Microbusiness Archives

Scholar Promotes â€˜Microfranchisesâ€™ In Emerging Economies

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that during his travels in Africa exploring the impact of microlending on business start-ups, Jason Fairbourne noticed something strange. When an entrepreneur became successful selling a particular product, say tomatoes, many others would mimic that person’s business. Soon the local market was flooded with tomatoes, and failed tomato vendors. Out […]

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Analyst Spins Yo-Yo Passion Into Million-Dollar-Plus Biz

Ideas

According to Entrepreneur magazine, it all began back in 2005, when Pat Cuartero–a high school 2A yoyo champ turned Merrill Lynch analyst–discovered a higher purpose: getting more people in New York City to play with yo-yos. He funded startup costs with about $8,000 of credit card debt, and in his first five months, he netted

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The Friendliest Young Woman In The Room

Ideas

According to a story in The Wall Street Journal, for women like Giovanna Coluccio who peddle novelty drinks in Manhattan bars like Turtle Bay, selling shots is a game and a science. Each interaction with a potential customer is an investment. Coluccio is one shot girl in a stable of 25, nearly all of whom

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Her Own Biz, At Just 11 Years Old

Ideas

Micro businesses are everywhere. They are run by people of all ages, educations, talents and passions. The New England Cable News Network highlights an amazing story in Massachusetts of a unique and successful micro business, but with an intriguing sole proprietor. McKenzie Plante, an 11-year old girl in the seaport town or Gloucester, Massachusetts, has

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Noodle ‘Coozle’ Keeps It Cool

Inventions

According to a story in The Friday Flyer, like many inventors, Brian Belden saw a need and created a solution to improve the lives of others. While floating in Canyon Lake on a foam noodle last year on Memorial Day, Brian observed his friends shifting their beverages from hand to hand while trying to keep

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UPDATE: Lemonade Entrepreneur

Ideas

Last Thursday, we first told you about 7-year-old entrepreneur Julie Murphy and how county health inspectors shut down her lemonade stand. After their public image soured, elected officials apologized for shutting down Julie’s lemonade stand because she didn’t possess the proper permit. According to The Oregonian, a local radio station and tire store set her

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Can Microloans Help American Small Bizs?

Ideas

Amanda Keppert is convinced that she would have lost her hot dog stand in San Jose, Calif., if she had not received a type of loan that is more common in the third world than in the United States. According to a story in The New York Times, last year, as fewer people ate out

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Homeless Kids Start Bike Delivery Biz

Ideas

According to San Diego.com, just a few years ago, Abraham, Laura and Ruth Sanchez were homeless. They lived at the Rescue Mission downtown with their mother and other brothers and sisters. Abraham, Laura and Ruth wound up at The Monarch School, the largest school for homeless children in the country. While they were there, they

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One Cool Inventor, One Cool Innovator

Featured, Inventions

IndyStar.com reports that Andrew Shelton was just 21 years old, a junior at Wabash College, when he had an idea for a new product: a backpack cooler that keeps drinks cold and easy to carry. He got the idea after lugging an oversized cooler to the Indianapolis 500 with a friend, with drinks spilling everywhere.

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Funding The Micro Entrepreneur

Ideas

When things get unstable in the workforce the unemployed tend to look towards self-employment as an alternative. However, the switch isn’t for the faint of heart. You have to feel a certain dedication to what you want to do before you can succeed with it. Alexia Parks for The Huffington Post recently touched on the

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