{
  "author": {
    "name": "William Atkinson",
    "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
    "description": "",
    "imageLarge": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f16d6fc2845f417ea0e93a3f2b6cd37d?s=136&d=mm&r=g",
    "estimate": 74,
    "social": [],
    "articles": [
      {
        "uri": "/2015/10/29/small-businesses-cautious-of-economic-future/",
        "title": "Small businesses cautious of economic future",
        "byline": "William Atkinson",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "October 29, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "1 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "According to the 2015 Mid-Year Economic Report, published by the National Small Business Association (NSBA), small businesses have a less positive outlook on the overall economy than they did six months ago, despite the fact that the economy, overall, remains strong. \"Small businesses continue to struggle with hiring and garnering...",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/10/19/small-businesses-required-to-install-new-credit-ca/",
        "title": "Small businesses required to install new credit card technology",
        "byline": " William Atkinson ",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "October 19, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "On October 1, merchants were required to have special new credit and debit card payment terminals in place that are designed to accept special "chip" credit and debit cards.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/10/12/recent-flurry-of-executive-orders-impact-small-bus/",
        "title": "Recent flurry of executive orders impact small businesses",
        "byline": " William Atkinson ",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "October 12, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "In September, President Obama issued an executive order titled "Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors" that requires companies that do business with the Federal government to provide their employees with at least seven days of paid sick leave each year, including paid leave to allow for family care.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/10/05/dodd-frank-making-small-business-loans-difficult/",
        "title": "Dodd-Frank making small business loans difficult",
        "byline": "William Atkinson",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "October 05, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "5 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "A law passed in 2010, Dodd-Frank, designed to reduce corporate and Wall Street fraud, has certainly been making headway toward its intended goals. However, an unintended side effect of the law has been increasing difficulty for small businesses to obtain loans from their community banks and credit unions.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/10/01/confidence-index-shows-less-confidence/",
        "title": "Confidence index shows less confidence",
        "byline": "William Atkinson",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "October 01, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "1 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "A quarterly survey of CEOs of small to mid-sized business, called the Vistage CEO Confidence Index, conducted by Vistage (www.vistage.com) every quarter since 2003, is showing that, while CEOs of small and mid-sized business were somewhat optimistic about things in general in Q1 2015, they report less optimism in virtually...",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/09/28/nlrb-ruling-affects-franchise-owners-too/",
        "title": "NLRB ruling affects franchise owners, too",
        "byline": "William Atkinson",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 28, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "As noted in a recent article on this website, a National Labor Relations Board decision that expands the definition of \"employer\" is expected to have a big impact on small businesses that make their livings as contractors, subcontractors, or employment agencies for commercial customers.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/09/21/new-nlrb-ruling-threatens-small-businesses-in-two/",
        "title": "New NLRB ruling threatens small businesses in two ways",
        "byline": " William Atkinson ",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 21, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "A recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling may end up either turning some small business owners into corporate managers, or causing them to lose large numbers of their commercial customers.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/09/14/frivolous-lawsuits-target-small-business/",
        "title": "Frivolous lawsuits target small business",
        "byline": "William Atkinson",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 14, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "According to a recent report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), frivolous lawsuits cause headaches for a lot of companies, but small businesses are sometimes the most frequent targets and also end up being particularly hard-hit as a result.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/09/09/state-tax-challenges-for-small-businesses/",
        "title": "State tax challenges for small businesses",
        "byline": "William Atkinson",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 09, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "1 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "This infographic provides the latest stats on the best and worst tax systems for small businesses.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2015/09/08/small-businesses-struggle-with-waning-employee-loy/",
        "title": "Small businesses struggle with waning employee loyalty",
        "byline": " William Atkinson ",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "September 08, 2015",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/william-atkinson/",
            "name": "William Atkinson"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "According to the 2015 "Talent Shortage Survey," published by Manpower Group, 32 percent of U.S. employers report having difficulties filling job vacancies due to talent shortages. "Talent shortages are real and are not going away," said Kip Wright, senior vice president, Manpower North America.",
        "body": null
      }
    ]
  }
}