Government and Economy
Taxing Financiers to Close `Unfair Loopholes'
President Obama is turning yet again to financiers as a source of tax revenue to plug holes in his budget and what he sees as gaps in the tax code itself. Bloomberg.com
Small Business and Middle Class Tax Relief Plan Unveiled
The Obama administration has unveiled its long-awaited proposal for approximately $736 billion in tax cuts for middle class families and almost $100 billion in tax cuts for small businesses, all over the next ten years. Forbes.com
Management and Financial Issues
Recognizing Fake Cashier's Checks
As the economy deteriorates, counterfeit cashier check scams are on the rise since the fake checks are difficult even for banks to catch, much less merchants. There are, however, a few tell-tale signs you can look for to keep from falling victim. BusinessKnowHow.com
Small Business Optimism Grows Despite the Pain
True, the sales and employment fundamentals of the economy are still pretty grim, but many small business owners are starting to see a glimmer of light in the distance. CNNMoney.com
Technology Issues
Trim Your Software Maintenance Costs
With software maintenance and support costs increasing, you need to do something to protect your IT budget. Luckily, we have some suggestions from Forrester Research. ZDNet.com
Tech Tools to Cure Résumé Overload
Small and midsized businesses are seeing a flood of available talent the likes of which they haven’t seen in years, as well as the flood of resumes that comes with it. Here is a selection of inexpensive, often free, tools to help sort through and choose the best job candidates. WSJ.com
Benefits and Labor Issues
401(k) Auto Enrollment Not in Obama Budget
A proposal that would require automatic enrollment of participants in existing 401(k) plans was not included in President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget. Workforce.com
Sales and Marketing
Study: Consumer Satisfaction in E-Commerce Slips
Consumers are more price sensitive during an economic recession. ClickZ.com
Dollar Stores: Attracting Upscale Customers
Nielsen says that the humble dollar store is now the new hot spot for high- and middle-income consumers. ManageSmarter.com
Women More Apt to Use Blogs Than Traditional Media
A recent study has found that roughly 53% of the 79 million adult women in the United States who use the Internet participate in social media at least weekly, and that most favor blogs. SmallBizTrends.com