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    <description>Small Business News by GOpromos.com</description>

    <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Default.aspx?FocusId=news.ascx</link>

    <title>GOpromos.com SmallBiz News</title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Leadership</category>

      <description>Times are tight for many small business owners. As the end of the year approaches, entrepreneurs should be looking for ways to reduce their tax burden going into 2012, according to a CNBC article by small business writer Barbara Weltman.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Tax deductions can be found through a number of different channels, including giving year-end cash bonuses to workers, claiming depreciation deductions on new and used equipment, donating cash or inventory to charities recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and ordering supplies for 2012 ahead of time.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Deductions can also be found by adopting a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k), and including employees.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;As long as you sign the paperwork with the financial institution at which you&amp;#39;ll keep the plan, you then have until the extended due date of your 2011 return to make contributions that will be deductible on your 2011 return,&amp;quot; Weltman writes.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;According to a Nationwide Financial study, just one in five small businesses offer their workers a 401(k) or other employee self-funded retirement plans, so providing one could help entrepreneurs set their companies apart from the pack. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Finding+small+business+tax+deductions+/800660521/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:56:14 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Finding small business tax deductions  </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Leadership</category>

      <description>The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute recently identified six small business trends likely to be faced by entrepreneurs next year. These included economic volatility, tight availability of capital, threats of closure amid decreased revenues, trade-offs and deal-making, customer poaching from large companies and pessimistic campaign rhetoric related to the sector.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Almost half of the nearly 1,100 small business owners surveyed said the economy is a barrier to growing their companies and 14 percent said they would have to close if revenues fell significantly over the next one to two years.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;With regard to the threat of large companies poaching small business customers, The Institute recommends entrepreneurs play up their strengths as part of their business marketing efforts.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Small business owners should seek ways to demonstrate how their company is more responsive to customers or able to provide more customized, localized or cost-efficient service,&amp;quot; The Institute advises.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;A recent Zoomerang survey found that many entrepreneurs are expanding their business advertising to social media tools. However, most don&amp;#39;t understand the value of the channel.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Study+identifies+top+small+business+trends+for+2012+/800659626/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:15:20 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Study identifies top small business trends for 2012 </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Marketing News</category>

      <description>Visibility and recognition should be key components in a small business marketing plan, but trouble can arise when companies&amp;#39; efforts to achieve this infringe upon existing trademarks, CNN reports.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;For example, shoe startup Rollashoe&amp;#39;s Footzyrolls brand was recently sued by Tootsie Roll Industries for trademark infringement.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;This type of litigation is on the rise, with more than 3,600 cases filed in United States courts last year, according to figures from FTI Consulting. The 8 percent increase over the previous year represented the largest rise in the past decade.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;An experienced trademark lawyer can assess your trademark before you file and tell you if it is slightly risky, highly risky or in clear violation of an existing trademark,&amp;quot; David Byer, intellectual property attorney with K&amp;amp;L Gates, told the news source. Byer noted that many firms offer fixed packages for such services, at prices that are affordable for small enterprises.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Companies that wish to file an application for their own trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office can do so online via the Trademark Electronic Application System. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Dealing+with+trademarks+/800658458/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:13:45 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Dealing with trademarks  </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Leadership</category>

