Small Business Insider

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating – If you’re a small business owner, then you want to know how consumers are feeling. According to the latest measure of The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, consumers have been growing a bit more leery over the last couple of months. In fact, consumer fears over a […]

SMALL BUSINESS INSIDER by Raymond J. Keating – Too many people in government fail to grasp that free enterprise is just as much about cooperation as it is about competition. Indeed, one could say that cooperation is part of the competitive process itself. With exceptions here and there (such as when a large, established business […]

by Raymond J. Keating – Government regulators “throwing the dice” on an ideological crusade? What could possibly go wrong? That’s what the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) attack on Amazon amounts to in the end. And its previous (and likely continuous) attacks on U.S. technology leaders and big companies that plan to merge with, or acquire, […]

By Barbara Weltman – Today, anyone (including me) can figure out how to use ChatGPT (Open AI) to create content. It can produce blogs, marketing materials, video scripts, and more. This generative AI tool is free and can be helpful. But there are some serious issues to note. Here’s my take on how I’ve been […]

SMALL BUSINESS INSIDER Consumer expectations continue to develop, particularly in terms of more immersive, smooth and engaging digital experiences. These changes are driven and answered by technological advancements, including in such areas as artificial intelligence and the metaverse. A new analysis by McKinsey and Company points to the power of such developments for retail and […]

SMALL BUSINESS INSIDER by Raymond J. Keating – According to its economically baseless assumption that “big” equates with “bad” when it comes to business, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) apparently seems bent on breaking up the online retailer Amazon. In her effort to distort economic reality to fit her assumptions, FTC Chair Lina Khan pushes […]

by Raymond J. Keating – If serious about improving the policy environment for entrepreneurship and small business growth, then this must include improving the policy environment for investment. After all, in order to startup, innovate and grow a business, then investors are needed. For example, venture capital ranks as an essential form of investment for […]

by Raymond J. Keating – The current Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) most assuredly don’t like mergers and acquisitions (M&A). That, of course, lines up with their regulatory crusade against “big business” in general. This political bias, unshackled from any kind of sound economics, has repeatedly been made clear via assorted […]

by Raymond J. Keating –  Like many other people, small business owners are trying to figure out what the metaverse is; what it might look like down the road; and therefore, how will it impact their businesses. Bain and Company just released a report – titled “Taking the Hyperbole Out of the Metaverse” – that […]

by Barbara Weltman – If you asked most small business owners, they’d say that paperwork and red tape are the hallmarks of government and the bane of their existence. Well, it’s about to get worse.  Starting January 1, 2024, a new reporting rule takes effect. What the rule is all about and what you need to do: Background Back […]