Copyright (c) 2007 U.S. Chamber of Commerce /content/business.htm /content/0807_si.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:41:51 GMT /content/0807_sbm.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:50:23 GMT /content/0807_pov.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:26:07 GMT /content/0807_8d.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:40:07 GMT /content/0807_5a.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:04:35 GMT /content/0806_9d.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:28:50 GMT /content/0806_9c.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:16:13 GMT /content/0806_9b.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:21:53 GMT /content/0806_8b.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:10:04 GMT /content/0806_8a.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:51:24 GMT /content/0806_6.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:49:39 GMT /content/0806_1a.htm Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:09:38 GMT /content/0805_sbm.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 18:07:41 GMT /content/0805_9c.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 17:58:45 GMT /content/0805_9b.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 17:55:35 GMT /content/0805_8a.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 15:52:25 GMT /content/0805_6.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 15:46:59 GMT /content/0805_5a.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 15:36:43 GMT /content/0805_1a.htm Thu, 01 May 2008 13:15:56 GMT /content/0804_9a.htm Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:13:08 GMT /content/0804_6.htm Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:46:07 GMT /content/080303b.htm Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:24:06 GMT /content/0803_4a.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:22:54 GMT /content/0802_8a.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:09:32 GMT /content/0802_6b.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:01:45 GMT /content/0802_5b.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:49:24 GMT /content/0802_4b.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:37:43 GMT /content/0802_4a.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:33:32 GMT /content/0802_1b.htm Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:36:52 GMT /content/0801_8a.htm Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:10:54 GMT /content/0801_5b.htm Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:32:56 GMT /content/0801_1.htm Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:31:22 GMT /content/0712_7tt.htm Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:30:58 GMT /content/0712_6sbm.htm Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:24:30 GMT /content/0712_4b.htm Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:30:27 GMT During December, peoples thoughts turn to eggnog and holiday gifts, and if theyre a small business owner, hopefully to year-end tax planning. /content/0711_9.htm Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:01:39 GMT Since childhood, Brenda Miller expected to take over her familys furniture business. So its fitting that she sells her all-American, all-wood furniture in her original childhood home. /content/0711_8c.htm Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:48:23 GMT Home for the holidays-thats where everyone wants to be, right? Here are some helpful hints on how to arrange holiday vacation schedules without leaving employees frustrated or your business understaffed. /content/0711_6_7.htm Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:12:42 GMT /content/0711_4c.htm Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:12:36 GMT You see the headlines nearly every day-new worker verification regulations, unannounced sweeps, and stricter employer sanctions. /content/0711_11.htm Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:20:23 GMT Youve probably gained at least one customer or valued employee because a friend made an introduction or recommendation. /content/0711_10b.htm Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:15:38 GMT Business fundamentals are as old as when shells were currency. Focus on the following fundamentals and success will come and play in your backyard. /content/0710_9.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:49 GMT /content/0710_8c.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:47 GMT /content/0710_5b.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:39 GMT /content/0710_4c.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:32 GMT /content/0710_4b.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:29 GMT /content/0710_4a.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:26 GMT /content/0710_11.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:52 GMT /content/0710_10.htm Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:41:50 GMT /content/07/09/0709_9a.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:03 GMT Any fears that small business owner Bob Bagga may have had about expanding into faraway foreign markets were short-lived. /content/0709_8b.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:05 GMT /content/0709_8a.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:06 GMT Looking for a few good men and women for your business? Look no further than the U.S. military. Hundreds of thousands of veterans return every year from deployments and enter the civilian job market. /content/0709_6b.