Latest news with #OfficeofAdvocacy
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beloved Bar & Grill Suddenly Closes After 33 Years of Service in Michigan
Local restaurant closures have sadly become a very common thing, but it shouldn't be a surprise, because keeping a local business of any kind going can be challenging. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, as of 2023, there were more than 33 million small businesses in the United States. That's a lot of competition. They add that small businesses employ 61.7 million Americans, totaling 46.4 percent of private sector employees. From 1995 to 2021, small businesses resulted in 17.3 million net new jobs and accounted for 62.7 percent of net jobs created since 1995, the Office of Advocacy adds, so they're a big part of the American economy. That's one reason why supporting small businesses with events such as Small Business Saturday helps the community: Those businesses employ a lot of people. Now, one longtime bar and grill has closed its doors after more than three decades of service. Red Hawk Bar and Grill was serving its local community since 1992 up until the restaurant announced that it would be closing its doors. The restaurant was located in Ann Arbor, MI, which is about 45 miles from Detroit. The restaurant shared the sad news in a post on social media. "After much consideration, we have come to the difficult decision to close our doors after 33 years of business," the post stated. They added that the reason they're closing is due to the pandemic and the rising cost of food making it "increasingly difficult" to keep operating. "The past few years have tested us in all the ways we never anticipated," the posted added, "and while we've fought to overcome these challenges, the financial strain has become insurmountable." The post also thanked the staff and gave "gratitude" to those who have come to the bar and shared some food or beverages to support the establishment. "Whether you've dined with us once or returned often, your patronage has meant the world to use. We will cherish the memories we've created together and are forever grateful for your loyalty," the post stated. "Thank you for being part of our journey."Beloved Bar & Grill Suddenly Closes After 33 Years of Service in Michigan first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 12, 2025
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
National Small Business Week highlights economic impact of smaller organizations
WEST VIRGINIA (WVNS) – This week is recognized National Small Business Week and local organizations are taking time to recognize entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout their businesses play a major role in our national economy, with nearly 35 million small businesses making up for 99.9% of all businesses throughout the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. Well known for their hospitality, West Virginians have typically been quick to offer up support for mom-and-pop shops, local startups, and other smaller organizations that power the community, as well as the country.'Small businesses are the backbone of not just Greenbrier County, West Virginia, but also the nation,' said Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Erin Hurst of the impact of small business. Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant, Tim Naylor was likewise adamant that small businesses fill one of the most vital economic roles in the nation. 'Small businesses are the ones who are your friends; your neighbors; your family,' Naylor told 59News. 'I think it's really important that we push small businesses and do what we can to help them out.' National Small Business week will be observed through Saturday, May 10, offering recognition to some of the hardest working employees and employers across the nation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mark Cuban's Best Advice for Small Business Owners in 2025
The U.S. is built on small businesses. According to the Office of Advocacy, there are a little over 33 million small businesses in the country — that's nearly all of them. But while starting a small business is relatively easy, making a successful one is another story. So, how do you ensure your small business succeeds in 2025 and beyond? Below is billionaire investor Mark Cuban's advice to small business owners. Also Cuban said this is the best time to start a business. Discover Next: Check Out: One of the most important things to succeeding as a small business owner is knowing when to listen to other people — and when to tune them out. 'When you're just getting started in a small business, it's easy to drown an opportunity if you let yourself get pulled by different ideas,' Cuban told CNBC Make It. 'People tell you, 'Oh I love your product, but I would buy more if you only did this [or] if you change just one little thing.' You have to sell to them versus them selling to you.' You can still listen to sound advice. But if you adjust your business plan every time you receive criticism, chances are you'll lose sight of your original goal and fail. Trending Now: Not every business idea is the best one. Even if you love it, your strategy could be keeping you from making it lucrative. If you want to succeed in the long haul, know when to make a change. This starts with paying attention to the money. 'When you see there's no money coming in, that's a sign to change strategies, to lean toward or away from that customer feedback,' Cuban said. Perhaps unsurprisingly, but running a successful business is challenging. Roughly 20% of small businesses don't make it past their first year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The success rate goes down from there with only about 30% of small businesses making it to year 10. As you experience those little — and big — bumps along the way, maintaining confidence is key to success. But Cuban isn't the only successful individual who thinks so. Many others say the same. In the book, 'Staff Matters: People-Focus Solutions for the Ultimate New Workplace,' Bonnie Low-Kramen — successful author and business owner — discussed this idea as well. 