MSNBC Small Business Headlines





msnbc.com: Small business

Msnbc.com is a leader in breaking news and original journalism.



  • Megaupload chief had wild ride before arrest      Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:13:16 GMT

    German national Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, is being held in New Zealand on U.S. charges of copyright infringement. U.S. authorities also have shut down Dotcom's file-sharing site Megaupload and charged six others. In the Wild, Wild West-era of digital media, there is no cowboy quite like Kim Dotcom. Part Sean Parker, part Kevin Mitnick,  Dotcom embodies the wildest age of Internet piracy.




  • Small businesses more confident in December      Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:50:05 GMT

    Small businesses grew more confident in the economy's future in December, marking a fourth straight month of improvement, a survey released on Tuesday showed.

  • 'Elf on the Shelf' is a holiday hit      Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:20:51 GMT

    This photo provided by CCA&B, LLC, shows "The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition," with the Elf for the shelf. There is one hot item this holiday season that won't be resting under the Christmas tree. It will be on a shelf — watching you.




  • Small businesses see D.C. as big threat      Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:56:42 GMT

    Corey Shaker is hoping to sell a lot more cars next year. The biggest roadblock he sees is the ongoing political gridlock in Washington, D.C. Corey Shaker is hoping to sell a lot more cars next year. The biggest roadblock he sees is the ongoing political gridlock in Washington, D.C.




  • NYC roll-your-own shop to close after city sues      Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:26:26 GMT

    A company that was helping New York smokers avoid high taxes by having them roll their own cigarettes on machines in the store has agreed to shut down after being sued by the city.

  • Small businesses more confident about economy      Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:39:23 GMT

    Small businesses in the United States grew more confident in the economy's future in November, for a third straight month of improvement, according to a new survey.

  • Chick-fil-A goes after artist's use of 'eat more'      Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:29:05 GMT

    "Our plan is to not back down. This feels like David versus Goliath. I know what it's like to protect what's yours in business," says Bo Muller-Moore.A folk artist expanding his home business built around the words "eat more kale" says he's ready to fight root-to-feather to protect his phrase from what he sees as an assault by Chick-fil-A, which holds the trademark to the phrase "eat mor chikin."




  • Starbucks partners on loans to small businesses      Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:18:06 GMT

    Coffee giant Starbucks is lending a hand to job creation efforts by partnering with the non-profit Opportunity Finance Network, a national network of 180 community development financial institutions (CDFIs) that orchestrate loans to businesses in low-income communities.

  • Get ready to pay more for your mail      Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:50:02 GMT

    The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is raising rates for its more profitable express mail and priority mail shipping next year, part of its efforts to stave off bankruptcy. The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is raising rates for its more profitable express mail and priority mail shipping next year, part of its efforts to stave off bankruptcy.




  • Nightly News: Helping women in a tough economy      Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:18:20 GMT

    Leah Brown built her own business — a health care research firm — while raising two sons as a single mom. Brown now wants to be an even bigger force in the economy, and help other women build their own businesses.

  • Fed urges banks to boost small business lending      Wed, 9 Nov 2011 14:54:43 GMT

    Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says small businesses are struggling to get loans more than two years after the recession ended. He says banks could help them by easing overly tight lending standards.

  • 'Occupy' movement divides small businesses      Tue, 8 Nov 2011 12:23:39 GMT

    Many small businesses support the movement, although the community is sharply divided, with some opponents citing the anti-capitalist rhetoric of the protesters.Many small businesses support the movement, although the community is sharply divided, with some opponents citing the anti-capitalist rhetoric of the protesters.




  • More attempt to trademark 'Occupy' slogans      Sun, 6 Nov 2011 21:07:16 GMT

    Walter Lichtenberg sits on a park bench selling shirts and buttons at the Occupy Portland camp in downtown Portland, Ore. Enterprising silk-screeners, merchandise hucksters and others are expected to join the movement seeking to profit from the nationwide Occupy movements. The revolution will be trademarked and put on T-shirts if an increasing number of entrepreneurs succeed in their attempts to profit from the Occupy demonstrations.




  • Mill's revival brings back blankets, US jobs      Mon, 7 Nov 2011 00:06:03 GMT

    New owners of Faribault Woolen Mills intend to weave together a Minnesota business and community based on American know-how.

  • Small business borrowing up for 14th month      Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:41:36 GMT

    The growth of borrowing among small U.S. businesses moderated in September but the overall level still registered a 14th monthly double-digit increase in a fresh sign the economy is set to grow at a stable pace.

  • Former Mr. Jelly Belly tries for sweet comeback      Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:06:00 GMT

    David Klein is hoping, at age 65, to regain the mojo that once made him the talk of the candy world.He's the Willie Wonka of this small suburban town east of Los Angeles, the rotund man in the T-shirt and shorts who joyfully takes just about anybody who walks through the door on a tour of his tiny candy factory.




  • Drugstore shopping: Worse than you'd expect      Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:01:19 GMT

    For those buying groceries at a drugstore, the smart bet is to comparison shop, check all the ads, then cherry-pick the best deals.A new report from Consumer World found that average drugstore prices were more than 36 percent higher than the average supermarket prices.





    Sponsored By:
      Long commutes and limited flexibility are gradually becoming a thing of the past. The future of workplace mobility lies in the "anywhere office."
    http://network.cisco.com/

  • Judge ends feud over famed hot dog stand      Thu, 6 Oct 2011 22:09:04 GMT

    The dogs at Tony Packo's were favorites of cross-dressing Cpl. Max Klinger on the hit TV show.An Ohio judge's decision means a hot dog chain that earned a place in pop culture on the TV series "M.A.S.H." will stay in the family.




  • IRS ruling strikes fear in medical marijuana industry      Wed, 5 Oct 2011 12:32:44 GMT

    In a crushing blow to the burgeoning medical marijuana industry, the IRS ruled late last week that dispensaries cannot deduct standard business expenses such as payroll, security or rent. In a crushing blow to the burgeoning medical marijuana industry, the IRS ruled late last week that dispensaries cannot deduct standard business expenses such as payroll, security or rent.




  • Business great, harder for debt collectors      Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:51:23 GMT

    The prolonged economic turmoil has created more opportunity than ever for debt collectors, even while making it harder than ever to get folks to pay up.

  • Sponsored By:      Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:51:23 GMT

  • Restaurant sues over 'Carcass Removal' listing      Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:29:45 GMT

    The lawsuit says a Dex Media employee deliberately published the listing after the restaurants' owner declined to buy an advertisement from him.