THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG

Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Free tax help for small businesses: Thomas P. Ochsenschlager, vice president of taxation for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, will offer free, year-end tax planning and preparation tips in a Small Business Administration Web chat on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Log in to the…
• CIT rises from the ashes: After a 38-day trip through bankruptcy, small business lender CIT Group emerged on Thursday and says it’s ready to charge back into the lending fray. Its next challenge: Rebuilding relationships with customers damaged by the bank’s struggles.
• Buying the best insurance for your Business: It’s important to pay close attention to the kind of insurance you buy for your small business; otherwise you could face a shock when you file a claim.
• Business inventors rise unexpectedly in October: Businesses unexpectedly increased their inventories in October, halting a slide of 13 consecutive declines. The small gain, along with a fifth straight increase in sales, raised hopes that businesses will begin restocking their depleted shelves, helping…
• Most small businesses plan no ’09 bonuses, survey shows: More small-business employees can expect no end-of-year bonuses or gifts for 2009. A recent survey of small-business owners or managers by American Express’ small-business division shows that fewer of them are planning to give gifts or cash.

• Small business mood positive in Alberta: Small and medium-sized businesses in Alberta are among the most optimistic about the economy for the coming year, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
• Canadian small business confidence slowly improving: Small business confidence in the Canadian economy is improving but it suggests that although the recovery is proceeding its pace is gradual. Businesses in Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, British Columbia and Alberta are the most optimistic for the coming year.
• Saskatchewan small business owners below national average in optimism rating: Small business owners in Saskatchewan continue to be in an upbeat mood but are now below the national average in an optimism rating, a survey released Wednesday indicates.
• Values and rates fairly steady, but tax bills set to soar: Many Vancouver taxpayers have already received heads-up notices that flag what they can expect when their formal property assessments arrive next month, so it’s possible now to reliably forecast what the actual tax bills will look like next summer.

• Sustainability and Passion to Succeed Drive SME Business Growth: Transparency and Smooth Processes Help Achieve Sustainability. – Success-Driven Management is a Prerequisite for SMEs to Turn Corporate – Good Ratings Enhance Credibility and Bring Better Prospects Taking a business from a one-man property to a corporate-type enterprise in India is no mean task.
• RBI draws flank from panel: The carte blanche given to private and foreign banks by the Reserve Bank of India to charge interest rates on credit cards at their whims and fancy has come in for severe criticism by the parliamentary standing committee on finance.
• Indian banks lent Rs 6,500cr: Amid the debt repayment crisis in Dubai, Indian banks on Friday said that they have an exposure of Rs 5,000-6,500 crore in the middle east city, but the bankers are not worried and said the development may not have major impact on their balance sheets.
• MSMEs may get procurement preference in PUSs soon: Most of the public sector units will have to source at least one-fifth of their purchases from the micro, small and medium enterprises, if the recommendation of a task force headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s top aide is accepted.

• Chancellor gives Scots little cheer: WILL a public sector squeeze combined with higher taxes for small businessmen and further restrictions on the pensions industry announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in the
• SMEs hit out against NI hikes: The Chancellor’s decision to increase national insurance contributions by a further 0.5 per cent in April 2011 has angered small business owners.
• Darling pledges help for SMEs: The Chancellor announced proposals to help small businesses in his pre-Budget report.Alistair Darling committed £500 million for a capital growth fund to support small businesses and an extension to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.
• FSB response to Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report: The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) welcomed measures by the Chancellor to give small businesses a helping hand by extending finance to small firms and calling off a 1p rise in small companies’ Corporation Tax in his pre-budget report.
• Majority of SMEs have bad credit rating: Nearly two-thirds of small businesses have a bad credit score, says credit referencing agency Graydon UK.

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Ringing in the Holiday but Sharing the Bill: For small businesses, shared office parties offer the feel of a big event at a lower cost — and without the planning headaches.
• Small business job losses continue: While the federal government’s relatively upbeat employment report for November is fueling optimism among restaurateurs and other businesses that the economy might be turning the corner, another study states that job loss continues to be a problem for small business owners.
• Senate bill won’t change small biz premiums: The Congressional Budget Office predicts the Senate health care reform bill would provide better, but more expensive, coverage in the individual insurance market, while having little impact on premiums for employer-based coverage.
• U.S. Small Business Loans in Areas Down: BOSTON–Delinquencies among small and medium-sized U.S. business borrowers fell in October for a third straight month, according to PayNet Inc, which provides risk-management tools to the commercial lending industry.
• Nevada ranks as second-best for small businesses: Nevada has the second-best public policy climate in the nation for small business, a report this week shows.

