• NEWS
    Infographic: The Most Tried and Failed Small Businesses

    If you are running a small business and have been around for any length of time, give yourself a pat on the back. I’ve been running my small business for 16 years now and believe me, I’m thankful each and every day. I especially feel that way after coming across this small business infographic on […]

  • CLOTHING
    Young Designer Wows the World of Women’s Business Attire

    Creating women’s pants probably doesn’t sound like the most exciting business venture. But professional women might also notice a lack of options when it comes to different styles and types of dress pants. Entrepreneur Eunice Cho noticed this void in the market. She wanted to find pants she could wear to interview for business school […]

  • The Next Great Business Opportunity Might Be on Mars (Watch)

    By now, you’ve likely heard that Elon Musk, CEO of rocket science company SpaceX, wants to build colonies on Mars. But what you might not know is that he wants to start those colonies by 2022. That may or may not be a realistic goal. But it’s certainly ambitious. And the company is making strides […]

  • COMPUTERS
    50 Small Business Ideas for the Social Butterfly

    If you’re a social butterfly, you’re a person who loves socializing and being around as many other people as possible. And there are plenty of business opportunities out there for people with that type of personality. Here are 50 of them. Business Ideas and Careers for Social Butterflies Event Planner Events are prime opportunities for […]

  • NEWS
    The Ultimate Guide for Freelancers and Small Businesses That Hire Them

    Looking at the numbers, there can be no doubt that the “gig economy“, the robust marketplace of freelancers, is alive and well. In fact, one recent report shows that one in three Americans is a freelancer: Nearly 54 million Americans participated in some form of independent work in 2015, an increase of 700,000 workers over […]

  • NEWS
    Male Investors Aren’t the Only Ones Biased Against Female Entrepreneurs

    In a recent Wall Street Journal column, John Greathouse argued that female entrepreneurs might hide their gender when seeking fundraising. This article generated a firestorm of criticism, leading Greathouse to apologize for his comments. While Greathouse’s op-ed wasn’t a great column and deserved criticism, the negative reaction to it missed an important insight. The source […]

  • NEWS
    I Have a Customer Who Wants the Cloud, How Do I Write My First Proposal?

    As IT companies embrace the business opportunity the cloud presents and transition to become cloud-ready service providers, one of the first questions that may arise is how to draft a proposal that reflects the change in orientation, from traditional project-based to managed services. For the answer, Small Business Trends turned to Chaitra Vedullapalli, cloud architect […]

  • ALL DEALS
    STARTUP STATISTICS – The Numbers You Need to Know

    We’ve collected these startup statistics for small businesses from a variety of sources. Last updated: October 23, 2016 GENERAL STARTUP STATISTICS 51 percent of owners of small businesses are 50-88 years old, 33 percent are 35-49 and only 16 percent are 35 years old and under. 69 percent of U.S. entrepreneurs start their businesses at […]

  • HOME & GARDEN
    The Garden Center Experience

    The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine II and James Gilmore suggests that we have entered an age when consumers expect an “experience” when they shop. Having good products and excellent service is no longer enough. Consumers want to be drawn into the offering so that they feel pleasurable sensations and emotions when they shop. They […]

  • NEWS
    Speakeasying in the Big Apple

    Speakeasies—illicit or unlicenced establishment dispensing alcohol—peaked after the 18th Amendment took effect in January 1920, prohibiting the sale of alcohol. Photo: AP Pssssst! Out in town for a speakeasy evening, my friend and I glanced towards the sound and looked away. Pssst, pssst! The persistence made us look again and the tall, well-built man standing […]