Latest Small Business Headlines
All the headlines from our Small Business Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Small Businesses Confront Big Cyber Risks
Sep 7 2009 // Larger Firms Tend to Have More Data Security Resources The theft of personal and private data — from credit card information, to Social Security numbers, to health information, is a thriving global crime — and it is...
Calif. Workers’ Comp Fund Sale Faces Many Hurdles
Sep 7 2009 // In a move that was not completely unexpected, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner will file a lawsuit to have the $1 billion sale of State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) assets declared...
How 3 Healthcare Reform Bills Now Before Congress Compare
Aug 10 2009 // Lawmakers in Congress are working on three versions of proposals to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system. Many of these changes would be phased in over a number of years. In the House of Representatives, three committees...
Health Insurance Mandate Will Kill Jobs
Aug 3 2009 // Congress is about to take up legislation that would have profound and long-lasting effects on 17 percent of our nation’s economy — our health care system. Most Americans agree that the system is broken and...
White House Study: Small Businesses Pay 18% More for Health Coverage
Jul 27 2009 // President Barack Obama, citing a new White House study suggesting that small businesses pay far more per employee for health insurance than big companies, said Saturday the disparity is “unsustainable —...
Survey: Tennessee Small Businesses Struggling with Health Insurance Costs
Jul 27 2009 // With Congress debating how to reform Athe nation’s health care system, a new survey report reveals that 79 percent of Tennessee’s small business owners, including the self-employed, are struggling to afford...
Survey: Illinois Small Businesses Crushed by Rising Health Costs
Jul 22 2009 // Illinois small business owners are being crushed by rising health care costs, and feel left out of the current health care debate in Washington, according to a report recently released by Illinois Public Interest Research...
Health Insurance Agents’ ‘Fly-In’ Has Impact on Capitol Hill, But Is It Enough?
Jul 22 2009 // Health insurance advisors, independent agents and brokers, consultants and employee benefit specialists combined forces again recently to voice their concerns over the single most important issue for insurance providers...
<em>Analysis:</em> U.S. Small Business Funding Dry, Getting Drier
Jul 14 2009 // U.S. small businesses, already facing the toughest credit conditions since the 1980s, may soon find things are about to get tougher. Concerns over the future of CIT Corp. — a major lender to small businesses —...
Blackstone, Goldman, Credit Suisse Back New Insurance Brokerage
Jul 7 2009 // A group of private equity investors, including affiliates of The Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, is launching a new life insurance and benefits brokerage serving the middle market and small businesses,...
Illinois to Subsidize Health Insurance for Laid Off Small Business Workers
Jun 22 2009 // Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation designed to make health insurance coverage for workers laid off from small businesses more affordable. Under federal legislation, people who formerly worked at firms of 20 employees or...
Texas Small Businesses to See Tax Relief Under Bill Passed by House
May 8 2009 // The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill that will allow small businesses to claim state franchise tax exemptions for income up to $1 million, at least temporarily. House Bill 4765, joint-authored by Ken Paxton...
How Small Business Owners and Employees Are Surviving Recession
Apr 24 2009 // Small-business owners are concerned about their retirement savings, nearly half have put a freeze on hiring, they are drinking way more caffeine than they used to — but at least they haven’t given up on...
Disaster Planning By Businesses Helps Even When Minor Disruptions Hit
Apr 17 2009 // The harsh weather of spring, including hard rains, flooding and tornadoes, has already hit parts of the Midwest and the South. It’s a reminder to small business owners everywhere that they need to be ready when...
Salmonella Recall Could Cost Peanut Producers $1 Billion
Mar 12 2009 // The effects of the widespread peanut butter recall could cost rural America’s peanut producers $1 billion in lost production and sales, according to testimony at a House subcommittee hearing. That could be just the...
Finding a Niche
Mar 9 2009 // A Young Company With a Nontraditional Management Style, Heffernan Insurance Brokers Has Shown How an Agency Can Be Young and Successful at the Same Time Top 100 Agency Profile RANKING: No. 11 Agency Name: Heffernan...
Wyo. Senate Kills Bill to Make Small Business Fund
Feb 27 2009 // The Wyoming Senate has voted down a bill to create a multimillion dollar investment fund to foster small business growth. House Bill 291 would have created a $20 million fund with contributions from insurance companies,...
Insurance Industry Advises Small Businesses Not to Skimp on Coverage
Feb 23 2009 // Insurance coverage is an expense that many small business owners might be tempted to cut back on or even forgo as they try to cut costs during the recession. They’re making a bet that they won’t need the...
Pros and Cons of Running a Small Business Unit
Feb 8 2009 // Agencies Say SBUs Take Dedication, Technology But Offer Profitability Going for the big fish may bring in big returns but some agencies think having a strategic plan to go after all those little fish is just as important....
Texas Lawmaker Proposes More Tax Exemptions for Small Businesses
Jan 27 2009 // Texas State Rep. Brandon Creighton has filed HB 720 to give more small businesses an exemption from the state business tax. Current law exempts businesses with revenue under $300,000 and gives discounts to those who make...