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:10 GMT Imagine youre a small retail tire business that purchases tires from a manufacturer overseas. /content/0709_6a.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:11 GMT The costs associated with the turnover of hourly wage and frontline employees such as medical assistants, food workers, and cashiers can be high. /content/0709_1b.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:17 GMT /content/0709_11.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:19 GMT If you havent been paying attention to energy efficiency as it relates to business or have been focused on the up-front costs of deploying the available solutions, youre missing an opportunity to save money. /content/0709_10b.htm Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:32:20 GMT With the 2008 presidential campaign nearly in full swing and House and Senate candidates already positioning for next years elections, its time for businesses to start paying attention to politics. /content/0708_7.htm Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:23:45 GMT Hype can be a powerful thing, and it seems that every time a new technology is introduced, the marketing blitz drives some people into a buying frenzy. /content/0708_6b.htm Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:23:45 GMT After personnel costs, rent accounts for the most significant portion of a business expenditures. /content/0708_5c.htm Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:23:45 GMT Whether its the feel good factor or consideration of the bottom line, going green is a growing business trend. /content/0708_4c.htm Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:23:45 GMT Preparation is critical to surviving a disaster; however, a large majority of small businesses dont have a disaster preparedness plan in place, according to the results of a new survey. /content/0708_4b.htm Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:23:45 GMT /content/070731c.htm Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:12:32 GMT A recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that many small businesses believe the recent increase in the federal minimum wage could have an effect on business decisions such as increases to staffing and product prices. /content/0707_9b.htm Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:23:28 GMT Amy Scherber of Amys Bread did not let initial financing rejections or a neighborhood with the ominous nickname -Hells Kitchen- prevent her from realizing her vision of bringing bread-and pastries and sandwiches-to the community. /content/0707_5b.htm Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:23:28 GMT As temperatures rise, so does your business and home energy consumption. /content/0707_11.htm Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:23:28 GMT /content/0707_10b.htm Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:23:28 GMT The Web is a relatively new marketing channel, and many small business owners believe that it is simply too complex or costly to manage. /content/0706_9a.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:09 GMT Make no bones about it. M.I. Industries-a producer of all-natural and organic nutritional pet products under the Natures Variety label-is benefiting from a booming export market, giving the Nebraska company plenty to bark about. /content/0706_6b.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:10 GMT /content/0706_6a.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:10 GMT Counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy between $200 billion and $250 billion per year, are responsible for the loss of 750,000 American jobs, and pose a threat to health and safety. /content/0706_4b.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:10 GMT They arrive in the company mailbox every day-offers for credit cards especially designed for small businesses, with discounts and rewards ranging from office supplies to travel. /content/0706_4a.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:09 GMT You have overcome the initial hurdle of starting your business. The next question is, How do you survive long term? /content/0706_11.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:10 GMT Its happened to government agencies, major retailers, and an unknown number of other organizations, and it could happen to you-sensitive information gone missing because of theft, fraud, or just plain carelessness. /content/0706_10b.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:23:09 GMT Theyre savvy, efficient, and comfortable with technology. Theyre Generation Y, and theyre coming to an office near you. /content/070515c.htm Tue, 15 May 2007 19:13:28 GMT The Chamber has launched a Web site to connect American and Lebanese businesses with the goal of strengthening business ties between the two countries. /content/070508c.htm Tue, 08 May 2007 19:13:33 GMT The IRS recently introduced a free, online weekly newsletter focused on small-business tax issues. /content/0705_9a.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 17:22:52 GMT The first rule of business is -be flexible,- according to Joe Martinac of JM Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. /content/0705_8a.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 17:22:52 GMT With the U.S. military increasingly reliant on reservists, many small businesses are losing their employees for extended periods of time. /content/0705_11.