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Photograph by Rob Hann/ Gallery Stock
Your Small Business Questions, Answered
Send us your questions on challenges you face in your business. Journalist Karen E. Klein will interview experts and distill their insights into answers.
Recent
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Benefits
What the Self-Employed Don't Know About Obamacare Subsidies
In 2014, individuals earning up to about $45,000 annually through self-employment could be eligible for subsidized health insurance coverage -
Financing
As Online Sales Tax Passes Senate, What's the Word on Main Street?
E-tailers will have to grapple with new tax-compliance rules if the bill becomes law. Many online and offline businesses consider it worth the trouble -
Advice
Businesses Hurt by the Marathon Bombing Can Tap Federal Disaster Loans
The SBA has opened its low-interest disaster loan program before, after 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing -
Advice
When a New Business Can't Pay Its Bills
It generally takes a least a year to reach the break-even point. Many new business owners sabotage themselves by launching without having enough money to cover operational expenses -
Financing
Where to Find Funding for Your New Business
Many use personal savings, loans from friends and family, and credit-card debt. Different types of crowdfunding are also becoming popular -
Financing
Did Insurers Pay Enough to Small Businesses Post-Sandy?
Businesses will collect more than $9 billion by one estimate. Small ventures likely settled more quickly and for less than their larger counterparts -
Advice
Time to Sell? Setting a Price for Your Cash Business
To determine the value of a services business, calculate the "seller’s discretionary earnings"—the total financial benefit the owner derives from it each year -
Advice
How to Lower Your Company's Property Taxes
To convince officials to reduce a company's tax burden, build a case backed with data and get peers and politicians to support it -
Advice
Marketing Secret: Think Form, not Just Function
Everything your company does sends a message to its customers, so it pays to invest in improving how products and services work and look -
Advice
Advice for Small Employers Confused by Obamacare: Part 2
Can benefits vary depending on employee type? Are multiple businesses counted in employee tallies? Industry experts weigh in on questions about Affordable Care Act requirements -
Policy
Struggling Cities, From Detroit to New Orleans, See Startups as Saviors
Efforts are spreading to lure tech entrepreneurs to places not known for their tech scenes -
Smart Answers
Cutting Health-Care Costs for Aging Employees
Employees who don't participate in a company plan are still counted in its rating pool. To reduce costs, offer an attractive retirement plan -
Benefits
How to Hire: Seven Questions for Mort Mandel
A nonagenarian who turned an auto parts shop into a $2.8 billion company describes the importance of picking 'A' candidates instead of 'B's -
Advice
Starting a Business While Raising Kids Alone
Determine how you'll support yourself before you earn enough to raise a family; then research the idea and build a network -
Smart Answers
Advice for Small Employers Confused by Obamacare
What size businesses are affected? Does it pay to drop coverage? Industry experts weigh in on a handful of common questions about the law's forthcoming requirements
Read
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Benefits
What the Self-Employed Don't Know About Obamacare Subsidies
In 2014, individuals earning up to about $45,000 annually through self-employment could be eligible for subsidized health insurance coverage -
Smart Answers
Advice for Small Employers Confused by Obamacare
What size businesses are affected? Does it pay to drop coverage? Industry experts weigh in on a handful of common questions about the law's forthcoming requirements -
Marketing
Millennials Want to Be Entrepreneurs. That Doesn't Always Mean Starting Businesses
A survey of about 3,200 freelancers finds most define entrepreneurship as a mindset -
Financing
Pitching a Startup While Pregnant
"Either you just had a big meal or you're pregnant." Tech entrepreneurs who pitched to outside investors while expecting recount their experiences -
Advice
How to Recruit the Best of the Class of 2013
Seven tips for small businesses competing with corporate recruiters for the most talented grads -
Advice
Paying Yourself When You Start a Business
To avoid cash-flow problems and hassles with the IRS, understand the implications of taking money from your business for personal use -
Marketing
How to Run an Effective Social Media Program
Which platforms work best? Manage them yourself or delegate? Spend time or money? As social media grows in influence, businesses need to answer these questions -
Advice
Advice for Small Employers Confused by Obamacare: Part 2
Can benefits vary depending on employee type? Are multiple businesses counted in employee tallies? Industry experts weigh in on questions about Affordable Care Act requirements -
Advice
Integrated Marketing: If You Knew It, You'd Do It
The glut of places to advertise makes it easy to confuse customers with contradictory messages. Execute a strategy that integrates all your efforts -
Financing
Where to Find Funding for Your New Business
Many use personal savings, loans from friends and family, and credit-card debt. Different types of crowdfunding are also becoming popular -
Advice
Great Product. Now, How to Sell It?
