Archive for the ‘Business News’ Category.
4th February 2010, 11:59 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Business-owning Households More Likely Than Others to Have Higher Income
and Wealth
Does small business ownership help increase a household’s overall well-being? One way to look at this is to examine how the income and wealth of households owning small businesses changed in the most recent economic expansion and recovery period. That task was undertaken in a study just released by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.
“The report released today finds that households owning small firms in the 1998-2007 period were more likely than other households to be in the top 50 percent in income and wealth,” said Susan M. Walthall, Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy. “It will be important to continue to examine this data series to assess the well-being of small businesses in the current economic environment.”
Continue reading ‘Study: Examines Wealth of Entrepreneurs and Home Ownership’ »
18th December 2009, 07:37 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Reduced Investment and Job Creation to Blame for High Unemployment
By James Sherk
Abstract: The unemployment rate in America jumped from 4.9 percent in late 2007 to 10 percent in November this year. The conventional wisdom that unemployment is rising because more people are losing their jobs is only partly true. Job-loss rates have increased, but the largest force driving unemployment is the sharp drop in private-sector job creation. The massive stimulus bill championed by President Obama did nothing to “create or save” millions of jobs. Heritage Foundation labor-policy expert James Sherk explains why any “jobs bill” that relies on government spending without improving the investment and entrepreneurship climate will fail.
What Congress Should Do To Help Entrepreneurs
According to Heritage Foundation: In order to reduce unemployment, Congress must encourage firms to innovate, invest, and take risks, and remove policies that discourage them from doing so. One policy proposed by President Obama would encourage innovation and job creation. During the election campaign, Senator Obama proposed eliminating the capital gains tax on start-up companies. Doing so would encourage more venture capital investment in new businesses. Most new businesses fail. Venture capital funds invest in many new companies and make up the losses in the many failures with large profits on the handful of start-ups that succeed. If Congress repealed the capital gains tax on start-up businesses, investors would earn greater after-tax profits on the few successful start-ups. The higher returns would encourage venture capital funds to invest in more new companies, including some riskier ventures in which they will not invest now. The greater profits from successful companies would compensate for the risk of failure from others. The net result would be more investment, more start-up businesses, and more jobs. This would increase job creation and lower unemployment.
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About The Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute — a think tank — whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
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Source: Heritage Foundation
9th December 2009, 07:23 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Weak consumer spending continues to be a major worry. The Small Business Optimism Index fell below 90 for the sixth consecutive quarter, indicating the severity of the downturn. The Index gained 0.3 points, rising to 89.1 (1986=100), 8.1 points higher than the survey’s second lowest reading reached in March (the lowest reading was 80.1 in 1980:2). In the 1980-82 recession period, the Index was below 90 in only one quarter. In this recession, the Index has been below 90 for six quarters, indicative of the severity of this downturn.
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NOTE: This is an Adobe PDF file.
>>Download the Report in PDF
>>Read More: Wall Street Journal Article
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
NFIB is the leading small business association representing small and independent businesses. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its members in Washington and all 50 state capitals. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. NFIB also gives its members a power in the marketplace. By pooling the purchasing power of its members, the National Federation of Independent Business gives members access to many business products and services at discounted costs. NFIB also provides timely information designed to help small businesses succeed.
7th December 2009, 11:21 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Growth Company Executives Want More Government Help to Drive Corporate Innovation, According to Ernst & Young Survey. The majority (60%) of company leaders surveyed believed that the current Administration in Washington is “not” supportive of corporate innovation.
Execs say innovation criticalassert tax credits, R&D grants from D.C. would spur innovation and growth. A new Ernst & Young LLP Strategic Growth Markets survey of C-suite executives finds that growth companies see innovation as critical to their growth, but admit they are coming up short and would do more if they had additional help from Capitol Hill to support their innovation efforts.
Continue reading ‘Company Leaders Say Washington Does Not Support Corporate Innovation’ »
3rd December 2009, 10:58 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
The Small Business Survival Index measures states that are friendly to small businesses in terms of public policy decisions. The list compiled by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council looks at 36 government-related costs such as taxes, regulatory costs, and property costs, to determine which states have truly made an effort to be welcoming to small businesses. South Dakota tops the list as the most small-business friendly state, followed by Nevada, Texas, Wyoming, and Washington. The District of Columbia comes in as the least friendly, preceded by New Jersey and California.
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About Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
Works to educate elected officials, policy makers, business leaders and the public to advance initiatives that enhance the environment for entrepreneurship, business start-up and growth. Through advocacy, research, training and education, SBE Council members and staff convey the importance of entrepreneurship and small business to job creation, innovation and the overall health of the economy. SBE Council is viewed as one of the most powerful and effective organizations dedicated to protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship.
23rd November 2009, 12:52 pm
Posted by: Robert W. Price
New Fellowship Fund for Graduate MBA Students at UC Irvine Established to Honor Leading Businessman and Tech Coast Angels Founder, Luis Villalobos
The friends and colleagues of recently deceased businessman, entrepreneur and Tech Coast Angels founder, Luis Villalobos, are establishing an endowed fellowship fund to be awarded to a graduate MBA student at the Paul Merage School of Business at University of California, Irvine.
The fellowship, entitled the Luis Villalobos Endowed Fellowship in Entrepreneurship, is designed to honor the business leader in perpetuity. According to Tech Coast Angels Orange County President Richard Sudek, “Luis spent most of his life mentoring and training new entrepreneurs. It’s appropriate that this endowment should continue his mission to help and assist young entrepreneurs.”
