Friday November 20, 2009
By Emily Maltby
Main Street jewelers are struggling to attract customers as the recession pushes many to shutter their doors. Still, some are finding glimmers of hope.
Sites like Yelp, UrbanSpoon and Yahoo Local are gaining traction among consumers.
As weak economy exerts financial pressure, firms shed their 'high-maintenance' or delinquent clients.
Coin laundries -- once thought impervious to recessions -- are closing, and many others are battling sales declines as Americans cut back on laundry costs.
A House panel narrowly approved an exemption for small- and mid-size companies from audits required under the Sarbanes-Oxley law.
The small, family-owned business Ignition Inc. has found success by making itself an expert in an unusual niche: organizing the Olympic Torch Relay.
Aaron Levie, co-founder of online collaboration service Box.net, answers our questions.
Sean Fitzpatrick always loved art, but took a practical job instead. But, 22 years later he runs a successful business sculpting and carving pumpkins, sand, snow and ice.
Companies like Dell and American Express are turning entrepreneurs into spokesmodels. Here’s how companies both large and small benefit.
Small brick-and-mortar shops that rely on seasonal sales are seeking creative ways to avoid last year's bloodbath of discounting.
Along with the unsteady economy, small businesses face an additional dark cloud: uncertainty created by Washington.
David Hayes, CEO of general contractor Skyline Construction, answers our questions.
Wall Street is back. But Main Street isn't enjoying much of a recovery. Employers are still shedding jobs, and the unemployment rate is at 9.8%.
With little background, a husband-and-wife duo brought their graphic design business to the forefront of the industry.
Jim Farrell, founder and CEO of readymade milkshake maker f'REAL Foods, answers our questions.
Small businesses react to the president’s speech.
For retailers both large and small, this year’s holiday shopping season will likely be another downer. Make sure you plan for it.
David Kistner, founder and president of non-toxic dry cleaner Green Apple Cleaners, answers our questions.
Dismal sales have knocked many boutiques out of business, but some fashion stalwarts are getting creative. Here's how they're thriving, in spite of the downturn.
Learn to leverage your status as a minority-owned business to get the funding you need.
Independent dealerships left out of the popular initiative say they're facing higher auction prices – and consumers aren't spending.
Ryan Wuerch, founder and CEO of mobile Internet service provider Motricity, answers our questions.
After months of slow sales, family businesses are being forced to close, ending legacies and leaving behind a wake of sad customers and loyal employees.
To give sales a jolt, franchisors are doling out discounts and coming out with new products. Some franchisees can't keep up.
Q&A with Aaron Patzer on whether site will stay free, critics' complaints.
Bankruptcy is an ordeal for executives at any business. But entrepreneurs' personal assets are in jeopardy along with their business.
The founders of specialty food maker Transatlantic Foods answer our questions.
New companies are crucial to any economic recovery. However, as entrepreneurs become more risk-averse, job growth and economic output may be threatened.
Nathan D. Frankel, founder of scrap-metal-recovery service Advanced Steel Recovery, answers our questions.
Jim Safka listened to his customers and they led him to business success.
In the broadest survey yet of how occupation affects happiness, business owners came out the most joyful.
Dave Mesicek, co-founder of socially responsible footwear maker Common Soles, answers our questions.
Fred Haberman, co-founder of cause-related public relations firm Haberman, answers our questions.
Even as the unemployment rate soared to 9.7% last month, these startups see opportunity in the recession’s toll on the jobless.
They're young, talented and well-funded — but how are these former financiers faring as entrepreneurs?
Here’s how two students saw an opportunity to corner a market by providing companies with targeted marketing and delivering utility to students.
Dentists are scrambling for revenue by handing out perks —and sometimes by upselling their patients. A look at the economics of the root canal.
Sean Dimin, co-founder of sustainable seafood supplier Sea2Table, answers our questions.
After a long legal battle, Jared Gurfein, the founder of Viridian Spirits, finally packages absinthe. Here’s how he did it.
As they share expenses and customers, businesses that work together are not only surviving the downturn – they’re thriving in it.
Small lumber mills that produce hardwoods for items such as floors or cabinets have been shuttered, victims of the credit crunch and the housing implosion.
Small-business owners who left New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina are coming back to help the struggling city and to take advantage of tax breaks.
Aaron Schurman, CEO of videogame maker Phantom EFX, answers our questions.