      <description>Small business owners who want to maximize the effect of their employee recruitment efforts should address several key areas, according to business writer Susan Ward.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Entrepreneurs looking to hire should ensure the salary for the position is compatible with the going rate to avoid losing prospective workers to higher-paying competitors. They can also pique potential employees&amp;#39; interest by touting perks that are likely not offered by larger companies, such as flexible hours and the option to telecommute.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Incorporating advancement opportunities is another way to attract workers. For example, offering the chance to develop new skills, the potential to rise to a position with more responsibilities or the promise of a salary increase after a certain amount of time with the company are all effective motivators.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Some small businesses&amp;#39; employee recruitment troubles may simply be caused by an insufficient advertising strategy. Consider expanding and broadening outreach efforts by placing job ads online and contacting employment agencies.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Benefits programs can also be compelling. According to a Nationwide Financial study, just one in five small businesses offer their workers a 401(k) or other employee self-funded retirement plan.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Small+business+employee+recruitment+tips+/800657203/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:36:10 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Small business employee recruitment tips </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>According to this month&amp;#39;s ADP National Employment Report, small businesses were responsible for more than half of the country&amp;#39;s 206,000 increase in private sector employee from October to November.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;For the purposes of the report, small businesses were categorized as enterprises with between one and 49 employees. Companies in this sector added 110,000 jobs, ahead of medium businesses (those with payrolls of between 50 and 499 workers), which added 84,000, and large businesses (more than 499 employees), which added 12,000.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Despite fiscal uncertainties here and abroad, owners of small and medium-sized businesses found ways to grow and hire in November,&amp;quot; said Carlos Rodriguez, president and CEO of ADP.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;November&amp;#39;s increase in employment normally would be associated with a decline in the unemployment rate,&amp;quot; added Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers. &amp;quot;An acceleration of employment is consistent with data showing that GDP growth &amp;hellip; is gradually recovering.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;According to the latest Intuit Small Business Employment Index, the average employee of a smaller firm worked approximately 25 hours per week and earned $2,642 last month, which would equate to annual wages of about $31,600. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/ADP+Small+businesses+created+majority+of+jobs+last+month+/800657197/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:34:07 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>ADP: Small businesses created majority of jobs last month </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Marketing News</category>

      <description>The city of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, is hosting its third annual Win a Window initiative to boost small business revenues during the holiday season.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Part of the contest involves buying at least 12 items from one of the 89 local enterprises that are taking part in this year&amp;#39;s event. Participants earn a sticker for each purchase and are entered for a chance to win approximately $3,000 worth of prizes donated by local businesses, which are displayed in a window downtown.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;A majority of our businesses here in Tomahawk are family owned businesses so a little gesture of shopping local makes a big impact on our stores here locally - it&amp;#39;s their livelihood,&amp;quot; said Liz Milender, executive director of local business group Tomahawk Mainstreet, as quoted by WSAW-TV.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Milender told WAOW-TV that $8 out of every $10 spent locally stays in the community and is used to fund projects such as building roads and schools. In addition to raising money for the city, the initiative also boost small business marketing efforts.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Small business visibility is especially important this time of year, with Super Saturday projected to be the second-highest grossing shopping day of the year, according to ShopperTrak. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/City+launches+third+annual+small+business+marketing+initiative+/800656520/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:07:37 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>City launches third annual small business marketing initiative  </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Leadership</category>

      <description>The SurePayroll November 2011 Small Business Scorecard ranked the small business hiring index and average paycheck size in metropolitan areas of the United States last month.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;St. Louis saw an average salary size increase of 10 percent, the highest among studied areas. It was followed by Philadelphia (6.7 percent) and Orlando (5.7 percent). Paychecks in Indianapolis fared the worst, with an average decrease of 13.3 percent, ahead of Columbus (10.2 percent) and Cleveland (7.5 percent).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;With regard to hiring, San Antonio topped the list with an increase of 6.9 percent, followed by Orlando with 6.5 percent. The metro areas that saw the biggest hiring decreases were Sacramento (15.1 percent) and Cincinnati (13.4 percent).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Small business owners&amp;#39; optimism is holding steady, despite frustrating external twists and turns such as a recurring market rollercoaster and government inaction,&amp;quot; said SurePayroll president Michael Alter. &amp;quot;Expect about a 60 to 90-day window before optimism has the potential to turn into action in the form of hiring decisions or investing in growth.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;According to the latest Intuit Small Business Employment Index, small enterprises created 55,000 jobs last month. However, decreases were observed in both work hours (0.3 percent) and compensation (0.18 percent).&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/SurePayroll+ranks+small+business+hiring+paycheck+sizes+/800656515/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:05:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>SurePayroll ranks small business hiring, paycheck sizes </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Marketing News</category>