• Small business, big trouble: Big companies have recapitalised and recovered. As interest rates keep rising, however, small companies face a tricky future, writes Paddy Manning.
• Christmas lessons for small business: With Christmas fast approaching, business owners looking for inspiration need look no further than some messages from the festive season.
• Canberra cuts red tape: NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisations and some small businesses will no longer have to prepare detailed annual reports
• ;The definitive guide to the 2009 Christmas Public Holidays: Small businesses are busily preparing for the Christmas season, but one important topic might to be overlooked in the rush – the complicated business of public holidays. For several years…
• Accounting costs could soar under new accounting standards for SMEs: Accounting experts have warned that small- and medium-sized businesses could face increased costs and a much higher administrative burden under new accounting rules proposed by the Australian…

• Tory plea to help small businesses: The Tories have urged the Government to overhaul measures meant to improve the flow of credit to small businesses amid a continued decline in lending.
• Small businesses need better bank lending as well as new growth fund, says FPB: The FPB is calling for bank lending to be made more accessible and affordable following a report identifying a ‘permanent gap’ in small business finance.
• Innovation key to survival for SMEs: HALF of small businesses survived the worst of the recession by creating new products and services, while one in four actually increased their profits.
• Banks are not supportive say SMEs: Bank managers are among the least trusted group to approach when owner-managers are seeking financial advice, according to research from Close Invoice Finance.

• Small Firms are growing but still need support to sustain a full recovery: More than half of businesses have resisted the worst of the recession by innovating, creating new products and services, according to a new survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and ICM.

• Unleash The Power Of Your Web Browser With OnlineOffice: It can be annoying and time-consuming when software on your computer has to regularly download updates from the Internet in order to keep you up-to-date with the latest version.
• Market Research For Your Small Business: Shell LiveWIRE, the UK’s biggest online community for young entrepreneurs, offer the following tips when launching a new product or service.
• Dubai World – British Banks Building Castles In The Sand: I’m reading with some astonishment an article by the BBC’s Robert Preston about the 40% involvement of British banks in the £22bn debacle of Dubai World.
• How to Make This Recession Work For Your Small Home Business: On my blog I often talk about not spending money, bootstrapping and cash-flow planning. However a recession can be a excellent time to spend money too, providing you have the cash to spend – here are some tips on how to spend & save at the same time:

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Even in Recession, Some Smell Businesses Grow: Several entrepreneurs have found ways to increase revenue by tailoring strategies to their unique strengths.
• Obama not small business-friendly: Congressman Parker Griffith said the Obama administration is not small business-friendly because it attempts to raise revenue by taxing small business owners.
• Stimulus cash runs out for loans: The stimulus cash that helped boost small business lending this year just ran out.
• The Latest Entrepreneurial Fantasy Is Selling Cupcakes: Move over restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts. A new fantasy seems to have taken hold for people who long to own their own business: the cupcakery.
• Business owners increasingly upset over credit card transaction fees: Card issuers contend their swipe charges don’t hurt and should remain the same.

• Emerson names expert panel for franchising and unconscionable conduct inquiry: The seemingly never-ending stream of inquires in the franchising sector is set to continue, with Small Business Minister Craig Emerson naming an expert panel to examine whether unconscionable conduct…
• No relief fro small business in new climate change deal – power bills tipped to jump $1,500: The Rudd Government’s new climate change deal, which has been endorsed by Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, does not contain any assistance for small businesses, despite increased…
• SMEs carrying losses forward targeted by ATO: SMEs intending to carry forward losses are being targeted by the Australian Taxation Office as part of its compliance program, fearing businesses could incorrectly calculate their tax liabilities.
• Courting new business: It’s often said that an entrepreneur is always on the lookout for an opportunity – and sometimes those opportunities emerge in the strangest ways

• Small businesses changing hands despite recession: Even in recession, entrepreneurs buy and sell local small businesses. Plenty of Indianapolis-area companies are for sale.
• Lessons from recession will help SMEs’ future roadmap courage and…: Learning lessons from recession important for future upswing SMEs should graduate from growth by default. … Addressing the need gap of SMEs’ needing small funding, R. Ganesh, Deputy General Manager of ICICI Bank, underlined the bank’s commitment to SMEs, which gets addressed by a separate dedicated SME unit, which addresses the needs of SMEs, which are not big enough to attract the attention of venture capital funds or angel …
• British airways launch business opportunity grants in India: British Airways today announced the launch of British Airways Business Opportunity Grants across India as part of the airline’s commitment to help the country’s more than 13 million Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and to help stimulate local business.
• Many India SMBs are turning to SaaS CIOL News Reports: KOLKATA, INDIA: India SMBs (Small and medium business or companies with up to 999 employees) are on track to spend US$30 million on accounting software in 2009, showing a 5 per cent growth over 2008. Small businesses (SBs or companies …

