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.