One Man Band

Analysis

Steve Bainbridge points out Why Starbucks Doesn’t Franchise posted at Professor Bainbridge’s Journal. He compares the business model of the coffee company with that of the sandwich chain Subway — which does franchise — and wants to know how Starbucks has solved monitoring its employees to enforce standards without using a franchise model.

Dorian Wales compares and contrasts two methods of setting a value on a business in Valuation Methods – Discounting Cash Flows vs. Using Multiples posted at Personal Financier. One is quick-and-dirty. One is more thorough but takes longer. Pick the one that fits your needs.

Brandon Henak figures out How to Apply The Long Tail: Preventive Healthcare, posted at Newly Corporate. If healthcare costs are low enough, then young and healthy people in the healthcare industry’s long tail can be served.

John pulls together a list of business made possible by the Internet in The Top Ten Internet Business Ideas, posted at Business Opportunities And Ideas. Find out if your favorites are listed.

Commodities

Michael Johns points out that, despite the ethanol lobby, It’s Still About Oil, posted at Michael Johns. The availability of energy — and oil particularly — undergirds every business.

Brian Gongol looks beyond the immediate Google plans to spend multi-millions on renewable energy to noodle out why Google’s effort is important to other businesses, posted at Gongol.com. Is renewable energy more valuable than fighting spam?

Economy

Dawn Rivers Baker wags a finger at spendthrift consumers in Slowdown? Recession? Bring it on! posted at The Journal Blog. She thinks a dose of cold economy would do wonders to enforce fiscal discipline.

Dax Desai insists on the weakness of the dollar, and gives 8 Reasons Why the Dollar Will Continue to Fall, posted at Invest with Dax.

Danogo.com introduces us to the virtual economy of Second Life, and explains How to Make Real Life Money in the Second Life Virtual World, posted at Danogo.com. Moving Linden dollars from the virtual economy to the world economy is built in the Second Life, in sharp contrast to, say, World of Warcraft where profiting from the sale of characters or artifacts outside the game is strongly condemned.

Ian Welsh views the American economy as a boil that needs lancing. Read his cheery misfortune-telling in 10 high probability predictions for the market meltdown, posted at The Agonist.

Meantime, Dan Melson very much wants everyone to know How to Avoid A Repeat of the Housing Market Mess, posted at Searchlight Crusade. He is skeptical of pending legislation, with good reason.

Gavin R. Putland argues for tax relief for Aussie exports in Current account deficit demands tax shift, posted at Gavonomics. Sounds like an exportable idea.

Bill is full of holiday cheer about Why You Should Embrace the Commercialism of the Holidays posted at Queercents.

Silicon Valley Blogger lays out a cornucopia of possibly helpful (or not) market indicators and an explanation (or not) for each, in Can You Get Rich With These 7 Stock Market Oddball Indicators? posted at The Digerati Life.

James Hamilton of Econbrowser asks how bad can things be if the real economy is growing at 5% in New GDP figures. Well, it depends on whether you’re part of that growth, or not. Nice clear graph on the contributors to real gross domestic product.

Management

Andy asserts that it just makes sense to ask for more than they offer when Negotiating your Salary and Benefits Packages, posted at moneywalks.

FMF presents another side of enhancing your salary in Grow Your Career by Promoting Your Work, posted at Free Money Finance.

Wayne Hurlbert cautions about getting carried away — or carried out — of Office Christmas parties: Keeping respect around the tree, posted at Blog Business World. Let’s be careful out there.

Charles H. Green loathes Eddie Haskell, and explains his fear that Eddie’s fake sincerity has infected business management in Faking It Doesn’t Make It, posted at Trust Matters.

Wally Bock takes businesses to task for not properly managing the development of leadership from their ranks in Forget “succession planning.”, posted at Three Star Leadership.

Marketing

Sue Kleiner ponders Blogging, is it worth the time and other insights to online marketing, posted at Trade Show Display Exhibits.

Rob peers into his crystal ball to find The Future of Media and Advertising, posted at Businesspundit. He thinks that media and advertising companies had better adopt more of a retailer’s mind-set. Find out why.

Michelle Cramer explains The Psychology of Pricing, posted at GreatFX Business Cards. Slapping a price on a product or service has as much to do with marketing as it does with cost recovery.

Productivity

Alvaro Fernandez presents a fun and informative graphic to illustrate Cognitive Fitness, The Future of Work, and Concept Maps, posted at Brain Fitness Blog. Will productivity experts have to become graphic artists?

Mike Buckley provides a personal angle to staying healthy on the job during this holiday season in Pink eye, posted at Mine Your Own Business.

Yaro Starak suggests 4 Tips For Becoming A More Productive Entrepreneur, posted at Entrepreneurs-Journey.com.

Small Business

Surfer Sam walks through much necessary homework for a successful Small Business Startup. Strategy and Planning for Small Business, posted at Surfer Sam and Friends. Don’t let the blockade of Google Ads at the top of page prevent you from scrolling down for the actual content.

In contrast, Andrew shines a light on The Single Most Important Question For Any New Business Idea, posted at How To Get Business Ideas.

Career Counselor thoughtfully supplies Six Time Management Tips for the Self-Employed During the Holidays, posted at ask the CareerCounselor.

The Skilled Investor explains to writers how to Publish your blog news articles on traditional media center and newspaper websites, posted at THE SKILLED INVESTOR Blog. Fellow writers: you are small businessmen — act like one!