ENTREPRENEUR

The 2012 election will be analyzed for many months; however, the real work begins today. The NASE will aggressively champion the self-employed and work to address the continued tax inequities and ensure a level, competitive business environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

NASE, which is non-partisan and does not endorse a candidate, promised to use the candidates' answers to educate and inform its membership about the positions of each on small business taxes and economic recovery "so that they may make the best decision for their business in November." But November is here and the answers never came.

NASE is waiting for responses to questions it posed to each campaign. And although next week's debate will ask the candidates to discuss foreign policy, "10 days out from the election they'll probably spin their answers out to domestic issues," Vlietstra said.

As in many presidential elections, both sides are touting the importance of small business and offering plans to help them grow. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is used to hearing lip service from politicians who say they want to help, but rarely follow through with policies for the self-employed.

In the 63 days between Labor Day and Election Day, Congress will spend 13 days in session working in Washington, D.C. – a relaxed work schedule by any measure.

Colleges and universities have been welcoming students back this fall in full force. Thirty-seven percent of self-employed families have a child that is working toward a degree this fall. The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) knows that financing one or more college educations can be tough for the small-business owner and conducted a poll to dig deeper into the impact.

The most important challenge for entrepreneurs isn't starting a company, but growing it from three employees to 30 ... to 300, to 3,000.

Being a new entrepreneur can be overwhelming at first. Here are some tips to help keep you in check.