American Franchise Spotlight: Two moms from Louisiana started a business they hope offers creative adults some playtime, incorporating art lessons and … wine. 

As modern management styles develop, many managers are shying away from the traditional military-style "command and control" ethos once held by business leaders, but the business world can still learn much from the core principles and beliefs upheld by those in the military.

Getting your employees to work at their best can sometimes take some finesse and creativity.

For most of us, formal education is critical to achieving success, but the following five entrepreneurs heeded Twain's words and abandoned the schoolbooks to seize their opportunity for incredible fortune.As the number of applications to expensive graduate schools increases, we remember that sometimes, experience, vision and determination can trump any formal schooling.

You already know you need a license drive a tractor-trailer, but did you know that nearly one in three occupations in the United States now need a license?

For entrepreneurs willing to open their doors to disabled employees, some private companies and government entities are working to make the process easier.

Small business optimism ticked up in April, according to the National Federation of Independent Business' Optimism Index. The two point rise brings the reading to its highest level since December 2007. However, this increase only brings the optimism index back to its February 2011 level, meaning in the past year, the net gain has been zero.

FOXBusiness is highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by their readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let them know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business of the Day.

House Small Business Committee Chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.), chairman of the subcommittee on Small Business Agriculture, Energy and Trade, introduced two measures to strengthen the coordination of federal export promotion agencies to help more small businesses export.

While some might think a trip to the beaches of California or Florida is necessary to unwind, new research shows all that's really needed is a vacation from email.

It’s not an easy thing to consider, and for many small business owners, little thought is given to what will happen to the business in the event of their death. Without planning and forethought, the business could end up in probate, potentially creating irreparable damage.

Just like closets and kitchens get a spring cleaning this time of year, small business owners should also take the time to dust off old contracts, test new systems and polish up policies and procedures that may need some sprucing up. Here’s a small business spring-cleaning checklist for the tidy entrepreneur.

While many small businesses are putting on a happy face in the face of economic uncertainty, they are also remaining cautious in executing business plans, a new survey shows. In spite of sending mixed signals, though, small businesses are doing well overall — three-quarters of the businesses polled said they are meeting or exceeding the 2012 performance plans they outlined at the beginning of the year.

An emerging and fast-growing contract design--the indexed universal life (IUL) policy--may come very close to being the ideal contract for most consumers in today’s interest and overall market environment.

From President Obama signing the JOBS Act into law to Facebook buying Instagram, a breakdown of small business news for the month of April.

We’re highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by you, our readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let us know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business of the Day.

Samuel Adams Founder Jim Koch said he wants to give startup microbrewers and small food service businesses the insight and financial opportunities he didn’t have when he ventured out on his own. He launched his “Brewing the American Dream” program in 2008, and has since lent out its first $1 million to 150 businesses in the food and beverage services industry.

Mid-size companies are expected to outpace larger companies in growth over the next 12 months, according to a first-ever survey of the health and outlook of middle-market companies in the U.S.  These companies, commonly referred to as middle-market, have revenue between $10 million and $1 billion and typically have between 100 and 3,000 employees. They account for a third of the nation’s GDP, more than 41 million jobs and are considered a leading indicator of America’s future competitiveness.

Petflow’s rethink of how to sell online pet food seems to be clicking: The less-than-two-year-old startup pulled in $2 million in revenue in March alone.

Most people asked would recommend having some sort of diploma or degree before starting a business. But that didn’t stop 13 year-old Nolan Bebber from starting his own hot sauce business from the comfort of his parent’s kitchen.

If you're always finding ways to spend extra time at the office or ignoring pleas from others to cut back on your on-the-job time, a new study shows you may officially be a workaholic.

Small business owners have mixed feelings on the state of the economy, but mostly agree gas prices are the enemy, according to a new survey by Manta.

Small business owners can minimize their investment or maximize their exposure through some simple marketing and partnership techniques that will help them get the most bang for their buck.

Gripevine offers consumers a voice to “plant” their gripes about different businesses and brands online, explaining what happened to them and even submitting photo and video evidence to support their claims, according to its founders.

This week, a group of entrepreneurs gathered along New York City’s West Side Highway. The Walk’s founder may or may not have a million dollars, but he certainly has a dream.

Make the most of your trade show and avoid costly nightmares by implementing some of these success strategies long before the event.

Pop-up shops are temporary businesses that set up shop, sell their services and then ship out. From your summertime lemonade stand to a brick-and-mortar bakeshop, pop-up shops come in all shapes and sizes. Here is a guide to starting a pop-up shop -- however big or small.