Getting a new product from the factory to store shelves can be a minefield for entrepreneurs -
Advice
Breaking Into the Energy Drink Business
First, determine how to raise the $100,000 you'll likely need to launch your product. Then evaluate whether to hire a consultant or go it alone -
Advice
Marketing Secret: Think Form, not Just Function
Everything your company does sends a message to its customers, so it pays to invest in improving how products and services work and look -
Advice
How Social Media Is Changing CRM
New customer relationship management tools are letting companies communicate with customers rather than just thrust messages at them -
Advice
Corporate Social Responsibility: Distinction or Distraction?
Showcasing the ways your company helps society is good marketing if they are aligned with your mission—and potentially damaging if they’re not
Shared
-
Benefits
What the Self-Employed Don't Know About Obamacare Subsidies
In 2014, individuals earning up to about $45,000 annually through self-employment could be eligible for subsidized health insurance coverage -
Financing
Pitching a Startup While Pregnant
"Either you just had a big meal or you're pregnant." Tech entrepreneurs who pitched to outside investors while expecting recount their experiences -
Marketing
Millennials Want to Be Entrepreneurs. That Doesn't Always Mean Starting Businesses
A survey of about 3,200 freelancers finds most define entrepreneurship as a mindset -
Advice
How to Recruit the Best of the Class of 2013
Seven tips for small businesses competing with corporate recruiters for the most talented grads -
Financing
Where to Find Funding for Your New Business
Many use personal savings, loans from friends and family, and credit-card debt. Different types of crowdfunding are also becoming popular -
Advice
Marketing Secret: Think Form, not Just Function
Everything your company does sends a message to its customers, so it pays to invest in improving how products and services work and look -
Marketing
How to Run an Effective Social Media Program
Which platforms work best? Manage them yourself or delegate? Spend time or money? As social media grows in influence, businesses need to answer these questions -
Advice
When a New Business Can't Pay Its Bills
It generally takes a least a year to reach the break-even point. Many new business owners sabotage themselves by launching without having enough money to cover operational expenses -
Financing
As Online Sales Tax Passes Senate, What's the Word on Main Street?
E-tailers will have to grapple with new tax-compliance rules if the bill becomes law. Many online and offline businesses consider it worth the trouble -
Advice
Divorced, but Still in Business Together
After a couple has separated, exes with mutual trust, maturity, and clearly defined roles can help their jointly run business continue to prosper -
Advice
Integrated Marketing: If You Knew It, You'd Do It
The glut of places to advertise makes it easy to confuse customers with contradictory messages. Execute a strategy that integrates all your efforts -
Advice
Corporate Social Responsibility: Distinction or Distraction?
Showcasing the ways your company helps society is good marketing if they are aligned with your mission—and potentially damaging if they’re not -
Smart Answers
Advice for Small Employers Confused by Obamacare
What size businesses are affected? Does it pay to drop coverage? Industry experts weigh in on a handful of common questions about the law's forthcoming requirements -
Advice
Paying Yourself When You Start a Business
To avoid cash-flow problems and hassles with the IRS, understand the implications of taking money from your business for personal use -
Advice
Worker Shortage? Teach Teens Manufacturing Skills
Small manufacturers are partnering with high schools to train future employees
Discussed
-
Financing
As Online Sales Tax Passes Senate, What's the Word on Main Street?
E-tailers will have to grapple with new tax-compliance rules if the bill becomes law. Many online and offline businesses consider it worth the trouble -
Financing
Pitching a Startup While Pregnant
"Either you just had a big meal or you're pregnant." Tech entrepreneurs who pitched to outside investors while expecting recount their experiences -
Marketing
Millennials Want to Be Entrepreneurs. That Doesn't Always Mean Starting Businesses
A survey of about 3,200 freelancers finds most define entrepreneurship as a mindset -
Advice
How to Recruit the Best of the Class of 2013
Seven tips for small businesses competing with corporate recruiters for the most talented grads -
Advice
Integrated Marketing: If You Knew It, You'd Do It
The glut of places to advertise makes it easy to confuse customers with contradictory messages. Execute a strategy that integrates all your efforts -
Advice
Corporate Social Responsibility: Distinction or Distraction?
Showcasing the ways your company helps society is good marketing if they are aligned with your mission—and potentially damaging if they’re not -
Benefits
What the Self-Employed Don't Know About Obamacare Subsidies
In 2014, individuals earning up to about $45,000 annually through self-employment could be eligible for subsidized health insurance coverage -
Advice
Small Business and Daily Deals: The Affair Is Over
A majority of small merchants are disenchanted with the online coupons -
Advice
Breaking Into the Energy Drink Business
First, determine how to raise the $100,000 you'll likely need to launch your product. Then evaluate whether to hire a consultant or go it alone -
Advice
Great Product. Now, How to Sell It?
Getting a new product from the factory to store shelves can be a minefield for entrepreneurs
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A daily roundup of the most compelling stories about small business and entrepreneurship
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