SmallBusinessExecutiveInforming, Inspiring and Connecting Businesses
Judge rules Illinois use tax law unconstitutional
The Illinois use tax law that spurred CouponCabin and FatWallet to leave the state last year was ruled unconstitutional Wednesday by a Cook County Circuit Court judge who said it violates the Interstate Commerce Clause and Internet Tax Freedom Act, according to the Performance Marketing Association, which had filed a lawsuit challenging the use tax’s constitutionality. Cook County Circuit Court Judge [...]
Business owners optimistic, but slow to hire
Submitted by SurePayroll Nationwide, SurePayroll Scorecard data shows hiring in March was down 0.2 percent from the prior month, but paycheck size remained flat. Despite this, optimism among small business owners was 70 percent, the first time optimism has reached 70 percent since May 2011. When small business owners were asked about their hiring plans moving forward in 2012, the SurePayroll’s [...]
Economic outlook mixed: Kauffman Foundation survey
Submitted by the Kauffman Foundation (KANSAS CITY, MO.) April 3, 2012 — Despite remaining generally confident about the prognosis for their own businesses, startup company owners sent mixed signals about their overall economic outlook for the next 12 months, according to the 2012 second quarter Kauffman/LegalZoom Startup Confidence Index released today by the Ewing Marion Kauffman [...]
10 tips for getting results from networking
By Vickie Milazzo Guest columnist In the business world, we’re often advised to network. Need to attract some new clients? Network. Wish you had a knowledgeable mentor? Network. The fact is, networking is a valuable and effective tool that can enrich and advance your career or company when you use it properly. But many of [...]
How to run more productive meetings
By Mike Richardson Guest columnist Technology is constantly speeding up the pace of business. Decisions once delayed for weeks are now made in seconds thanks to Internet communication. Computer analytics puts real-time market information at our fingertips. Transactions can occur anywhere, any time. Just to keep pace, businesses must develop organizational agility, or the ability [...]
Good planning starts with stakeholder input
By George Brown Jr. Guest columnist As businesses look toward 2012, many are developing ambitious plans to achieve their growth and profit goals. In conversations with many organizations, I hear four themes: globalization, expanding capabilities, acquisitions and investments, and sustainability. Globalization Globalization has been going on for quite a few years, but many firms are planning [...]
Alternatives are key when small business execs negotiate strategically
By Ann Meyer – With the manufacturing industry still feeling the sting of a slow-to-recover economy, business owner Mary Koonce said customers of her industrial electrical company are trying to negotiate longer payment terms and discounts. “It’s hard for small businesses to handle. We’re the bank for them” when they delay payment, said Koonce of [...]
Tech firm Ahead forges way with private clouds
Large technology companies often beget small ones, as employees become entrepreneurs. When Dan Adamany worked for IBM and EMC, he recalls colleagues leaving the giants to start their own businesses. Now, he’s one of them. In 2007, Adamany left his sales position at EMC to start his own IT business, Ahead. While the Chicago-based company [...]
Eateries aim for healthy consumers by adding calorie data
By Amy Payne Medill News Service – With more attention focused on obesity and the role nutrition plays in Americans’ health, Chicago-area restaurants catering to the health-conscious are starting to flaunt ingredient information on their menus. Matt Matros, owner of Protein Bar at 234 S. Franklin in the Loop, said he added nutritional information to [...]
Lillian Bjorseth: Check your ego at the networking door
By Lillian D. Bjorseth, Guest Columnist If people agree that networking is more about the other person, then why do so many forget to check their ego at the door? It can be disconcerting and downright irritating to talk with someone who uses “I” a dozen times in the first few minutes. Over and over [...]