The federal government has fallen short of its goal of awarding nearly a quarter of its contracts to small businesses.
The burger wars are heating up, as the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. chains take aim at McDonald's with a taste challenge and an attack on Big Mac.
Reward follows risk and innovation for these eco-friendly businesses.
While other recession-wracked restaurants are offering lower prices and discounts, Panera is targeting customers who are willing to pay more for lunch.
Josh Knauer, CEO of software development firm, Rhiza Labs, answers our questions.
As the economy continues to hobble business in the U.S., some franchises are finding willing investors and growth opportunities overseas.
John J. Hoffmann, founder of building rehabilitation firm Hoffmann Architects, answers our questions.
Solo entrepreneurs, freelancers and other self-employed professionals have always struggled to take vacations, and the recession is making it even harder.
Jeremy Cowan, founder of niche craft brewery Shmaltz Brewing Company, answers our questions.
Cassie Hughes and Gabrey Means, co-founders of marketing and publicity firm Grow Marketing, answer our questions.
See why these businesses are booming despite the gloomy economy.
Jerome Eberharter, founder of gourmet coffee maker White Cloud Coffee, answers our questions.
It's been 40 years since Apollo 11 touched down. Where the companies that got us there are now.
The deep discounts that restaurant chains have been offering to lure cash-strapped customers out of their kitchens are coming back to bite them.
Dial-a-Mattress founder blames bankruptcy on an expansion into brick-and-mortar and a culture clash with new management.
Chris Clover, president and CEO of immersive 3D technology developer, Mechdyne, answers our questions.
Car dealerships that have survived the auto industry shakeup are scrambling to win over ''orphaned'' car owners whose regular dealerships have closed.
Many high-end wineries are reeling from the downturn as even wealthy drinkers slash spending on fine wines.
Anthony Sandberg, founder of sailing school OCSC Sailing, answers our questions.
Gamefly's Sean Spencer gives us a peek inside his game-rental empire.
The economic downturn has prompted many consumers and neighborhood groups to actively support local small businesses.
Publishing a book is easier than ever and could offer entrepreneurs an edge.
Consumers and business owners are turning King-of-Pop paraphernalia into profits.
As major corporations lay off employees, small businesses are benefiting from an unexpected windfall of displaced talent.
Dan Button, CEO of nanotechnology lighting-fixtures maker QD Vision, answers our questions.
For a Texas rug shop owner, the arrival of hard times has thrown the survival of the going-out-of-business model into doubt.
With the recession making it tough to win new clients, small businesses are stretching their resources to keep loyal customers.
Matt Miller, founder of rugged tablet PC maker MobileDemand, answers our questions.
How architect Michael Reynolds came to found Earthship Biotecture, which designs and builds sustainable homes world-wide.
A growing number of micro-distilleries have the entrepreneurial spirit and savvy tactics to compete against bigger businesses.
The failure of New Frontier Bank in Colorado has left local small businesses struggling to find fresh sources of credit.
Small-business owners who are struggling to keep their companies afloat are doing anything they can to ride the recession, even taking on second jobs.
Wireless Zone franchisee, Jonah Engler, answers our questions.
These fearless kid entrepreneurs took big risks and reaped big rewards.
How a subcontractor building computer networks for big companies became a bike shop and coffee bar owner.
A growing fleet of vehicle-bound businesses around the U.S. is serving gourmet fare – and changing the lunchtime landscape.
The high-profile bankruptcies of Chrysler, GM and a few big suppliers have overshadowed the financial peril now facing the hundreds of small suppliers.
Richard Granahan, co-owner of electrical contractor, Granahan Electrical Contractors, answers our questions.
As more small businesses ditch their storefronts and offices to cut expenses during the recession, they're encountering new hurdles.
Forget the credit crunch, these businesses have found unconventional ways to keep their companies afloat.
The high-end shoemaker turned a small couture business into an international sensation by courting Hollywood stars.
The economic downturn has a silver lining for small manufacturers: a flood of highly qualified candidates even for tough-to-fill jobs like electricians and mechanics.
In business, even your credit score is negotiable. Here’s how to protect your interests by negotiating with creditors.
Thomas DeGeest, the owner of mobile Belgian waffle shop Wafels & Dinges, answers our questions.
From car dealers to suppliers, here’s a look at who gets hit by GM's bankruptcy, and how.
