Politics and Government

Obama Ought to Look at the Effect of Entrepreneurial Immigrants
According to U.S. News & World Report's Matt Bandyk, immigration will be an important small business issue for the next administration. Immigrants are 30% more likely to start businesses and they make up 16.7% of all new business owners in the country.

Democrats at Work to Tap Bailout for Automakers
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional Democrats are marshaling support for a rescue package to pump $25 billion in emergency loans to U.S. automakers in exchange for a government ownership stake in Detroit's car companies.

Economics and Labor Issues

Bush: Economic Crisis Not a Failure of Free Market
NEW YORK (AP) - President George W. Bush asserted Thursday that the global financial crisis is "not a failure of the free market" and urged world leaders to adopt modest financial reforms that stop short of the tighter regulations Europeans favor.

Stocks Embark on Massive Rebound
NEW YORK (AP) - Wall Street launched a massive rebound Thursday, sending the Dow Jones industrial average up more than 400 points after driving it below the 8,000 mark, as investors decided they did not want to miss out on buying stocks at cheap prices.

Consumer Spending Drop Worrying to Small Business
Entrepreneurs are more worried that people are spending less than they are about whether the federal bailout will help them directly or how much in taxes they will pay under the new administration.

Jobless Claims Surge While Trade Deficit Narrows
WASHINGTON (AP) - Applications for unemployment benefits soared to the highest level since just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while the trade deficit shrank more than expected as demand for imports plunged, further evidence of the struggling U.S. economy.

Law and Regulation Enforcement

Campaign to End 2-year Insurance Gap for Disabled
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress and the Obama administration should end the two-year wait that people deemed too sick to work by the government face before qualifying for Medicare, lawmakers and leading advocacy groups said Wednesday.

Baucus Wants to Overhaul Healthcare in '09
WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee intends to push Congress to overhaul the nation's health care system during the first six months of next year. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said "now is the time" for Congress to move on health care.

Global Gap on Costs Narrows for US Manufacturers

WASHINGTON (AP) - Costs that hamper the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers have fallen in recent years compared with those of foreign producers, but high corporate taxes and other expenses still put domestic products at a distinct disadvantage in global markets, an industry group said Thursday.

Doing Business

SBA Announces New Ways to Improve Small Business Access to Capital

In response to the credit crunch, today SBA’s Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah announced important loan program changes to help the agency’s lending partners increase access to capital for small businesses.

Microsoft Small Business Package Gets Update
Small businesses now have the option to use multiple servers, mobile, a business applications platform and integration of small-business infrastructure with online services with Windows Essential Server Solutions, which includes software designed for companies with up to 300 personal computers.

Guard Against Organized Cyber Crooks

Crooks and spies are using the Internet to commit crimes against American businesses and they are becoming more sophisticated. Here are some tips on protecting your business.

Sales and Marketing

Your Envelope May be Killing Your Direct Mail Response

A boring package could be the problem if your direct mail efforts seem to be flopping. Discover how dimensional mailers can dramatically improve your direct mail response.

Leverage E-mail Even in a Recession
Unlocking revenue through the use of a customer analytics program for e-mail campaigns.

The Online Dollar Store
Take a look at your business and think about the McDonald's $1 menu. What would that look like if you could deliver it?

Why Invest in Digital Marketing in Today's Market?
Nine reasons smart companies invest in digital marketing and advertising when budgets get tight.