One of the things that's helped sink the U.S. economy into its current funk is our trade deficit, which stood at $36.4 billion in November. Translation: we imported $36.4 billion less than we sold abroad.  read more...

If you've been looking for a catalyst--something to make you really ratchet up the volume on your business success, or start a brand-new business--maybe a contest could provide that spark. Here's three going on right now that offer not just recognition but money and services that could help your business grow.

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It was a long, lonely year for the initial public offering market in 2009. Week after week went by with no new issues pricing...or only weird holding companies or major corporations based in China hitting the American public markets. Just 177 issues priced worldwide last year, compared with 554 IPOs in 2007.

But at last, the IPO doldrums seem to be ending. Data from Renaissance Capital's IPOHome shows seven IPOs priced in January, up from a big none in January 2009. There have been 13 new IPO filings this first month, up from two in the same period last year.

Why should you care? The IPO upswing is good news for lots of small businesses that are looking for money--and not just the ones thinking IPO. read more...

As sales dropped, many small businesses piled up debt over the past two years. Many businesses were kept on life support using charge cards--creditcards.com reports they're now the most common form of business debt, with 44 percent of owners using them in the past year--up from 16 percent in 1993.

I spoke recently with business-tax expert Linda Keith about concrete steps small businesses can take in 2010 to reduce their debt. Her advice: read more...

Looks like the theme for the day is demystifying business processes. In our first breakout session, Asheesh Advani delivered six lessons for how to raise money now.

Lesson #1: People who invest more than $25,000 are impatient.
A patient investor is much better than an impatient investor. You want patient investors because they'll allow you time to keep your promise and grow your business.

Lesson #2: Develop a fundraising plan just like a business plan.
It's not fun, but it has to be done. To develop your plan make a list of prospects, plot your pitches (rework and refine), expand your prospect list and decide on a closing date for the funding round. Your success rate should be right around 25 percent; any more than that, and Advani says your prospect list is too long.

Lesson #3: Refine your kitchen table pitch.
It's much like an elevator pitch really. You want to educate, not sell. People don't invest in products, they invest in a dream. However, you have to present a tangible version of your product. Once they invest--before, even--you want to be clear about what happens if you are unable to pay back the money and provide options for both funding and repayment terms.

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While some small-business owners continue to groan over the slowness of federal movement to aid them, many states are stepping up with their own assistance programs. Some of the aid is trickling down from the federal stimulus bill, some comes from state and local agencies, while some funds seem to be flowing from nonprofits and other organizations.

If you're looking for financial assistance for your business, it's time to investigate the options closer to home--you may be surprised at how much help is out there.

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There hasn't been a zanier year in recent memory to try to do some tax planning for business owners. But there are a few basic strategies that are sure to work, no matter what Congress does in 2010.

For those who don't closely follow the tax scene, there are a heck of a lot of provisions up in the air, awaiting Congressional review. For instance, this is supposed to be the year the estate tax falls to zero for just one year. But don't bet on it, as President Barack Obama has indicated he's not in favor of this single-year tax break and wants 2010 estate taxes set to a level similar to other recent years. At the same time, expect activist business groups such as the American Family Business Institute to campaign for a permanent repeal of this "death tax."

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There's a real paradox out there in small-business land: American business owners have seen business shrink more drastically than have owners anywhere else in the developing world. Yet, most say they're feeling upbeat about 2010.

A study from City Business Journals Network showed 75 percent of business owners feel business prospects will be either "a lot better" or "a little better," a level not seen since before the recession.

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No issue has polarized the small-business community in recent years like healthcare reform. With Congress back in session, all eyes will be on the lawmakers tackling the daunting task of reconciling the House and Senate versions of the healthcare reform bill. read more...

The new year is a great time to take in new ideas for growing your business. Here's several intriguing books that recently hit my shelf--in some cases, my virtual shelf.

Here's an upcoming book, due out next month, that sounds really useful for today's economy: Flip the Funnel: How to Use Existing Customers to Gain New Ones by Joseph Jaffe. Retaining customers is the new customer acquisition, Jaffe says. The marketer and author of the Jaffe Juice blog offers his tips for how to keep existing customers and grow your relationships with them.

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