AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Small Business http://smallbusiness.aol.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/My First Million: A.J. Khubani, TeleBrandshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/26/my-first-million-a-j-khubani-telebrands/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/26/my-first-million-a-j-khubani-telebrands/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/26/my-first-million-a-j-khubani-telebrands/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

How a part-time pizza-delivery guy took $7,000 and turned it into a $1 billion "As Seen on TV" infomercial empire.

 

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]]>As Seen on TVBilly MaysinfomercialsinventionsMy First Millionselling an inventionstarting a businessTelebrandsTelebrands founderAlicia Ciccone2011-07-26T18:00:00+00:00Groupon Fail? Site's First Big-Ticket Promotion Attracts Only Four Buyershttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/18/groupon-fail-sites-first-big-ticket-promotion-attracts-only-fo/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/18/groupon-fail-sites-first-big-ticket-promotion-attracts-only-fo/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/18/groupon-fail-sites-first-big-ticket-promotion-attracts-only-fo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In its first push into big retail, Groupon only sold four $199 vouchers for $500 toward the purchase of a car at a Michigan dealership.

 

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]]>Google auto dealGoogle car dealLaFontaine Buick-GMC-CadillacNewsAlicia Ciccone2011-07-18T18:30:00+00:00Number of Small Businesses Sold Increases, Sales Price Decreaseshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/15/number-of-small-businesses-sold-increases-sales-price-decreases/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/15/number-of-small-businesses-sold-increases-sales-price-decreases/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/15/number-of-small-businesses-sold-increases-sales-price-decreases/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While the number of small businesses increased 8 percent, the sales price decreased to an average of $150,000.

 

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]]>BizBuySell.comNewsselling a businesssmall business selling priceJanean Chun2011-07-15T18:30:00+00:00Chris 'Drama' Pfaff: Taking a 'Young & Reckless' Approach to Businesshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/14/chris-drama-pfaff-taking-a-young-and-reckless-approach-to-bus/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/14/chris-drama-pfaff-taking-a-young-and-reckless-approach-to-bus/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/14/chris-drama-pfaff-taking-a-young-and-reckless-approach-to-bus/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

A lucky break and a famous cousin helped make Chris "Drama" Pfaff a reality TV star. A tireless work ethic and knack for marketing made him a successful CEO. All before his 25th birthday.

 

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]]>Chris Drama PfaffChris PfaffEntrepreneur SpotlightFantasy FactoryRob and BigRob DyrdekRob Dyrdeks Fantasy FactoryYoung and RecklessRod Kurtz2011-07-14T18:30:00+00:00Netflix Raises Prices by 60 Percent, Sparks Social Media Outragehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/13/netflix-raises-prices-by-60-percent-sparks-social-media-outrage/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/13/netflix-raises-prices-by-60-percent-sparks-social-media-outrage/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/13/netflix-raises-prices-by-60-percent-sparks-social-media-outrage/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Customers take to Twitter and Facebook to vent their anger, while tech bloggers and competitors react to Netflix's controversial move.

 

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]]>Netflix backlashNetflix pricing changeNetflix raising pricesNetflix reactionNewsJanean Chun2011-07-13T09:30:00+00:00Is 7-Eleven's Free Slurpee Day Good for Business?http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/11/is-7-elevens-free-slurpee-day-good-for-business/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/11/is-7-elevens-free-slurpee-day-good-for-business/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/07/11/is-7-elevens-free-slurpee-day-good-for-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last year, 7-Eleven reported a 38 percent increase in Slurpee sales on Free Slurpee Day, but some franchisees don't see the sales jump.

 

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]]>7-Eleven7-Eleven franchisees7-Eleven SlurpeeFree Slurpee DayNewsAlicia Ciccone2011-07-11T14:30:00+00:00Can You Afford to Run a Cash-Only Business?http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/29/can-you-afford-to-run-a-cash-only-business/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/29/can-you-afford-to-run-a-cash-only-business/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/29/can-you-afford-to-run-a-cash-only-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

High credit-card fees and other hassles make it tempting to pocket all your company's money, but there are also a number of downsides to only accepting cash. A look at the pros and cons.