Mark Frauenfelder, founder of boingboing.net, discusses how he earns a six-figure salary doing something he loves.
Separated by 50 miles, the Michigan cities of Ann Arbor and Warren embody the state's potential road to rebirth with the help of small businesses.
Mollie Culligan, the owner of fashion label the Jack Rabbit Collection, answers our questions.
Smaller ad companies are being hurt by the recession more than their larger rivals. A measure of Aegis's first-quarter revenue fell 12%.
Aaron Belyea, owner of logo and branding design studio, Alphabet Arm Design, answers our questions.
For laid-off workers, launching a business may seem the best path to survival. Here are the stories of five people who are taking that route and the lessons they’ve learned.
Minority car dealers are expected to be hit hard as GM and Chrysler trim their retail networks, undoing years of work to bring minorities into the business.
Cutting costs and prices helped some businesses stay afloat. And, for some, it's paying off.
Alexi Huntley Khajavi, co-owner of carbon neutral airline, NatureAir, answers our questions.
Classical Archives, a small digital store focused exclusively on classical music, promises to give classical composers their due.
Andrew Yang, CEO of business school test-prep company, Manhattan GMAT, answers our questions.
For small companies, working with a larger partner can offer great exposure and more customers. Here’s how two companies successfully joined forces.
Economic fears are driving a resurgence in demand for repairmen in many industries.
Discouraged by economic conditions, some franchisers are cutting back on efforts to sell franchises.
Hopeful but jobless entrepreneurs are capitalizing on the downturn with layoff-related merchandise.
Zeke Adkins, co-founder of luggage forwarding service, Luggage Forward, answers our questions.
A number of small-business owners have stopped paying themselves as they struggle to keep their companies afloat.
Instead of hunkering down and hoping the economic downturn would be short-lived, the owner of Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli in Cincinnati, reinvented his business.
The founders of eco-friendly vodka and gin maker Modern Spirits answer our questions.
The tool-and-die shops around Meadville, Pa., which give the town its ''Tool City USA'' nickname, are faring better than in past recessions.
To attract cash-strapped diners, restaurateurs from Alain Ducasse to Daniel Boulud are making dramatic bids to ramp up their bar business.
A venture-capital firm that was an early backer of Facebook is devising a plan to outsource early investing decisions to hand-picked entrepreneurs.
Large banks have become vulnerable to public-relations campaigns and political pressure mounted by troubled small-business borrowers.
Andrew Miller, co-founder of mobile advertising firm, Quattro Wireless, answers our questions.
Sumin Chou and Glen LaFortune, co-founders of interactive web design firm, Concentric Studio, answer our questions.
The recession is chipping away at the tradition of billing by the hour, forcing companies to adopt performance-based pay and fixed prices to attract clients.
By offering in-store drinks, a growing number of independent retailers are trying to get men to shop more like women, who often linger and buy on impulse.
When tapping into ethnic communities, it helps being a member. Here’s how a new T-Mobile program helps entrepreneurs succeed.
Importers and specialty shops across the U.S. are loading up on pricey products from Europe ahead of an expected tariff on a wide-range of gourmet foods.
Gary Bauer, founder of eco-friendly transportation service, Bauer’s IT, answers our questions.
The hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs who helped build China into the world's factory floor now face emptying order books.
Anger over the financial crisis has a strong resonance along the country's hundreds of thoroughfares named Wall Street.
These businesses successfully switched gears to boost revenue. Here's how they did it.
John Bosma, co-founder of electrical contractor, Boz Electrical Contractors, answers our questions.
In an effort to keep small businesses afloat, strapped consumers keep shopping.
The economic crisis has done little to dent the ambitions of those who dream of brewing and selling their own beer.
How Chad Doane managed to get an online cult following for his notepads.
Most businesses are hurting, but franchises could be the exception. Here are some that are recruiting new talent.
Reebok founder Paul Fireman is in talks to invest $33 million in a small jeans company, part of a trend of venture investing in consumer-goods companies.
Mike Gordon, founder of energy management firm, CPower, answers our questions.
A handful of eco-capitalists have taken on the daunting task of marrying environmentalism to price-conscious consumerism.
Cities, counties and states across the nation are launching home-grown stimulus plans aimed at spurring local spending and keeping small businesses afloat.
As the big orders disappear, manufacturers are heavily courting small businesses.
In spite of the great financial toll that the recession is taking on small businesses, some owners are proactively trying to avoid layoffs.
