FastUpFront Blog:

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 and [...]

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 useful iPhone [...]

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 what [...]

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 [...]

This is the first article in a four-part series on employee theft. In this series I will cover some of the major causes of theft among workers as well as the extensive and often disastrous effects these occurrences bring to smaller businesses and their customers. Finally, I will end this series with some tips for [...]

The 2009 tax season may have come to an end. But now that all the dust has settled and those tax returns have been spent, its time to begin thinking about 2010…
To get you started, take a look at these strange, but true attempts individuals have made to reduce their tax burdens. And yes, many [...]

Yes, there are small businesses out there that are considering growth opportunities even as our current recession keeps a tight hold on our economy. But for those small businesses that are in this situation, any steps that they take to expand operations should be carefully implemented.

Here are a few tips on how to responsibly grow [...]