Small Business News, Financing, Franchising Plans & Links News ? Wall Street Journal.com

Businesses For Sale

Advanced Search

Wine Enthusiast Looks to Win Over a Wider Audience
As wine has gone mainstream, companies are aligning themselves to cater to new-comers, presenting both an opportunities and a challenges.

Franchisers Sweeten Pot to Woo Buyers
Franchise companies, faced with a tough economic environment, are offering two-for-one deals, reduced fees and financing to woo new buyers.
Venture-Tied IPOs, Mergers Dry Up
M&A activity and IPOs of venture-backed companies are on pace this year to be at their lowest level for the last decade, according to new figures.
Restaurants Push 'Value' Meals
Promotions are flooding casual-dining outlets as restaurant chains attempt to lure customers to their tables.
Sonic Pushes Refranchise Plan
Sonic wants to refranchise hundreds of company-owned drive-in restaurants, but the credit crisis could hinder its plans.
Mrs. Fields Revamp Plan Faces Obstacle
Several parties are objecting to Mrs. Fields Famous Brands' plan of reorganization.
Looking to Executive M.B.A.s to Help Grow a Business
A Planner Plumbs for a Niche
For Entrepreneurs, Opportunity Still Knocks
Subscriber Content Read Preview

Wendy's Has New Strategic Recipe
Credit Crunch Squeezes Franchisees

Independent Street

Five Ways to Get Employees to Think Like Entrepreneurs
Employees must be able to take risks, implement their ideas and benefit from their successes.
How to Launch a Successful Guerrilla Marketing Campaign
See All

RSS Feed

Small Business How-To Guide

How to Set up a Wellness Plan
Company wellness programs can help improve employees' health and simultaneously lower health-care costs and raise productivity. While some companies set up extensive programs and contests, others offer simple ways to promote healthy living.
How to Retain Employees
See All

RSS Feed

Small Business Toolkit

MiniPlan

Create a mini business plan free online. The Miniplan guides you through creating the basics of a business plan.

Start the Miniplan

Local Business Help

Connect to local news, programs, and people to help build your business.

Trade Show Finder

Locate and compare trade shows, exhibitions, public events and conferences.

More Search Options

Journal Community
- discuss ▶
“Since I can write off my gadgets, I tend to buy more than I might if they were not a business expense. ”
—Laura Ricci

Running a Business

Small Talk
Kelly Spors answers questions about selling property, protecting business accounts and tracking your hours.
Run Your Home Like an Office
What Business Owners Should Know About Patenting

Small Business Financing

Small Firms Dig for Funding
As many big banks pull back on commercial lending, small companies are turning to a new, and often pricier, set of alternatives.
Try Tapping Into These Financing Options
Businesses Find Cheap Capital in SBA Mortgages

Using Technology

Creating a Successful Site For Almost Nothing
Have you got eight hours and $10? Then you can build a Web site for your business. Here's a guide for business owners looking to make the leap online. We lay out all the steps you need to take to build your site.
A Small Company's Web Video Contest Gets People Talking
Building an Internet Community of Loyal and Vocal Users

Building Awareness

Attracting Luxury Shoppers
Starting a high-end shop in rocky times? Here's how to land wealthy customers.
Paying for PR -- But Only When It Works

Franchising

Is a Franchise the Right Business for You?
It's tempting to pick a franchise based on personal experiences or love of the product. But the fact that you're smitten with the business or what it sells doesn't mean it fits your lifestyle, financial situation or long-term goals.
Picking Right Business Requires Time, Study

Small Business Link

Wholesalers Set Up Shop Online
As sales at retailers shrink, an increasing number of wholesalers are turning to the Web to hawk their products directly to consumers.
New York Eatery Looks for a Sweet Spot Overseas
U.S. Restaurants Push Abroad to Robust Markets

Columns

On franchising
By Richard Gibson
Be Prepared if Your Franchiser Falls
Small talk
By Kelly Spors
How to Find Office Space to Share

Small Business Video

Guerrilla Marketing Success Stories
3:00
Delicious...You Put What in It?!
2:07
Tips to Safeguard Your Smartphone
3:41
Business Dress Gets Creative
2:39
WSJ's Insight Exchange: Breaking into Big-Box Retail
4:00
Small Chocolate Maker Goes Global
6:00
Negotiating With Giants
4:04

marketplace

Podcast
The Wall Street Journal on Small Business
Insights for starting and running a small business, from the Wall Street Journal and experts in areas such as management and finance. Tuesdays

Subscriber Log In

QUICK LINKS :

Businesses For Sale

Small Business Toolkit

MiniPlan

Local Business Help

Trade Show Finder

Journal Community

Columns

By Richard Gibson

By Kelly Spors

By Staff

marketplace

Podcast

GOP Wants Audit of Obama Funds40 comments

Palin Is Lowest Earner of the Candidates36 comments

Is the Rescue Plan Socialism? The Far Left Says, 'No Way, Comrade'35 comments

Paulson's Stature Takes a Beating Among Lawmakers33 comments

Fed Pushes to Resolve Wachovia Deal Dispute32 comments

Ask a Question

Journal Community

Hello

Notice:

Email Newsletters and Alerts

Email Newsletters and Alerts

Partner Center

Inside The Wall Street Journal Digital Network

Log In or Subscribe to access your WSJ.com Account

WSJ.com Account:

Help & Information Center:

About:

WSJ.com:

Tools & Formats:

Digital Network

Foreign language editions: