As the nation returns to work, the demand for child-related services is seen as a likely marketplace for small business and entrepreneurs.

Industry research firm IBISWorld predicts that what it calls the "parental outsourcing industry" will reach $55.8 billion in revenue this year. Continue Reading »

Bank of America says it has loaned $45.4 billion to small and medium-size businesses in the first half of 2010. That's nearly $9 billion more than it loaned to SMBs during the same period last year. It also surpasses a pledge the bank made early in 2010 to increase lending to SMBs by $5 billiion this year.

The company loaned $81.4 billion to small business in 2009. This year, it loaned $19.4 billion in the first quarter, and more than $26 billion in the second quarter. Continue Reading »

Looking for a small-business loan?

Have you tried Sam's Club? Continue Reading »

Women business owners are feeling more optimism about the economy, according to a survey conducted in April by the Center for Women's Business Research.

This is the third Key4Women Confidence Index since the survey was launched in April 2009. Sixty percent of respondents said they believe business conditions will improve over the next six months. That compares with 48 percent of respondents expecting improvement a year ago. Continue Reading »

Here's the concept: 60 minutes, 60 speakers, explaining how an entrepreneur can increase his or her digital influence in the next 60 days.

It all happens on July 6 at 6 p.m. Continue Reading »

Women Impacting Public Policy has introduced a new website to help women understand technology in business.

Women and Technology Today, or WATT, is designed to help women apply technological innovation to their business. "Company operations as well as employee and customer communications are constantly evolving and changing," the WIPP press release says. "These changes will redefine business strategies, impact business growth and the ability to innovate, and offer potential opportunities. Continue Reading »

Are you an inner-city company with more than $2 million in revenue, looking for a shot at some venture capital?

If so, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City may be what you're looking for. Along with Bank of America, the organization is looking for nominees to participate in its Inner City Capital Connections program, designed to stimulate the flow of capital to inner city businesses. Continue Reading »

Tired of trying to get comfortable in your office chair?

You can win a brand-new La-Z-Boy office chair from Office Depot by entering Office Depot's "Show Us Your Seat" contest, continuing through June 28. Continue Reading »

Looking for empowerment? Head for San Francisco on June 27 for The 2010 Women of Vision Empowerment Forum: "I Inspire . . . Are You Read for the Journey?" The forum will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westin Hotel, 1 Old Bayshore Highway, Millbrae, Calif.

The Sarah Burns-Turner Women of Vision Foundation inaugurated the one-day symposium last year. The forum is designed to motivate, empower, educate and inspire women to become visionary leaders of tomorrow. Continue Reading »

Online retailers can win a $35,000 makeover from BigCommerce, which provides e-commerce software for small businesses.

BigCommerce is inviting small business owners to enter the contest by posting a 60-second video on YouTube with the tags "ecommerce contest" and "bigcommerce." Continue Reading »

If you're going to be in Texas Aug. 6-7, you may want to attend the One Women National Business Conference, hosted by the Texas Business Alliance. 

The conference will be held at the Omni Houston Hotel in Houston. The theme is "Still Standing," celebrating the resilience of entrepreneurs who withstood 2009's challenging economic climate. Continue Reading »

In 2009, federal contracts accounted for 38 percent of active small-business contractors' total revenue, according to an American Express OPEN small-business government contracting survey.

If you want to get in on the action, you're invited to attend an afternoon program being offered from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel. The program, "Introduction to Federal Contracting," is being presented by Give Me 5, which is dedicated to increasing the number of women-owned businesses that win federal contracts.
Continue Reading »

Looking for financing in Los Angeles? A seminar designed to help you obtain the money you need will take place Saturday, June 12, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown. The fee is $10.

"Where's the Money? Access to Capital Business Expo" includes breakfast, an expo, lunch, workshops and one-on-one consultations with lenders.The event is being hosted by the Valley Economic Development Center.
Continue Reading »

Is it a struggle maintaining both your company and a romantic relationship? According to Patty Ann Tublin and Michele DeKinder-Smith, it doesn't have to be.

The two entrepreneurs are offering a free teleseminar, "Business Ownership and Romance Do Mix: 5 Strategies to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes that Affect Your Relationship and Your Bottom Line." Continue Reading »

Want to attract more clients? Of course you do. The key, according to Karen Graves, is personal branding.

Graves will present a workshop, "The Power of Personal Branding for Women Entrepreneurs," on May 6 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in White Plains, N.Y. Graves is a professional business coach and president of Vision Launch. The workshop will take place at Zanaro's Italian Restaurant, One Mamaroneck Ave. Continue Reading »

The Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, which takes place Monday and Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., will highlight the importance of entrepreneurship, job creation and community development.

The summit also fulfills a presidential promise that President Obama made in Cairo last June, when he pledged to host a summit on entrepreneurship to broaden and deepen ties between business leaders, foundations, and entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world. Continue Reading »

One hundred SME (small and medium enterprise) entrepreneurs from all parts of the globe will pitch their companies at the Investment Market Place "Growing SMEs, It's Time to Invest" on June 2 in the Hague, Netherlands.

The event is expected to bring together more than 800 attendees, including specialists and practitioners active in the SME finance sector, as well as more than 75 entrepreneurs and some 100 investors. T Continue Reading »

If you're a New York entrepreneur or aspiring business owner, you won't want to miss the 0260 Entrepreneurship Conference April 21-23, presented by New York University's Stern School of Business and Solidea, a firm that partners with young companies to help them build their businesses. The conference will be held at the Stern School of Business.

0206? The goal of the conference is to accelerate companies "from 0 to 60" by jump-starting them "with resources, expertise, and an experience that will change the way they do business."
Continue Reading »

The Institute for International Research is taking registration for its 10th annual Shopper Insights in Action Conference, July 11-14 in Chicago, Ill.

Theme for the year is: "The 360 degree sphere of influence: delivering experiences at every touch point." Continue Reading »

The Direct Selling Women's Alliance is hosting a Celebration convention in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 23-25. The DSWA website touts it as "a weekend of fun, networking and transformational learning for people in network marketing or party plan home-based businesses."

Leaders, trainers, executives and distributors will be on hand for the convention, which is designed to inspire and empower attendees to greater success and fulfillment in life. Continue Reading »