Before buying another business, assess whether you would still have an ample cash cushion with your current company to survive a potentially long downturn in business.
![[Perseverance Answers Vegans' Prayers]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CX264_CAREER_A_20090105170937.jpg)
Seth Tibbott, inventor of Tofurky and founder and president of Turtle Island Foods, on how he got to where he is today.
![[Car Dealers Face Struggles]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/P1-AO183_DEALER_A_20090102205428.jpg)
For decades, selling cars paved a path to wealth across America. But the industry has never before faced the forces now slowing sales to a crawl.
The downturn is threatening the survival of a major driver of the U.S. economy: small business.
![[Attracting talent]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CX021_magnet_A_20090102164025.jpg)
Sick businesses often need fresh talent to recover. But attracting star players during bankruptcy can be difficult.
![[Justin Vernon of Bon Iver performing at WIUX radio station at Indiana University at Bloomington.]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AT670_ENTMUS_A_20081229204316.jpg)
A heartbroken musician became an instant rock star after word-of-mouth praise on the Web attracted fans -- and a record deal.
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Do you work at a company or know a company with a great workplace?
![[stop foreclosure]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CU402_stfore_C_20081210104642.jpg)
The ability to halt foreclosure proceedings on a small business depends on the severity of the financial situation and how the owner has tried remedying the problem so far.
![[Magic Johnson book cover]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CS459_magicb_C_20081124151410.jpg)
In his new advice book Magic Johnson explains how he translated his fame as a basketball player into a business career.
Subscriber Content Read Preview
![[Tough call]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CP580_toughc_C_20081103180250.jpg)
Entrepreneur Fred Goldstein faced a tough decision: Should he sell his healthcare firm?
![[Silicon Valley]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CO434_Silico_C_20081027103906.jpg)
Venture capitalists are cutting back their investments, forcing startups to scale back expansion projects, take voluntary pay cuts, delay hiring and slash expenses.
Powered by Palo Alto Software
Create a mini business plan free online. The Miniplan guides you through creating the basics of a business plan.
—Laura Ricci“Since I can write off my gadgets, I tend to buy more than I might if they were not a business expense. ”
Subscriber Content Read Preview
![[Companies Trim as Business Slows]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AS250_DOWNTU_A_20081008191302.jpg)
Companies are looking for cuts in every budgetary nook and cranny in an economy dragged down by slowing consumption, an imploding stock market and tight credit.
![[piggy bank]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-CJ288_SBBANK_A_20080918182051.jpg)
As many big banks pull back on commercial lending, small companies are turning to a new, and often pricier, set of alternatives.
![[The Journal Report: Technology]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/TE-AA706_COVER_A_20081020135153.jpg)
For years, mobile workers have been ditching their desktop computers for laptops that they can take wherever they go. Now road warriors are starting to realize that they can get even more portability -- and lots of computing punch -- from smart phones.
![[Restaurant Chains Look for Creative Ways to Cut Costs]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AS995_B1SKY2_A_20081117184701.jpg)
Franchise restaurants are aggressively searching for alternative ways to slash costs, unable to pass on the higher costs to customers without losing business.
![[Christina and David Sloan, former co-owners of Li'l Guy Foods, at the company's production facility]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-AS935_sblink_A_20081112182330.jpg)
For small companies looking to cash out, this may be an ideal time, so long as they provide some of the financing in order to get a deal done.


Small-business groups hope the 111th freshman class will represent them.