Current Issues

U.S. Government To Pay $3 Million in Back Fees to Small Businesses

By Anita Campbell - May 22, 2013 - 2 Comments

The U.S. federal government owes 1,281 small businesses approximately $3 million collectively in termination fees. The small businesses are ones that were approved to sell to the government on the GSA's Multiple Award Schedule, but had their contracts terminated. The failure to pay was … Read More

$1 Billion Tumblr Deal Turns 26-Year-Old Founder into Mega-Millionaire

By Joshua Sophy - May 20, 2013 - 10 Comments

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a mega-millionaire with your next business idea? It's a reality for 26-year-old David Karp. The founder of Tumblr, the popular social blogging platform, has become the latest tech tycoon almost overnight. Today Yahoo officially announced plans to purchase the … Read More

Remembering Passwords Could Become a Thing of the Past

By Joshua Sophy - May 13, 2013 - 8 Comments

For small business owners and staff who find remembering passwords challenging and find it difficult to manage the multitude of online passwords, a solution may be in the works beginning as soon as later this year. PayPal Chief Security Officer Michael Barrett told those in attendance at a … Read More

Small Business Owners Continue to Evaluate Bitcoins

By Joshua Sophy - May 8, 2013 - 7 Comments

A recent study by researchers at Southern Methodist and Carnegie Mellon universities found Bitcoin exchanges pose considerable risk to users. Still, the digital currency remains popular, especially with online businesses operating across international borders. That's probably because the … Read More

Let’s Hope SBA, Commerce Merger is Dead With Pritzker Nomination

By Anita Campbell - May 3, 2013 - Leave a Comment

This week President Obama nominated billionaire hotel magnate Penny Pritzker (pictured, right) to be the next Commerce Secretary. He als0 nominated longtime Obama confidant Michael Froman (left) as U.S. Trade Representative. Given these two nominations, some observers are suggesting that … Read More

UK Online Merchants Must Manage New Royal Mail Rates

By Joshua Sophy - Apr 30, 2013 - 1 Comment

New Royal Mail rates in the United Kingdom have affected small business owners adversely. The issue should serve as a cautionary tale for businesses in the U.S. dependent on the U.S. Postal Service. The Royal Mail said in a statement when it first proposed the increased rates in December that … Read More

Where In The World Are Small Business Owners Trusted?

By Scott Shane - Apr 29, 2013 - 6 Comments

Message to small business owners around the world: If you want to be loved, move to America. In the United States, small business owners are held in high esteem. A 2010 Pew Foundation survey found that 71 percent of Americans see small business as a positive influence “on the way things are … Read More

What Does the Obama Budget Mean For Small Business Owners?

By Rohit Arora - Apr 25, 2013 - 1 Comment

2012 was the political year of small business. The election was a big reason for that. An even bigger reason is the fact that small business accounts for 60% of jobs in this country. However, economic uncertainty and a lack of capital are currently discouraging hiring. As long as small … Read More

CISPA Passes House Amid Worries Over Privacy

By Joshua Sophy - Apr 22, 2013 - 3 Comments

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a groundbreaking cybersecurity bill that's been widely debated lately. Some tech forms support it, while other organizations, firms and citizens have rallied against it. The House voted on Thursday afternoon, 288 to 127, to pass the Cyber … Read More

Google Drive, Gmail Experienced Service Disruptions Wednesday

By Joshua Sophy - Apr 19, 2013 - 3 Comments

Many of Google's most popular and used Apps including Google Drive and Gmail experienced service disruptions on Wednesday morning, causing some panic among faithful users. According to the Google Apps Status Dashboard, its Mail and Drive services, primarily, began experiencing interruptions … Read More

Lines Drawn on Debate Over Cyber Security Bill (CISPA)

By Joshua Sophy - Apr 16, 2013 - 2 Comments

A new cyber security bill known as CISPA, Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, is expected to reach the U.S. Senate floor soon. It pits high-tech startups against the giants in the industry in a privacy debate. The Los Angeles Times reports the Senate is likely to vote on CISPA … Read More

Tax Break Reversal: California Bills Small Business Owners, Investors

By Joshua Sophy - Apr 10, 2013 - 1 Comment

Owners and investors of small businesses in California are ruing a federal court decision that sticks them with more than $120 million in bills for back taxes. Now, according to several reports, state lawmakers are being urged to reverse a court decision that eliminated the Qualified Small … Read More