As Optimism Falls, Treasury Promises More for Small Business

Government and Economy

Small Business Optimism Falls

Small business optimism fell another 1.5 points to 82.6 in February, according to the National Federation of Independent Business's Small Business Optimism Index. This the second lowest rating in the 35-year history of the survey. Forbes.com

Treasury Promises Spur to Small Business

In a closed-door meeting with House Democrats, Treasury Secretary Geithner said Obama officials are working on plans to boost liquidity for small businesses as part of the administration's broadening efforts to spur lending and arrest the pace of job losses WSJ.com

Management and Financial Issues

The Case for Contracts

A mistake that many business owners make is thinking that they don’t need contracts with clients, subcontractors, and employees. In a perfect world that would work, but this is not a perfect world and here is why you need them. SmallBizTrends.com

Chapter 11 and You

Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection can help you reorganize your business while shielding you from your creditors. Here is how to get it. BusinessWeek.com

Recalls: A Tidal Wave for Some Small Companies

Small businesses can be hit hard in a big recall, as the recent peanut recalls showed, as they rarely have a staff to handle one. NYTimes.com

Technology Issues

Preventing Data Corruption in the Event of an Extended Power Outage
Despite advances in technology, power outages continue to be a major cause of PC and server downtime. Protecting computers with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) hardware is part of a total solution, but power management software is also needed to prevent data corruption after extended power outages. Learn about the various software configurations you can implement and the best practices that can help you ensure uptime. TechnologyEvaluation.com

E-Commerce for Beginners
The Internet is fast becoming the Grand Central Station of business, and getting a seat on the electronic gravy train means implementing a strong e-commerce strategy. We've got some basic instruction to get you started. Inc.com

Benefits and Labor Issues

Doing Business in a Union-Friendly World
If the Employee Free Choice Act becomes law, small-business owners will be among the many employers dealing with unions for the first time. Here are some things you need to know. Workforce.com

Sales and Marketing

The Art of the Cold Call
Here is a cold calling guide that offers tips and techniques from sales pros and resources you can use to build sales skills. Inc.com

What Happened to the Salespeople?
It is hard times like these that give those who are truly salespeople the opportunity to shine and pull ahead of the pack. ManageSmarter.com

How Branding Works
There are four key principles that you must clearly understand in order to build an effective brand building strategy for your company. ManageSmarter.com