      <description>Entrepreneurs looking to expand their small business marketing efforts may be considering an assortment of channels. Some are wondering whether email is becoming obsolete and marketing through social networking sites may be the best way to go.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;A recent infographic by Visible Gains offered insight into how people and companies communicate with each other. Despite the rise in social networking, the number of emails sent worldwide last year rose by 19 percent compared with 2009 figures. Nearly 3.4 million emails were sent every second in 2010 by email accounts around the globe - 14 percent of which were located in North America.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;With regard to the future of email, 57 percent of teenagers surveyed by email marketing service provider AWeber Communications said they feel email is popular in business, while 20 percent believe email and social media complement each other.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Small businesses looking to enter the marketing arena or restructure their current approaches should consider putting together a blended package of social media and email outreach, in addition to engaging in physical business advertising via items such as promotional pens and tote bags.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Maximizing+the+effectiveness+of+small+business+marketing+/800655549/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:48:38 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Maximizing the effectiveness of small business marketing  </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Leadership</category>

      <description>Small Business Saturday was the main event for small enterprises over the recent Thanksgiving weekend, but firms also saw huge gains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to recent research by small business accounting service Outright.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The study, which surveyed 10,000 owners of one-man businesses, found that online firms saw the highest gains compared to last year, the Christian Science Monitor reports. They sold an average of $440 worth of goods and services over the time period, compared to just $100 in 2010.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;We are thrilled to see that these small businesses, who are the lifeblood of America, have shared the benefits of a healthy increase in sales over the four key sales days of Thanksgiving weekend,&amp;quot; said Outright CEO Steven Aldrich, as quoted by the news source.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;And the holiday shopping season isn&amp;#39;t over yet. Last month, retail foot traffic counter ShopperTrak identified the top 10 busiest shopping days of the 2011 holiday season, with the week before Christmas expected to pull in one-third of all holiday sales. Super Saturday - the last Saturday before Christmas - is projected to be the second-highest grossing day of the year. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Small+businesses+see+Thanksgiving+weekend+profits+/800654447/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:33:46 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Small businesses see Thanksgiving weekend profits </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>According to a recent study by global professional recruiting group Hays, less competitive salaries and benefits packages are reducing the success of small business&amp;#39; recruitment efforts.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Nearly half of surveyed professionals said they believed salaries to be less competitive at small companies, while 55 percent perceive smaller firms as not being able to offer as many benefits as their larger counterparts.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;If (small businesses) cannot compete with larger salaries or more expensive benefit schemes, they can often provide more interesting and varied work and the chance for people to work with senior people,&amp;quot; said Hays director Charles Logan.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Entrepreneurs looking to improve their recruitment success rates should emphasize the positive aspects associated with being employed by a smaller firm. A total of 88 percent of survey respondents said they appreciated that such companies offer a more-hands on approach, while 83 percent cited more responsibility and a greater understanding of the business as a whole.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;A recent Bersin &amp;amp; Associates study identified what CEO Josh Bersin called &amp;quot;a paradoxical imbalance in talent markets,&amp;quot; as employers are having difficulty finding candidates with the right skills despite a high unemployment rate and a plethora of job-seekers.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Study+identifies+pitfalls+in+small+business+employee+recruitment+/800654441/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:32:33 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Study identifies pitfalls in small business employee recruitment </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>At this time of year, many small business owners are focused on maximizing revenue and getting consumers to buy their wares. However, the holiday season also offers cost savings for entrepreneurs looking to upgrade their computers and other office equipment.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Upgrading technology gives employees faster, more efficient tools and allows them to save time, which ultimately means saving money,&amp;quot; the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel notes.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;In addition to taking advantage of lower ticket prices, buying now can also be helpful to small businesses come tax season, as companies that make new purchases by the end of the year may qualify for a write-off during the 2012 tax season.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Entrepreneurs hunting for deals and top-notch products should seek out machines that have good security protections and come with round-the-clock customer support in case anything goes wrong.