Most Clicked NFIB SmartBrief Stories
1. Small businesses should explore time-off policies
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 07, 2009
As the new year is upon us, it's a good time for business owners to consider sick and time-off policies for their employees. Some companies are bundling sick, personal and vacation days. Information on the Family Medical Leave Act is provided online. MSNBC (01/02)
2. More small-business trends for 2009
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 05, 2009
Small-business columnist Steve Strauss continues with his list of Top 10 Trends in Small Business in this installment in USA TODAY. On Strauss' list today: Web 2.0, shoestring marketing, social networking, innovation and more downsizing. Citing NFIB data, Strauss lists economic tumult as the No. 1 trend. "Small-business owners broadly and sharply [will] feel the impact of the recession," says the National Federation of Independent Business. USA TODAY (01/05)
3. Thousands of retail stores expected to close this year
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
A disastrous drop in retail sales in 2008 is certain to trigger bankruptcy filings and store closures by the thousands in 2009, experts said. Michael Burden, an executive with retail adviser Excess Space Retail Services, said California, Florida and Nevada will be among the states hardest hit by store closures. CNNMoney.com (01/01)
4. Financial resolutions for a new year
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
Fred Dawson Jr., an executive with Commerce Bank of Arizona, offers tips for small businesses making financial resolutions for 2009. Dawson recommends maintaining a positive perspective, reducing unnecessary expenses fast, encouraging employees to stay in control of their personal finances, and maintaining a relationship with the bank. AzBiz.com (01/02)
5. More workers will be counted among disabled this year
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
More workers likely will ask for some form of accommodation for disabilities this year because more workers will be classified as disabled, says labor law specialist Myra Creighton of Fisher & Phillips in Atlanta. Changes to the Americans With Disabilities Act that took effect on New Year's Day mean a massive change for most employers, she says. ERE.net (12/31)
6. Obama: Job report will be "sobering"
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 06, 2009
President-elect Barack Obama said on Monday that he expects U.S. unemployment figures, which will be released by the Department of Labor on Friday, to be "sobering." "We've got an extraordinary economic challenge ahead of us, we're expecting a sobering job report at the end of the week," said Obama during a meeting with Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives. Reuters (01/05)
7. Obama eyes as much as $310 billion in tax cuts
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 05, 2009
Faced with warnings that the recession could slide into a lengthy period of deflation and stagnation, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to ask Congress for as much as $310 billion in tax cuts as part of his huge stimulus package. Data are painting an ever-darker picture of the economy, with a report on U.S. jobs that is scheduled for release this week expected to show that at least 500,000 jobs disappeared in December. Reuters (01/05) New York Times, The (01/04) CNBC (01/05)
8. Qualified workers hard to find
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 05, 2009
Evidence continues to mount that employers are having increasing difficulty finding skilled employees to fill job openings. NFIB found that three-quarters of its members who tried to hire in November "reported few or no qualified applicants for the job openings they were trying to fill." Dallas Morning News, The (01/04)
9. 2009 may be year of accidental small-business owner
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
Michelle Goodman, author of "My So-Called Freelance Life," predicts the accidental small-business owner will be one of the biggest trends this year as laid-off workers become entrepreneurs. She also sees flexible work arrangements increasing and more retirees looking for jobs. NWsource (12/31)
10. Happy old years!
NFIB SmartBrief | Jan 07, 2009
Did you have a couple of great years before 2008 pulled the rug out from under you? President-elect Barack Obama feels your pain. According to The Wall Street Journal, he plans to allow businesses with losses in 2008 or 2009 to retroactively reduce their tax bills going back as much as five years, potentially freeing up capital at a time when credit is tight. Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (01/05)
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