FastUpFront Small Business Blog

With all the talk about the recession, job insecurity and lay offs, here are a few business jokes to lighten things up a bit. The Flowers A new business was opening and one of the owner”s friends wanted to send flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site and the owner read [...]

A year ago, I posted this article offering tips for employees who are dealing with workplace bullies. Then, workplace bullying was already a hot topic. These days, as people face growing job insecurity and tough economic times, an underlying feeling of unease is brewing. The issue of workplace bullying has not only become more significant, [...]

Open source applications and online services have been generating a lot of buzz over the past few years. Many of the open source alternatives are formidable contenders to the major liscensed software programs and services out on the market. Depending on the nature and circumstances of your business, bringing in open source apps may be [...]

In response to the current economic situation, many businesses are being more deliberate when it comes to deciding who to work with and hire. This includes their relationships with other businesses. Not surprisingly, conducting business background checks is fast becoming a standard practice among companies big and small. Getting information on potential business partners or [...]

Having a good business credit rating is a golden key that can help open the doors of financing- whether from the bank, vendors and suppliers, or potential investors. And with the current economic environment making it harder for small businesses to get the financing they need, this key is all the more vital to the [...]

Many small businesses rely on a bank-approved business line of credit as a convenient source of short-term financing. But preserving this credit-line is not always so easy. Most banks make a commitment for one year. At the close of the year the business’ financial statements, tax returns, and credit rating are reviewed. If the bank [...]

Earlier this week officials of the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced the initiation of a program that pairs out-of-work professionals with start-ups and growing small businesses. The program, known as JumpStartNYC, illustrates an unavoidable trend that has been gaining traction over the past couple of years. (image credit) As the economy continues to [...]

For small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, the web is a wellspring of information, insight, and advice. But like everything the Internet has to offer, you need to know where to go to find what you need. Here is my list of essential small business blogs divided into several, broad categories: General Small Business Info, [...]

As the economy continues to sour, many are giving extra thought to how they will spend their tax refunds. The question of where to allocate this “additional” cash is all the more weighty for the growing population of people who are either self-employed, unemployed, or in transition. So what is the best use for your [...]

There are several attractive incentives to investing in a franchise business. By buying into a franchise opportunity, you can take advantage of a proven business model and an established brand recognition, not to mention all the training and support that many of the major franchisers have to offer. But with the economy in a recession, [...]