TechTown, an entrepreneurial incubator run by Wayne State University, launched in 2007 and, according to its founders, has since created more than 650 companies—hoping to turnaround one of the hardest–hit cities in America post-recession. In 2011 alone its companies generated $52 million in revenue.

More and more entrepreneurs are overlooking Indiana as a place to start a business, according to a recent study by the Kauffman Foundation. In 2010, the number of Indiana impresarios choosing to start a business fell below the national average — at 190 per 100,000 adults, making it the fifth-worst state in the country for entrepreneurial activity. Why have so many Indiana businesspeople lost their entrepreneurial spirit? A brief look at the state’s tax rates and business climate reveals what Indiana has to offer.

Forget fast-food tacos or sloppy joes. Instead, these trucks boast easy-to-access fashion for cheap, on four wheels.

Ernst & Young is once again calling for talented women entrepreneurs to apply for this year’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women competition, which will accept entries through April 30. Here’s a look at some of the competition’s previous winners and their business advice.

According to the 2011 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, Georgia has high rates of entrepreneurial activity, with 510 new business owners per 100,000 adults. Georgia offers many tax incentives and business programs that make it a top state for new business owners and experienced entrepreneurs.

Former Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn caused a media stir this week, resigning amid allegations of personal misconduct. The company is currently investigating whether he had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate—but more is at stake than Dunn’s reputation. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s important to remember your decisions impact more than just your own personal life.

In this week’s American Franchise Spotlight, we find out how one business owner scaled his pet sitting and walking service into the national franchise Fetch! Pet Care.  

The following six steps all characterize small business owners who saw revenue increases in 2011 over the prior two years – in other words those who successfully weathered the recent economic storm, according to The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.

Two Harvard grads set out to reinvent the cluttered beauty industry by selling samples customers could get for free

The stay-at-home-mom topic entered the 2012 election firestorm Wednesday night, when Hilary Rosen, a top Democratic strategist, told CNN “Guess what, [Romney’s] wife has actually never worked a day in her life.” According to Salary.com, the average stay-at-home mom’s task load equates to a 95-hour work week, and breaks down to 40 hours at base pay and 54.7 hours of overtime on their “mom duties.”

Louisiana has the nation’s fourth highest rate of entrepreneurial activity, with 460 new business owners per 100,000 adults, according to the 2011 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. The state offers tax incentives and innovative developments that  helped spur many entrepreneurs to invest in the Pelican State’s pro-corporate atmosphere.

And it’s not what you think! Coworking spaces, or collaborative office complexes that act like incubators for startups, are popping up nationwide, and advocates say rather than creating the hype that would lead to a second Internet-IPO bubble, the spaces are actually working to prevent another such bust.

These teens are taking advantage of their youth. From refurbishing electronics to creating a platform for artists to gain exposure and sell their work, here's the ideas the winners of VerticalResponse's Teen Tycoon competition are building into their own businesses.

After six straight months of gains, the National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Optimism Index fell in March. Nine of the ten index components declined, with the overall index score dropping two points to 92.5. March’s report echoes 2011, which had several straight months of gains early in the year followed by subsequent losses.

Business owners offer reasons for giving individuals with offbeat or non-industry related work experience a chance at employment.

A survey by staffing firm Robert Half International revealed that 35 percent of chief financial officers believe a lack of new concepts is the greatest barrier to their company being more innovative, which many cite as the key to success.

According to a new survey from U.S. insurer Hiscox, small business owners are eager to take on new challenges despite reports of increased physical and mental stress.

According to the 2011 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, Colorado has the fifth highest rate of entrepreneurial activity in the United States, with 450 new business owners per 100,000 adults. Colorado has numerous tax incentives and business programs to help entrepreneurs excel.

According to the 2011 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, California had the third highest rates of entrepreneurial activity in the country, with 470 new business owners per 100,000 adults in the state. This statistic is surprising as the state has struggled for the past three years with high unemployment.  Also, for seven years in a row, ChiefExecutive.net has ranked California as the absolute worst U.S. state for business. But Californians are a hearty and creative bunch and their entrepreneurial spirit continues to beat the odds.

Working freelance can be exciting and stressful. You don’t have the same job security as someone employed full time with a salary and benefits. You might not know where you will receive your next paycheck. You are responsible for yourself. This can be inspiring. You don’t need to ask someone’s permission to do anything, like take time off. You are your own employer. That’s a nice thought, isn’t it? But breaking into the world of freelance is often bewildering. Where do you start? Here is a simple guide to starting out as a freelancer.