 

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]]>accepting credit cardsBusiness Trendscash businesscredit card feescredit cardsretailretailerssmall business credit cardsswipe feesJulia L. Rogers2011-06-29T12:30:00+00:00Managing Online Customer Feedback: 5 Things You Need to Knowhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/24/managing-online-customer-feedback-5-things-you-need-to-know/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/24/managing-online-customer-feedback-5-things-you-need-to-know/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/24/managing-online-customer-feedback-5-things-you-need-to-know/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Getting slammed on Twitter, Yelp or even your own website? How to use online customer feedback -- good or bad -- to help benefit your business.

 

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]]>5 Things You Need to Knowcustomer complaintscustomer reviewscustomer serviceFacebookonline feedbackonline reviewsTwitterYelpJulia L. Rogers2011-06-24T14:00:00+00:00Meet the World's Oldest Entrepreneur!http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/23/meet-the-worlds-oldest-entrepreneur/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/23/meet-the-worlds-oldest-entrepreneur/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/23/meet-the-worlds-oldest-entrepreneur/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Or so we think. At 96, Oxman's Surplus founder Jerome Oxman still clocks a full workday and even began an expansion of his business recently. "I just can't retire," he says. "I'd go crazy."

 

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]]>Entrepreneur Spotlightfamily businessJerome Oxmanmilitary surplussurplus storiesworlds oldest entrepreneurGeoff Williams2011-06-23T10:00:00+00:00How Will New Cigarette Warning Labels Affect Shop Owners?http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/22/how-will-new-cigarette-warning-labels-affect-shop-owners/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/22/how-will-new-cigarette-warning-labels-affect-shop-owners/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/22/how-will-new-cigarette-warning-labels-affect-shop-owners/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Despite the graphic new labels, local business owners don't think the FDA's attempts to deter cigarette smokers will hurt sales.

 

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]]>cigarette businesscigarette salesNewsAlicia Ciccone2011-06-22T18:30:00+00:00Are We Headed for a Double-Dip Recession?http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/22/are-we-headed-for-a-double-dip-recession/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/22/are-we-headed-for-a-double-dip-recession/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/22/are-we-headed-for-a-double-dip-recession/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Whether they choose to slap an official label on it or not, our usually bullish Board of Directors has some serious concerns about the economy. So is the worst really over?

 

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]]>BernankeBoard of DirectorsBob ParsonsBusch Frey Mott JankiewiczClint Greenleafdollardouble-dip recessioneconomic recoveryFedJennifer HillKen YanceyObamaPhil TownrecoveryRieva Lesonskysmall business recessionTate ChalkRod Kurtz2011-06-22T16:30:00+00:0027 Million and Counting: Kathy Braddock, Rutenberg Realtyhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/21/27-million-and-counting-kathy-braddock-rutenberg-realty/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/21/27-million-and-counting-kathy-braddock-rutenberg-realty/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/21/27-million-and-counting-kathy-braddock-rutenberg-realty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Meet Kathy Braddock, the co-founder of Rutenberg Realty, a New York-based residential real-estate brokerage.

 

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]]>27 Million and CountingbrokeragebrokersKathy BraddockNew York real estatereal estaterunning a businessstarting a businessBen Craw2011-06-21T16:00:00+00:00TailGate Beer's Wesley Keegan: Brewing Up Successhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/17/tailgate-beers-wesley-keegan-brewing-up-success/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/17/tailgate-beers-wesley-keegan-brewing-up-success/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/17/tailgate-beers-wesley-keegan-brewing-up-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wesley Keegan's father gave him the idea to start a brewery. His passing gave him the inspiration to make it succeed.

