SMALL BUSINESS

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 preparation for tonight's first debate, NASE President Kristie L. Arslan had the following to say...

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.

In response to the Republican convention and official nomination of Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan, the NASE's Director of Government Affairs Katie Vlietstra had the following comments...

NASE President & CEO Kristie Arslan was on C-SPAN tomorrow discussing the presidential candidates and the lack of detail from them on small business issues.

"With his Path for Prosperity, Congressman Ryan has gotten notoriety, but I'm not sure our members will know him off the top of their head," said Kristie Arslan, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self Employed.

Both presidential campaigns say they're best for small business, but Kristie Arslan says neither has backed up the claim with substantive plans. "They've never been specific on any of the priorities for the 21 million self-employed Americans," Arslan, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self Employed...

Under current tax rules, companies organized as S-corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships may get greater financial benefit from trashing unused inventory than by donating it to nonprofits, says Gene Fairbrother, small business consultant to the National Association for the Self-Employed.

Earlier this week, the NASE submitted a letter to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax and Select Revenue formally requesting a hearing on H.R. 6102, America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2012.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is enthusiastic in its support of H.R. 6102, America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2012, introduced by Representative Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) and cosponsored by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), which provides for a permanent deduction for several key small-business tax deductions, including the health insurance deduction for the self-employed, NASE’s signature legislative priority.

"Today’s joint proposal by the White House and the Department of Treasury announcing recommendations for business tax reform must be called what it truly is, corporate tax reform exclusive to major corporations and large employers." Read the rest of the NASE's statement here.

Earlier this week, the Federal Reserve announced plans to keep interest rates near zero for at least the next two years. That’s good news for banks – but less assuring for small-business owners.

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

In this economy, whatever you can do to get a leg up makes all the difference. For the self employed, it’s hard to compete on price or offerings, so sometimes it’s just being a little smarter than the competition that wins the business.

Kristie Arslan, Executive Director of the NASE, released the following statement after a meeting with the White House on a Government shutdown’s effect on America’s small business community...

Kristie Arslan, Executive Director of the NASE, released the following statement as the threat of a Government shutdown looms and its potential effect on America’s small business community...

It is a sad, but true fact: Health insurance is a luxury item for many small business owners, purchased when times are good and forsaken when times are lean.

Dale Schaffer of Bethlehem, Pa. is the co-owner of Elysian Fields Specialty Florals. He was part of a group of NASE members that were invited by the Obama Administration to attend the event at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Allentown. Here's what he had to say...

New legislation could help self-employed business owners who work from a home office save an additional $1,500 on their taxes next year.

President Obama addresses the concerns of a self-employed body shop owner during an interview on health care reform.

The nation’s entrepreneurs are ready for major changes to the American health care system, but are asking the federal government to implement various proposals to help them cope with the costs. Nearly 2,000 micro-businesses, including members of the National Association for the Self-Employed, took part in this national online survey of their opinions on current health care reform proposals.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is proud to announce that Tiffany Washington of Waldorf, Maryland, has been awarded a $3,000 grant through the NASE’s Business Development Grant Program. Washington, owner of Washington Accounting Services, a full-service financial services firm, will use the grant for new software and office equipment to prepare for the upcoming tax season.

Have you ever wondered how you can better protect your business against possible legal action? There are some great ideas in this post.

Generating leads is crucial to growing any business, but it can be especially challenging for small businesses with limited resources. In this article, we'll show you 7 Lead Generation Techniques for Small Businesses.

Are you thinking about starting your own business? It's a big decision, but it can be a very rewarding experience. Before you get started, there are a few things you should think about before you start.

Debt is a scary word for many people. Add in the fact that you are self-employed, and it can be downright terrifying! While there is no one easy solution to getting out of debt, this overview will give you a few ideas on where to start. So take a deep breath, and read on!

If you're thinking about starting your own small business, working from home might be a good option for you. This blog post will give you some tips on how to make the most of your space and stay productive while running your business from home. Whether or not working from home is right for you depends on a lot of factors, but if it is an option, these tips will help make sure that it works well for you and your business!

Are you self-employed? Do you feel like you're stuck in a rut, doing the same things over and over again with little progress to show for it? You're not alone. A lot of self-employed people find themselves in this situation, especially when they don't have good processes in place. But don't worry, there's a solution. Documenting your business processes can help you become more efficient and organized, and The Lazy Millennial can help make it easy. Keep reading to learn more.

Shopkeepers have more at stake than ever as the digital age reshapes commerce. Here are the best tools to help your small business stay ahead of the curve. Whether you need to manage inventory, take payments, or keep track of customer data, these apps will help you succeed in the new retail landscape. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

As a small business owner, you're constantly juggling a million different things at once. You need to be able to keep track of your customers, their orders, your suppliers, and your own calendar all while trying to make money. That's why CRM software is so important - it helps you manage all of that information in one place. Keep reading to find out more about what CRM software is and how it can help your business!

As a self-employed business owner, you have a variety of resources available to you. These resources can help you with everything from marketing your business to finding health insurance. In this article, we'll take a look at four of the biggest resources for self-employed business owners. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in business for years, these organizations can provide you with the support you need to be successful.

Posted by Javan Porter - If President Obama is the coach of the team for creating new jobs, his quarterback is small business. The coach may lay out the game plan but small businesses play the game. Small businesses have created two-thirds of new jobs in America. The President as the coach understands the importance of such a strong quarterback and has issued a proclamation announcing this year’s National Small Business Week for June 17th to 21st.