From sandwich makers to sporting-goods sellers, business sectors throughout the economy are slumping, according to Yelp data. The newly launched Yelp Economic Average charts 30 representative categories of businesses, combining consumer demand on Yelp with openings and closings of businesses. (Yelp Blog)

 

 

Small business owners lose 24 working days a year due to work worries — and it’s costing them thousands, according to new research.A new study into the lives of 1,000 American small business owners found the average owner loses 44 minutes of productive work time every day due to worries about their business performance, security and other areas. (New York Post)

 

 

SMBs’ growing needs present a huge opportunity for POS terminal providers, software providers, and resellers. Until now, constraints such as time and budget have made it difficult for SMBs to implement value-added services that meet their unique needs. But app marketplaces enable providers to cater to SMBs with specialized solutions.  (Business Insider)

 

 

The federal government shutdown may be over — at least temporarily — and some government employees may get back pay—but no one is reimbursing millions of small businesses hit hard by the shutdown. What can small businesses do to recover from this shutdown and prepare for the next time a president or Congress decides to shut down the government? (USA Today)

 

 

According to a new survey, a majority of small business owners believe the U.S. economy is headed for a recession. Of the 120 businesses surveyed, 70.3% believe the country is headed for a recession, and 48% think a recession will hit within six months to one year. (Nav.com)

 

 

Before small business owners pick a marketing channel or channels, they need to answer some key questions for themselves, says Ramon Ray, a small business consultant. Here are some tips from small business owners about selecting a marketing method. (Associated Press)

 

 

Amazon’s responding to a wake-up call: The retail company makes more money letting other people sell to customers on its marketplace than it does selling to customers itself. The company has been opening up more e-commerce features and capabilities to third-party sellers that were once reserved for wholesale vendors, and shifting resources to be more hands-on with third-party sellers. (Digiday)

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