NFIB

The new projection is that holiday sales will grow 2.2% this year. Growth! you think. In a contracting economy--this is good news! more

The National Federation of Independent Business, which represents more than 600,000 small businesses nationwide, Monday made it clear that the group won?t support a bailout of Detroit?s Big Three automakers unless it has strings attached. more

Another month, another small business optimism survey courtesy the National Federation of Independent Business. The October survey (covering September) showed fairly dismal numbers yet also, for the most part, ones that were on their way up. more

I was recently contacted about two websites. One on learning math, and another on learning how to run a small business. Normally, I?m not thrilled by websites that focus on teaching something. more

CFO.com reports that industry insiders are doing all they can to snag President-elect Obama?s attention now ? before he takes office. As if the man doesn?t have enough to do in this transition period, let alone figure out what to do about the economic mess he?s vowed to fix. more

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced tougher regulations late last month regarding immigration and the duties of employers. According to the new rule, employers have 90 days to resolve a ?no-match? letter, which notifies an employer that there is a discrepancy with an employee?s legal working status. more

The good news - and this shouldn't be brushed off - is that we're not in "storm of the century" mode. The bad news is that a new report from the National Federation of Independent Business indicates small business owners' optimism has reached the third-lowest point in 35 years. more

Two roads lie ahead when it comes to health reform and the newly-elected president. One is characterized by caution. Don't try to do too much too fast, its proponents argue. Start with what's achievable, given the poor state of the economy, and build from there, working systematically to lower costs and expand insurance coverage over time, they say. more

Mom and pop shops didn?t need the nasty headlines of the last two months to tell them things were bad out there. more

As an adjunct university professor for almost 20 years, I would often have students say to me, ?What kind of business or profession should I consider going into right now?? I would respond by asking them, ?What do you like to do? What do you really enjoy?? more

The Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy has released its report for the third quarter of 2008. It contains little news that is new and just as much that is good. more

Some of you may have noticed that I have been rather silent about the election this time around. Now that it is over I will explain why. It really does not seem to matter. more

This year, the National Federation of Independent Business put up $1.6 million to support a handful of Republican running for re-election or election to Congress, wading in to closely contested races with sharp-edged TV, radio, and print ads. more

The National Federation of Independent Business is wasting no time in coming up with its action list for the new President and Congress. The small-business lobbying group acknowledges that the economy and crisis in the financial markets were the top issues in the election. Its list aims to help small businesses, which create most of the new jobs and drive the U.S. economy. more

You, us, we small business people are the drivers now. It?s important to remember that as we tool around our community more