SmallBusinesses

Seeking cooperation in a polarized climate, President Barack Obama called on Congress Tuesday to act quickly on bipartisan measures that would extend tax breaks for small businesses and help startup companies raise money. He said he would sign the legislation "right away."

The dream of Raphael Alvarez was to open a salon. His timing, it seemed, could hardly have been worse: Finding a loan was impossible, and his original location was snatched away. But Alvarez still managed to start his small business, without help from a big financial institution, in this desperate economy. Here's how he did it.

You may already be familiar with many of the independent retailers in your home town, but how do you find mom-and-pop shops when you're traveling? The 3/50 Project's new iPhone app might help. It links users to its directory of small businesses, so visitors can support the local economy.

As the creation of new jobs slows and layoffs continue, small businesses keep hiring. ADP is betting those companies will continue to buck the trend. It's setting up new services to capitalize on that growth.

Lots of people mourned when Portland, Ore. coffee shop and brightly lit, family-friendly cafe, Sydney's, announced it was closing this Friday due to losing its lease. "Irreconcilable differences," the owner said. Why? Everyone asked. It was so popular with parents whose children attended the...

Want to start a business but question whether you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? According to a recent article in The Economist, there are five common myths that are prevalent about entrepreneurs. The misconceptions include the beliefs that entrepreneurs: Are anti-social geeks...

Toymakers are upset over a federal law that takes effect Feb. 10 requiring strict testing for lead and other hazards in toys or anything aimed at children, according to BusinessWeek. They're rallying for changes that would exempt small businesses, saying that the statute, the Consumer Product...