For the majority of small-business respondents in the 2009 Small Business Attitudes & Outlook Survey, the economic recovery is nigh. Seventy percent anticipate moderate to significant growth this year (only 1 percent think they will close their businesses), and 47 percent expect to hire additional employees.

The survey, conducted by online marketing firm Constant Contact, reveals two things, said CEO Gail Goodman: the optimism and perseverance of business owners, and their ability to adapt to even the toughest economic conditions. read more...

The latest Discover Small Business Watch of entrepreneurs reports that economic confidence among the Main Street business class has risen slightly in June, with its index rising to 80.9 from 78.1 last month.

The main culprit for the increase is cash flow, according to the data. The number of business owners who said they experienced temporary cash flow problems decreased from nearly half last month to 42 percent in June. read more...

This spring a bigger problem than the bank-loan freeze has emerged for entrepreneurs: Credit card companies are slashing their limits, and small business owners are suffering because a majority of them rely on plastic to bolster cash flow and sustain operations.

The pullbacks are especially tough because more and more entrepreneurs are depending on the cards as their main source of credit. According to the National Small Business Association (PDF) 59 percent of small business relied on plastic for daily operations, up from 44 percent last year. read more...

With many companies operating under-staffed during the recession, employees are feeling uneasy about taking time off, according to a recent survey by staffing company Randstad. It's not actually going on vacation that's getting workers down--it's returning to mountains of work.

The Work Watch survey revealed that 77 percent of respondents found the first day back in the office, after returning from a vacation, was the most difficult. read more...

Congressman Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, is proposing new legislation that he says will close loopholes that allow federal contracts intended for small business to go to large corporations.

H.R. 2568 would update the definition of a small business in the Small Business Act by barring  publicly traded companies. It would also allow individuals to file complaints regarding small-business-focused federal contracts. read more...

Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) today introduced a bill that would allow small business owners to embark on a onetime deferral of income taxes in order to reinvest in their enterprises.

The Generating Reinvestment Opportunities With (GROW) America's Small Businesses Act of 2009 would allow the deferral to go unpaid for up to two years, with taxes due optionally spread out over installments if needed. The representative's office described the proposal as "interest-free, short-term loans" that "would strengthen small businesses at a minimal cost to the federal government." read more...

Entrepreneur is in Anaheim, Calif. today, getting the low-down on what small-business owners think about the economy. SCORE and American Express OPEN have made a pit-stop here on their Small Business Speed Coaching Test Drive tour, offering 30-minute coaching sessions with business counselors and workshops on government contracting, cash management and business strategy, all at no cost to attendees. If you live near a city on the circuit schedule, it might be worth your time to go.

The mood of the 200-some attendees seemed overwhelmingly positive, and it was good to see that optimism spread across diverse industries. For example, Diane Cuniff, president of cageless doggy daycare The Bone Adventure, was here for advice on whether to buy or lease property for a second location. Monica Herrera and Ronald Brown, respectively CEO and CTO of Aquatic Resource Farming, Inc., are starting a biofuels project they are certain will lead to government contracting opportunities. Carol Tenney is making the jump from attorney to Stories for Nieces web content entrepreneur because she thinks the playing field is being leveled and now is the time to jump in. read more...

The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that it's loosening eligibility for the most-popular line of loans it backs, making the cash available to auto dealers, car-parts suppliers and other businesses deemed too large for the credit lines in the past.

The expansion of the SBA's "7(a)" program starts next week and lasts until Sept. 30, 2010. The SBA states that 70,000 small business will be newly eligible for the loans.

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Today is Earth Day. What a great excuse to take a break from your economic woes and focus on your environmental woes. As an entrepreneur, you have countless things to do to keep the ship sailing smoothly -- naturally, the environment often takes a backseat. But there are things you can do right now to help make your business more sustainable.

Sure, going green is in vogue, but small changes can reap big benefits for business owners who take steps to conserve. To find out how, we spoke with environmental freelancer and pro-blogger Jennifer Chait. She currently writes for such green-minded publications as: Tree Hugging Family, Inhabitots, Blisstree Green and Mother Nature Network. read more...

Venture Capital investment has shrunk to its lowest amount since 1998, falling 50 percent compared to the same time last year, according to a report in today's Los Angeles Times.

The news cites data from Dow Jones VentureSource, which reports that reports an 8-month drought for VC-backed initial public offerings, too. Information technology was one the sectors hit hardest, dropping 52 percent to $1.58 billion in total VC capital for the first quarter of 2009. read more...