Bruce is a trained economist with extensive expertise in creating databases on companies, beginning with Dun & Bradstreet in the 1980s, and using the data to research business demographics, including startups, failures, growth and job creation. He has taught small business finance at Georgetown University and worked on proposed small business regulations concerning health care, OSHA and other labor-related issues.
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Now's the Time to Grow Your Business
By Bruce Phillips Thursday Jun 3, 2010It seems to me that the economy has hit a transition, a cusp, an inflection point. Call it what you will, but is the ”Great Recession” really over? Even if you don't think so, now may be the right time to grow your small business
Listen Up, Small Business Owner: It's Time to Grow or Die
By Bruce Phillips Tuesday Feb 2, 2010The recession appears to be over: two quarters of positive GDP growth, including 5.7% in last year's fourth quarter. So why aren’t small business owners feeling more optimistic, according to the widely-respected NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism? Because they know that in order to survive, they have to grow. Grow or die. And it has been very difficult to expand in an increasingly consolidated, credit-scarce and tax-burdened environment.
An Unusual Opportunity for Small Business
By Bruce Phillips Thursday May 27, 2010Here's one of the more bizarre (and promising) business ideas: start a marijuana dispensary. More jurisdictions are moving toward allowing the sale of cannabis for medicinal purposes in the decade since California legalized the drug. Most recently, the city council of the District of Columbia approved marijuana sales.
As Health Care Rules Kick in, Small Business Owners Express Doubts
By Bruce Phillips Wednesday May 12, 2010Two months after Congress enacted sweeping health care reform and most small business owners still can't figure out what it entails. The confusion is problematic because new rules affecting employers are starting to take effect now.
Should Interest Rates on Medical Debt Be Capped?
By Bruce Phillips Friday May 7, 2010Here's an interesting proposal: as part of the financial reform debate raging in Congress, one Democrat senator proposed a permanent cap on interest rates charged by national issuers of credit cards (currently only state-chartered lenders are subject to caps).
Health Overhaul May Not Slow Rise in Small Business Costs
By Bruce Phillips Tuesday May 4, 2010Beware, small business owner: Insurance companies are already devising ways to get around new federal rules aimed at keeping health care costs in check. Consider: Insurers are required to allocate 80% of the premiums collected to paying medical claims and improving patient care under terms of the new health care law passed in March.
Health Care Reform's Unintended Consequences
By Bruce Phillips Friday Apr 30, 2010Just about every new law has potential unintended consequences that lawmakers didn't foresee — and the month-old health care overhaul is no exception. In this case, local government programs in which community doctors and hospitals, acting out of a sense of civic duty, agree to treat low-income residents and their dependents for free may be at risk under the new law.
Salary Push by Doctors Speaks to Cost Challenges
By Bruce Phillips Wednesday Apr 28, 2010Last week a consortium of private and government doctors, medical schools and government officials declared that the only way to meet the needs of the 32 million uninsured individuals who will soon have medical coverage thanks to the health care overhaul is to vastly increase the number of primary care physicians.
Small Business Pessimism Defies Upbeat News
By Bruce Phillips Wednesday Apr 21, 2010The viability of small businesses around the country continues to be a serious threat to the economy, according to the latest record-low readings from the most respected measure of small business health, the National Federation of Independent Business’ Optimism index. The March results continue 18 months of consecutive, record-low readings of small business sentiment — and the reason's aren't entirely clear.
Why Airline Mergers Are Bad for Small Business
By Bruce Phillips Thursday Apr 15, 2010Do we really want only four major airlines in this country? I don't think so.
