Hot Today

Wise Bread articles that are hot today.

Negotiating a Lease with Your Potential New Landlord

Here are the fine points of negotiating for rental space, including a few opportunities a newer business owner might miss.

Independent Contractors vs. Employees: Keeping Them Straight

Who the IRS considers an employee and who it considers a contractor doesn't always match what a business owner might expect.

The Truth About Business Grants

If you don’t mind lots of paperwork, frequent disappointment, and many strings attached, here’s a quick guide to the slow process of finding grant money for your business.

This May Be the Best Time to Negotiate Loan Terms

With credit at its tightest in over ten years, banks are hurting. For successful borrowers, that means loan terms and conditions may be more negotiable then ever.

Creating a Smooth Business Transition when You Sell Your Company

When the time comes to sell your company, you want to be able to smoothly transition your business to the new owner. That can take planning.

High-ROI Networking

Networking is one of the most cost-effective forms of marketing, but there is a potential dark side: It can become a huge time drain without producing proportionate results.

How 16 Great Companies Picked Their Unique Names

Ever wonder how companies like Google, Lego and IKEA found their names? Were they complete accidents or results of savvy marketing? The answer may surprise you.

Tax Breaks for Booming Businesses

f your business is booming, take advantage of tax rules to make sure that Uncle Sam doesn't earn more than you do from your efforts.

Financial Controls to Protect Your Money from Fraud and Theft

Diverting proceeds from cash sales and waiving fees for a friend are less noticeable cases of employee theft. Carve out time to establish financial controls.

Planning in the Last Quarter of 2010

Between now and the end of the year, businesses should take various actions to help their bottom line for 2010 and to get ready for 2011. Here are some actions to consider.

Freelance to Small Business: 10 People Who Made the Transition

From writing to designing water bottles, these 10 people turned their part-time freelance work into full-time businesses. Learn how you can too.

Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Google Suggest

Google's new auto-complete search function might seem neat...until it starts scaring away your customers.

10 Tips from Bootstrapping Entrepreneurs

From finding customers to staying on top of marketing, these tips from experienced entrepreneurs can help you avoid common new-business pitfalls.

Is An Office Necessary?

From some businesses, an office is a necessity. For others, it's a wasted expense. Which is yours?

10 Tricks to Keeping Personal and Business Finances Apart

Keeping your personal finances separate from your business finances isn't always easy. But if you aren't careful, it may cost you.

How Local Zoning Laws Affect Home-Based Businesses

Before you hang your shingle outside your home-based business, check your local zoning regulations to make sure that shingle is legal.

3 Options To Help Business Owners Catch Up On Retirement Savings

Boost your retirement savings while reducing your tax liability by taking advantage of these retirement planning strategies.

Hiring the Best: Go Beyond Asking Questions in an Interview

The next time you hire a new employee, skip the interview and play chess instead.

Using Your Green Practices to Market Your Business

If you've made the effort to go green, make the effort tell your customers about it.

6 Google+ Myths Debunked

Google+ is not yet a month old, but already it's the subject of widespread myths about its worth to small business.