Rob Reuteman

What do the mom-and-pops on the frontlines in the Grand Canyon State think about the reform?

EXPERT ADVICE: Several finance and garment-industry veterans offered advice to Ann Kearns and Francoise Vianin in their quest to establish a new clothing factory in Manhattan.  

Not quite ready to hang up their workforce hats permanently--many  retirees are beginning so-called “encore careers.”

Like most sectors of the economy, small business lending collapsed a year ago. In the fourth quarter  2008, the loan volume at SBA was off nearly 60% from a year earlier. Where is volume now?

Here are examples of what some  franchise companies are offering to potential franchisees that would ease financing and take away some of the stress of starting a new business.

The concept is simple: a frozen tube of margarita deliciousness that the over-21 crowd can enjoy. After overcoming numerous obstacles regarding regulations, distribution and production, sales for Shark Attack Margaritas took off. First Sam's Club called, followed by Wal-Mart. 

Hobbypreneurs, a new movement living by an old adage: do what you love.

IDoNowIDont.com is a Web site that sells rings and wedding dresses for couples who have changed their minds - charging buyers less than they’d pay for a new ring and paying sellers more than they’d make returning a ring to a jewelry store.

More and more small businesses are looking to bring manufacturing back home to the U.S., but they are running into problems getting financing to make the move.