Renuka Rayasam

Small companies can't afford not to run a tight ship. Even small costs or time drains can make the difference between staying afloat and sinking. more >>

A Tip of the Hat to Entrepreneurs

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - June 8, 2007

Small companies can pat themselves on the back. That's because entrepreneurship is the reason for American's economic growth, says Good Capitalism, Bad Capitalism, and the Economics of Growth and Prosperity, a new book comparing different forms of capitalism. more >>

Get Ready for Emergencies

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - May 31, 2007

Look out for Andrea. That's the message as hurricane season officially kicks off Friday. more >>

Sarbanes-Oxley Rules May Be Eased for Small Companies

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - May 24, 2007

The Securities and Exchange Commission took a step Wednesday toward easing Sarbanes-Oxley accounting requirements for small public companies. While the little guys have been complaining about the rules since 2002, when they were put in place after Enron's collapse, legislators have not heeded their calls until now. more >>

Setting Up Your Mobile Website

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - May 21, 2007

You finally got around to putting together a website. But no, you can't rest now. more >>

Fighting Big Government for Small Business

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - May 14, 2007

Last week, the National Small Business Association picked Scott Hauge as its 2007 Small Business Advocate of the Year. Hauge took over as owner of San Francisco-based Cal Insurance & Associates from his dad and transformed it into a shop focusing on small- and medium-size businesses. more >>

Ruling on Patents Roils Companies

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - May 3, 2007

Getting a patent got a little harder this week with the latest in a series of Supreme Court decisions. The case, in which KSR International challenged a Teleflex patent over an adjustable gas pedal, is likely to have the most impact on fields like biotechnology and software, where small firms play an important role. more >>

Lessons From the Contracting Wars

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - April 26, 2007

Faye Coleman is in the enviable position of telling the government what to do. As founder of Bethesda, Md. more >>

Trying to Enter the World of Federal Contracts

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - April 23, 2007

Melinda Emerson's car has logged a lot of miles. She has spent more than five years making the trip from her home in Philadelphia to Washington, D. more >>

The Katrina Controversy

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - April 17, 2007

It has been 18 months since Hurricane Katrina whipped through the Gulf Coast. Many small businesses have cleaned up the debris but haven't been able to wash away their woes. more >>

Quitting as a Business Strategy

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - April 11, 2007

Persistence doesn't always pay off. It's a concept that upbeat small-business owners, who regard quitting as failure, still haven't mastered, says author and blogger Seth Godin. more >>

The Hispanic Market Isn't Only for Big Business

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 30, 2007

My thoughts have been traveling south of the border (I'm bound for Argentina on vacation), and I'm not the only one. With 47 million Hispanics in the United States, many companies are anxious to court that growing market. more >>

Nimble Small Businesses Can Dodge Trouble

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 28, 2007

The storm clouds are gathering. Gas prices are rising, home sales are slowing, and consumers don't see good times ahead. more >>

An Unlikely Entrepreneurial Inspiration

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 23, 2007

Toilet paper seems like an odd inspiration for a company, but it's what started Tamara Monosoff on the path to becoming an entrepreneurial mom. Since then she's been busy teaching other moms about the path from idea to product. more >>

Rating the Best Workplace Democracies

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 22, 2007

Democracy and business seem to operate in completely separate worlds. But that belief is a problem for the corporate world, says Traci Fenton, founder of WorldBlu. more >>

Getting Small Firms to Think Green

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 14, 2007

With big fish like Al Gore and General Electric tackling climate change, it seems there isn't much room in the debate for minnows. "Small business has never had a seat at the table, so they always get screwed," says Byron Kennard, founder of the Center for Small Business and the Environment. more >>

Tips From Loews on Customer Service

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 8, 2007

In his new book, Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough, Jonathan Tisch shares what he's learned about getting customers to come back to a business. As CEO of Loews Hotels, he's had plenty of experience in dealing with finicky customers. more >>

Small Business Tops Poll on Trust

By Renuka Rayasam - Small Biz Scene - March 6, 2007

From corporate scandals to executive pay packages, big business hasn't exactly been basking in a golden glow. But it's just the opposite for small businesses, according to a Harris Interactive Poll of 1,013 U. more >>

Equal Exchange Serves Up a Cup of Cooperation

Democracy in Action at Linden Lab

Q&A: WorldBlu's Fenton on Workplace Democracy

Why Workplace Democracy Can Be Good Business

Pope to Meet with Catholic Colleges and Universities

Best Places to Retire: Peachtree City, Georgia

On Vacation, Owners Think About Work

Seven Places to Look for Wasted Time and Money