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America's Recovery Capital (ARC) program, a government-guaranteed micro-lending initiative that kicked off last summer as an economic recovery measure to help small businesses saddled with burdensome debt service, may run out of money a month before it's scheduled to end.

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Many successful businesses tend to get some great stories about them aired on TV or written up in a magazine or newspaper. That sort of third-party validation can then be reproduced again and again -- for years to come -- to help sell other people on the value of your business. But that same publicity can also break a business.

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One con artist made off with nearly $300,000 in just one job, and nobody suspected a thing until it was too late. Here's how you can spot this clever scam a mile away.

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This week, a new initiative is launching to help startups who want to raise $500,000 to $1 million in seed money without spending huge amounts of time and money. Series Seed Documents provides simple templates in place of complicated and costly legal documents, so getting your ideas financed will be less painful.

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A couple of bills working their way through Congress could help small businesses with important expenses by making more of them tax-deductible.

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Incriminating text messages are all the rage right now. Whenever someone wants to back up an accusation, he pulls out a cell phone and shows the text messages to prove it. Text messages backfired against Tiger Woods, and they can backfire for businesses as well.

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Hordes of accessory makers are designing, manufacturing, and bringing to market a new wave of add-ons and protective gear in time for the official availability of the iPad in April.

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Technology changes so rapidly that hardware such as computers and cell phones is as good as garbage almost as soon as it leaves store shelves. One innovative startup is providing a valuable recycling solution for mobile phone users.

SaladWorks

Saladworks isn't a household name yet, but John Scardapane, 46, is working on it. So how did a guy become a success by selling the first course of a meal and throwing out the rest?