Small Business

Small businesses with primarily 1-10 employees, often referred to as micro businesses, saw a month-over-month increase in hiring (0.1 percent) for the first time in 2014, according to the August 2014 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard. SurePayroll Inc., is a provider of online payroll services to small businesses.

ZenPayroll, the maker of cloud-based payroll management systems, has announced partnerships with over a dozen SMB-focused technology companies. Through the partnerships, users will have integration options that will allow them to connect critical back office tools for small businesses, from payroll to benefits to human resources. ZenPayroll has already had partnerships with small business leaders like Intuit, Xero and FreshBooks.

Strong small business employment growth propelled the Mountain region into the lead among regions.

Recent legislation in thirteen states to raise the minimum wage, various increases in some cities across the country, and news that an executive order may soon mandate an increase on federal contracts, means small business owners will face yet another challenge to build, sustain and grow their business in a difficult economic environment.

According to a new study just issued by the firm, the total economic benefits of the nation's increased oil and gas exploration and development activity translates into almost $1.2 trillion in gross product each year, including multiplier effects, and over 9.3 million permanent jobs.

Unhappy with the choices her insurance broker was offering, Denver publishing company owner Rebecca Askew went to Colorado's small business health insurance exchange last fall. She found exactly what she'd been hoping for: affordable insurance options tailored to the diverse needs of her 12 employees.

The bipartisan-approved program, adopted in October 2011, was a way to help small businesses stymied by the credit gap that dragged on after the 2008 recession, when banks were not lending.

Business continues to slump for Las Vegas homebuilders. Local developers sold 499 new homes last month, down 23 percent from July 2013, according to a report out today from Las Vegas-based Home Builders Research.