your own risk is the message some states are sending to companies looking to go abroad.
- Small Business Remains Optimistic, May 2004
- A recent HP survey reveals a positive outlook for the year to come.
- Wholesale Prices Rise, Retail Sales Slow, May 2004
- Inflation looms as retail sales decrease and wholesale prices rise.
- Is the Economic Turnaround Here To Stay?, May 2004
- Is it clear sailing ahead for our economy? Some experts are not convinced.
- Defense Spending Gives Manufacturing a Boost, May 2004
- The Defense Department's spending spree over the past year has sent employment in the manufacturing sector skyrocketing.
- Economy Showing Gains in Key Areas, May 2004
- More jobs and increased productivity highlight first quarter numbers.
- Hiring Plans on the Rebound for 2004, April 2004
- Small businesses are optimistic about the future and plan to hire accordingly.
- Five Ideas to Watch, May 2004
- Clothing that repels bugs, Bill Clinton's latest plaything, and more.
- Advertising: Ad Rates Skyrocket, May 2004
- The consolidation among radio and television stations results in higher rates for small advertisers.
- Technology: Telecom Expenses High for Small Businesses, April 2004
- Small businesses may be spending disproportionately more for telecom services than larger businesses, according to a study released last month.
- Economic Development: Michigan Fosters Entrepreneurship by Supporting the Arts, April 2004
- Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Cool Cities Initiative aims to foster entrepreneurship by supporting music, the arts, outdoor activities, and the bar scene in cities from Troy to Detroit.
- Economy: Small Business Vital to Growth Says Study, April 2004
- When it comes to job growth, small businesses are a vital part of the U.S. economy.
- Self-Employment: Retirees No More, March 2004
- A recent AARP study reveals that self-employment among the retired is on the rise.
- Technology: Linux Use on the Rise, March 2004
- Linux, the open-source operating system long popular with programmers, is being used by more U.S. companies and in more products.
- Technology: HP's Push into the Small Business Market, March 2004
- Companies like Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard are now tailoring more products and services to meet the needs of small businesses.
- Global Trends: Where It's A Woman's World, January 2004
- Looking for enterprising women? We suggest you head south.
- Advertising: Logos that Turn Heads, December 2003
- Are walking, talking advertisements gimmicks or goldmines?
- Branding: Web Sets Sites on TV, October 2003
- Dot-coms are leveraging the other "small screen" to extend their brands.
- Retail: Luxury for the Little People, August 2003
- A look at America's passion for "new-luxury" goods.
- Travel: Cut Travel Expenses, July 2003
- The big travel websites are scrambling to help small companies cut costs.
- Branding: Few New Names, June 2003
- The rebranding boom has officially gone bust.
- Marketing: Packaging's Folk Revival, June 2003
- As folk art grows in popularity, marketers are using folk imagery to sell goods ranging from cookies to CDs.
- Entrepreneurship: Turning Japanese (Entrepreneurial), June 2003
- Is a start-up wave sweeping Japan?
