February Small Business Trends Index

The Small Business Trends Index looks at the most popular articles that entrepreneurs are talking about. These are the most discussed stories by small business owners over the past month. The higher the score, the more the topic is being discussed. The total scores add to 100.

#1: Index Score: 23.8
9 Resume Tips That Should Be Screechingly Obvious (But Apparently Aren't)
"These are all basic rules, but they all seem to get broken constantly. All of these should be obvious to anyone who's conscious (maybe even the lightly sleeping), but they must not be. On to the rules!"

#2: Index Score: 22.4
Wal-Mart pays itself rent, gets large tax breaks
Wal-Mart, the nation's largest employer and the world's biggest retailer, is regularly paying itself rent and using the transaction to decrease the taxes it pays to state governments.

#3: Index Score: 18.5
Comcast Fined $12,281.84 For Not Answering The Phone Quickly Enough
Montgomery Country, MD has fined Comcast $12,281.84 for not meeting the standards set by their franchise agreement. The agreement stated that Comcast would provide a level of customer service that they did not meet.

#4: Index Score: 18.3
101 ways to make money online. A business consultant shares his research
This is a careful analysis of the many ways one can earn legitimate and illegitimate income working from home. It was put together by analysing thousands of existing internet businesses.

#5: Index Score: 17.0
The 13 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions
Some really good deductions that I didn't even realize you could take. Such as college tuition, moving expenses to take your first job and jury pay paid to employer.