Continue reading ‘Honoring Angel Investor Luis Villalobos - New Fellowship For MBA Students At UCI’ »
28th October 2009, 06:18 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Why Job Creation Matters More than Job Losses
By James Sherk
What creates jobs? Employers with profitable businesses, innovating and creating wealth. As long as entrepreneurs and investors have reduced opportunities to create wealth, unemployment will remain high.
The $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama championed has not stemmed the unemployment rate, which has risen sharply since the recession began. Sharply reduced creation of new jobs has driven this rise in unemployment.
>>Read More
Businesses and entrepreneurs have cut back on investment, so they create fewer jobs.
Had job creation remained at the same level throughout the recession as during the last quarter of 2007 the private sector would have created three million net jobs despite increased layoffs.
A third stimulus bill with yet more government spending, as some in Congress propose, will do just as little to reduce unemployment because, once again, it will not encourage the entrepreneurship and risk-taking that create jobs.
About The Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute — a think tank — whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
>>Learn More
>>Read More: Heritage Foundation
Source: Heritage Foundation
8th October 2009, 09:30 am
Business Plan Contests and Business Plan Competition Events have become very popular around the world for universities and non-profit organizations that support entrepreneurship. Our Business Plan Contest Directory lists the most popular business plan contests and business plan competition events from around the world.
Continue reading ‘Business Plan Contest Directory’ »
6th October 2009, 12:05 pm
Posted by: Robert W. Price
International Economic Update: October 2009
From: Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
There are positive signals in the international data, although trouble spots still exist. Emerging markets were showing strong growth in the second quarter. Some advanced economies began growing as well. However, unemployment is rising in most countries, and credit growth in Europe is stagnant. Inflation remains low (negative in some cases) in advanced economies.
>>Read More
4th October 2009, 01:49 pm
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Luis Villalobos, pioneer of angel investing, died October 01, 2009 in Orange County California. He was 72.
I first met Luis in the mid-1990’s when I was teaching entrepreneurship classes at Pepperdine University in Southern California. I had just completed my MBA at Pepperdine, and as a graduate student I created a unique program for educating entrepreneurs. We actually called it a “bootcamp” in my class work. It became the first formal certificated entrepreneurial management program. There were few educational resources available for entrepreneurs at that time. But we had created “real-world” curricula, program materials, and invited domain experts as guest lecturers to support our lesson plans.
Continue reading ‘Pioneer of Angel Investing Dies - Honoring Luis Villalobos’ »
28th September 2009, 06:07 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Connecticut’s Governor M. Jodi Rell recently announced the release of the state’s first-ever Economic Strategic Plan. It is a detailed, statewide blueprint for keeping and growing jobs, making the state more business-friendly and investing in the infrastructure and technology that will keep Connecticut competitive in the 21st Century.
“This plan will shape policy and priorities as we recover from the current economic downturn and as we make our state’s economy second to none in the years ahead,” Gov. Rell said. “The goals are simple: Jobs, jobs, jobs - the same goals I have had from the beginning. We want a vibrant, diverse and safe state, a place where everyone has a chance to enjoy success and the quality of life that makes Connecticut so special.”
An interesting item from the plan:
- Implementing an Angel Investor Tax Credit, giving a tax break to individuals, corporations or institutions that invest in qualified start-up enterprises in areas such as biotechnology, digital media and “green” technology.
NOTE: This is an Adobe PDF file.
>>Download the Report in PDF
Source: Town Times
27th September 2009, 06:48 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
“Build a Stronger America” to Give a Unified Voice to Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation officially launched “Build a Stronger America,” a social networking movement to unite entrepreneurs and help give them a stronger voice in the public discussion about the country’s economic future.
Continue reading ‘Build A Stronger America: Launched for Entrepreneurs’ »
26th September 2009, 06:15 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Kauffman Foundation Poll of Entrepreneurs Suggests Economic Growth Engine Still in Low Gear
Entrepreneurs are the Nation’s Primary Job Creators–They Say Government Should Do More
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced the results of a new survey of American entrepreneurs showing that entrepreneurs and small businesses continue to struggle despite increasing optimism on Wall Street.
One week before Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke made the statement that the recession is “very likely over,” two-thirds of entrepreneurs reported that the economy is heading in the wrong direction.
Continue reading ‘Entrepreneurs In USA Gloomy About Economic Crisis’ »
25th September 2009, 08:00 am
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Study Highlights Importance of Specialized Education for Future Innovative Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship education is becoming more available at American universities, and researchers are looking at the results, according to a new study supported by the Office of Advocacy.
The study is based on initial findings from a survey funded with a challenge grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies of New York University.
Continue reading ‘Study: Educating Entrepreneurs’ »
24th September 2009, 12:14 pm
Posted by: Robert W. Price
Omidyar Network announced a three-year, $30 million commitment to support global entrepreneurship, especially in India and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Omidyar Network aims to improve the quality of life for more than 10 million people living in extreme poverty by investing in entrepreneurial ventures, particularly those providing goods and services to the base of the pyramid.
Omidyar Network’s “commitment to action” was made at the Clinton Global Initiative’s fifth annual meeting in New York City.
Continue reading ‘Omidyar Network Commits $30 Million to Support Global Entrepreneurship’ »