(Anonymous / AP)
Holiday cheer absent among small business owners
Heading into the busiest shopping season of the year, the mood on Main Street is anything but jolly.
THE LATEST NEWS
OSB HEADLINES
New delay for Maryland’s exchange
Its employer exchange was supposed to open in October. Then January. Now, we are told it will launch in April.
For veterans, a break from the SBA
Next year, the agency will waive a number of its small-business loan fees for veteran-owned businesses.
Helping small firms advertise online
Chad Hill and Adam Stetzer run HubShout, which helps customers manage their online marketing.
Would gay rights bill hurt firms?
Republican leaders warn the bill could hit small firms particularly hard. Small employers aren’t as worried.
Stuck in Obamacare’s waiting area
Health care exchange’s delays and glitches have left two local business owners in a very difficult position.
On Main Street, health care confusion
Many who think they understand the law are clearly overconfident about how much they really know.
SBA loan programs a vital lifeline
As the recovery sputters along, the agency’s loan programs are helping entrepreneurs keep moving forward.
Critical SHOP feature again delayed
White House officials had said the employer exchange would be fully functional at the end of this week.
More part-timers under Obamacare?
It was one of the common warnings from critics the health care law, but so far, is it happening? Yes and no.
THE ROUNDUP
Small business weekly: A slow holiday shopping season ahead?
A review of the biggest small-business news last week.
SMALL BUSINESS ADVICE
How to prepare for long-term growth
Don’t wait until you have a viable product on the market to start planning for its potential success.
Navigating new telemarketing rules
Customers gave you their cell phone numbers? That no longer gives you the green light to call or text.
How to build a loyal brand
Brand experts discussed common problems and advised upstarts on connecting with customers.
How to survive hurricane season
One expert offers tips to help small business owners make sure they stay open if severe weather strikes.
Small marketing budget? No problem.
It doesn’t cost a ton of money to start a conversation with your customers. Here’s where to begin if cash is tight.
How to count workers under Obamacare
An attorney walks through the very complicated process of counting employees under the health care law.
How to run an impactful social enterprise
Here are three guiding principles to help entrepreneurs strike a balance between social priorities and profits.
Social media — a waste of time?
One marketing expert suggests three reasons your small business should not invest time in social networking.
A primer on general solicitation
The SEC just lifted an 80-year ban on general solicitation. Here’s why that’s important for small, growing firms.
Navigating new health care regulations
On Monday, new rules take effect that hold more companies accountable for protecting private health information.
OSB MEDIA GALLERIES
EDITOR'S CHOICE
A corner cafe, crippled by health-care uncertainty
Owner Jody Manor has big plans for his cafe and catering company, but looming health-care changes are holding him back.
Adapting on the fly to new crowdfunding laws
One crowdfunding platform is keeping close tabs on the latest SEC proposals and adjusting its business plan accordingly.
Campaign for immigration reform gains momentum
Entrepreneurs are shifting attention toward a comprehensive deal rather than the smaller, targeted proposals.
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