MORE STORIES

• RESTAURANTS

  Mushy in Miami, The Cereal Bowl now aims overseas

  The Cereal Bowl inks a deal for stores in the Middle East but remains shut in South Florida

• Small-business owners become more optimistic

  The economy is still struggling, but there are some bright spots popping up in business owners' outlooks.

• BOOTSTRAP MARKETING

  It's a perfect time for new ideas

  This economic recession is helping create a new marketing environment. It's happening atsupermarket chains and in our homes with the groceries we buy.

• If Cuba embargo ended, U.S. businesses ready for rush, but not island

  While U.S. companies dream of a post-embargo Cuba, infrastructure woes, a lack of financing and Cuba's legal system may present challenges.

• Sometimes it makes sense to fire clients

  Even in this turbulent economy, some business owners have faced this cold harsh reality: Sometimes the best thing to do is to fire a client.

• S.M.A.R.T.T. model train firm ramps up online presence

  A North Miami company that makes train sets and other scale models is ready to pick up steam with a new social media strategy.

• Use upcoming tax deadlines to plan ahead

  There will be many lucrative tax opportunities available this fall.

• BOOTSTRAP MARKETING

  Make `due diligence' easy

  Do you remember playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey'' at birthday parties when you were a child? Some who currently own small firms actually play a similar game with their marketing strategy.

• Ringing phones a sign of recovery

  Small businesses across the country are seeing a gradual increase in their bottom lines as customers and clients return.

• SMALL BUSINESS

  Last-minute planning for when disaster strikes

  There is a lot you can do to protect your business in just an hour's time.

• Government

  Small firms lose faith in social security

  About 77 percent of small business owners believe that citizens should be responsible for their own retirement versus 23 percent who see it as a function of the government.

• Federal contracts

  Record number of contracts for small businesses

  Small businesses won a record $83.2 billion in federal prime contracts in fiscal year 2007, an increase of almost $6 billion from 2006.

• LAUNCH PAD

  Risk alone doesn't reward entrepreneurs

  Here we are at the end of this short series on how to start a business. We have had great feedback and it has been a lot of fun. I would like to thank all of the folks who have been reading my articles and watching my videos online.

• LAUNCH PAD

  Know basics before spending on marketing

  How do I put together a marketing strategy? Marketing is the area in which most businesses fail. Why? Because everyone thinks they know what marketing is, so they act on their often faulty perceptions, spend lots of money and get no results.

• LAUNCH PAD

  A business plan is essential

  What? You mean I have to write a business plan? Absolutely, positively without a doubt, yes, you should write a business plan. Many people freeze up when it comes to writing their business plan -- even though it's an essential step in launching a business.

• SMALL BUSINESS

  Small firms fuming over consultants

  Companies in South Florida and elsewhere are suing International Profit Associates, a consulting firm, over questionable business practices.

• LAUNCH PAD

  Start a business that you're great at

  What type of business should I start? More times than I'd like to admit, folks come into the Florida Atlantic University Small Business Development Center and ask us to tell them which businesses are making money so that they can buy or open that type of business.

• Focus on Small Business Conference

  Burger King franchisee talks about his unlucky store No. 13

  At one point Al Cabrera was Burger King's second-largest franchisee, owning more than 250 restaurants. But to get there he had to survive infamous store No. 13. The restaurant in North Miami was repeatedly burglarized, but also taught Cabrera key lessons in entrepreneurship.
• 

  FOCUS ON SMALL BUSINESS

  Helping your small business grow

  There are many ways for a small business to expand. We explore four: Reaching out to the global marketplace, making the leap from a home office to more professional digs, franchising your business and becoming a franchisee.
• 

  WORKPLACE

  Finding the perfect space for your business

  When first starting a small business, it may be imperative to set up shop from your living room. In time, however, most businesses will benefit from some added living space.

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