Guidant Financial Group Blog

The Wall Street Journal reports that the National Federation of Independent Business index on small-business optimism rose to 92 from 90.2. The rise is hopeful because it is the highest it has been since February.

The article continues stating that "Hiring expectations rose, too, with 7% saying they planned to hire, up from 3% in October."

The article quotes Alistair Bentley at TD Economics saying that "Small businesses typically play a leading role in job creation during economic recoveries, but to date their contribution to the job market has lagged relative to past cycles. Today’s data, coupled with an ongoing downward trend in initial jobless claims, provide some early signs that job creation could be quite strong in December."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

As we approach a new year, many people are looking forward and are predicting a hopeful future for small business.

Laurie Kulikowski, a reporter for The Street, predicts that circumstances in 2012 will encourage people to start their own businesses.

Kulikowski writes that a "trend likely to ring true in the new year: an entrepreneurialism boom. Unemployment is still high, and the bump from seasonal jobs will soon be gone. Additionally, military troops are coming home, and some will have trouble finding jobs."

The article quotes Jennefer Witter of The Boreland Group saying that "With returning veterans who are leaving the military to those who are laid off, many will decided to take their professional lives in their own hands and create businesses that will provide long-term security, income and, most important, their own say in their professional lives."

Read the full article on NuWire Investor here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

The Labor Department reported Friday an increase of jobs on payroll and a dip in unemployment for the month of October.

"Companies added 80,000 jobs in October," CNNMoney reports, ". . . American employers reported slower hiring in September -- but other signs, including a lower unemployment rate, are showing the job market may actually be stronger than previously thought."

Read the full article here.

Although by many, the numbers were not seen as much of an improvement. The Street states that the report disappointed forecasters "who expected 95,000 to be added." The jobs added were also "not significant given that many adults remain on the sidelines, too discouraged to look for work."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

Despite economic uncertainty, the Labor Department reported a rise in payrolls during the month of September.

CNN Money reports, "Employers added 103,000 jobs in the month ... And July and August were both revised higher, showing an additional gain of 99,000 jobs over the summer."

However, the increase still reflects a weak economy. CNN Money explains that "the economy has recovered only 2.1 million of the 8.6 million jobs lost since the recession began."

Read the full report here.

The Wall Street Journal reported some economists believing this growth is "Not weak enough to call it a recession, not strong enough to qualify as a healthy recovery/expansion."

Read the full article here.

Check out the profile of Guidant Financial on the inc500 list.

According to The New York Times and other media outlets, April was the fourth consecutive month in which the country saw job growth. President Obama pronounced the data “very encouraging,” while others crossed their fingers and prayed that these figures would provide the momentum to spur even more employers to expand their workforce with confidence again.

Is it . . .could it be . . are we really looking at a positive trend? Call us crazy-eyed optimists, but we think so!

Back in October 2008, we watched in near disbelief as the economy melted down and our potential clients suddenly froze like deer in the headlights. And we did what a lot of other smart companies did: consolidated our resources, narrowed our focus and got rid of our leased espresso machine. (Something our employees are still moaning about. This is Seattle after all.)

And we not only survived, but now we’re thriving again thanks to some sound business acumen and the confidence the public is slowly regaining in the U.S. economy.

Already we’ve watched our number of 401k small business financing clients increase as potential small business owners regain their financial footing and their IRAs/401(k)s start to grow again. And as for our own workforce, we’re hiring new people to handle the increasing numbers of new clients.

All of this keeps us hopeful about Guidant’s future, our clients’ futures, and the future of the country as a whole. We’re not yet dancing in the streets, but we’re dusting off our moves in preparation for that day . . . which surely can’t be far away.

Yesterday, The Entrepreneur's Source (E-Source) announced a new strategic partnership with Guidant Financial Group. This alliance adds to E-Source Coaches' arsenal of services for the aspiring entrepreneur. With this partnership, E-Source Business Coaches will not only help individuals find the right business for their lifestyle, goals, needs and expectations, but also assist clients through the challenging aspect of financing a new venture.

We are proud that E-Source chose Guidant Financial Group as their preferred funding source. Over the past five years we have worked extremely hard to build a reputable and reliable set of services. This partnership validates those efforts. While we dominate the market for 401(k) Rollovers (investments in a business using retirement funds), Guidant also helps individuals secure financing by means of SBA loans and unsecured loans and provides equipment financing.

We look forward to helping even more entrepreneurs invest in themselves, create jobs and keep American small business moving! Learn More about Franchise Financing.