Liza Porteus Viana

It's the unthinkable. But for small business owners, it is reality.

If your holiday gift list is still pretty long, don't panic, there are still deals to be found. 

There are ways to capitalize on the last-minute shopping mayhem.

Founders of Eva & Estela Wear Ur Love T-shirt says logo themes are those of love and family, and raising awareness about Multiple Sclerosis.

Despite all her success, Cathy Berse-Hurley began to hit financial snags in her business - snags that stemmed from competitors using cheaper, non-American labor.

When you begin working toward turning your million-dollar business idea into a reality, how can you ensure people you hire and/or consult with along the way don’t take your plan and run with it? Make sure they sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), also known as a confidentiality agreement, say legal experts.

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to employees’ Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ use, but experts say small businesses would be remiss if they didn’t tell employees up front what their policies are on the use of such platforms, and what the ramifications may be if employees use their social networks to complain about their company, boss, or - worse - divulge insider company information. In fact, social expectations could even be integrated into employee training on issues such as sexual harassment.

How and when to get trademarks and copyrights. And don’t have time to make sure no one is infringing on your copyright or trademark and making money off your creations or ideas? Relax, there are intellectual property watch services that do just that.

The following six steps all characterize small business owners who saw revenue increases in 2011 over the prior two years – in other words those who successfully weathered the recent economic storm, according to The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

It’s not just large corporations engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR). In fact, many small businesses make giving back to the community an integral part of their business model - and in many cases, is a main reason such businesses continue to be ranked among the best places to work in their respective states. Here’s how a few small businesses are doing their part to give back to the community.