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Delinquent customers may not seem like a big deal, but the impact can be crippling to a small business both from an operations perspective and from the ability for the business to get credit.

Have you ever heard of the concept of one negative word nullifying several positive ones? Nothing is truer when it comes to the reputation of your small business. Just one irate or dissatisfied customer can completely upset the applecart.

An interview is a one-shot audition and you don’t want to make any mistakes that could cost you your dream job. Here are some blunders that career and interview experts advise you to avoid when interviewing.

We’re highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by you, our readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let us know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business of the Day.

Meg Caswell, HGTV ‘Design Star’ winner and host of ‘Great Rooms with Meg,’ on how she uses social media, and where businesses go wrong.

Paul Rand, author of the new book, ‘Highly Recommended,’ says customer input has the ability to make or break your brand. Here’s how to use recommendations and reviews to grow your business.

Searching for the secret to success on the Web? Who better to ask than search giant Google. 

Melinda Emerson, aka the ‘Small Biz Lady,’ shares her tips for building and maintaining a solid following across social media platforms. 

From hashtags to blogging to networking in-person, TBWA Chief Diversity Officer Doug Melville breaks down his ‘Digital Breadcrumbs’ strategy for small businesses in order to effectively brand on the Web.

Coming up with the must-have pastry for hungry foodies around the globe is a win for any chef. But cronut creator Dominique Ansel says he isn’t looking to grow the business without careful strategy.

Red Carpet Runway founder Doug Melville tells the unlikely story of his red carpet business, and how these rugs became glitzy staples at everything from movie premieres to political events, and of course, this weekend’s Emmy awards.  

Twitter’s Small-and-Medium Business Director Russ Laraway shares his top tips for making the most out of 140 characters.

Grouper is putting a spin on the traditional online dating model, setting up groups of friends for dates. The goal is to get people meeting in the real world as quickly as possible, alleviating the awkward pressure of meeting a potential match, says founder Michael Waxman.

Jordan Casey loves apps and games, like any average teenager. Only this young Irishman is actually developing them, rather than just downloading.

On the campaign trail, President Obama continues to mention the “18 tax cuts” provided to small business during his term. And many business owners are asking if they somehow missed the boat on this cash.

While it’s impossible to predict when a worst-nightmare-come-true incident may happen, there are some warning signs to be aware of and ways small business owners can mitigate the risk.

Preventing workplace violence isn’t always easy, and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach.  Managers need to take the time to consider the potential risks at your workplace.

As a business owner, how do you strike the right balance of expression and protection for your workers and your company?

President Obama and Governor Romney face off Wednesday in the first prime time presidential debate. And according to a recent poll among small business owners, the Republicans and Romney go into the debate with the upper hand among the country's entrepreneurs.

According to a newly released USA Today/Gallup Poll, small business owners are split in their support: 47% to 47% with the rest undecided. That's about as tight as you can possibly get.