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;According to a recent report by security software company Symantec, many entrepreneurs are complacent about their companies&amp;#39; risk of cyber-attacks.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Nearly two-thirds of small business owners who responded to the 2011 SMB Threat Awareness Poll said they don&amp;#39;t secure computers used for online banking, while 61 percent don&amp;#39;t use antivirus programs on all company desktops. Additionally, 47 percent don&amp;#39;t have security protections in place for their mail servers and services.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Now+is+the+time+to+make+small+business+technology+upgrades+/800651380/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:48:20 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Now is the time to make small business technology upgrades </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>It&amp;#39;s too early for official revenue figures from Small Business Saturday to be reported, but entrepreneurs in Charleston have already formed their own opinions about the event, according to the Charleston Regional Business Journal.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Stacy Smallwood, owner of Hampden Clothing, said her store saw a similar intake compared to last year&amp;#39;s inaugural Small Business Saturday. She noted that the 2010 event was successful and she hadn&amp;#39;t expected a year-over-year increase.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Jennifer Ferrebee, owner of health food restaurant Verde, told the news source she saw a noticeable increase in small business marketing of the event this year.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;You heard a lot more about it than I ever remember from last year,&amp;quot; she told the media outlet. &amp;quot;I saw tons of posters in windows on businesses. I think it was a big success.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;President Barack Obama supported the event by dropping into Washington, D.C.-based Kramerbooks with his daughters.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;This is Small Business Saturday, so we&amp;#39;re out here supporting small business,&amp;quot; the president told a young boy who was at the store with his grandmother. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Gauging+the+success+of+Small+Business+Saturday+/800650737/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:50:11 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Gauging the success of Small Business Saturday  </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>A recent report by the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation found that uncertainty and weak sales are the two most significant barriers to small business growth.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Specifically, 61 percent of entrepreneurs surveyed cited uncertainty as a growth impediment, with just one-quarter reporting that they are unaffected by it. The majority (83 percent) said the uncertainty is economic, but more than half who identified it as a barrier to growth placed at least partial blame on the current political climate.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Other inhibitors named by respondents include complex regulations (40 percent), a lack of financing (41 percent) and problems finding skilled employees (61 percent).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;(Small business&amp;#39;) growth and success is often contingent upon a litany factors of beyond their control - but within the purview of policy makers in Washington,&amp;quot; noted William Dennis, senior fellow at the NFIB Research Foundation, who authored the report.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Dennis recommended that government officials take time to understand factors mitigating small business growth in order to craft more appropriate policies.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Despite the uncertainty small businesses are managing to flourish, according to a recent study by Interise. A total of 57 percent of respondents who owned established small enterprises reported that they successfully boosted revenue by an average of $31,000 last fiscal year. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/NFIB+study+identifies+main+obstacles+to+small+business+growth+/800649457/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:26:01 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>NFIB study identifies main obstacles to small business growth </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Marketing News</category>

      <description>Online deal websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial can help some entrepreneurs expand their business advertising reach, according to WGN-TV.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Business owners such as Dave Archer, who operates the family-owned Maid For You cleaning service in the Denver Metro Area, have found tremendous success through the website. A LivingSocial representative told Archer to expect approximately 100 people to take advantage of his offer, but the actual number was four times that.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;However, several factors can affect a small enterprise&amp;#39;s success rate, according to Jaime Murray of social advertising company Deal Chicken.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;It really depends on a few things - the time of year, what you&amp;#39;re offering, and what the history of the business is,&amp;quot; she told the news source. &amp;quot;People are not going to just buy something because it&amp;#39;s in their inbox.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;As Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday approach, some online deal websites are ramping up their offers, The Associated Press notes. LivingSocial is preparing to expand its discount opportunities, going beyond local deals to provide discounts on goods from national businesses such as Verizon Wireless and Skechers.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Online+deal+websites+can+help+with+small+business+advertising+/800648196/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:23:37 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Online deal websites can help with small business advertising </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Marketing News</category>

