Growing Business

A recession is a great time to think like an entrepreneur.
PHOTOSBrands Born in Bad Times From FedEx to Microsoft, a look at the companies that were created in recessionary times and managed to thrive.

With the national unemployment rate near double digits and credit markets tight, now is a great time to start a business. Really, it is. Think about it: thousands of workers can’t find jobs, so the talent pool is large and cheap. Good jobs seem less secure as companies cut hours and salaries so people are more likely to risk working for a startup. True, loans and venture capital funding are harder to secure. But even that is more of a hurdle than roadblock. Read more…

Not as Good as They Look
Inflation will hurt emerging markets.

For most economic analysts, the past is the present. It is a popular sport to find historical parallels with the current period, and the strong consensus now is that 2010 has 2004 written all over it.
After all, 2004 also was the second year of a global economic recovery. The Chinese economy was also overheating, and authorities there were tightening monetary policy. Following a volatile first half, the year ended up being relatively benign for financial markets as fears of inflation subsided in China and the global economic recovery rolled on uninterrupted. Analysts expect 2010 to unfold in a similar manner. Read more…

Main Street vs. Wall Street
A year after the financial meltdown, small businesses are still being alienated by their banks.
The Recession’s Winners and Losers Not everyone suffered during the financial crisis. A look at those who won and lost big during Wall Street’s meltdown.

By Kevin Kelly | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Sep 16, 2009

One year ago this week, Lehman Brothers closed its doors. Financial panic, obvious from the rapid decline of stock markets, spread like a contagion. The meltdown obviously hurt me, like many people who had much of their retirement savings loaded into equities. Of course, the panic spread when the federal government effectively took over the insurer American International Group and its mind-boggling debts a day later. But the impact the unfolding financial debacle might have on our family-run plastic packaging manufacturer didn’t hit home until a day or two later, when I called our banker at Wells Fargo & Co. and asked for an increase in our credit line. Read more…

Creating a Family Budget to Become Debt Free
Budget Your Way Out of Debt
Mar 1, 2010 Mike Valles
Developing a family budget can be one of the best things for the family. It can quickly enable more money to be available each month, and can lead to debt elimination.

Waiting until there is a large amount of debt is not the time to start learning how to get the best use of money in the home. Consistent financial budgeting of the family’s money is a great way to prevent many problems before they occur. Here are some things needed to put into the family budget to ensure that it has the ability to keep on track – and keep debt far away. Read more…

Creating a Family Budget to Become Debt Free
Budget Your Way Out of Debt
Mar 1, 2010 Mike Valles
Developing a family budget can be one of the best things for the family. It can quickly enable more money to be available each month, and can lead to debt elimination.

Waiting until there is a large amount of debt is not the time to start learning how to get the best use of money in the home. Consistent financial budgeting of the family’s money is a great way to prevent many problems before they occur. Here are some things needed to put into the family budget to ensure that it has the ability to keep on track – and keep debt far away. Read more…