Mina Fies, co-founder of residential remodeling design and construction firm, Synergy D&C, answers our questions.
Some enterprising clothes horses who splurged on designer clothes over the years are turning their closets into secondhand stores.
For decades, corporations shunned inventors. That is starting to change.
Globalization certainly has many detractors these days. Is a U.S. policy of protectionism in our future?
Bill Decker, co-founder of corporate meetings host, the Hub, answers our questions.
Thinking about starting a business? Make sure you're cut out for it first. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before making a big leap.
An aging mall in Pennsylvania is fighting to reinvent itself amid a harsh climate for retailers. More local businesses move in as national chains pull out.
Defaults on franchisee loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration are piling up in amounts unseen in years.
The founders of web design firm, Sisu, answer our questions.
Ron Asher, founder of online moving marketplace Relocation.com, answers our questions.
Menswear label Five Four reinvented its business to retain customers, manufacturing backpacks, socks and even wine-bottle openers.
The deepening recession is speeding up the shakeout in Silicon Valley, forcing droves of start-ups to shut down or sell themselves at fire-sale prices.
Even as the recession is taking its toll, some small-business owners are adopting 401(k)s for their employees.
Chris Golec, founder of Demandbase, answers our questions.
The global downturn is taking a particularly severe toll on China's small businesses, forcing them to adopt innovative and sometimes harsh strategies to survive.
Looking for new franchise opportunities? P&G is looking for recruits to operate its new Mr. Clean Car Wash franchise businesses.
Jesse Jacobs, founder of Samovar Tea Lounge, answers our questions.
More restaurants are eliminating busboys to cut costs and shifting those responsibilities to the servers, but it isn't always going smoothly.
From alternative energy to IT, these businesses are poised for a government windfall.
Many small companies are staffed with people who have spent their entire lives in one place, making it personally harder to lay people off.
Daren Cotter, founder of CotterWeb Enterprises, answers our questions:
Two California towns, hoping to preserve jobs and tax revenue, are bailing out local car dealers.
Larry Harding, founder of international business advisory firm High Street Partners, answers our questions.
To take their ventures to new heights, entrepreneurs head back to class in the SBA's Emerging 200 program.
Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, entrepreneur Steve Poizner and former eBay executive Steve Westly are all possible gubernatorial contenders.
Companies are cutting back so aggressively that they actually might be increasing their productivity.
Alternative-energy firms are reporting an influx of inquiries from companies anticipating Obama will implement stricter energy regulations.
Shane Neman, founder of mobile marketing service Ez Texting, answers our questions:
J.W. Hulme's co-owners borrowed heavily to fuel growth. Now the credit crunch has thrown the company -- and the lives of its owners -- into a spiral.
For decades, selling cars paved a path to wealth across America. But the industry has never before faced the forces now slowing sales to a crawl.
Small secondhand shops may face bare shelves next month -- or risk selling items that fall short of new safety standards.
In the name of security, new regulations affecting shipments to the U.S. are enacted. Importers need to learn how to cope.
Can't figure out where to set up shop? View our slideshow for some helpful hints.
A growing number of small-business owners are starting side businesses to stay afloat.
Mike Samson and Ross Kimbarovsky, co-founders of graphic design marketplace crowdSPRING, answer our questions:
Two entrepreneurs aim to revive the New York City rock venue CBGB.
Small retailers who don't have the margins to compete on price are scrambling to sell by offering gifts and personalized services.
As layoffs mount amid the slowing economy, some employers are cutting costs without axing jobs.
Clay McDaniel, co-founder of interactive marketing firm Spring Creek Group, answers our questions.
In the wake of the recession, more businesses are facing a growing financial threat: employee theft.
The restaurant industry, one of the largest U.S. employers, is shedding a record number of jobs as the prices for ingredients increase while customers decrease.
Steve Sarowitz, founder of payroll software provider Paylocity, answers our questions.
Amid a grim holiday season, mall shoppers are being besieged by a determined crop of salespeople: young Israelis who man carts and have a no-holds-barred selling style.
Mitch Goldstone, co-founder of ScanMyPhotos.com, answers our questions.
If you’re a franchisor, growth may be just around the corner. Learn what drives franchise sales, even in a slowing economy.
Restaurant chains with locations in malls are bracing for a holiday-shopping season with fewer customers.
