BizOp Blogs

Young Entrepreneur: 1. Get Away You don’t have to take a vacation to give yourself a break. Spending some time on a hobby you love, such as golf or playing music, can quickly re-energize you. If you’re really stressed out, head for a relaxing place far from the stimulus of a TV, phones and e-mail,... More

Work.com: Investing green with a piece of your retirement, business assets, or general investment portfolio not only sends an important message, but has a long term ability to profit as the world goes greener. Hardcore DIYers may want to take more risk by investing in individual stocks, but I would... More

Entrepreneur Daily: If you’re wondering how the economic stimulus package can help you grow and expand your business, check out SBA’s new tax savings resource center. The website http://www.sba.gov/stimulus includes a fact sheet with a clear explanation of small business tax benefits gained from... More

PTN Blog: At retail, they call it the final foot before closing the sale. The consumer is alone on a shopping aisle. Just 12 inches away from the product on the shelf, and anything will help close the sale. In travel, agents have a far greater advantage – you can close the sale with even a minor... More

Entrepreneur Daily: What’s the biggest concern for small businesses these days? According to a national survey released by the National Association for the Self-Employed, it’s access to health care. “The baker, the house painter, and the 20 million other micro-businesses in the U.S. are struggling... More

New York Times: For many female entrepreneurs, necessity is the mother of their venture. Take Carla Schneider, 40, of Orange, whose product, the WubbaNub, a silicon pacifier with a small stuffed animal attached, has been used in neonatal intensive care units and by mothers of fussy babies around the... More

5 tax-specific benefits that make the 401(k) a smart choice for any small business. Forbes.com: 1. Tax credits make it easy to get started: Businesses with fewer than 100 employees, but at least one besides the owner, qualify for a $500 tax credit to offset the administrative costs of the plan for each... More

New Business Hunter: Every four years, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) polls small business owners to detect general problems and priorities. A quick review of the trends revealed in the 2008 survey, especially by industry, can lead an agency to new opportunities. Here are a few... More

MSNBC: There’s no doubt that buying an existing small business is less risky than starting one from scratch. Why? Because, unlike a startup: * the business has equipment and inventory; * the business already has a location, and maybe there’s a few more years left on the lease; * the business... More

Wall Street Journal Blogs: 1. Tap your own experiences. Stick with industries and topics you know and preferably have worked in. You’ll be best-positioned to spot great business opportunities and take advantage of them – and have a leg up on any competitors who don’t share your expertise. 2. Solve... More

YoungEntrepreneur.com: Identify your Unique Selling Proposition Once you know your own strengths and your competitors’ weaknesses, you can figure out what makes you different from them. This is your Unique Selling Proposition, or USP. It will be the driving force behind your marketing campaign. What... More

Forbes.com: While their peers were out making trouble, these young achievers were making bank. Forever in search of the secrets to entrepreneurial success, we peeked into the inspirational lives of five whiz kids who built million-dollar enterprises before the age of 20. They partnered with friends,... More

BusinessWeek: Bill Goldsmith has always been a maverick. As a radio disc jockey and program director in the 1970s and ’80s, he loved creating his own mixes of modern rock and introducing listeners to cutting-edge musicians. But in the ’90s, as large corporations bought up the stations he... More

Entrepreneur Daily: If you’re mechanically and environmentally inclined, a $10 million prize could soon be yours. The X Prize Foundation is offering $10 million for a super-efficient car. The competition is open to established automakers and unknown engineers, and it’s meant to result in... More