Harvard grads Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss create Rent the Runway—the Netflix of the fashion world.
Baldwin sues the "Waterworld" star over oil-spill cleanup technology sold to BP for $53 million.
New York's Spot Dessert has been holding contests on Facebook and offering discounts to people who "like" the place—and that's just the beginning.
Companies of all sizes are urging their franchisees to share ideas and help each other out. They're holding conference calls and conventions, setting up mentoring programs and sending in veteran owners to assist newcomers or struggling outlets.
Issues large and small marked another litigious year for the U.S. franchising industry. Here's a look at the landmarks.
We're still getting comments and letters from readers about yesterday's story, "Married to the Job (and Each Other)," about sweethearts who run businesses together.
A growing share of unpaid bills at smaller businesses are 'severely delinquent,' a report says.
President Obama's fiscal 2012 budget proposal for the Small Business Administration asks Congress for $985 million—45% less than the $1.8 billion that the agency received in 2010.
While some sweethearts can handle the pressure of building a relationship and a company, many others warn it's a difficult path. The secret to making it work? Have a good marriage in the first place.
It's no secret that some entrepreneurs use home equity to finance their companies, but during the housing boom they leaned on it harder than ever. That set them up for a credit crunch when the market collapsed.
Small companies are using a host of online options to make billing and payment as easy—and inescapable—as possible. Some are even trying to head off problems before they arise by checking potential clients' credit history over the Web.
Growing numbers of Americans are striking out on their own as solo entrepreneurs. And a whole industrial complex has sprung up to support them, with everything from temporary offices to online services.
We answer questions on choosing a company name, creating an iPhone application and raising funds online.
These scorned entrepreneurs didn't get mad. They got profitable.
The daily deal trend is continuing to spread its wings, this time to the gay community. Is this a long-lasting trend or a fad?
There are two words that will grab a prospect's attention every time: The person's first and last name.
Want to work with canines for a living? Options abound in franchising.
Panera Bread Co.'s Ron Shaich, discusses his early days at the helm of Au Bon Pain to his latest entrepreneurial endeavor, Panera Cares.
Chargebacks, reverse credit-card transactions, can happen when a consumer disputes a charge or if there's a processing error. To recoup the loss, merchants must prove to the card company that the transaction was valid, which often is hard to do.
Auto mechanics hope the new small-business-friendly tone in Washington will re-energize the Right to Repair Act, a bill they say levels the playing field with dealerships.
Big companies are urging the SEC to revise rules for awarding bounties to workers under the agency's proposed "whistleblower" program.
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Starting a business is a lot like becoming a parent. Not only do you have to prepare for your start-up emotionally and financially, but you have to be committed to its constant needs until it's mature enough to hum along on its own. And even then (much like a child) it will always need you in some capacity, no matter how old it gets.
Small businesses whose books are audited by a hired certified public accountant improve their chances of getting a loan than businesses with less scrutinized financial statements.
Small 'business-to-business' companies are trying their hand at marketing on sites like Facebook, but some find social media might not be the best way to connect with their target audience.
Entrepreneurs have long tapped family for help in launching new businesses, but recent data suggest that friends and family may be less willing to take such a gamble on their loved ones.
Curves, whose 30-minute workout for women once made it among the world's fastest-growing franchises, seems to be running out of steam.
Use this startup calculator to figure out the true costs of launching a company. How much do you think it will take to open your business?
From Palo Alto Software, the makers of Business Plan Pro
With inspiration from the Better Business Bureau
Entrepreneurs operating on a tight budget may be tempted to forgo professional help in preparing their companies' returns. But experts say the investment is typically worthwhile to maximize deductions and avoid penalties.
The U.S. push to spur homegrown innovation by fast-tracking the patent process might do more harm than good, some in the patent industry say, by giving money-rich companies an edge over start-ups.
The widely repeated notion that small businesses face disproportionate regulatory costs rests on some questionable calculations and assumptions.
Approaching an industry with fresh eyes can lead to a great business concept. After all, Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos was a hedge fund guy, not a bookseller, when he applied technology to the way books get sold.
Being first on the scene rarely pays off, a new research paper concludes. Think Netscape, Friendster and Commodore Business Machines.
Borders Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it plans to close about 30% of its stores in coming weeks.
Runway fashions get revamped as cotton, wool, leather and silk prices rise.
The planned closure of an Amazon.com Inc. distribution center in a suburb here has opened a debate about what's better for Texas's tattered budget: taxes or jobs.
Visit our How-To Guide for Small Business to get tips from The Wall Street Journal's reporters and columnists on everything from "How to Pick a Credit Card for Your Business" to "How to Attract Talent to a Small Company."
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Wall Street Journal on Small Business: How small business owners are upgrading their technology; unusual gadgets to improve office efficiency; and developing your policy for snow days.
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