'Confidence is serious business and the single most important differentiator in the workplace,' Low-Kramen wrote. 'It will be the person with high confidence and lower abilities who will get the job over the person with low confidence and higher abilities.' There are countless business ideas out there. To make yours successful, you need to find what you're good at and pursue that. 'Find the things that you can enjoy, be curious. You don't have to have all the answers but just be curious because you don't have to have the answers,' said Cuban in a YouTube video. 'I'm a hardcore believer that everybody has something that they're really, really, really good at. The hard part is just finding what that is.' Once you've found what that thing is, pursue it. You can still listen to people (to some extent) and you can make changes along the way if something isn't working, but be confident. Be persistent. Choose that thing you enjoy and are good at it. Your odds of success will increase exponentially. More From GOBankingRates 4 Things To Watch for as Elon Musk Takes on Social Security 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 Warren Buffett: 10 Things Poor People Waste Money On 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money This article originally appeared on Mark Cuban's Best Advice for Small Business Owners in 2025
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dueling efforts to expand E-Verify to all employers emerge ahead of legislative session
Florida Capitol in Tallahassee. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Two bills filed for the impending legislative session would require all employers to verify that their new hires can legally work in the country. Employers hiring immigrants unauthorized to work could face tens of thousands in fines and lose their business licenses under Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo's bill, SB 782, filed last week. Another bill, filed Monday by Pinellas County Rep. Berny Jacques, HB 955, also would require all companies to use the E-Verify system to confirm new employees' eligibility to work in the country but doesn't carry penalties like Pizzo's proposal does. 'We want to close all sorts of loopholes in our employment system to make sure that jobs are going to those who are legally authorized to work in our state and not those who are here illegally,' Jacques said in a phone interview with Florida Phoenix. The bills haven't been assigned to any committees yet and they don't have companions ahead of the March 4 start of the legislative session. However, influential Republican Sens. Jennifer Bradley and Joe Gruters signed on as co-sponsors of Pizzo's proposal. Jacques said he didn't want to replicate anyone else's bill and that's why he didn't file a companion to Pizzo's Senate proposal. Florida requires public agencies, their contractors, and their subcontractors to use E-Verify, but only private companies with more than 25 employees have to use the system. More than 441,000 Florida companies have fewer than 20 employees, according to a 2023 report from the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. DeSantis signs immigration bills less than an hour after lawmakers passed them Pizzo, a possible gubernatorial candidate, has been one of the loudest critics of the Republicans touting the state as a leader in immigration enforcement. One of the contradictions Pizzo repeatedly has pointed out is that large companies employing immigrants lacking work permits remain largely unscathed. Jacques' bill drew a stamp of approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis on X. However, Pizzo slammed it, pointing out its lack of penalties for employers. 'You're kidding yourself (and public) saying you'll 'hold businesses accountable,' but leave out actual accountability,' Pizzo wrote. Jacques said he hopes Pizzo didn't file the bill to troll DeSantis as a political stunt. 'What I will say is, if this bill looks different, it will not go in the weak direction. It will only go in the strong direction, but we will take all ideas that can make the bill even stronger,' Jacques said. 'But rest assured, we're very serious, at least I am, on making sure that we crack down on illegal hiring.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Under Pizzo's bill, companies would lose their licenses for a year and face a fine of up to $10,000 for the first violation. State law ostensibly already punishes E-Verify violations; the Florida Department of Commerce can fine employers $1,000 per day if they get caught not using E-Verify three times within two years. Companies hiring people unauthorized to work get placed on probation for a year and they have to report to the department quarterly. But the DeSantis administration threatened the first such sanctions only during his recent fight with legislative Republicans over how best to help the Trump administration carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, sending warning letters to 40 employers, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The Florida Immigrant Coalition opposes expanding E-Verify, said Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst for the group, in a phone interview with Phoenix last week. Pizzo's bill shows how the Legislature thus far has prioritized targeting workers rather than employers and repealing in-state tuition waivers for students lacking legal status, Kennedy said. 'There's a lot of compassion for these multimillion-dollar companies, but there's not a lot of compassion for students that benefit from in-state tuition, for example, that have grown up in Florida and want to finish their university degrees,' he said. 'And there's not a lot of compassion for workers that are putting food on our table or building our homes.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