 

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]]>breweriescraft beerEntrepreneur Spotlightmicrobreweriesrunning a businessstarting a businessTailGate Beerunique business ideasPatrick Sauer2011-06-17T18:00:00+00:00Small-Business Optimism Falls for Third Consecutive Monthhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/14/small-business-optimism-falls-for-third-consecutive-month/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/14/small-business-optimism-falls-for-third-consecutive-month/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/14/small-business-optimism-falls-for-third-consecutive-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Why so down? One in four small businesses are worried about weak consumer spending, citing it as their top business problem.

 

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]]>National Federation of Independent BusinessNewsNFIB optimism indexsmall business economysmall business optimismJanean Chun2011-06-14T13:00:00+00:00Consumers Reveal Their Top Customer-Service Gripeshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/08/consumers-reveal-their-top-customer-service-gripes/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/08/consumers-reveal-their-top-customer-service-gripes/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/08/consumers-reveal-their-top-customer-service-gripes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A new survey reveals that 64 percent of shoppers have left a store in the past year due to poor customer service. What's the one factor that bugs them the most?

 

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]]>best and worst companies for customer serviceConsumer Reports surveycustomer service complaintsin-store customer serviceNewsphone customer serviceTamara Schweitzer Raben2011-06-08T14:00:00+00:00My First Million: Barbara Corcoran, The Corcoran Grouphttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/02/my-first-million-barbara-corcoran-the-corcoran-group/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/02/my-first-million-barbara-corcoran-the-corcoran-group/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/06/02/my-first-million-barbara-corcoran-the-corcoran-group/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

How a self-made salesperson took $1,000 and took on the titans of New York's legendary real-estate industry.

 

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]]>CorcoranCorcoran GroupCorcoran real estateDonald TrumpMy First MillionNew York real estatereal estateShark TalesShark Tankstarting a businessRod Kurtz and Ben Craw2011-06-02T17:00:00+00:00Getting Media Coverage: 5 Things You Need to Knowhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/31/getting-media-coverage-5-things-you-need-to-know/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/31/getting-media-coverage-5-things-you-need-to-know/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/31/getting-media-coverage-5-things-you-need-to-know/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A few media mentions can put you on the map and boost sales. How to craft a pitch, contact reporters and get coverage for your company.

 

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]]>5 Things You Need to Knowgetting media coveragemarketingmedia attentionPRPR strategypublic relationsJulia L. Rogers2011-05-31T17:30:00+00:00Survey Says: Gas Prices Hurting Sales, May Lead to Layoffshttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/16/survey-says-gas-prices-hurting-sales-may-lead-to-layoffs/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/16/survey-says-gas-prices-hurting-sales-may-lead-to-layoffs/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/16/survey-says-gas-prices-hurting-sales-may-lead-to-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Two-thirds of business owners say revenue is down as a result of high gas prices, according to a new survey.

 

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]]>Business Trendscommutingdaily deal e-mailsdaily deal sitesdaily dealsgasgas pricesgoing greengreengreen businessRieva Lesonskyrising gas pricesSurvey SaysRieva Lesonsky2011-05-16T16:00:00+00:00LA Lakers' Loss Costs Local Businesses Up to $70 Million in Revenuehttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/12/la-lakers-loss-costs-local-businesses-up-to-70-million-in-reve/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/12/la-lakers-loss-costs-local-businesses-up-to-70-million-in-reve/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/12/la-lakers-loss-costs-local-businesses-up-to-70-million-in-reve/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For many local restaurants, bars and merchandise shops, the Lakers' elimination is a budget breaker.

 

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]]>Lakers economic effectLakers local businessesLakers small business effectNewsJanean Chun2011-05-12T15:00:00+00:00Starting a Lemonade Stand: 5 Things You Need to Knowhttp://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/11/starting-a-lemonade-stand-5-things-you-need-to-know/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/11/starting-a-lemonade-stand-5-things-you-need-to-know/http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/05/11/starting-a-lemonade-stand-5-things-you-need-to-know/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs got their start selling lemonade. How to create the ultimate lemonade stand.

 

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]]>5 Things You Need to Knowkid businessLemonade Daylemonade standMichael HolthousePrepared 4 Lifesummer businessTamara Schweitzer Raben2011-05-11T12:30:00+00:00