      <description>Small business marketing requires a mix of print and digital tools, leveraged both online and offline, according to Small Business Trends.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Although it can sometimes be tempting to eschew business cards and paper brochures for emails and Facebook posts, print can still go a long way. In fact, the U.S. Postal Service recently announced that its carriers will deliver up to 5,000 pieces of business advertising material per day that aren&amp;#39;t directed to a specific name and address. The Wall Street Journal explains that previously, merchants would have to purchase mailing lists in order to obtain exact addresses.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;That being said, there is a definite place for the internet in small business&amp;#39; marketing campaigns. It&amp;#39;s vital for the company&amp;#39;s website to be polished and informative. Similarly, email bulletins are a good way to keep customers updated about the latest sales, offers and new products, but it&amp;#39;s important not to inundate consumers with too much information, otherwise they&amp;#39;ll likely opt out.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Localization is another important tool, according to Forbes. Registering with Google Places, Bing Local and the like will help increase visibility. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Maximizing+the+success+of+small+business+marketing+initiatives+/800647087/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:53:49 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Maximizing the success of small business marketing initiatives </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Starting a Business</category>

      <description>The number of small businesses that inquired about credit card processing recently rose by 43 percent, according to Ratecreditcardprocessing.com. Merchant account inquiries indicate a rise in entrepreneurial activity, fueling hopes of a small business recovery.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Renewed interest from owners looking to grow their businesses is heartening after an extended period of bleak business activity,&amp;quot; said Ariel Pryor of Ratecreditcardprocessing.com.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Financial experts estimate that merchants who do not accept credit cards at the point of sale may be missing out on as much as 90 percent of revenue opportunities. Maximizing revenue is always important for small businesses looking to expand, but each sale is especially meaningful during periods of economic downturn.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;As another positive indicator of economic recovery within the small enterprise sector, small business borrowing rose in September, according to Reuters. Specifically, PayNet announced a 14 percent increase in small business borrowing.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The projected growth is likely to contribute to a slow decline of the nation&amp;#39;s unemployment rate, which has remained around 9 percent since April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor&amp;#39;s Bureau of Labor Statistics. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Rise+in+small+business+credit+card+processing+inquiries+could+indicate+economic+recovery/800636443/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:41:55 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Rise in small business credit card processing inquiries could indicate economic recovery</title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Starting a Business</category>

      <description>Small business borrowing rose in September, bolstering hopes of an economic recovery, according to Reuters.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;PayNet recently announced a double-digit rise in the latest edition of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the volume of financing to small enterprises in the United States. Specifically, small business borrowing rose by 14 percent.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;We&amp;#39;re entering this slow-growth, low-risk phase of the business cycle,&amp;quot; said PayNet founder Bill Phelan, as quoted by the news source. &amp;quot;The last time, that phase lasted four to six quarters.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The projected growth is likely to slowly chip away at the nation&amp;#39;s unemployment rate, which has been stuck around 9 percent since April, according to the U.S. Department of Labor&amp;#39;s Bureau of Labor Statistics.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Nearly half of the small business owners who took part in Insperity&amp;#39;s recently released Business Confidence Survey believe an economic rebound will occur no sooner than the second half of 2012, and are approaching internal an external expansion plans with caution. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Small+business+borrowing+increase+provokes+optimism+/800635476/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:47:58 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Small business borrowing increase provokes optimism  </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Starting a Business</category>