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 17:22:52 GMT For most Web users, Google is synonymous with search. But if you think of Google only as a search engine, youre missing out on a lot of what the company has to offer. /content/0705_10b.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 17:22:52 GMT Over the years, strategic planning has grown into what is known in the industry as strategic management. /content/0704_9.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:32 GMT Carlette Anderson, who taught CPR certification classes for the American Heart Association (AHA) and served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross, realized that there was a better way to teach CPR. /content/0704_8d.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:31 GMT Where can you go to get the latest tax information and upcoming deadlines? The IRS has all the answers through its free, online weekly newsletter. /content/0704_8a.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:32 GMT No matter what type of business you are in, your relationship with your customers is built on trust-trust in the quality of the goods and services you provide and trust that your company is operating in an ethical and responsible manner. /content/0704_7.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:31 GMT As the nation observes Earth Day on April 22, both small and large companies are voluntarily developing clean energy and conservation tools to save costs while improving the environment. Here are some Chamber members in action. /content/0704_5b.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:32 GMT Insurance costs and taxes top the list of potential roadblocks for small business owners in 2007, according to a recent Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index survey. /content/0704_4a.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:32 GMT Youve seen photos of me in this publication before-Im exuberantly holding up the Small Business of the Year Award during a shining moment for my company at ACCESS 2006 /content/0704_11.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:31 GMT Everybody has at least one product or service that they love to use and tell others about. Are you selling someones favorite something, and if you are, how would you or anyone else know? /content/0704_10b.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:22:31 GMT Image advertising may be great for big companies, but theres no way to tell how many people buy an iPod or shop at a big-box store because of a TV commercial or branding ad. /content/0703_9b.htm Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:22:15 GMT Having faced both a state audit and a major flood, Echo Concepts Alan Luzietti admits hes had some bad luck and has made a few business mistakes. /content/0703_8a.htm Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:22:14 GMT In the face of rapidly rising health care costs, companies are coming up with innovative ways to lower their insurance costs while improving their employees health. /content/0703_11.htm Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:22:14 GMT For most people, the Y2K scare came and went without incident. This year theres another time-related computer problem to deal with–the change in Daylight Saving Time (DST). /content/0703_10b.htm Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:22:15 GMT Tts getting close to tax return filing time. While there is virtually no way to -audit-proof- your return, there are many things you can do to reduce the likelihood that it will be selected for examination-or make it easier to deal with if it is. /content/0702_8c.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:26 GMT Its important to prepare your tax return properly, not only to protect yourself from audits and penalties but to ensure that youre not paying more than your fair share. /content/0702_7c.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:26 GMT Taxes are an inevitable-and painful-part of every business owners life. /content/0702_7a.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:26 GMT The U.S. Chamber in January released a tool kit aimed at educating businesses on strategies for reducing vulnerabilities in their supply chains and fighting counterfeiting and piracy. /content/0702_6a.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:26 GMT Networking is one of the three most important areas small business owners should focus on, along with leveraging technology and developing strategic alliances. /content/0702_11.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:26 GMT Tired of buying expensive business software that has more features than youll ever use? /content/0702_10b.htm Thu, 01 Feb 2007 17:20:26 GMT I recently attended a marketing conference and was struck by two presentations. The first was a panel on segmentation marketing. /content/0701_9.htm Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:19:50 GMT Susan Hager has made a name for herself not only as head of her successful public relations firm, Hager Sharp Inc., but also as a pioneer in social marketing and an advocate for women business owners. /content/0701_5c.htm Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:19:52 GMT The U.S. Chamber is pleased with two new initiatives announced by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that small businesses get their fair share of government