2 Mondavis strive to give a landmark winery a bigger place on the map
Sales have been rising for labels produced by the family's Charles Krug operation, Napa Valley's oldest. A renovation is aimed at drawing more visitors.

latimes.com
May 5, 2008
The pilot program helps firms buy energy-efficient equipment. >>

IN BOX
Dear Karen: I need new marketing materials but can't spend a lot. Where do I look? >>

April 28, 2008
SMALL-BUSINESS MAKEOVER
Christine Brandt cranks out wedding invitations and stationery on a vintage Vandercook letterpress. It's a labor of love but also a venture she hopes to make profitable. >>

An art management consultant offers the printer a plan to increase marketing. >>

The nonprofit Center for Cultural Innovation offers a road map for artists running small businesses. >>

IN BOX
Dear Karen: How do I keep retail sales growing when consumers are cutting back? >>

April 21, 2008
Lights, Camera, InterAction turns firms' employees into film crews in team-building exercises. >>

IN BOX
Entrepreneurs should seek professional help to create detailed, useful succession plans. >>

Misclassifying employees, willful or not, could cost you. Business owners blame unclear definitions. >>

April 19, 2008
Steven Preston is mostly praised for the job he's done as head of the Small Business Administration. But one Democratic senator voices concern that he lacks experience in housing matters. >>

April 14, 2008
CalPERS may oversee retirement funds for workers without pensions or 401(k)s >>

March 6, 2008
SMALL-BUSINESS REPORT
The agency chooses 10 burdensome and costly laws that it will target for review and modification. >>

April 14, 2008
IN BOX
Consider attending angel investor networking events to get a sense of the range of opportunities available. >>

The federal agency's budget offers no funds for opening new centers that assist female entrepreneurs. >>

April 7, 2008
An ex-coroner's investigator performs private autopsies. His side businesses include prop rentals for TV and films. >>

An American consultant spends a frustrating year in Baghdad trying to set up a development center. >>

IN BOX
Headhunters can help bring in talent, for a price. >>

March 31, 2008
Raise your game a notch by being more efficient and marketing smarter. >>

IN BOX
Dear Karen: What is factoring? Can I use it in a small business? >>

Small business tools

Keep on top of the health of your business with free tools from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The financial literacy website offers brief articles, answers to frequently asked questions and calculators to help you learn vital information about your business, including your: >>

March 24, 2008
Boogaloos, a multifaceted business in Fullerton, has broken even only two months since it started. An expert suggests ways to help sales take off. >>

IN BOX
Dear Karen: I provide health and life insurance for my employees. Recently, an employee asked about long-term-care insurance. What is it? >>

Getting shipping firms to compete for your business is just one way to help cut costs. >>

March 20, 2008
The seagoing cargo firm has had an exclusive contract for 44 years. >>

IN BOX
Dear Karen: How many investors can a start-up firm have? I need $800,000. Could I get 1,334 investors to put in $600 each? >>

SMALL-BUSINESS REPORT
The SBA's Thomas Sullivan aims to make sure U.S. regulations treat entrepreneurs fairly. >>

March 13, 2008
Demand for Simon Wolf's designs has grown as the market for high-end watches thrives. >>

SMALL BUSINESS
The bad economy is old news to automobile dealer Nick DePasquale, president of Fairview Ford Sales Inc. in San Bernardino. >>

IN BOX
Dear Karen: Is there a better way to assess my employees' performance than the traditional annual review? >>

February 28, 2008
Yorba Linda residents Monica Hillman and Gabrielle DeSantis-Cummings want to expand their home-based firm smartly. >>

SMALL-BUSINESS MAKEOVER
Consultant Eric Flamholtz offers steps that tote-bag firm Gigi Hill can take to grow into a big enterprise. >>


RESOURCES
A link to help you find solutions to your legal issues by providing you with easy and comprehensive access to small business lawyers and legal information.
FindLaw for Small Biz
Your Money
Get more mileage out of being a frequent flier

With airlines' new restrictions, the deals don't go as far as they used to. Here's a route to racking up the most miles and using them smartly. Click here.


More stories on how to navigate your life

Business Special Reports

Made in L.A.
Los Angeles County is the nation's largest manufacturing center.


Livin' La Buena Vida
Latin America is attracting unprecedented numbers of American retirees in search of the good life.

Contact
Davan Maharaj, Business editor

Business Section
Los Angeles Times
202 West 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 237-7163
Fax: (213) 237-7837
E-mail: business@latimes.com

Click here for a list of Business reporters.



ADVERTISEMENT - Los Angeles Local Links
Local Ads