Jon and Betsy Hughes, co-owners of sporting goods retailer Track Shack, answers our questions.
With nearly all retailers under the gun to cut costs and improve profit margins, labor-waste elimination systems are sweeping the industry.
As the yellow-pages industry starts crumbling under the weight of Google and other sites, small businesses without a web presence may suffer.
Unable to pass on the higher costs to customers, franchise restaurants are aggressively searching for alternative ways to slash costs.
Japan's sudden economic downturn is being felt deeply by millions of small businesses. But some are being thrown a lifeline.
Robert E. Mechem, co-founder of American Efficiency Services answers our questions
Once flourishing, independent fashion boutiques are among the retail industry's hardest hit by economic woes.
The outlook for holiday shopping looks bleaker, says the National Retail Federation.
For small companies looking to cash out, this may be an ideal time, so long as they are willing to provide some of the financing to their buyer.
Jim Fowler, co-founder of business information site Jigsaw, answers our questions.
Goldman Sachs with the help of top-tier business schools aims to train 10,000 female entrepreneurs in developing nations over the next five years.
Selling a business is a decision most entrepreneurs are reluctant to make. Here’s how one health-care entrepreneur made the leap.
As cash-strapped consumers look for bargains, small consignment shops and other cost-conscious establishments are benefiting.
New laws are affecting importing and exporting. They could impact your business.
A small businessman in Jakarta is hoping a victory for Obama will turn a house where he once lived into a profitable presidential landmark.
Todd Kenig, co-founder of beauty supply store Ricky's NYC, answers our questions.
Many small biotech firms are expected to file for bankruptcy this year, potentially damaging the drug pipeline that big pharmaceutical companies rely on.
McDonald’s faces fresh challenges as franchisees balk at the high costs associated with implementing its coffee expansion program.
Mike McDerment, CEO of online billing company FreshBooks, answers our questions.
Restaurant chains are bracing for dismal fall and holiday dining seasons by cutting prices, trimming earnings and sales forecasts and shuttering locations.
As wine has gone mainstream, companies are catering to new-comers for added profits.
Michael Szyliowicz, founder of Mont Blanc Gourmet, answers our question: What make you stand out from the crowd?
Get started in one of 7 industries that hold seven-figure potential—and step closer to a richer life.
The foundations for Gates and Buffett will use a food program to boost output earnings of small farmers in Africa and Latin America.
Jennifer Coleman, founder of CityProwl, answers our question: What makes you stand out?
This entrepreneur ended up expanding to a distant — and unexpected — place: the Middle East.
Small businesses are debunking the popular perception that it takes a corporate giant to sponsor the Olympics.
The franchising guru behind Mail Boxes Etc. and I Can't Believe It's Yogurt is betting that Tasti D-Lite devotees can be cultivated in cities around the world
Right after Apple announced it would allow developers to build applications for its new iPhone, this company got busy.
Anthony Mongeluzo, owner of Pro Computer Service, tells us what makes him stand out from the crowd.
A growing roster of local governments are aiming to put their residents on diets by cracking down on the fast-food industry.
Marketing to the LGBT community can extend far beyond the booming same-sex wedding industry in California. The key: Be sincere.
A large McDonald's franchisee pleaded guilty in federal court to supplying illegal workers with false identification and agreed to pay a $1 million fine.
Thinking about starting a food-related business? Take a page from Europe's cookbook with these 5 gourmet concepts.
From recycled wrapping paper to fair-trade coffee, kids are now selling ecologically friendly products for school fund-raisers.
Teens bypass after-school jobs for virtual world businesses where the money earned and the skills learned are real.
The future looked bright when several small banks decided to open in this city along the Gulf of Mexico. Not anymore.
Entrepreneurs with disabilities worry about losing aid and handling rigorous schedules.
Around the world, small companies are now marketing Italian gelato as a delicacy for connoisseurs willing to pay a premium for natural ingredients and in-store pampering.
Nancy A. Williams, co-founder of ASAP Staffing, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
Air-quality concerns, highway closures and worrisome media coverage are deterring tourists from visiting this picturesque town.
Expert VA Lyn Toomey offers her insight on what to expect and how to find help in the virtual world.
Discovery Channel puts entrepreneurs in the spotlight with its new all-green network.
Is a tote bag forged from old CapriSun pouches fashionable? A tiny N.J. company and its corporate clients certainly think so.
The Top Chef speaks about competition, running your own business and succeeding in a male-dominated industry.
