Topics > U.S.
Video
Sheepless Nation! States of Independents Project Videos
Scott Ballum | August 25, 2010
We're hitting the road! Sheepless founder Scott Ballum is driving from California to Maine—and back—to discover innovative and unique small businesses wherever they may be. Read more about the idea behind this trip here. Friday, August 13: Washington, DC Working on it....
Project
Sheepless Nation! States of Independents Tour
Scott Ballum | July 24, 2010
We're hitting the road! Sheepless founder Scott Ballum is driving from California to Maine—and back—to discover innovative and unique small businesses wherever they may be, and documenting the trip in video as we go [WATCH], please check it out and follow along!
Resource
American Independent Business Alliance
| June 16, 2010
The American Independent Business Alliance is a national 501c3 non-profit organization helping communities launch and successfully operate an Independent Business Alliance® (IBA), "buy independent, buy local" campaigns, and other efforts to support community enterprise.
Feature
The Rise of the Citizen Entrepreneur
Scott Ballum | February 12, 2010
It was quite remarkable to get a personal shout-out from the President of the United States last week. Amidst the ovations--some bi-partisan and some quite partisan--I heard a President say that it was small businesses that were going to get this country back on its feet again. He talked dramatically about a national belt-cinching, and described pulling this country forward in a manner that sounded an awful lot like boot-strapping.
Short
Nationwide Survey Shows Power of "Buy Local" Campaigns
Scott Ballum | February 3, 2010
A Special Announcement from the American Independent Buisiness Alliance: Locally-owned independent businesses outperform average retailer sales during 2009 holidays. Those with active Buy Local campaigns fared best. More holiday shoppers deliberately sought out locally owned businesses this year, according to a national survey of more than 1,800 independent businesses. (Read the full announcement here)
Resource
Village Capital
| December 29, 2009
Inspired by the village bank model used in microfinance throughout the world, Village Capital is an innovative investment model built on the hypothesis that entrepreneurs, working intimately together and providing peer support to one another, will be able to efficiently and wisely allocate investment to one another’s companies.
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Serve.gov
| November 17, 2009
Serve.gov is your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own. Use Serve.gov to help you do your part. America’s foundation will be built one community at a time – and it starts with you.
Resource
Freelancers Union
| October 21, 2009
Freelancers Union is a nonprofit organization that represents the needs of America’s independent workforce though advocacy, information, and service.
Feature
The Revolution Will Be Taxed. Four Possible Ways to Structure Your Business.
Howard Samuels, CPA | October 8, 2009
If you are running a small business, or are thinking of starting one, have you wondered if you need to be a corporation? Do you have employees or independent contractors working for you? Are you paying your help in the most tax efficient manner? Do you travel a lot for business and pleasure, or both? If so, are you deducting the correct portion of your trip? Are you maximizing how much money you can put away in retirement savings plans?
Short
Kids Learn Target Marketing from the FTC
Scott Ballum | February 25, 2009
Competition? Mergers? Supply and demand? Find our what’s cooking at the Food Court. These are the kind of directions you’ll find as you make your way through the Saturday Morning Cartoons style website You Are Here, created by the Federal Trade Commission to teach kids how marketing and advertising are influencing the way they shop.