It's no surprise that the five most popular blog posts on the small business finance website clearly show the concerns of small businesses in 2009. The top concern is how to get financing for their businesses. That's a concern that will carry over into 2010. Other blog posts of interest had to do with social media, health insurance, the best places to start a small business, and how much TARP money has been repaid.
1. Need a SBA ARC Loan? Here's a List of Banks who are Making Them
The Small Business Administration's ARC Loan Program is off to a slow start. Basically, the problem is that banks don't want to add to their already troubled loan portfolio by lending to yet another troubled business, even though the SBA is guaranteeing the loans. Troubled businesses are exactly who ARC Loans target. As a result, bank response to the program has been slow.......more
2. LinkedIn - Social Networking for Professionals
Out of all the social networks out there, I think I like LinkedIn the best. LinkedIn is for professionals. In fact, there is no reason to be on LinkedIn if you're not a professional or looking for professional contacts......more
3. Small Business, Health Insurance Reform, and the Public Option
This week, Senator Max Baucus, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Democrat of Montana, presented his long-awaited health care reform bill. It had many of the items in it that President Obama wanted in some form. One item it did not have was the public option. Instead, the bill relied on a system of co-ops to replace the public option.
As a small business owner myself, I support the public option.......more
4. How Much TARP Money has been Repaid?
We hear about banks and the TARP money they have received on cable news all the time. We also hear that some of the banks, big banks in particular, want to repay the TARP money because they don't like the rules they have to operate under as long as they use TARP money.
Of course, the rule they really don't like is that having to do with executive compensation....more
5. Best Places to Start a Small Business
A recent article discusses the best places to start a small business in this time of economic downturn. Interestingly, nine out of the top ten metropolitan areas were in the south and west with the remaining one in the northeast. The top two cities are in North Carolina, Raleigh and Charlotte......more
This post has now been updated based on new U.S. Census Bureau data. Here's the "new" Best Places to Start a New Business.
