Will consumers who are motivated to act because of the offer still order their "usual" out of habit and/or preference? What are the best and worst and baseline emotional, operational and financial scenarios?

Optimism for the American economy continues to evaporate, even as President Obama readies a supposedly major jobs plan to be unveiled in a speech befo...

Passion and a great idea are not enough to start a business. In my last two columns, I wrote that you must demonstrate enough predictable cash flow an...

According to data from Pricewaterhouse Coopers and the International Franchise Association, approximately 25% of today's franchisees are female. Fran...

Most people dream of working from home. But while it sounds great at first glance, there are things that you need to consider before getting into a business without a central office.

Social media is all the buzz in small business. Everyone has seen their local mom and pop store using social tools to keep in touch with their clientele. Where does Wall Street meet Main Street? Franchising.

Most people think it takes millions of dollars to own a yacht. But it doesn't if you want to be in control of an entire fleet! If you want to wake up ...

Pundits say that $350 billion of commercial mortgage loans are coming due for payoff. The balances still owed are so high that many borrowers will be unable to refinance conventionally.

Self-employment is an alternative to unemployment. Yet, determining what kind of business to start, knowing how much money you will need, and what steps to take can be daunting

Now is the time to think about dusting off your old business plan as the economy improves. A business plan is required to obtain a loan or venture capital. It is uniquely designed as a sales tool to get financing.