A few upstarts have come up with a business model that challenges the tight grip big law firms hold on corporate business.
A new crop of entrepreneurs has discovered a business with grape appeal.
Nonprofits are creating social enterprises to generate revenues for their cause.
Julie Copeland, owner of Arbill, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
As the restaurant industry in the U.S. turns increasingly dour, major brands are turning their attention overseas.
Move over, mom. These entrepreneurial dads prove they know a thing or two about babies — and business.
Small companies are making a business out of helping local government agencies.
A Southern California start-up is hoping to shake up recreational flying with a novel concept.
Making the transition from a 9-to-5 job requires a leap of faith. Here's how 3 entrepreneurs finally cut the strings.
For these entrepreneurs, tackling social problems is part of the business plan.
As clean-technology investment booms, so does litigation over green intellectual property.
Volleyball pro, model, mother and entrepreneur Gabrielle Reece talks about taking on the business world.
Tara Abraham, co-owner of Accel, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
It doesn't take much time or effort to start moonlighting on the internet.
That's because PMP Corp. is one of the few places gas stations can turn to when they need old gas pumps adapted to register prices over $4 a gallon.
A ruling handed down this week by the U.S. Supreme Court is a critical victory for the fantasy sports industry.
Forget dank basements or cluttered garages. These home-based entrepreneurs got creative.
A Seattle start-up is hoping that an unexpected snippet of dialogue in the new Sex and the City movie will be a big boost for business.
Mark Zuckerberg isn't the only Harvard student finding success on Facebook.
With summer jobs in short supply, more young people are pursuing money-making opportunities in Web fantasy worlds.
Why an 83 year old retiree is one of the busiest advisers in the youth-obsessed fashion world.
Ranjini Poddar, owner of Artech Information Systems, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
If it's big in Japan, it could also hit big in the United States—and these entrepreneurs are betting on it.
Whether it's the shaky economy or the growing desire to recycle, shoppers are flocking to resale shops.
In an insightful Q&A, social entrepreneur and reality TV winner Randal Pinkett discusses time management, finding balance and giving back to communities.
In the world of nanotechnology, good things come in really small packages.
In the annals of luxury beauty and hair care, the latest entrepreneurial insurgent is a 42-year-old Brit who left school at age 16.
Rebecca Boenigk, owner of Neutral Posture, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
Rather than tighten their belt, this small business made a drastic decision: They moved into a completely new product line.
An American beautician stumbles onto a lucrative career as a Hermes reseller — or, as he puts it, a leather liaison.
These adventurers run businesses while traveling the world.
A growing number of suburban Americans are earning extra cash by growing food in their backyards.
Lynn Griffith, founder of Welcome Florida, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
Smoothies maker Jamba says it is on a journey to simplify healthy living, but with intensifying competition, it could be a lumpy ride.
PluggedIn Media is set to let users view for free near-DVD-quality music videos licensed from three big music companies.
Teaching people how to get organized has emerged as a lucrative business.
This Chicago parking service puts a new spin on an old industry.
These entrepreneurs admit they thrive on their work addictions.
How to make your city restaurant stand out? Pretend it's on a farm.
Indian Internet start-ups are turning away from a slowing U.S. economy and toward their own backyard with ventures targeted squarely at Indian consumers
It took Steve Demos nearly 30 years to turn Silk soy milk into a staple at Starbucks. He talks about his career in an interview.
Many small coffee companies are embracing fair trade, a practice that strives to treat third-world workers and the environment fairly.
Two entrepreneurial moms are reinventing office chic—one beaded lanyard at a time.
These 5 characteristics will take you far as you start your business.
BookRenter.com's young CEO is changing the way students get their textbooks.
As boomers retire, entrepreneurs are setting their sights on the gray market.
As the mortgage-lending crisis spreads, business is booming at firms specializing in 'property preservation.'
Fast-food's grip on the industry is slowly loosening, as other services industries expand rapidly.
An NFL program helps minority- or women-owned businesses bid for contracts to provide services at Super Bowl events.
Running a business with a sibling can be a great success – or a recipe for failure.
The Treasury's bailout plan is prompting fears among small banks that big banks getting rescue money will be encouraged to buy smaller rivals.
Companies are looking for cuts in every budgetary nook and cranny in an economy dragged down by slowing consumption, an imploding stock market and tight credit.