contracts. /content/0701_11.htm Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:19:51 GMT E-mails, instant messages, BlackBerry notes-theyre all forms of electronic records now covered under recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the basic guidelines for filing civil suits. /content/0701_10b.htm Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:19:52 GMT Signs are so commonplace that their importance to the profitability of a business is often taken for granted. /content/0612_7.htm Fri, 01 Dec 2006 12:45:06 GMT This month I am giving you information on how to use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds as a way to deliver up-to-date information to your customers. /content/0612_6b.htm Fri, 01 Dec 2006 12:45:07 GMT You may not realize it, but credit and debit card processing costs are one of the most significant expense items on your income statements. /content/0611_9a.htm Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:45:37 GMT Hurricane Hugo was good to Ocean Breeze Awnings. A third-generation family-owned business, Ocean Breeze had its best year ever after the 1998 hurricane wiped out most of the existing awnings and patio rooms along South Carolinas coast. /content/0611_11.htm Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:45:38 GMT Marketing is always a challenge and can be expensive-especially when youre trying to reach new customers. /content/0611_10b.htm Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:45:40 GMT Negotiating legal costs can be intimidating for anyone-particularly for small business owners. /content/061011.htm Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:46:07 GMT With October being national Cyber Security Awareness Month, its a good time to reassess your data security practices. /content/061010b.htm Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:46:06 GMT Picking an accountant can be as important as picking a partner. /content/061009.htm Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:46:07 GMT Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Derthick, Henley and Wilkerson Architects is dedicated to quality work-even if it means turning down a multimillion-dollar project. /content/060911.htm Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:34:51 GMT For a lot of people, its technology that makes them feel like theyve lost control. Technology options seem endless, and the language used to describe things can be confusing-which is sometimes intentional. /content/060910b.htm Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:34:14 GMT What would you do if your receptionist called in sick on Monday morning? Most likely youd panic-but not if your business had a relationship with a staffing agency. /content/060909a.htm Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:33:19 GMT Using Business Skills for a Good Cause /content/0608_7.htm Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:32:15 GMT A new version of Microsoft Windows, called Windows Vista, is scheduled for release early next year, and it may be as big a change as moving from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 was 11 years ago. /content/0608_6b.htm Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:31:46 GMT Heres a sobering thought for employers: Three out of every four adult drug abusers are employed. /content/0607_9.htm Sat, 01 Jul 2006 20:28:50 GMT As global competition intensifies, many small and medium-size business owners are losing customers to countries like China and India, with their cheap labor and reduced costs. /content/0607_11tech.htm Sat, 01 Jul 2006 20:30:11 GMT Business PBX (Private Branch eXchange) phone systems are a perfect example of the old and the new coming together to give small business owners access to capabilities that once cost a small fortune and took a small team to manage. /content/0607_10b.htm Sat, 01 Jul 2006 20:29:34 GMT Since last years dramatic increase in energy prices, small business owners have scrambled to adjust their game plan to accommodate the bottom-line impact. /content/0606_11tt.htm Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:27:22 GMT Fresh, Relevant Content Makes You Look Good /content/0606_10sbm.htm Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:26:50 GMT Offer More Than Just Cheap Labor /content/0606_09si.htm Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:26:15 GMT Small Firm Rebounds From Fire /content/0605_11.htm Mon, 01 May 2006 20:24:20 GMT As the number of people who use search engines grows, and as advertisers find that television, radio, and print ads are becoming less effective at generating sales, online advertising is becoming mainstream. /content/0605_10b.htm Mon, 01 May 2006 20:23:32 GMT As competition for skilled workers grows, employers of all sizes should regularly evaluate and adjust their compensation and benefits strategy. /content/0605_09.htm Mon, 01 May 2006 20:22:53 GMT Julie Geiger knows that she doesnt fit the stereotype of a typical quilt maker. But that hasnt prevented her from parlaying a love of fabrics dating back to her childhood into one of North Americas top quilt shops, Prairie Point Junction. /content/0604_11.htm Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:21:38 GMT Learn or Get Left Behind /content/0604_10b.htm Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:19:54 GMT Strong Relationships, Communication Are Key /content/0604_09b.htm Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:19:06 GMT Solving business problems