Small Business Round-up – Week of October 14th

This week’s small business news review found a(nother) lawsuit for AIG, a funny story about impressions, a potential move toward more small-biz-friendly financial services, a nice story supported by Groupon, and a scam all small biz owners should be aware of.

• Financial Institutions Lacking in the Latest Technology
  Connecting with a financial institution that can provide you with the latest technology is not always easy. A recent Intuit survey of banks and credit unions indicated that only 25% offer digital invoice management capability for small biz owners. Some of the larger credit unions are getting on board. Will others follow?
• AIG vs. Small Biz
  Small business owners from coast to coast are suing insurer AIG for falsely reporting workers’ compensation premiums they have collected. The practice is alleged to have started back in the 1970s. But AIG says it has already paid out.          
• Groupon to the Rescue
  Giant coupon site Groupon worked with one South Carolina woman to make her dream a reality. Before she reached a deal with the company, the revenues from her unusual but intriguing group painting shop barely covered supplies.
• The Underpants Logo
  A database management company in Philadelphia found out in a funny way how its logo is perceived by markets in two different countries. The “brief” case study is a lesson in making an impression.
• Businesses Beware
  The Better Business Bureau uncovered an online scam targeting small biz owners. If you have been invoiced without authorization for a Yellow Pages digital listing, you’ll want to check out this story.