Franchise companies, facing tough times, are offering two-for-one deals, reduced fees and financing help to woo new buyers.
The co-founders of GotVMail, a phone system targeted at entrepreneurs, tell us what makes them stand out.
American pastry shops have discovered Chinese moon cakes as a new profit center. Others see the tasty tradition as a great networking tool.
Student venture capitalists get a lesson in business financing via endowment funded university programs.
In Thailand, astrologers turn political unrest into business profits.
Bob Patrizi, owner of Halo [For Men], answers our question: What makes you stand out?
Farmer Bruce Dunlop could haul is animals 150 miles to the nearest slaughterhouse. Instead, he just calls on his friendly roving neighborhood slaughterhouse.
Lisa Breier Urban, the co-founder of a law firm, answers: What makes you stand out?
A great idea may be all that stands between cubicle life and entrepreneurship. Here’s how some broke free.
The average woman's size in the U.S. approximates a 14, but fashion designers generally don't make anything larger than a size 12. Tadashi Shoji saw opportunity.
Gracienne Myers, founder of Gracienne Inc, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
John Christian's new product line is a direct response to something affecting all sorts of businesses: soaring commodity prices
Lori Levine, Flying Television's founder, answers: What makes you stand out?
Scott R. Gingold, owner of Powerfeedback, answers our question: What makes you stand out from the crowd?
These businesses landed deals for the summer Olympics. But, is it worth the cost?
Why some entrepreneurs love to start businesses over and over again.
After three generations of Guinans helped to run a tiny pub and country store, the family has to close it down.
Ex-Google employees cash in on their company stock to start businesses.
Cheaper wages and expenses in North Carolina help Industrial Motion regain its financial footing.
A start-up proposes that a new generation of small satellites can revolutionize the collection of weather and environmental data.
We've busted out the crystal ball to predict the hottest industries for the coming year.
NavQuest is changing the way boaters plan their trips by making it as simple as point and click.
Craft brewers in the U.S. are trying to assert more control over how their beer is sold as they gain in popularity -- and clout.
Christmas decorations require year-round planning at the small business responsible for holiday decor in some of the nation's biggest retailers.
Whether you're selling or advertising on them, coffee sleeves are a hot part of the multibillion-dollar coffee industry.
Age can give newbie business owners an advantage over younger counterparts.
Find out how one man with a tempeh-fueled dream changed Thanksgiving dinner forever.
The Internet has made publishing a book look deceptively easy for aspiring self-publishers. Here's a cautionary tale.
Think going abroad for cheaper medical procedures is scary? These businesses are here to help.
For food businesses, farmers markets could be the perfect place to find a following for your products.
You think finishing a marathon is hard? Try starting one.
Its strategy holds lessons for other relatively David-size companies that find themselves wrestling with Goliaths that buy out smaller rivals.
The president of a small company talks about the plane crash that claimed top executives' lives.
From gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches to mac and cheese, these specialty spots have found their niche by focusing on one simple item.
Beer entrepreneurs quench the thirst of increasingly savvy consumers.
An add-on franchise's established brand and reputation can help pull in new customers or get existing customers to buy the new offerings.
A father-and-son team challenge industry giants by focusing on picture-perfect quality and user friendliness for their photo sharing site.
See how some of today's top entrepreneurs skyrocketed to success.
In Silicon Valley, the goofy-names index is rising, as is the rate of odd-looking start-ups.
A former science teacher credits a blog for his educational toy's company success.
Our team of experts gives 3 companies advice on overcoming their growing pains.
Hispanic entrepreneurship and business owners are paving the way for their culture's future.
I want to pursue a full-time virtual-assistant business. Could you give me advice as to where to start?
The freedom to alter menus and prices may help chains compete better locally.
Entrepreneurs are hoping to cash in with social-networking sites.
A long ride on the New York City subway inspired this entrepreneur to open shop.
Richard Tait, creator of the game Cranium, says changing the rules is the key to success.
After a prison riot, this former guard decided to start a new career targeting aging boomers.
Two entrepreneurs are trying to bring a virtual golf club to Manhattan.
Native Angels grew from a personal need into a chance to serve the community.
Eleven successful female entrepreneurs offer advice to women looking to start a business.
Women-of-color entrepreneurs have trouble growing small businesses.
Drinking and shopping? This bar/boutique successfully offers both.
Building solar-powered buildings is good for more than just the environment.