has always been easy for Suzie DeBusk. Finding the problems was the hard part. However, 18 years after founding DragonPoint Inc., DeBusk, the companys president and CEO, has made the success of other businesses her business. /content/0603_11.htm Wed, 01 Mar 2006 20:12:35 GMT Youve taken the time to build a good e-mail list targeted to the right market for your business, have established a good value proposition for the people on your list, and know when to contact your list to maximize the positive impact of your message.. /content/0603_10b.htm Wed, 01 Mar 2006 20:09:10 GMT Laurel Delaney is an international entrepreneur, author, speaker, and educator. Going global takes guts. You have to confront the unknown, do what it takes to land the deal, and make your customers happy. /content/0603_09.htm Wed, 01 Mar 2006 20:08:26 GMT How does John Register distinguish his screen printing company in the marketplace? Through continuous innovation and problem solving. /content/0602_11techtools.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:06:47 GMT Which of your products or services generates the most profit for you? /content/0602_10sbm.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:05:30 GMT A business partnership should be entered into with a healthy dose of reality about the human element involved. /content/0602_09insight.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:03:25 GMT Walk into any California Tortilla restaurant in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, and you’re likely to encounter more than just a menu of tasty Tex-Mex treats. /content/0601_11_techtools.htm Sun, 01 Jan 2006 19:46:22 GMT Still dont take computer security seriously? Then youre vulnerable to having your systems hijacked, your every keystroke recorded and sent silently to thieves, and all your information stolen or simply destroyed. /content/0601_09_success.htm Sun, 01 Jan 2006 19:45:28 GMT As the only woman small business owner with a munitions contract with the U.S. Army, Norma Byron has learned some tough lessons firsthand. /content/0512_07techtools.htm Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:26:17 GMT This month I’m covering tools that you can use to increase productivity and sales and reduce costs. /content/0512_06sbmatters.htm Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:25:30 GMT Business growth is truly a double-edged sword. When it is well managed, it can generate tremendous rewards for small businesses. But if it is left uncontrolled, it can lead to financial distress and failure. /content/0511_15_techtools.htm Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:20:15 GMT The end of the year is a good time to evaluate your technology needs for the upcoming year and to decide what, if anything, you need to include in your technology budget . /content/0511_14_sbmatters.htm Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:19:28 GMT Companies of all types and sizes want to grow in one way or another—whether its in terms of revenue, profit, number of employees and customers, market share, or location. /content/0511_13_si.htm Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:18:37 GMT Like many veterinarians, Jon Geller was often woken up in the middle of the night by pet owners with serious concerns about their furry friends. -After all, pet emergencies dont just happen during normal business hours,- says Geller. /content/0510_15_tt.htm Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:17:18 GMT Each month more than one billion people use search engines to research a product or service online and to find a local business where they can walk in and make the actual purchase. /content/0510_14_sbm.htm Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:16:35 GMT Sakrete is one of the handiest products ever developed for those small do-it-yourself construction projects. It’s basically a bag of rocks and dust. But to a weekend warrior with a honey-do list, it can be a sack of magic. /content/0510_13_si.htm Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:15:15 GMT Lynn Gordon keeps her ear to the ground. As the president and founder of French Meadow Bakery, Gordon stays ahead of the health food curve by listening to people in line at the grocery store and reading letters from her customers. /content/0509_tt.htm Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:13:41 GMT How do you define what makes a -best- customer for your business and, more importantly, what do you know about your customers and their buying habits? /content/0509_si.htm Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:12:21 GMT -There are very few choices of health insurers for small businesses like mine, and the cost of employee premiums seems to double every year,- says Anthony Montville, president and CEO of HealthTek Solutions in Norfolk, Virginia. /content/0509_sbm.htm Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:13:11 GMT The current business landscape favors speed, flexibility, and innovation. Entrepreneurs earn increased profits and sales growth by improving product value or by reinventing themselves in response to a changing marketplace. /content/0508_11si.htm Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:04:22 GMT International trade can seem overwhelming for many small business owners, but often all it takes is one sale on foreign soil to get started. That’s what happened to Leon Trammell, CEO of Wichita, Kansas-based Tramco, Inc. /content/0508_07tt.htm Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:05:59 