• RBS makes loan pledge to SMEs: Royal Bank of Scotland is setting up a small business charter, as it seeks to counter accusations that firms are getting a raw deal on loans
• Small businesses divided over environmental measures, according to FPB survey ahead of climate change meeting: More than one in five small firms are delaying embracing environmentally-friendly measures because of the recession but almost as many are being encouraged to implement them, a survey carried out by the FPB suggests.
• Give small firms as well as consumers protection from unfair bank charges says FPB: Ahead of the expected decision of the newly-formed Supreme Court to allow unfair bank charges to be investigated, the FPB is calling for protection for all small businesses as well as consumers.
• Small businesses look overseas for cash as UK lending remains scarce: AMERICAN financial giants and foreign-owned banks with a base in the City are to be targeted by a leading small business organisation which sees them as potential sources of funding as Britain moves out of recession.

• Marketing Tips For Your Small Business: David Paget, owner of UKSMF Ltd – a free sales and marketing advice site, has put together 5 top tips to consider with your business marketing
• And the £10,000 Finalists are….: Thursday the 26th November sees the finalists from WinWeb’s Business ‘09 campaign compete for the winning prize at the Business Startup Show in London. Each finalist will have 5 minutes to present their idea to our panel of judges for a chance to win £10,000 to invest in their business.
• Career Path: WinWeb Local Partner: During this recession many more people start a new business with WinWeb OnlineOffice or OnlineOffice ProEdition. Supporting these businesses with local services is in itself a great way to earn a living and help entrepreneurs in your local area to succeed.
• And The Winner Is….: The five finalists for WinWeb’s Business ‘09 gave their presentations at Olympia in London last Thursday to try and win the first prize of £10,000.

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Small-Business Case Study: Can Crispy Green Go National?: Crispy Green, a maker of freeze-dried fruit snacks, wants to get its snacks on the shelves of major national food chains.
• Stimulus-fueled SBA loans may run out: Say goodbye to the 90 percent guarantee and reduced fees that sparked a rebound in Small Business Administration lending.
• Orange County Small Business Techmanship Launches a Unique Community to Serve Other Local Small Businesses: Techmanship an online technology media company launches OCSMB.com a unique and very different online community complete with essential tools and business services to serve small to medium businesses in Orange County and its surrounding counties.
• Standing up for small businesses:It’s been a tough year for small businesses in California. But thanks to Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, 2010 could be a little brighter because small business owners like me are unlikely to be saddled with increased workers’ compensation insurance costs of as much as 23 percent.
• Rewriting bank regulations will hurt small businesses: In the typical fashion, Congress is now attempting to solve a “crisis” by creating a new government agency with an unlimited budget and almost unlimited regulatory powers. The proposed agency is called the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which is intended to protect consumers from making risky financial decisions.

• Private Lender:Where can entrepreneurs go when the bank says, “No”? One small business financing alternative is the private lender. This interview with one private lender tells what private lenders look for before investing and one way to find one.
• Flaherty wants code of conduct for credit, debit cards: Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is proposing a voluntary code of conduct for credit- and debit-card companies that could mean savings for consumers and small businesses.
• Women have special talents for small firms, adviser says: When it comes to starting a small business, women have special talents that can be a blessing in weathering an economic recession.
• Vancouver student tops Global Student Entrepreneur Awards: A 24-year-old Vancouver entrepreneur beat out competition from around the world to win the 2009 Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. Milun Tesovic, founder of MetroLeap Media, was Canada’s representative in the awards handed out in Kansas City Thursday night, at an event capping Global Entrepreneurship Week.

• Pay gap between women and men comes under scrutiny: ANY employer, including small businesses, would need to disclose what female staff earn relative to men to a Pay Equity Unit with a ”sticks and carrots” approach to solving the gender pay gap, a Federal Government report recommends.
• Chamber of commerce calls for inquiry into banks’ treatment of SMEs: The Australian Chamber of Commerce Industry has called for a Productivity Commission inquiry into the way banks provide finance to the SME sector, arguing small businesses are taking an “unfair…
• Small business a ‘soft target’: The cost of credit is a major obstacle to the recovery of small businesses, which have been treated as a “softer target” for banks than mortgage holders.
• Business conditions and confidence jump again: The optimism of Australian businesses finally appears to be matched by actually business conditions, according to a new survey from National Australian Bank
• 2009 funding drought rolls on: For Australian start-ups looking for venture capital, 2009 was a very bad year. 2010 may be no better.

