Lobbying

Continuing financing issues mean the industry may never return to its pre-recession days. But promising opportunities still exist in franchising's new era.

Plan would require small businesses with more than $500,000 in annual "remote" sales to collect sales tax, putting a new administrative burden on e-tailers.

Come January, prices for businesses using the Post Office are going up as the USPS struggles to rein in deficits and remain competitive.

Use these 10 tips to defuse and resolve employee disagreements, and learn how to foster a culture of civility and mutual respect among your staff.

Amazon is facing a California boycott because of its opposition to a new online sales tax, as small businesses ask their customers to join the fray.

After learning harsh lessons these past few years, small businesses should already know what they have to do to make it through a recession.

The potential closure of 3,653 U.S. post offices would hit rural communities hard, but the changes might give local businesses an opportunity to pick up the slack.

Small-business advocates support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which begins operation this week. But not everyone shares that enthusiasm.

So-called "business" cards would be illegal under any other name -- and they're a gold mine for the banks that issue them.

Some small retailers would rather give stuff away than let customers pay for it with plastic. Here's why.

Without credit, our industry is handcuffed and held hostage -- much like the rest of the economy.

Putting a Taco Bell next to a school yard doesn’t necessarily lead to fatter children, says a recent study.

AARP, the powerful senior-citizen lobbying group, has softened its stance on Social Security cuts. That could also pave the way for real progress on talks to raise the debt ceiling.

Caps on debit-card "swipe fees" are still on track, after the Senate fails to pass a measure that would have delayed the new rules.

States have cut budgets drastically, while offering incentives for companies to stay. But some courts are ruling cuts have gone too far. Will loss of incentives and tax hikes be far behind?

In many ways, medical marijuana entrepreneurs are no different than any other business owner: they both need a business strategy, capital, and a healthy dose of fortitude.

Political posturing in Congress has put the renewal of two prominent federal small-business grant and investment programs into serious doubt.

Funds for innovation and technology research will vaporize at the end of May, unless an extension is approved. But that doesn't look likely.

The actual meat of how the budget deficit eventually gets dealt with – or not -- is sure to affect small businesses dramatically.