Forbes.com: Working long hours as an office administrator, with a three-hour commute and a boss with a penchant for throwing things, Jane Croft figured there had to be more to life. One day last year she found it in a few tiny, oinking piglets that promised not to grow any bigger than a cocker spaniel.... More

Richmond Times Dispatch: Late last year, Alisha Thompson was at a crossroad. The cookie shop she’d been running for five years was changing, and she knew it would be tough — if not impossible — to keep going. Thompson could continue down the path and renew her expiring franchise agreement... More

The News-Press: Tricia Tierney is finding that doggie No. 1 and No. 2 can pay big dividends. She is the owner of the Rascal Dog Litter Box Company and the creator of the three types of canine commodes that the business sells. Roughly 1,200 have been sold since March 1 when the litter boxes hit the market,... More

Green Bay Press Gazette: The Green Bay Press-Gazette talks with people from a variety of business disciplines each week in its Saturday conversation feature. This week, Karmen Smith, owner of 11 Anytime Fitness locations in Northeastern Wisconsin, talks about striking out on her own and recently being... More

Crain’s Chicago Business: Barbara Turf’s Chicago roots run as deep as Crate & Barrel’s, but she’s taking the 47-year-old housewares chain far from home. A former schoolteacher who joined Crate & Barrel 40 years ago as a part-time worker in its original store on Wells... More

Daytona Beach News-Journal: Four years after Randy Harrell retired as a distributor for a local manufacturer, he is going back to work, this time for himself. However, he will be sharing the role of “boss” with his wife Kristy Harrell. The Port Orange couple are slated to become the owners... More

Mirror: Observer: Tell us about your business, including the types of service and/or products you feature. We offer a variety of unique fitness regimens: Exclusive full pole dancing courses – Beginner’s Basic 1 and 2, Intermediate and Advanced – designed for all sizes, shapes and abilities... More

USA Today: When Amy Nichols worked as a sales representative for Verizon, she often found herself hanging around pet stores on weekends, gazing longingly at the puppies. A longtime pet lover, she yearned to start a business that involved dogs but wasn’t interested in selling them. She didn’t... More

Vancouver Sun: What are the most important things to consider when starting a small business? Research and location. That’s the word from Nicole Allen, co-owner of Candy Aisle in Richmond’s Steveston area, which has seen sales rise quickly since the shop opened in July. “You have to do your market... More

Harrow Observer: Mum-of-two Julia Levene is through to the national finals of a business competition thanks to her success in running football classes for children. Mrs Levene runs Little Kickers, which provides children’s football classes to under fives at Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch... More

Business Day: Women entrepreneurs were playing an important role in the franchising business and headed more than 20% of all franchised business operations in SA, Marius Rautenbach, head of franchising at Standard Bank, said this week. South African women found the prospects of franchising appealing... More

Columbia Daily Tribune: The news these days is chock-full of big businesses pushing little businesses around. One need only scan the newspaper to read about General Motors and Chrysler telling family-owned dealerships: “Sell your remaining cars, take down your signs and get lost.” Loyalty means... More