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Business-Plan Contests Take a Practical Turn
Less planning, more legwork. That's the formula some business schools are using to overhaul the competitions they conduct each year to test their students' mettle as entrepreneurs.
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RayWJ: YouTube's Top Star
Earning an estimated $1 million a year, a foul-mouthed comic shows the new rules of new media.
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Blue Bottle Aims to Blend Slow Coffee, Fast Growth
In an era of fast-food cappuccinos and drive-through coffee shops, Blue Bottle Coffee is banking on slowing things down to help itself grow.
Obama Calls on Tax Breaks for Small Businesses
President Barack Obama asked Congress to support tax breaks for small businesses Tuesday to help give entrepreneurs a "leg up" in the economy.
When the Home Bank Closes
The housing bust means many small businesses can no longer use home-equity loans for funding.
- Financing Your Start-Up Without Home Equity
How to Finance Your Start-Up Without Tapping Home Equity
Consider these five alternatives for raising capital to get a new business off the ground.
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Searching for Side Effects
Two start-up companies have created databases that let consumers search FDA adverse-event reports of prescription drugs and medical devices.
'Small' IT Market Attracts Big Companies
The small-business help desk is going corporate with initiatives from companies like Apple, creating new competition for independent consultants who typically handle the IT needs of U.S. start-ups and small companies.
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Start-Ups Look for Shortcut From Farm to Table
A host of Silicon Valley start-ups are creating ways to buy food directly from local food producers, cutting out grocery stores and some of the middlemen..
The State of the Union: Small Firms Weigh In
Start-ups and small businesses parse President Obama's speech Tuesday night.
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Late-Night Fast-Food Sales on a Roll
Fast-food chains are extending their hours to feed a burgeoning market of night owls and ultra-early risers and help wring more sales out of their existing restaurants.
- Video: Trend follows changes in work force
Angel Investors Play Big Role For Start-Ups, Think Tank Says
The OECD urges tax breaks and co-investing programs for angel investors to spur economic growth.
Tips to Help You Claim a Home-Office Deduction
A portion of personal expenses for your home can be turned into a business deduction-- if you meet certain rules.
Sold! More Small Businesses Exchanged Hands Last Year
Sales of small firms improved in 2011 thanks in part to better business performance, data show.
With New Law, Profits Take a Back Seat
A slew of companies plan to take advantage of a new and untested "benefit corporation" charter, which allows a company's governing board to consider social or environment objectives ahead of profits.

Where We Work

A Place in the Sun
Namaste Solar, in Boulder, Colo., has more than 70 workers – over half of whom are co-owners of the company. An employee-owned co-operative, the solar-energy system designer and installer takes a one-person, one-vote approach to business decisions, says co-founder Blake Jones.
How I Built It
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Pandora Founder Tunes Into Listeners
Tim Westergren was working as a film composer in the late 1990s when he came up with the idea behind Pandora Media, the popular online service that allows users to create personalized radio stations.

Real Time Economics

Podcast

Insights for starting and running a small business. Tuesdays

Wall Street Journal on Small Business: The program that helps small businesses take advantage of the Super Bowl; what you need to start a consulting practice today; and entrepreneurs who've started businesses as wingmen…and wingwomen.

Have social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter helped your business?

Yes, in many measurable ways
Yes, but only marginally
No tangible results
Haven't tried using social media

View Results »

Financing

Raise Cash on Crowdfunding Sites
A number of Web services provide platforms for entrepreneurs to get funding from various contributors, often friends, relatives and members of their community.
How Firms Cope With Slow Payers
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When 'Friending' Becomes Source of Start-Up Funds

Franchising

Franchises, on a Smaller Scale
Franchisers are offering more options at different price points—from mall kiosks to mobile food trucks—to woo franchisees reluctant to spend too much.
Smaller Franchisers Expand Their Horizons
Many Outlets, One Voice

Building Your Business

How to Build Recognition for Your Unknown Brand
You don't need a big advertising budget to raise consumer awareness, says guest columnist Mike Michalowicz.
And the Most Innovative Entrepreneur Is...
My Home Is Not Your Home

Technology

The Race to Nab Web Addresses
Entrepreneurs see an opportunity in the opening up of a new realm of Web addresses in which just about any word can serve as a domain name.
Click 'Like' if This Strategy Makes Sense
It's 10 a.m. Here's How to Find Your Workers.

