Though not covered by the Credit CARD Act of 2009, business rewards credit cards have a positive reputation amongst small businesses. According to the National Small Business Association, 37% of business owners are relying on credit to cover a portion of their costs. These credit cards feature expense-tracking tools that help organize and monitor company… Continue Reading
Despite a twinge of hope from the improved retail sales in the United States in July, global stocks took a tumble as gloomy news from Europe and China offset the faint optimism emanating from the west. Tuesday’s US government figures confirmed an upward surge in spending at stores in July, up 0.8 percent over June’s… Continue Reading
For the first time in five months, retail spending in the U.S. has seen major improvement. Throughout July, retail spending increased in all sectors, including electronics, building supplies, garden equipment, furniture, sporting goods, apparel and more. According to the commerce department, retail sales increased 0.8% in total last month; the most significant rise since February.… Continue Reading
Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Intuit ranked 19th in CNN Money’s list of 100 best companies to work for. Well-known for its TurboTax and Quicken programs which help countless people file their income tax returns fast and as painlessly as possible, Intuit uses its corporate culture to inspire innovation and creativity. The company utilizes “idea… Continue Reading
Despite Germany’s stalwart growth, the euro zone’s economy stuttered in the second quarter. According to Reuters.com, the region “contracted by 0.2% on the quarter.” Meanwhile, “Germany eked out growth of 0.3%, marginally beating forecasts, but its forward-looking ZEW sentiment index slid for a fourth month running, undercutting even the lowest estimate in a Reuters poll.”… Continue Reading
In a world of hesitant consumers and inconsistent business, Facebook has become a very important tool. According to recent reports, companies who use Facebook have significantly more interaction with customers, positive feedback, networking opportunities and increased sales. In general, small businesses are growing fonder of social media tools and have come to rely on their… Continue Reading
Want to get in on the trend which is coming as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow? The demographics are shifting towards an aging population as all those babies born in the post-World War II years of the late 1940s and early to mid-1950s are now approaching the autumn of their lives, and this… Continue Reading
Despite hopeful outlooks and talks of growth, the U.S. economy is floundering. Winter activity was strong, but as the weather warmed, consumers cut back on their spending while export demand fell as well. Gas prices rose, while businesses minimized their employment plans and investments. The situation remains at a relative standstill as individuals and companies… Continue Reading
Economists were pleasantly surprised last week when July’s data showed an improvement in employment and a significant reduction in the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits. Observers hope this is a sign that the economy will continue to grow as the labor market grows. According to Labor Department statistics the number of jobless… Continue Reading
In an effort to provide a much-needed service to small businesses, PCWorld.com recently listed the top five social media management tools in the sector. Choosing only those suitable for smaller companies, every social media outlet listed meets criteria such as affordability; scalability; support for Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; and update posting assistance. Each tool is… Continue Reading