smallbusiness

We got lots of reaction to our article about how changes in debit and credit card swipe fees may affect you. Swipe fees are the charges retailers pay when they allow you to use plastic. One question kept coming up: "Do I pay those fees when I use my debit card?" Regina Lewis explains.

The vast majority of American businesses are privately held, run by ordinary people with all the same worries the rest of us have. And if you're cutting back on personal spending at home, how likely are you to feel comfortable hiring at work?

Today's challenging job market has many recent college grads contemplating life as an entrepreneur. Some have dabbled in self-employment, but most will going into it essentially relying on instinct. So we asked some experienced entrepreneurs what every would-be small businessperson needs to know.

America is DIY Nation, but in certain financial situations, a do-it-yourself strategy can make a bad situation much worse, because in investing and money matters, most of us don't know what we don't know. Here are eight times in your life when the high stakes demand that you call in the experts.

Last week, I shared my top tax season secrets with you. I also emphasized that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to taxes. To give you a wide range of advice, I asked a number of tax professionals from all over the globe for their best tax tips for tax season. Here's what they had to say:

Scott Rosenbaum has thousands of people available to keep you company -- for a price. But he's no pimp, and his website, RentAFriend.com, is no escort service. Pay $24.95 a month (or $69.95 a year) to become a member, and you get to choose from a vast menu of "friends" with whom you can play...

Barbara Corcoran is back, and she's talking to another business person who needs advice at a critical moment. Maureen Jaret of New Jersey has a "stuffed cupcake" business that is being highlighted by Oprah Winfrey, and she's not sure she's ready for the quantum leap forward the publicity will...

Operating a new catering company or food-related business is difficult to do from home, so the concept of shared kitchens is compelling. Rent space or buy a membership to a shared facility, and a budding chef gets access to commercial equipment in a sanitary space. In many locales, it's great way...

Hey, aspiring entrepreneurs, got any time to spare today? SCORE, a nonprofit that helps small business owners start and maintain their companies, is sponsoring a free webinar on Thursday, Jan. 14, at noon Eastern time. "How to Really Start Your Own Business" will feature two successful small-biz...

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...