Management Headlines

Young CEOs: Are They Up to the Job?
It's creativity vs. experience as a new flock of leaders take their companies to public markets.
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Nabors Ex-CEO Waives Claim
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Bayer: Pressure on Prices Has Bad Effects

Small Business How-To Guide

How to Decide if Entrepreneurship is Right for You
Starting a business is a lot like becoming a parent. Not only do you have to prepare for your start-up emotionally and financially, but you have to be committed to its constant needs until it's mature enough to hum along on its own. And even then (much like a child) it will always need you in some capacity, no matter how old it gets.
How to Create a Disaster Plan
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WSJ Startup Calculator

Starting a business is more expensive than you might think. Have you thought through the assets you need? How about monthly expenses?

Use this startup calculator to figure out the true costs of launching a company. How much do you think it will take to open your business?

From Palo Alto Software, the makers of Business Plan Pro

With inspiration from the Better Business Bureau

Offers

Small Business Poll of the Week

Social Media
The Journal is polling small-business owners over several weeks on key issues affecting them today. Here's the second question:
Have social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter helped your business?
| Yes, measurably | Yes, marginally |
| No tangible results | Haven't tried it |
Zynga Chief Talks IPO, Lessons Learned
Zynga CEO Mark Pincus ended 2011 as the face of an overhyped IPO. Now he wants to show the hype was justified. He talks with the Journal about what he learned from the IPO and some of his early management missteps.
- Video: CEO on Life Post-IPO
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More States Decide to 'Buy Veteran'
More states and local governments are setting aside money to buy goods and services from veteran-owned businesses.
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More Firms Enjoy Tax-Free Status
The number of companies organized as nontaxable corporations, including some publicly traded companies, is on the rise.
3 Small-Business Blunders to Avoid This Year
Guest columnist Susan Wilson Solovic on common mistakes entrepreneurs should avoid in 2012.
Entrepreneurs Give Kodak's Hometown a Lift
The jobless rate in the Rochester, N.Y., area is well below the national average as a resurgence in entrepreneurial activity has filled the void left by its shrinking corporate giants.
Debate: Do Big Banks Lend Enough to Small Business?
The Journal invited two guests -- Ami Kassar, chief executive of MultiFunding LLC small-business loan advisors, and Marc Bernstein, executive vice president, Wells Fargo small business segment -- to share opposing views.
- Vote: Are big banks lending enough?

About the Small Business Team

The Wall Street Journal's small business team breaks news and delivers features on entrepreneurs, start-ups and existing small businesses. From start-up financing to selling a business, we cover the emerging trends and major issues, in print and online.

Email: Send tips or questions to smalltalk@wsj.com

Contributors

Vanessa O'Connell
Small Business Editor
vanessa.oconnell@wsj.com
@VanessaOConnell
Sarah Needleman
Assistant Small Business Editor
sarah.needleman@wsj.com
@sarahneedleman
Angus Loten
Reporter
angus.loten@wsj.com
Emily Maltby
Reporter
emily.maltby@wsj.com

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Wal-Mart Names China Chief
Wal-Mart Stores tapped Greg Foran as president and CEO of Wal-Mart China as the retailer looks to regain its footing after several missteps in one of its most important growth markets.
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Tesco Delays Launch of U.K. Current Accounts
U.K. supermarket giant cites difficulty for customers to switch banks for offering's pushback to 2013.
India to Finalize Foreign Airline Investment Proposal Feb. 9 – Report
A group of India's federal ministers will meet on Feb. 9 to finalize a proposal to let foreign carriers invest in the country's aviation sector, The Economic Times newspaper reported, citing government officials.
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Keeping Up With the Guys on a Snowmobile
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Saudi Women Sue for Right to Drive
States Target Foreign Law
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Boeing Teams Speed Aircraft Production
Hollywood Is Going to the Dogs

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Have social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter helped your business?

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Starting a business is more expensive than you might think. Have you thought through the assets you need? How about monthly expenses?

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