• Access to Finance Still Critical: Access to finance remains a serious problem for British businesses, despite the Bank of England pumping 200 billion into the economy to boost money supply and stimulate lending.
• FSB Opens Emergency fund for Flooded Businesses: The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has opened its £500,000 Disaster Recovery Fund for its members in Scotland, Lancashire and Cumbria and the North East of England, which have been adversely affected by recent heavy rain and flooding.
• UK rich in budding entrepreneurs: A significant proportion of people in the UK say they want to start their own business.
• Queens Speech slammed by small biz: Small business groups were less than impressed with Gordon Brown’s fantasy list of what he would do in the unlikely event that he is re-elected as Prime Minister.…
• FPB proposes a tax environment that supports small businesses: The FPB is lobbying the Government for a series of specific tax cuts as part of proposals for ‘responsible growth’ as the economy heads out of recession.

• Exhibitions – London Business Startup Show: Business exhibitions sound neither eponymously nor inherently exciting; but don’t be naïve. It’s not all briefcases, suits and starchiness of past.
• Pursuing Your Entrepreneurial Dream: Being your own boss, being self-reliant and master of your own time – that is what many of us are dreaming about. Running a virtual assistant business from home, not having to commute to work everyday and being more around the kids when they are home, has more than mass-appeal.
• Planning and Starting Your Business The Easy Way: These days many of us are thinking about starting a business and many of us are overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of things to consider – is that how you feel?
• Sales Basics for Every Small Business Entrepreneur: In the end sales is what makes or breaks your business, it is the way your business, no – every business makes money. Even when your phone rings and visitors come to your shop or website – you have no sale until the order is signed or the money handed over.

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• High-tech security, low price tag: Until recently, small businesses looking for high-tech building security had few affordable options.
• Banks leery of Treasury’s small business lending plan: Small business lending has been in freefall since the recession began. Concerned about the obstacles that places in the way of economic recovery, President Obama recently proposed a new federal effort to give community banks access to ultra-cheap government loans, which they can then use to expand their local business lending.
• Sick Days with H1N1: As the H1N1 flu continues to spread, for many of us it is a financial burden. As Jeff Glor reports, many small businesses aren’t offering paid sick days, so they must keep germs to a minimum.
• Proposed City Cut in Small Business Aid Stirs Backlash: Agencies that help small businesses say they need more assistance, not less, in hard times.
• SBA funds growth: As the national and global economy continues to struggle, economic hopes are being placed on small businesses. Each year, approximately 600,000 small businesses are opened, and the vast majority of these businesses need startup capital to mange everyday needs.

• Intuit Money Manager set to make India debut: Earlier this year, in March, Intuit Inc. had announced to create and offer products for the Indian market – products that will be developed in India, for India. As mentioned Intuit had announced to tab consumers and small businesses …
• SME Chamber of India launches its Financial Services Division & Northern Region Chapter: Small & Medium Business Development Chamber of India (SME Chamber of India) today announced the launch of its Financial Services Division in association with Zwirn Pragati Capfin Pvt. Ltd., and formation of its Northern Region Chapter.
• Fairfax County in US beckons India Inc to invest: Proximity to Washington DC provides Fairfax Country huge potential for Indian enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to expand their businesses in the US, service law firm Patton Boggs’ foreign affairs advisor Frank …

• Freeze new small business laws until election to allow for review of red tape says FPB: The FPB is calling for a freeze in new business legislation to allow the Government to re-assess the burden of red tape. The proposed moratorium would last until the General Election, which is expected to take place in May.
• Calls for action on ‘phoenix’ companies leaving small businesses unpaid after becoming insolvent: A probe into corporate insolvencies must address the problem of ‘phoenix’ companies starting again under a different name leaving their smaller creditors unpaid, the FPB is arguing.
• SMEs to vote Tory: Many small businesses say they will vote Conservative in the next election.In a poll from SmallBusiness.co.uk, 36 per cent of respondents say they will vote for David Cameron’s party, while 22 per cent intend to vote Labour, 10 per cent will vote Lib Dem and 15 per cent say they won’t vote at all
• Youngsters turn to start up businesses: Youngsters have been hit hard in this recession, with Government figures showing that one in six young people aged between 18 and 24 is not in work or education
• New small firms ‘need tax break’: Newly established small firms should be given some form of tax exemption for their first year or two of business, a report says.

• WinWeb’s UK Customers Can Save With MasterCard Business Savings : The credit card organisation MasterCard and Winweb have joined forces and bring a 10% saving to all WinWeb customers.
• ‘Restructuring’ or Cost-Cutting For Small Business Enterprise With WinWeb OnlineOffice. Restructuring – a word used by BIG Business to lower cost, fire employees and squeeze suppliers. The small business owner was at a clear disadvantage – until now!
• WinWeb CEO Stefan Töpfer in CNBC discussion about Bank of England Rate Decision: Stefan Topfer, CEO of WinWeb, today appeared on CNBC’s Strictly Money program to discuss the Bank of England’s decision to pump an extra £25bn into the UK economy in the quantitative easing program, while leaving the base rate unchanged.
• The Best Way To Manage Your Small Business: Managing your business begins actually before you even start your small business, let us explore some of the issues facing the new entrepreneur.