      <description>Michigan banks and credit unions wrote more 7(a) loans than any other state in the country during fiscal year 2011, the Detroit Free Press reports.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Between October 2010 and September 2011, the state&amp;#39;s lenders disbursed more than 2,000 7(a) loans - the most popular of the Small Business Administration&amp;#39;s financial assistance offerings. The loans totaled $689 million and went to a variety of Michigan industries.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The Small Business Administration&amp;#39;s Michigan district office stepped up its business marketing campaigns for 2011, which is thought to have contributed to the achievement. Greater program awareness and the fact that more banks are offering 7(a) loans are also believed to have been influential.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;If the SBA hadn&amp;#39;t been there when it was, some of these companies ... would have really struggled,&amp;quot; said Richard Najarian, president of a Troy-based auto supplier that was able to hire 45 employees this year due to funding provided by loans.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Business Review West Michigan notes that the state&amp;#39;s top lenders were Huntington Bank - which secured the accolade for the second consecutive year - and Chase Bank.</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Michigan+earns+title+of+most+prolific+small+business+lender+/800634435/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:36:15 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Michigan earns title of most prolific small business lender  </title>

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    <item>

      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Starting a Business</category>

      <description>At the beginning of November, Starbucks launched its Create Jobs for USA Program to provide loans to small businesses and community groups. The company partnered with Opportunity Finance Network - a nonprofit that works with community development financial institutions to add small business jobs and stem losses - to develop the initiative.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Donations will be accepted online and at the store&amp;#39;s nearly 7,000 company-owned U.S. locations. Each $5 donation will result in $35 in small business financing, and contributors will be given a red, white and blue wristband emblazoned with the word &amp;quot;Indivisible.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;The more we stimulate demand and increase the purchasing power of middle class consumers, the faster we will recover,&amp;quot; said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and CEO. &amp;quot;We hope &amp;hellip; (to give) community businesses access to the credit they need to hire, to grow and to contribute to creating thriving communities.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The Associated Press notes that Schultz has made efforts to stimulate the country&amp;#39;s economy in the past. In August, he sent Starbucks employees a memo urging them to kickstart business in any way they could, and is hiring approximately 200 new workers per day as part of the company&amp;#39;s expansion efforts.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Starbucks+launches+program+to+stimulate+small+business+growth+/800633316/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:18:40 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Starbucks launches program to stimulate small business growth </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Starting a Business</category>

