If you’re like many small businesses, it’s likely you’re already outsourcing some of your business’s operations to other companies or freelancers. See my previous post on that topic . But have you considered outsourcing to your customers? This tactic, suggested by HR.com , isn’t as farfetched as it sounds. As the article points out, every time you use an ATM, book your own flights online, or fill your...

Are you a military veteran? If so, SCORE.org has lots of help to offer you. The mentoring organization for entrepreneurs is expanding its outreach to military veterans. Many SCORE offices, especially those located near military bases, have programs specifically for veterans, National Guard and Reservists. But you don’t need to be located near one of these offices to get help. SCORE works with The Veterans...

It’s certainly not news anymore that credit is tight for small-business owners. But relief may be in sight, The Washington Post reports , thanks to two new initiatives. First, the SBA has announced it will give banks that provide SBA loans greater freedom in setting interest rates. It is also suggesting that banks allow borrowers more time to make payments, and is encouraging smaller and rural lenders...

It’s a sign of the times: People are running businesses as a side venture while they are still employed full time. Is this you? If so, how would you like to get some high-profile exposure from one of the country’s largest newspapers for your fledgling effort to carve out a place for yourself in this troubled economy? A reporter from a prominent national publication is seeking to interview Office Live...

The National Federation of Independent Businesses's (NFIB) monthly Small Business Optimism poll for December shows U.S. small businesses hunkering down. The number of businesses whose sales increased in the past quarter fell to its lowest percentage in the 35 years the survey has been taken. Just 18 percent of businesses reported sales increases, while 40 percent said sales declined. Half of those...

You may not even realize that you have an extra set of advanced design features available to help you customize your Web pages. Or you may be nervous about the "advanced" label. It’s true that when you open some of these features, you will see code. But you don’t have to be able to read or write code to take advantage of the feature. You shouldn’t be scared to play with these features. Most...

Could you imagine running your business without email? I know I couldn’t. But when President-elect Barack Obama takes office, he most likely will have to run the government without this essential tool, reports The New York Times . Concerns about email security are the key reason presidents are forbidden to use email. The Presidential Records Act means that all of the president’s correspondence, including...

A few weeks ago on my way to lunch with my business partners, we remarked in surprise on the fact that an entire new shopping center was just opening near our offices — at a time when stores all around us are closing down. What was different about this center was that every store in it was targeted to Asian consumers. You see, Irvine, Calif., where we work, has a sizable Asian population. But I didn...