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Getting by with skeleton staff: Small business owners are still whittling away at their payroll, but the deluge of pink slips on Main Street is slowing down.
• Help Small Businesses Hire Again: In order to ensure that the economic recovery becomes a lasting expansion, the government must enact policy to deal with employment, particularly for small businesses.
• One in Four Businesses Calls the Owner ‘Ma’am’: More than a quarter of all businesses are women-owned, but a high proportion of those are one-woman shops. Organizations are working to help them size up.
• Small Business Crunches Numbers: Small business has fought the health-care bill as too costly. That made Saturday’s vote bitter to many of the nation’s roughly 30 billion such entrepreneurs, if welcome to some.
• Small businesses struggling as unemployment goes higher: Small businesses often lead the nation out of recession. Not this time.

• Niche Marketing Keys: Niche marketing is a common path to small business success. No large retailer can be all things to all people, and there are always going to be segments of the population whose needs for particular products and/or services are going unmet. Learn how your small business can capitalize on these unmet needs and find and master your own niche market.
• Don’t wait to Invoice: The quicker you invoice, the quicker your chances of getting paid. And shortening your cash flow conversion period is one of the quickest and easiest things a business can do to improve its cash flow.
• Think Global, sell local: As the North American economy transforms in the wake of the economic crisis, the power of place will prove to be ever more important for a broad range of small businesses.
• How to Make Social Media Useful: Lisa Barone reports that a Citibank and Gfk Roper study found that 76 percent of small business owners don’t find social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn helpful in generating leads and business.

• Government toughens up Franchising Code with new reforms: Federal Small Business Minister Craig Emerson has moved to protect franchisees from bullying by franchisors by toughening the Franchising Code and strengthening the unconscionable conduct regulations…
• Aussie jobs outsourced for $2 an hour: PERSONAL assistants on the other side of the world are working for as little as $2 an hour for Australian small businesses
• SMEs shouldn’t fear new eWaste scheme: SMEs will not be hurt from a new eWaste scheme that will see manufacturers and importers join a Government register in order to cut down the amount of electronic equipment…
• The double blow for SMEs: Buried in the Reserve Bank summary of what is taking place in Australia is a nasty development and yesterday I saw it being played out. If that nasty development continues…

• Small business accounts suffer miserly interest rates: Clubs, charities and small businesses must shop around to find reasonable returns from bank accounts
• London’s SMEs remain defiant: SMEs in the capital say that the recession is now having less of an impact on their business and levels of optimism.
• FPB and Accept Cards LTD help firms save money an merchant services: The FPB is helping small businesses cut adrift by the providers of credit card merchant services or struggling with the cost of processing card payments.
• Nottingham’s £2m Future Factory set to help SMEs meet sustainable challenge: DAVID Robinson, boss of hi- tech sportswear firm Speedo, will this week launch a £2m project to help companies secure their future through…
• Tories promise National Insurance holiday for start-ups: The Shadow Chancellor has announced a plan to implement a National Insurance holiday for new business start-ups should the Conservatives win the next election.
• As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Small Businesses Faces Sharp Rise in Cost of Health Care: As Congress nears votes on legislation that would overhaul the health care system, many small businesses say they are facing the steepest rise in insurance premiums they have seen in recent years.
• CIT Group Files for Bankruptcy Protection: Small Business Loan Giant Has Struggled for Months to Stay Afloat; 5th Biggest Bankruptcy Filing in History
• Free cash for your business: When hunting for cash, desperate small business owners may find themselves sucked into buying books and software packages promising “Billions in Free Grants!” from Web sites with names like NeverPayItBack.com, or hiring consultants who promise to find them gads of money. All they’re likely to get, though, are empty promises.
• Burden of Safety Law Imperils Small Toymakers: The law requiring safety standards for products used by children is costly for handcrafters and small businesses.
• Small business credit cards flourish as loans disappear: Want a loan for your business? Hit the plastic. That’s about all banks are going to offer — and the terms are much less favorable than traditional lines of credit.

