Last summer, Shawn Allard asked his parents a question that changed the trajectory of his career. The Phoenix-based dental consultant wanted to find a job where he could express his creativity, be in charge and build a community, he says. In other words, he wanted to run a business. A broker sent him a listing: … Read more
People hold signs as they attend a press conference at City Hall Park on April 10, 2023 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images As we enter an election year, Americansâ perceptions of economic health matter more than ever. Small business owners are often seen as a bellwether given how acutely they … Read more
Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s presidential candidate and defense minister, center, waves to supporters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Prabowo declared victory in Wednesday’s presidential vote, citing independent pollsters, putting him on course to lead Southeast Asia’s largest economy after two failed attempts. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images JAKARTA â Indonesia’s Defense Minister … Read more
Even in the face of stubborn inflation, small business owners are striking a more positive tone. Optimism surrounding the economy is rising and the CNBC|SurveyMonkey Small Business Confidence Index reached its highest level since President Joe Biden took office, according to the latest quarterly data released on Thursday morning. Twenty-eight percent of small business owners … Read more
Open enrollment season can be a time of trepidation for the self-employed. The stakes are especially high because if you need to buy individual or family coverage, the next few weeks could be your only chance for 2024, barring certain exceptions such as moving to a different state, getting married, divorced or having a child. … Read more
A “Now Hiring” sign is posted in the drive thru of a McDonald’s restaurant on July 07, 2021 in San Rafael, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images More wage hikes are coming across U.S. states in 2024 and many Main Street businesses may feel the pinch. Not only are wages generally up from year-ago figures … Read more
Products in a loading bay at an Amazon fulfillment center on Prime Day in Melville, New York, US, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Amazon.com Inc.’s annual Prime Day shows that e-commerce isn’t the driver it once was for the stock, as investor focus shifts to the company’s faster-growing and profitable cloud-computing unit. Photographer: Johnny Milano/Bloomberg … Read more
Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images The United States has experienced a small business boom in recent years, and people of color are a large part of that success, making progress on historical underrepresentation of Black and brown entrepreneurs in America. From 2010 to 2020, the minority population grew from 36.3% to 42.4%, but the … Read more
In an aerial view, burned cars and homes are seen in a neighborhood that was destroyed by a wildfire on August 18, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Widespread damage from Hawaii’s recent wildfires and Hurricane Idalia in Florida underscores the costly effects of natural disasters on small businesses. The total cost to … Read more
As electric vehicles proliferate, some gas stations are making expensive overhauls to add EV charging stations. In most cases, they aren’t scrapping traditional liquid fuel pumps. But select locations, including an RS Automotive in Takoma Park, Md., and a Shell station in Fulham, England, have made a full switch. Location, cost, power requirements and conversion … Read more