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 the United States:
- The customer comes first. That’s a great lesson for any small business owner who wants to improve their relationship with their clients. Meet three entrepreneurs who’ve have gone to the extreme to make their customers priority number one.
- Small-business owners rethinking vacations: Pam Kassner has already canceled two vacations this year. She just didn’t feel comfortable taking time off with business so uncertain. Kassner, owner of the marketing firm Super Pear Strategies in Pewaukee, Wis., was supposed to go to Florida in February,…
- Credit tightens; small companies scramble: The Advanta credit card, used by an estimated 1 million U.S. firms, ceased honoring new charges late last week, leaving many business owners scrambling to plug a financial gap caused by the abrupt shutdown. “They are or were the largest independent small-…
- Practically speaking: Small Businesses Are Taking Tentative Steps Towards Online Networking: For some entrepreneurs, sites like Twitter and Facebook have been a great help in reaching out to potential and current customers.
- Accounting for everyone. Working with your accountant orbookkeeper has never been easier.
- Small business lenders afraid to trust the SBA: The U.S. Small Business Administration is second-guessing decisions made by its lenders. It “scares me to death,” is one lender’s response.
- Current customers are the key to growth: For many small business owners, one of our crowning achievements is obtaining a customer. It is easy to get so caught up in the excitement that we forget to spend time on the value of the business’ best assets — our existing customers.
- Recession slams ma and pa shops: Like their clientele, ma and pa retailers are slowly going home. For years, their businesses have helped form the backbone of the economy, but in tight times, they’re starting to shutter their shops and move on or scale back.
- At-Home Business Start-Ups Increase Amid Recession: SPRINGDALE — Every 11 seconds someone starts a home-based business, according to industry advocates. Some use the revenue to fill gaps left by unemployment, while others turn hobbies into small cottage industries. The soon-to-be retired who seek additional income amid shrinking nest eggs are also showing recent interest in at-home businesses, according to Larry Brian, director for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas.
- Shaheen will host Small Business Fair June 29: MANCHESTER — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., will host a Small Business Fair at Southern New Hampshire University on June 29.
As always this list is not exhaustive, but I hope it will give you a little overview. — ST.
