New York SBDC Research Network

Consider using the Domain Age Tool to research that factor when investigating a website. The tool's quite simple to use. Just plug in a URL (or several at a time), click the "submit" button, and you should get back a page showing the site's exact age in months and years. sba.gov 13 years 7 months old nyssbdc.org 11 years 2 months old whitehouse.gov 14 years 1 months old microsoft.com 14 years 3 months old mcdonalds.com 14 years 2 months old pg.com (Proctor and Gamble) 14 years 3 months old timesunion.com 12 years 1 months old nytimes.com 14 years 2 months old Yet there are some, such as ibm.com, walmart.com, and state.ny.us that it is Unable to Determine.

For New York State residents, NOVELny provides access to two very useful business databases: Business and Company Resources Center and InfoTrac Custom Newspapers . Access is obtained by logging in with your NYS Driver License or NYS DMV Non-Driver Photo ID Card. Business and Company Resources Center (BCRC) contains company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies and periodicals. Thomson Financials' Investext Plus database is fully integrated in this database, which contains detailed data and analysis on publicly traded companies in a wide variety of industries. The information is contained in reports generated by analysts at leading research organizations worldwide. Information provided may include trends, sales and earnings forecasts, market share projects, and research and development expenditures. The database also contains all content found in Business and Company Index. InfoTrac Custom Newspapers offers the full-text of sev...

How did it come to pass that in 2008 our nation was forced to choose between two stark and painful alternatives — either risk the collapse of our financial system and economy, or commit trillions of taxpayer dollars to rescue major corporations and our financial markets, as millions of Americans still lost their jobs, their savings, and their homes? The Commission concluded that this crisis was avoidable—the result of human actions, inactions, and misjudgments. Warnings were ignored. “The greatest tragedy would be to accept the refrain that no one could have seen this coming and thus nothing could have been done. If we accept this notion, it will happen again.” Get the Report

Check out Fitch's latest Credit Outlook , published last week.

The General Services Administration plans to open its Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System database to the general public in April. The FAPIIS database tracks contractor performance for the government, and until now, available only to a select group of government officials, legislators and contractors. Under a provision in the wartime supplemental appropriations bill, GSA is required to disclose all information contained in the database except previous performance evaluations. More HERE .

By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY You can say one thing with certainty about new product trends for 2011: They're pretty wacky. That's a good thing. Even then, chief among 2011's consumer-packed good trends are these: Keep it simple. And better for me. And cheap. Read HERE .

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax” --- Albert Einstein With the holidays behind us, people are now turning their attention to the annual challenge of preparing their tax returns. Although the SBDC isn’t in the business of giving tax advice, it is important for all of us to be knowledgeable about the current tax issues, regulations and schedules that affect small business. The New York State Small Business Development Center has collaborated with the National Association for the Self-Employed to develop and present a series of three webinars addressing tax topics of interest for small business owners. Although there are no prerequisites to attend any of the programs, you are encouraged to register for all three webinars. “Top 5 Tax Questions for the Self-Employed” Presented by: Keith Hall, National Tax Advisor for the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) What’s a person new to self-employment to do? This tax webinar covers these key topics: • W...