FastUpFront Small Business Blog

It all seemed so promising… Last year, Senator John Kerry’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee managed to not only save several small business loan programs that were effectively reduced or completely nixed under the President’s proposed 2009 budget, but they also managed to secure over $100 million in additional funding. This additional funding was supposed [...]

As the recession continues to drone on, stilted consumer spending coupled with restricted (and in many cases nonexistent) credit markets have made it rough going for numerous small businesses and start-ups. At such times, seeking shelter in a business-friendly environment, can mean the difference between success and failure, growth or stagnation. Virginia is Pollina Corporate’s pick [...]

As a tidal wave of business and consumer bankruptcies continues to drown our economy, those who have taken (or are considering) the bankruptcy plunge should at least know that they are not alone. In fact, since the turn of the century the U.S. has seen some of the biggest corporate bankruptcies ever. The following is [...]

A few weeks ago, I posted this article offering a few tips on how small business owners can grow their businesses during the recession. As I noted in the post, even in this dismal economy some businesses are thriving. But for the majority of smaller businesses the focus has become just trying to hunker down [...]

When it comes to mobile phones and business use, RIM’s Blackberry series of feature-rich smartphones might immediately come to mind. But a wide and versatile range of apps are actually making Apple’s iPhone an attractive business tool for those on the go. (Image Credit) Here are my picks of some of the most practical and [...]

Securing a contract to supply goods or services to a big corporation could be godsend for a small business at a time when consumer confidence (and spending) has plummeted. Small business owners, especially minorities and women, should be aware that several big businesses have programs in place to actively reach out to and cultivate their [...]

There is a lot of difficult news out there these days. With all the talk about pension cuts, pay freezes, layoffs, bankruptcies, and government bailouts, the fact that some industries are not only surviving the recession, but thriving in it, may seem hard to believe. But the truth is that in the midst of all [...]

This is the final post in a four-part series on employee theft. If you suspect that theft or fraud has occurred in your business, then you should promptly follow up with a thorough investigation. When done properly, an investigation can help you limit your loses and quickly resolve the situation. First you need to determine [...]

This is the third post in a four-part series on employee theft. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) in its Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud & Abuse recently estimated that the typical business will lose an average of six percent of revenues from employee theft, and according to the U.S. Chamber of [...]

This is the second post in a four-part series on employee theft. As the economic recession churns on and countless Americans struggle to get some control over their mounting debt, incidents of employee theft and fraud are becoming more and more common. The FBI even calls employee theft “the fastest growing crime in America,” and [...]