How to Create a $1 Million Business

Get inspired to turn your vision into reality.

Rising Sales Spur Small-Business Growth

Smalls see opportunities to expand as lending loosens up.

Practical Investing: Beware Overpaid Executives

No set amount automatically raises alarms, but several pay practices are red flags.

What $5 Gas Would Mean to the U.S.

Twelve ways $5-a-gallon gasoline prices would likely impact consumers; businesses; local, state and national government; and the economy.

Big Changes Ahead for Health Care

No matter how the Supreme Court handles President Obama's reform law, the approach to medical insurance will be remade.

More Borrowing, But Less Consumer Debt

Two-thirds of the economy comes from consumer spending, so banks making it easier for consumers to borrow is a plus for growth.

Online Communities Help Raise Start-Up Cash

Business Lending to Rise in 2012

Banks have healed from the financial crisis. They might even find themselves competing for customers.

What Killed Pensions

Corporate pensions went from holding $250 billion in excess funds to being underfunded.

A La Carte Pricing Spreads to More Industries

It’s not just airlines and hotels who are finding profit in splitting services up into a variety of fees.

Car Sales to Remain Strong

The auto industry is a bright spot in the economy as Americans pony up for new wheels.

College Students Turned CEOs

Entrepreneurs aren’t waiting to graduate to start a business.

The Case for Stocks Now

Despite the troubled economy, U.S. companies continue to post steady profits, and with the market down, their stocks could be great buys.

Big Firms Prosper as Small Business Struggles

Record corporate profits suggest that the economy should be booming. But small firms — the main engine for job growth — still have it tough, particularly at the bank.

Inflation Worries Lurk in U.S. and Abroad

Prices may rise quickly if the economy picks up steam.

States See Red as Help from Washington Dries Up

Cuts in stimulus money and rising Medicaid costs add up to big budget problems.

Entrepreneurs Are Back in the Game

More workers are going it alone, but getting a loan is still tough.

Cut Costs With Independent Contractors?

It's appropriate for a business owner to try to lower prices to customers, but fattening the bottom line at the employees' expense is not ethical.

How to Build a $1 Million Business

GDP Recovers Its Recession Losses

Although there’s no more talk of a double dip, even stronger economic growth is required to pull down the unemployment rate

Generics of Lipitor, Plavix Coming This Year

Versions of those drugs will be cheaper, but overall Rx costs will rise.

11 Forecasts for 2011

The Two Sides of Commercial Real Estate

Following the plunge in property values and a near freeze in commercial real estate deals during the recession, there are signs of improvement.

Fees Higher as Banks Seek Additional Revenue

It will still pay to shop around, but finding free checking and other services will get harder.

Health Care Reform: 13 Tax Changes on the Way

Here are 13 changes in the massive overhaul that could impact your tax bill, for better or worse.

Bargains Aplenty for Ocean Shippers

Underutilized container-cargo ships are begging for business.

Business Costs in 2011

Salaries Will Step Up in 2011

But pay increases will be modest, and you'll have to show that you've earned them.

Cooking Up a Sweet Business

Kate Carrara of Philadelphia, the self-proclaimed "Cupcake Lady," sold her house and car and gave up a well-paying job to start Buttercream, a mobile cupcake shop.

No Big Postal Rate Hike -- for Now

Dramatic changes -- like whether to drop Saturday delivery -- are now in Congress' hands.

Technology Back Offices Moving to Rural America

The trend away from offshore locations spells jobs for workers in hard-hit U.S. areas.

The Latest Air Travel Outrages

Would you believe pay toilets and "vertical seats"?

Box Shortage Causing Ocean Shipping Woes to Linger

A dearth of ocean cargo containers is stymieing efforts to ramp up exports and imports.

Tough Times Ahead for Junk Bond Issuers

It’s not just Uncle Sam’s enormous debt that will cause problems down the road.

Health Care: Firms with Annual Benefit Limits Must Take Care

Allowable caps will be gradually raised, then barred altogether in 2014.

Europe's Woes Hurt U.S. Commercial
Real Estate

On the bright side, overbuilding is low and the the Russians have cash to spend.

Health Law Likely to Add to
Employer Costs

Mandates kick in before any savings, but there are some things firms can do in the short term.

Postal Rates Headed Higher -- Again

With payrolls in jeopardy, a desperate Postal Service seeks more revenue.

Revamped Scoring Will Help
Some Small Businesses Get Loans

The new credit score model will give banks more confidence to lend.

8 Robots That Will Change Your Life

Scores of new robots are in the works. Many of them hold great promise of improving productivity in offices, in factories and on farms. Here are eight examples already on the market or headed to commercial production in the next few years.