• Small Business Internship Program: Small Business Internship Program is intended “to improve the competitiveness of SMEs by supporting businesses to actively market on-line and improve their competitiveness with e-business practices and technologies” – which means that your business could get financial support towards the employment of post-secondary students who will work on e-business projects.
• A Niche Market Can Be Your Train to Success: Talking to my fitness trainer the other day reminded me of niche markets and how they’re central to so many small business’s success.
• Halloween Business Ideas: Don’t just look at Halloween as a trick-or-treating obligation or a chance to party. Halloween presents many business opportunities that a savvy entrepreneur won’t want to overlook. Here’s why Halloween businesses are such good business opportunities and ideas for starting a Halloween business of your own.
• Entrepreneurs benefit from mentors: Starting a new business involves a steep learning curve, but thanks to a local mentoring program, owners of fledgling Sask atoon businesses can call on the experience of established entrepreneurs.

• Big trouble in small business: SMALL business advocates are worried that access to research and development tax incentives will be blocked rather than advanced under proposed changes designed to foster innovation.
• It pays to talk to pros: THROUGH the years I have been amazed how technically savvy this country’s entrepreneurs are, but it takes a special breed of business person to understand business and technology.
• Business cuts back on training and hours in bid to hang onto staff: A new survey by the Australian Industry Group has revealed that a third of companies are planning to cut their training budgets in the next 12 months, as entrepreneurs fight…

• India Inc’s business confidence surges, says CII: The business confidence of India Inc. has improved in the wake of the economic revival, says a survey by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Howevcr, slack consumer demand remains a concern.
• Hiring demand by small businesses is on rise: Hiring demand by small businesses is on rise – New Delhi: The job market doors are reopening. Including the IT and ITeS space, also the small firms in retail, banking and realty sectors are hiring.
• India Banking / Financial SMBs Are Set to Spend $1.24B on IT Infrastructure in 2009: SMBs in India in the banking/ financial sector are on track to spend $1.24B in 2009 on their overall IT infrastructure, up by about 3.5% over 2008. Significant growth can be observed in the field of broadband, intranet, website hosting, and website development.
• Powerful daughters of India Inc: There is an increasing involvement of daughters in a leadership role in family businesses when their fathers are reaching the end of their careers as active entrepreneurs.

• Bank lets down small firms over lease-back: The Bank of England has been accused of reneging on a promise to use some of its £175bn stimulus package to help small businesses by failing to free up leasing firms to lend more
• Financial Mail Extra: Data protection rules: From next year directors of small businesses could end up spending two years in jail or facing hefty finds if they breach the Data Protection Act
• Confidence boost hints that worst of recession now over: CONSUMER confidence has hit an 18-month high and small businesses are at their most optimistic for two and a half years, providing two of the strongest signals yet that the wo
• CBI says small business optimism has soared: Britain’s small and medium enterprises are now feeling more confident about their business prospects than at any time since April 2007, the Confederation of British Industry said today
• Small firms count cost of more postal strikes: Small businesses are set to lose up to £5,000 in orders if the ongoing postal strike is not resolved, the Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland has warned.

• New Campaign Releases ‘Pool Of Talented Parents’ To Business: A new campaign has launched to encourage businesses to tap into the massive pool of talent that is available from parents looking for flexible work.
• Working Online With WinWeb To Benefit Parents: Flexible working or working from home can be a daunting prospect for many parents.
• Why Buying Accounting & Bookkeeping Software Is A Big Mistake: Many people start their business and at some point they need to think about administration of their small business start-up. That is the time when the decision to buy accounting software is made – and a big mistake.
• ‘Restructuring’ or Cost-Cutting For Small Business Enterprise With WinWeb OnlineOffice: Restructuring – a word used by BIG Business to lower cost, fire employees and squeeze suppliers. The small business owner was at a clear disadvantage – until now!

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Obama Announces Small-Business Lending Push: The measures would raise loan caps and allow smaller banks to borrow money at low rates from the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.
• Rising Taxes Squeeze Local Operations: Property taxes are a greater part of a small business’s total tax bill, but entrepreneurs have less clout to get relief from local taxing jurisdictions.
• Businesses plan low-key parties this season: With the start of the holiday season weeks away, many small business owners are planning holiday parties for employees and clients despite the still wobbly economy.
• Small business help key to city rebirth: Detroit — City Council candidate Fred Elliott Hall says the rebirth of the city hinges not on major developments, but mom and pop shops.”The future of our city is small business development,” said Hall, 45. “That is something we are not so good at in the city.
• Remaining TARP funds enough for small business plan: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration’s new plan to boost small business lending by providing cheaper government capital to smaller banks can be achieved within the existing resources of the government’s $700 billion financial bailout fund, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.

