New York SBDC Research Network

If you are a consultant or freelancer you’ll be familiar with this often asked, yet perplexing question: Do I need to incorporate? Legally, the answer is no. The truth is over 70 percent of U.S. businesses are owned by sole proprietors, and operate successfully without incorporating. So, if you can legally operate and be successful without it, why would you want to incorporate your business? READ MORE .

With the Census Bureau's Legacy American FactFinder ending by the end of 2011, you may find this how-to guide from Michigan’s Dept of Technology for AFF2 helpful.

Explore economic activity in your own community - and across the country. YourEconomy.org is a business census containing more than 24 million active establishments (over 41 million total) providing detailed information about the performance of businesses from a local to a national perspective.

Previous Advocacy-funded studies of small business patenting activity established the existence of a cohort of independent, for-profit innovative small firms with 15 or more patents over a five-year period. The studies also showed that innovative small firms had a higher percentage of emerging technology patents in their portfolios than their larger counterparts. A recent focus on “green” jobs, businesses, and technology led to this study of a subset of these innovative patent holders [PDF] . This project was designed to highlight differences in the patent activity of small and large firms in green technologies and industries. Small innovative firms in this study are even more productive, measured in terms of patents per employee, than was shown in the previous studies. The current study finds that small innovative firms are 16 times more productive than large innovative firms in terms of patents per employee. Small firms are more likely than larger firms to have green technology as

by Isabella Woods Employment levels have increased slightly according to Bureau of Labor Statistics released last month. The month of September saw an increase of 103,000 in the number of people employed, slightly higher than the monthly average for April-September which stands at 72,000. However, the increase should not be seen to hide the more complex employment picture. Nearly half of the 103,000 increase can be accounted for by 45,000 telecommunications workers returning to their posts after a strike took them off the employment total for August. The total unemployment figure is largely unchanged by the increase in employment, standing at 14 million. The overall unemployment rate is 9.1%. Since April, the unemployment rate has remained stable, varying only between 9.0% and 9.2%. Beneath the headline figures, we can see a difference in the fortunes of different industries. Reflecting tightened budgets, there was a fall in the number of government jobs of 34,000. Retail and ma

Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for Disabled Veterans Expands to Eighth School WASHINGTON – With thousands of service men and women returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Small Business Administration is welcoming them home with programs and initiatives to help them start, grow and expand their businesses. “Around Veterans Day, our thoughts turn to the men and women who are serving or have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to all who have made sacrifices and served our country in the armed forces,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. “When you consider the leadership and management skills our veterans develop while on active and reserve duty, it’s no wonder we see so many of them choose a path as entrepreneurs and small business owners.” SBA provides veterans access to much needed business counseling and training, capital and business development opportunities through government contracts. Those products and programs include: Entrepreneurial Development SB

The idea behind surety bonding is simple and direct. One person, or entity, guarantees to another that a third person will perform a contract according to its terms. Small business contractors and service companies that want to become more competitive and bid on projects requiring surety bonds, can look to SBA for the help they need to step up to that next level of business success. Read more .

The federal government spends more than $500 billion a year on contracts, making it the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. Small businesses throughout the country can and should take advantage of contracting opportunities, which can be a crucial source of revenue to help them grow, innovate and create jobs. Read more .

You may think that a board of directors is reserved for large corporations with shareholder investments to oversee and strategic decisions to be made. Some business structures may require you to have a board, but there are several other reasons why small businesses might consider forming a board. Read more .

The U.S. Small Business Administration is using November to celebrate entrepreneurship in a number of ways. It launched the Student Startup Plan to help more college graduates learn how to lower their loan payments in order to get the “breathing room” they need to start a business. It is hosting a Young Entrepreneurs Series (YES) to help more young people come together, exchange ideas, and get on a path toward building a viable business. It is kicking off the Apps for Entrepreneurs Challenge , which runs through Nov. 20. It has $20,000 in prizes for the best mobile apps that help America’s entrepreneurs tap into federal programs to help them grow a business and create jobs. More info .

Cubicle Nation by Carmen Sognonvi Do you fantasize daily about quitting your job? ... As you sit in your cubicle, it may seem as if the hardest part of transitioning from side hustler to full-time business owner is making your escape. But I’m here to tell you that life after the cubicle isn’t all unicorns and rainbows either. It’s messy. It’s emotional. And that’s okay, because you’ll come out of it a stronger person and a better entrepreneur. More HERE . Carmen Sognonvi regularly blogs HERE .

When starting a new business, you probably want to check service or trademarks, which often is a way that organizations protect their brand, at the USPTO site . Here's a link to a directory of all 50 states' Secretary of State sites , where one incorporates.

U.S. Census Bureau annual employment size of firm data (partially funded by the SBA Office of Advocacy) on firm births, deaths and job creation has been updated for 2008. Nonemployer data for 2009 was also updated and saw a decline from 2008 levels. See HERE for data . Should you need further information, please feel free to contact the Office of Advocacy at (202) 205-6533 or advocacy@sba.gov.

"Trying to unlock Twitter's business potential? Maintaining an effective Twitter presence can be a powerful part of your social media marketing strategy," and HubSpot is offering "the know-how to effectively take advantage of it." "Learn how to leverage Twitter's 360 million users in [their] complimentary guide, Introduction to Twitter for Business , which covers everything from getting started with tweeting to generating leads and sales."

The New York State Task Force on Regulation of Tax Return Preparers, drawn from a diverse group of tax professionals, business, government and academic leaders, has issued its report. The report , required by legislation, recommends a set of minimum qualifications and a comprehensive set of standards for all tax return preparers.