Small businesses are the key to Maine’s well-being. They compose a significant share of the state’s economic production and hiring. According to the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, Maine’s businesses have shown signs of stability and improvement. In 2008, small businesses totaled 147,484. Of those, 33,926 were employers, and they accounted for 59.7% of […]
Maine ‘crowd investing’ bill becomes law
The measure is designed to help Maine start-ups raise funds from small investors. J. Craig Anderson at the Portland Press Herald reports that a measure allowing Maine businesses to raise up to $1 million through “crowd investing” became law Monday. The bill, L.D. 1512, “An Act To Increase Funding for Start-ups,” was approved overwhelmingly in […]
Failure to Pass Franchise Protections 20 Years Ago Cost Maine More Franchised Units
In 1994, Legislative document 1916, or as some people remember it — The Franchise Practices Act, was shot down by Governor John R. McKernan, Jr. even after it passed both the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate. Leonard Kovit, owner of 5 Meineke’s in Maine and New Hampshire in 1994, remembers the bill […]
First Annual Maine Franchise Owners Franchise Business Day and Legislators Meet & Greet set for January 29th
The Maine franchise owner community is invited to attend the First Annual Maine Franchise Owners Franchise Business Day and Legislators Forum on January 29, 2014. The event will begin at 1 p.m with the “Franchise Business Day” forum to share timely information, best practices and resources for Maine franchise owners. A Franchise Owner and Legislators […]
U.S. Government Reopens, Franchise Owners are Relieved
BlueMauMau – WASHINGTON—After sixteen days of a shutdown, the House of Representatives voted to approve a Senate deal to end the U.S. federal shutdown and to extend the debt ceiling. The budget compromise won 285-144, a larger margin than anticipated. The final act by the House funds the government until January and allows the Treasury […]
Franchise Owners Add 15,040 Jobs In September
ROSELAND, N.J. – October 16, 2013 – U.S. private-sector franchise jobs increased by 15,040 during the month of September 2013, according to the ADP National Franchise Report. The report is produced by ADP®, a leading global provider of Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics, Inc. and is published by the ADP […]
Franchisees Suffer as Shutdown Hurts Sales, Expansion Plans
Excerpts below are from an article written by Kate Taylor at Entrepreneur.com As the government shutdown drags on, some franchise owners have struggled with sales while others have been forced to put their expansion plans on ice. Last Thursday, Ron Putman was ready to serve 35,000 estimated attendees at the Miramar Air Show in San Diego. […]
Forbes Ranks Maine Last for Business Climate
Forbes magazine released its “Best States for Business” list on Friday. Forbes cited Maine’s high corporate tax burden and poor job and economic growth forecast. Maine ranks last in Forbes’ Best States for Business for a fourth straight year. Much of the blame can be placed on the state’s high corporate tax burden and lousy […]