GMT How would your business recover if you lost your computer systems or data? Having a good disaster recovery plan lets you gauge how long it would take to replace any lost systems and how much of your information you could recover. /content/0508_06sbm.htm Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:05:08 GMT Among the many and varied challenges that small businesses face, few are as complex and expensive as health care. One way to save money on health care is to offer High-Deductible Health Plans with Health Savings Accounts (HDHPs and HSAs). /content/0507_11tt.htm Fri, 01 Jul 2005 19:02:42 GMT On June 1, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a new rule under the existing Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) that requires businesses--small and large--and individuals to dispose of sensitive information. /content/0507_10sbm.htm Fri, 01 Jul 2005 18:54:01 GMT In his book Blue Highways, William -Least Heat-Moon- Trogdon reported that his Osage Indian grandfather, William Heat-Moon, taught him this about worrying: -Some things don’t have to be remembered; they remember themselves.- /content/0507_09si.htm Fri, 01 Jul 2005 18:53:33 GMT Small businesses in the advanced technology sector face a special challenge: communicating the value-added benefits of their technology to potential customers with little or no technical background. /content/0506_11tt.htm Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:51:23 GMT How much time do you spend dealing with technology issues that have nothing to do with your core business? If you answer “More than I want to,” then it may be time to hire an information technology (IT) service provider. /content/0506_09si.htm Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:48:34 GMT Quality customer service sometimes seems like it’s going out of style, but not for Ray Ventura, founder and president of Ventura Uniform Service. /content/0506_010sbm.htm Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:50:26 GMT No one knows how hard you work to make your small business a success -- except perhaps your competitors. /content/0505_11tt.htm Sun, 01 May 2005 18:46:49 GMT Not so long ago it was easy to distinguish between adware and spyware. Adware is useful -- and usually free -- software that generates revenue for the vendor by displaying ads, or by openly, but anonymously, tracking your online movements for marketing. /content/0505_10sbm.htm Sun, 01 May 2005 18:45:13 GMT You probably don’t want to hear about New Year’s Resolutions from me, but it’s my job to encourage you to push the envelope and continually seek excellence—even if it means that I have to meddle. /content/0505_09si.htm Sun, 01 May 2005 18:44:02 GMT From his father Bob’s garage in Southern California to an expanding business with a presence in all 50 states, Rick Augustine and his wife, Debbie, have learned the value of a great sales team. /content/0504_11tt.htm Fri, 01 Apr 2005 18:28:54 GMT To boost your online presence, make sure that your Web site is listed with the major search engines, including Google, Yahoo!, and MSN. /content/0504_10sbm.htm Fri, 01 Apr 2005 18:28:22 GMT Starting a business from scratch isn’t for everyone. Operating a franchise is entrepreneurial coloring inside the lines. You get the rush of working without a net without having to come up with all the answers on your own. /content/0504_09si.htm Fri, 01 Apr 2005 18:27:22 GMT As the chief executive officer of America’s Blood Centers (ABC), Jim MacPherson’s secret to success is keeping ABC’s word. -We deliver on what we promise.- /content/0503_11tt.htm Tue, 01 Mar 2005 17:57:47 GMT Committing online fraud using forged e-mails has become so rampant that it has spawned its own term-phishing. /content/0503_10sbm.htm Tue, 01 Mar 2005 17:57:03 GMT When looking at your company’s benefits program, you may want to consider working with an insurance broker. Obtaining good advice up front can save you money and time-and produce better results. /content/0503_09si.htm Tue, 01 Mar 2005 17:56:27 GMT Mary Kisseberth is a majority of one. As the owner and operator of Major Carriers, Inc., a trucking company focused on the shipment of high-tech equipment, she would have it no other way. /content/0502sbm.htm Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:53:26 GMT Your benefits program can differentiate you from your competitors and help you keep valuable employees and recruit top talent. /content/0502_09si.htm Tue, 01 Feb 2005 17:52:43 GMT Starting a new business entails all kinds of challenges, that’s why Chris Pratt, founder and owner of the CandyWarehouse, says that the wisest thing he ever did -was to realize that I did not have all the answers.- /content/0501sbm.htm Sat, 01 Jan 2005 17:45:50 GMT You probably don’t want to hear about New Year’s Resolutions from me, but it’s my job to encourage you to push the envelope and continually seek excellence—even if it means that I have to meddle. /content/0501_11tt.htm Sat, 01 Jan 2005 17:46:45 GMT The next time you need to add to your software toolbox, instead of automatically reaching for the store shelf and buying a product that does much more than you need it to, consider the options that freeware, shareware, and Open Source provide. /content/0501_09si.htm Sat, 01 Jan 2005 17:44:07 GMT Advanous, a five-year-old company, helps distributors generate higher profits through more effective margin and pricing management practices.