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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: small businesses

small businesses stories: 12 news summaries

Bailouts May Be Offered to Small Businesses

TARP funds, meant to save banks, could be used to save jobs

Jul 11, 09 8:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Obama administration is working on a plan that would take money from the TARP—the $700 billion fund intended to rescue banks—and lend it to small businesses, the Washington Post reports. The money would come with few restrictions, and the government would pick up as much as... More »

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small businesses • Treasury Department • small business • bailout • Obama administration • Timothy Geithner • Lawrence Summers • TARP

Tax Hike Raises Ire of Small Manufacturers

Obama plan hits hard, business owners who reinvest profits say

Mar 11, 09 10:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Small-business owners aren’t big fans of President Obama’s plan to let the Bush tax cuts expire in 2011, and they’re making themselves heard on Capitol Hill, Politico reports. Many small businesses file taxes as individuals, and they fall well beyond the $250,000 income threshold. The White... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • taxes • small businesses • manufacturing • tax hikes • Obama administration • financial crisis

ANALYSIS

McCain's Final Strokes Paint Obama With Lefty Brush

Democrat's tax plans amount to 'welfare,' Republican charges

Oct 24, 08 3:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain criticized Barack Obama’s economic plans yesterday as the Republican focuses on portraying his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal with a socialist vision for America, the Los Angeles Times reports. McCain had hoped to iconic plumber Joe on his tour of central Florida, but Joe Wurzelbacher refused. Instead,... More »

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Barack Obama • John McCain • small businesses • Election 2008 • Florida voting • tax policy • Joe Wurzelbacher • Joe the Plumber

Mortgage Meltdown Hits
Small Builders

Wave of bankruptcies could in turn weaken regional banks

Mar 21, 08 3:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - The housing market collapse that's sending homeowners into foreclosure is starting to hit small- and medium-size builders left with developments they're unable to sell, the Wall Street Journal reports. Buyers are canceling contracts and builders are missing mortgage payments on often highly leveraged projects. Small regional banks, in turn, could... More »

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housing market • bankruptcy • construction • foreclosure • mortgage • small businesses • homebuilders • banking • subprime crisis • residential building

EBay Sellers Plan Boycott Week

Movement to protest fee hikes and policy changes gains steam

Feb 10, 08 4:10 PM CST
(Newser) - Torqued eBay sellers are giving the online auction site some pretty clear feedback about planned changes. Using eBay's own chatrooms, sellers are trying to organize a one-week boycott to protest jacked-up fees and changed feedback rules. But the would-be boycott is nothing new, reports CNNMoney, as each January eBay introduces... More »

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eBay • online auction • auction • small businesses • boycott • Power Sellers • sellers

Blogging Catches On as Marketing Tool

For consultants or creative small firms, the benefits can be great

Dec 27, 07 4:18 PM CST
(Newser) - Blogging is finding a niche as a marketing tool for small business owners, who like its low cost and potentially high returns. Only 5% of small business have blogs, the New York Times reports, and while many more could benefit from them, a company has to be sure of the... More »

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blogging • small businesses • blog

Small Businesses Targeted for Software Violations

Industry group reaps big settlements from little firms

Nov 26, 07 4:00 PM CST
(Newser) - A group representing major software companies in copyright enforcement actions has been targeting small businesses for violating software licenses, reports the AP. Almost 90% of the Business Software Alliance's $13 million in settlements with North American companies last year came from small companies. Some owners say they were punished for... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Microsoft • Apple • piracy • software • small businesses • Symantec • Adobe • software licenses • Business Software Alliance

Best States for Small Business

Some states love small business a little more than others. CNNMoney names the top 10

Nov 25, 07 2:54 PM CST
(Newser) - If you want your seed of genius to grow, plant it in the right soil. CNNMoney finds the most small-business-friendly states:
  1. South Dakota: No tax personal income, capital gains, corporate income, or corporate capital gains and low energy costs.
  2. Nevada: No income, capital gains, corporate income, or corporate
... More »

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Florida • Texas • South Carolina • Washington • Michigan • small businesses • Virginia • South Dakota • Alabama • Wyoming • small business • Nevada

Mom and Pop Go Big Brother

AT&T rolls out surveillance equipment for small businesses

Nov 14, 07 12:16 PM CST
(Newser) - AT&T will sell technology that allows small businesses to remotely monitor their employees and places of business over the Internet. The Remote Monitor program lets a user check cameras, sensors, and other gadgets in real time over the net. “It is Big Brother, but in this day and... More »

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privacy • small businesses • surveillance • AT and T

Minimum Wage Rises Today

Federal law mandates 70-cent hike to $5.85, calls for boosts next year and in 2009

Jul 24, 07 7:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - After being frozen for a decade, the federal minimum wage jumps today from $5.15 to $5.85 an hour. It rises to $6.55 a year from today and to $7.25 when the hike is completed in 2009. The change affects only the 20 states that haven't already... More »

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Congress • Democrats • Republican • minimum wage • money • Capitol Hill • small businesses

New England Towns Mint Local Bucks

But utopian experiment faces some hurdles: like paying the bills

Jun 19, 07 3:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - A cluster of towns in Western Massachusetts has created its own currency—BerkShares. The banknotes, which trade for 90 cents on the dollar, feature local heroes like Norman Rockwell and are accepted as cash at 280 cafés, shops, and even the local "chakra balancing" joint.  More »

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California • currency • New York • Massachusetts • Michigan • BerkShare • Norman Rockwell • New England • small businesses

Fake Raids Test Iraqi Reconstruction

U.S. aid to small businesses works only if it's invisible. Otherwise, companies get 'immediately shot or blown up.'

Mar 22, 07 11:13 AM CDT
(Newser) - The American military is staging fake raids on Iraqi small businesses to confirm that US aid is being well spent—without tipping off insurgents that they have any US connection. "The only way things will work is if the US contribution is totally invisible," says a civil-affairs officer,... More »

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Iraq • military • insurgents • economics • United States • aid • raids • small businesses • civil affairs • Iraq economy • US economy

12 Stories


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