• It’s a Great Time to Start a Small Business: Truth to tell, it’s always a great time to start a small business – if you have the knack of spotting business opportunities and the skills and resources to determine which business opportunities can be developed into successful ventures
• Canadian Small Business Statistics to Celebrate: Small Business Week was originally created to honor Canadian small businesses and their contributions to our economy – and those contributions are well worth celebrating.
• Do you earn what you should?: Some entrepreneurs chronically pay themselves too little; others, way too much. Here’s how to tell if your salary is sound.
• Kelly the Intern: Angel investors and Green guidance: PROFIT’s crack researcher explains how to get notices by angel investors and where companies can get money for going green.
• Canadian small businesses report card: Ninety eight per cent of small business owners gave their companies a passing grade in a recent TD Canada Trust Small Business Survey, which asked 1002 small business owners with fewer than 20 employees to score their performance during the past year.

• Small businesses slugged with higher rates: BANKS are charging small businesses an extra $1 billion a year in interest, risking nation’s recovery from the financial crisis
• Opposition Claims “go away” cash returns under Fair Work: Businesses are being forced to pay money for employees to leave a company under the Federal Government’s new Fair Work industrial relations laws, shadow small business and workplace relations…
• Firms Warned that corporate collapse could increase in early stages of recovery: Leading credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet has warned SMEs not to become complacent in the early stages of the recovery, pointing to research that shows company collapses actually increase…
• Push for establishment of register of women in SMEs to encourage more female directors: The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has recommended to the Federal Government the establishment of a national register of women in SMEs who could be considered candidates for…
• Banks Could Do Better For Small Business: CANBERRA -(Dow Jones)- Australia’s Treasurer Wayne Swan on Monday implored the nation’s commercial banks to make more of an effort to provide credit to small businesses, starved of cash since the onset of the global financial crisis.

• SMEs optimistic about next year: Small businesses believe the economy is on the road to recovery. Some 75 per cent of SMEs say the economy will see an upturn in 2010, with 61 per cent confident about their business prospects for the coming year and 35 per cent predicting an improvement by January 2010, according to BT’s 2009 Business Pulse report.
• Start-ups to save the UK economy says Digby Jones: The former head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Lord Digby Jones, claims that small businesses alone will rescue the struggling UK economy.
• Angry SMEs braced for impact of mail strikes: Small businesses in Northern Ireland are bracing for the impact of a Royal Mail strike on their operations.
• Jobcentre ‘useless’ at providing top staff: Complaints are growing over Jobcentre Plus with one in three Federation of Small Businesses members finding it ‘ineffective’ in offering help with staffing
• £1m of loans coming up for grabs: STAFFORDSHIRE County Council is backing plans to provide £1million of loans for small businesses with good ideas but a lack of funds.

• Viking Direct and WinWeb Announce Contest That Could Win Your Small Business £10,000: Viking Direct, the direct-mail office supplies channel of Office Depot in Europe and the UK, and WinWeb, providers of online small business software, today announced a competition that provides small businesses the opportunity to win £10,000.
• Email Basics For Every Small Business: Email is the most powerful business branding tool in your online marketing arsenal, providing you get the basics right.
• Automatic 30 Day Cash-Flow Forecast With WinWeb OnlineOffice Accounting Software: We all know cash-flow is king, meaning having enough money in the bank to pay the bills you have to pay. Running out of money can be a nasty surprise for business owners.
• Plan Your Business Start-Up With Swot: During the planning phase of your new start-up business, you have to consider many different aspects of your business idea, yourself and you business environment.
• Benefits of a Business Website Hosted By WinWeb: Even today over 70 % of SMEs don’t have a business website. At the same time over 60 % of all high street purchases are researched online. If you don’t have a website and a ‘potential’ local customer, looking for your service or product, will not be able to find you.

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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Here is this week’s news round-up for home business, micro business, sole-traders, freelancers, self-employed and any one who is interested in small business news from around the world.

• Small business owners face credit squeeze: Entrepreneurs who drive small companies complain that access to credit two years into the recession remains scarce.
• SBA’s Hulit: State’s Small Businesses Will Be Priority: Jeanne A. Hulit, the newly appointed New England regional administrator for the Small Business Administration, says she’s ready to rattle the cages in Washington, D.C. in order to help small businesses in Connecticut thrive.
• Small businesses have big leverage with landlords: While small businesses are still struggling in this weak economy, many are catching a break when it comes to negotiating with landlords.
• Entrepreneurs turn to small business centres for free help: On a rainy October morning, Miyoko Yamakawa sits across from a pair of business counselors at the local Small Business Development Center here. She’s trying to update her business plan and get advice about how to raise money for her flavored-vodka venture.
• Senate finance health reform bill holds best measures: spears small business, rejects public option: Now that the Senate Finance Committee has completed its package of health care reforms, the tougher battles begin before the full House and Senate in the coming weeks.