      <description>According to small enterprise finance expert Steve Strauss, entrepreneurs looking to launch startups make several common mistakes when it comes to small business financing, Entrepreneur magazine reports.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Errors include overspending, failing to set aside funds for business advertising, underestimating startup costs and losing out on tax savings by miscategorizing the business.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;The only way you can turn on the light and let people know you&amp;#39;re there is by marketing and advertising, or you&amp;#39;re going to have no customers,&amp;quot; Strauss points out. He notes that although many small business owners follow the unwritten rule of assigning 5 percent of the enterprise&amp;#39;s projected annual revenue to its marketing budget, this may not always hold true. Expenditures may vary due to the size of the business advertising area.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;According to the Christian Science Monitor, small business owners should keep accurate, comprehensive records to minimize problems with the Internal Revenue Service and small business lenders. Additionally, entrepreneurs are advised to initially refrain from delegating money management duties to employees in order to minimize fraud. &amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Finance+tips+for+starting+a+business+/800629408/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:53:57 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Finance tips for starting a business </title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>According to a recent infographic published by CreditDonkey, small transactions of $5 or less may account for as much as $1.3 trillion in annual worldwide commerce - good news for entrepreneurs who own independent retail establishments that sell small-ticket items such as trinkets and lattes.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Not accepting credit and debit card payments can hamper small businesses&amp;#39; efforts to increase revenue due to the fact that consumers are sometimes unwilling to go to an ATM for cash - which may involve additional charges - and elect instead to take their patronage elsewhere, particularly if they are members of the younger generation.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;CreditDonkey founder Charles Tran notes that while paying for small purchases with cash is a habit for older consumers, &amp;quot;today&amp;#39;s young adults pull out their credit cards for everything - from 99 cent iTunes purchases to soda or lattes from the neighborhood coffee shop. Credit cards are quickly replacing cash and many young adults choose where they shop based on whether or not credit is accepted.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The number of small businesses willing to accept plastic payments is expected to rise due to the fact that a Federal Reserve cap on debit card swipe fees charged to merchants will go into effect next month. The cap will more than halve the average fee of 44 cents per transaction to 21 cents, plus 0.5 percent of the transaction total. In 2009, 58 percent of all debit card transactions were less than $20, so now that the Fed is regulating swipe fees, it&amp;#39;s a good time for small businesses to branch into debit acceptance if they have yet to do so.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Coffee houses stand to profit in particular, due to the fact that they are the fastest expanding sector of the restaurant industry and have an annual growth rate of 7 percent. America&amp;#39;s appetite for coffee is a key motivator behind this, as coffee amounts to three-quarters of all caffeine being consumed in the U.S. - at a rate of approximately 400 million cups per day.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&amp;quot;Consumers and small merchants can benefit from the convenience that&amp;#39;s offered with credit and debit,&amp;quot; said Tran. &amp;quot;When merchants warm up to the concept of coffee being paid for by credit, they will start to see the rewards.&amp;quot;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;But the rewards go beyond just payment processing convenience. A significant consumer benefit of using credit cards is the potential of accruing loyalty points. Small businesses that process credit card payments can help their customers earn points that can be put toward a range of perks, from discounts on particular items to free appliances and flights, as well as access to exclusive offers.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;According to the infographic, a study of grocery store transactions found that consumers who use credit cards to pay for groceries racked up an average bill of $67.60, compared to $60.10 for debit purchases and $37.90 for cash purchases. The &amp;quot;buy now, pay later&amp;quot; nature of credit card transactions facilitates higher spending, which could boost small business revenue in a time of continuing economic instability.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;A recent report by Reuters notes that America&amp;#39;s Research Group found 82 percent of shoppers plan to spend the same or less than last year this holiday season. This underscores the need for businesses to accept as many forms of payment as possible, so as not to miss out on sales.&amp;nbsp;</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/How+small+businesses+can+increase+revenue+by+accepting+plastic+payments/800601616/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:51:43 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>How small businesses can increase revenue by accepting plastic payments</title>

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      <author>news@gopromos.com</author>

      <category>Business Operations</category>

      <description>Occasionally even established companies feel the need to reboot and bring their brand into the 21st century which often means replacing years of &lt;a href="http://www.gopromos.com/Category/Pens+Pencils+-+Markers/20/Default.aspx" target="_self"&gt;promotional products&lt;/a&gt; and old &lt;a href="http://www.gopromos.com/Category/Apparel+-+Caps/4/Default.aspx" target="_self"&gt;corporate apparel&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Popular southern grocery chain Winn-Dixie announced this week that it had completed a remodel of 51 stories in northern Florida and southern Georgia which the company says not only gives customers an improved shopping experience, but will begin the implementation of a new marketing campaign.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;The new &amp;quot;Fresh Checked Every Day&amp;quot; marketing campaign will be seen and heard in advertising, websites and promotions throughout the area, but it also means the stores need to make changes to many &lt;a href="http://www.gopromos.com/Category/Misc+Products+-+Lanyards/15/Default.aspx" target="_self"&gt;promotional items&lt;/a&gt;, signs and banners each store has used for years.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;It also means the &lt;a href="http://www.gopromos.com/Category/Shirts/136/Default.aspx" target="_self"&gt;corporate clothing&lt;/a&gt; each employee wears will need to reflect the new marketing campaign.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Companies looking to rebrand their store or product should take this in mind when they look at rolling out new advertising and marketing campaigns.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;When a big change is made, it is necessary to make sure everything reflects the new slogan or logo that the company has decided on. This can mean changing everything from the corporate clothing employees wear to their job, to the sign outside the business' location.</description>

      <link>http://www.gopromos.com/Article/Rebranding+can+mean+changing+corporate+clothing+promotional+products/19270735/Default.aspx</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:47:33 GMT</pubDate>

      <title>Rebranding can mean changing corporate clothing, promotional products</title>

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