General Motors has recalled an astonishing 66 different vehicle models in 2014 alone. In total, around 30 million GM vehicles have been recalled this year. This represents the largest automobile recall year on record, and we're only 8 months into 2014. 

Why GM Owners Shouldn't Be Concerned
While the recalls are seemingly endless, consumers should not be concerned with purchasing a new or used General Motors vehicle.

These days, businesses of all types are turning to social media as a way to better reach and connect with customers, potential customers and brand fans. And as the number of businesses joining the social media landscape continues to rise, so too does the chance of trademark violations. As the owner of a small- or medium-sized business, is there anything you can do to help protect your trademark in our increasingly social world? The short answer is “yes.” Let’s take a look at the top three things businesses need to know when it comes to protecting your trademark on social media:

It’s unquestionable that you must take chances to accomplish anything life or in business, however a lot of us are fearful or reluctant to take the initial leap. Whenever risks are involved, something is always at stake. Typically in business, you stand to lose cash, reputation and time. But, you also stand to gain cash, reputation and time when you take the chance. The negatives of taking risks can also be the positives if you look at them in the right way.

Unearned Revenue is revenue that the company has received in advance of providing the goods or services. Some companies require customer deposits and/or advanced progress payments prior to beginning or completing the sale. Accounting dictates that revenue is only recognized once the sale is complete; therefore, the money collected through deposits and/or advance payments is considered “unearned” and cannot be recorded on the income statement as revenue until the sale is complete. Therefore, the money collected should be recorded on the balance sheet as a liability account

Small business owners who juggle a fleet of company vehicles oftentimes find themselves trading in or selling a number of vehicles at the same time.

If you fall into the fleet swapping category, then it's important to get the best price while making sure all the auto paperwork is properly taken care of.

If your goal is to someday own your own small business, it is important to pick the right educational degree that will help to properly prepare you for success. However, with so many degree options available, how do you choose which one is right for you? The good news is there are several degree options that are so in-depth and versatile that each one can give you beneficial tools to start your small business no matter what type of business you choose to create.

Startup costs vary greatly and depend on several factors, including the type of business you're establishing and your location. Estimates of these costs differ as well, but most experts (including the Small Business Administration) cite the 2009 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation figure, which puts the average cost of starting a business at a little more than $30,000. Then there's this Wall Street Journal article, which chronicled several successful companies that got started for less than $150.

The start of the school year is when a lot of businesses come back from their summer break and ramp up activity for the end of the year. More activity hopefully leads to more growth and, eventually, the exciting milestone of needing to expand and bring in more help - either part-time, full-time or on a contract basis. Owners of growing small businesses will then face the critical decision of whether to create in-house positions or outsource the work. Although this dilemma does not come with a cookie-cutter answer, there are some guidelines you can follow to help you make the best decision for your business needs.

Don't we all want to invent something - we look at products and think, "Why couldn't I think of that?"

It's never too late or too early to come up with a great product. Some of the latest and greatest inventions are from kids, and some of the greatest in the past are, too, like the trampoline and the Popsicle.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average raise is going to be less than 1%.

Many small businesses think they can't even afford that much, so they forego raises altogether. The problem with this mindset is that in reality, most businesses can't afford not to give raises.