• Canadian small businesses to rebound from recession: A major study released by BMO today says the great majority of Canada’s small businesses will survive the recession and many will in fact be stronger than ever.
• Ottawa urged to tame WIld West credit-card market: Small businesses are calling on Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to stop “procrastinating” and reveal whether the government will impose firm rules on Visa and MasterCard as the credit-card giants enter the debit-card market.
• Is incorporation Right for You?: I get a lot of questions about whether or not people should incorporate their small businesses. When all is said and done, the main reason to incorporate is limited liability
• Unique entrepreneurship program launched in Calgary: Canada’s first private entrepreneurship education program was launched in Calgary on Wednesday.
• Small Business Loan Sources: Getting a small business loan can be a tough job for a small business. Canadian banks are traditionally conservative and see small businesses as risky. But traditional banks aren’t the only places to get small business loans. If your small business is looking for money, here are ten other Canadian small business loan sources where you may be able to get the funding you need.

• ACCC warns about business directory scams: Businesses should be aware of emails offering free business directory listings which in reality are scams designed to cheat SMEs out of thousands of dollars, the corporate watchdog has warned.
• SME’s warned to be on the lookout for new spam virus: Businesses must be on the lookout for new spam messages that contain .zip files filled with malicious software designed to control and exploit weaknesses in computers that could reveal private…
• New Credit reporting laws could help SMEs: New privacy laws to be introduced by the Federal Government next year will make it easier for SMEs to analyse the credit history of a potential trading partner, an industry…
• Firms warned not to rush into the cloud: Not enough attention on governance and security.Security experts are warning that companies are rushing into cloud adoption without first understanding the risks and challenges involved.

• New EMC Investment in India highlights the balance between…: Customers vary from small businesses and sole proprietors seeking project help to large businesses that don’t have internal skills for a certain type of job. The common thread is that, generally speaking, individuals are the contractors …
• SEBI norms on SME exchange soon: Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) would come up with guidelines for setting up stock exchanges exclusively for small and medium firms soon.
• Web Extras: E-COMMERCE & E-BUSINESS: `E-com, still the next big thing in India’ Small or big, enterprises are taking to it: E-Billing Solutions.. One good thing about successful entrepreneurs is the resilience with which they cope with their problems.
• Packers and Movers in Mumbai, India / Small Business Solution: Mumbai formerly known as Bombay is the important city located in the state of Maharashtra. It is the second most populous city in the world. Mumbai is well known as the commercial and entertainment centre of India, generating 5% of …
• An entrepreneur who eyes India’s best sportsman: Prashant Pitti loved sports since his school days and wished to be one of the best basketball players in India. He used to spend hours playing the game with great passion. But there was lot of pressure on him to quit what he loved the most to be more academically oriented. So he was forced to sideline sports and concentrate on studies.

• Postal strike hits small businesses: Growing businesses face bearing the brunt of further postal strikes with delays potentially costing small firms hundreds and even thousands of pounds
• Lloyds launches bad-debt protection: Small businesses struggling to protect themselves against bad debts are the target of a debtor insurance service launched by Lloyds TSB
• Job cuts more severe in small businesses: Small businesses have made bigger staff cuts over the last year than their larger corporate counterparts and are most likely to downsize in 2010.
• SMEs will ditch Royal Mail: Fed-up small businesses are considering dropping the Royal Mail as their postal services supplier.
• SMEs encourage staff input: Churcillian declarations and David Brent-style motivational speeches are the least favoured way to inspire employees, with SMEs preferring to motivate staff by involving them in decision-making.

• Running a Small Business From Home: Running your business from home has many advantages over renting an office or workspace. Today’s online technology allows you to run a professional business without the overheads, another way to continue the bootstrapping mentality.
• Small Business Start-Up: The thought of starting a business can be a daunting prospect for anyone, regardless of experience and financial situation. Breaking down the early stages into manageable steps will help you see it’s not as complicated as you might think. This brief overview will cover a few things you should consider if you are looking to become…
• Managing Your Small Business Day-to-Day: Keeping your business running smoothly requires discipline and efficient time management. It’s easy to get bogged down with tasks that seem urgent and postpone activities that might not seem to require an immediate response. The following tasks should be scheduled into your working week and stuck to! Postponing something by half a day can make
• Working from 5 -9: Working 5 to 9 has become a popular term for people who run their small businesses out of hours or after they have finished their day job. It assumes the business is part-time and is a good way to test the credentials of a business idea you may have had. As you don’t have a full…
• Business Process Outsourcing WinWeb Style A World First.: Focusing on what is important in your business is easier said than done. WinWeb OnlineOffice helps you to achieve the perfect balance of business process outsourcing for your small business needs. When you start your business you have less need for this type of service. You can save money by doing most of the admin

As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.

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