Press

By Jim DuPlessis, The State Lawmakers this year addressed a number of other issues important to the business community. Here’s a look: Bad check fees The maximum fee that financial institutions can charge for writing a bad check under $100 was increased. State law limited such charges to $25 for checks under $100 and $30 for […]

By Kevin Dietrich, The State Clarence Dickerson offers simple advice for those interested in opening a business banking account – meet your prospective banker face to face. A small-business banker for Wachovia in Columbia, Dickerson said his job is to establish a partnership with his customers. The initial meeting between banker and businessperson can be

By Marc Rapport, The State ‘It couldn’t happen here’ on many minds, while others warn differently Larry Newman has a strong message for local business people who may have become complacent in the months since Sept. 11. “I’ll tell you what’s a target for terrorists of any kind. Your customers,” he warned. Newman is president

Editorial, GSA Business In the convenience store business, low gas prices attract customers, but it’s what’s inside the store that makes the business profitable.  But if your competition is part of mega money-making superstore offering low gas prices, business becomes difficult-almost impossible. The South Carolina Small Business Chamber, the SC petroleum Marketers Association and the

By Crystal Davis, Reporter, WIS-TV and WACH-TV (Columbia) April 26, 2002 — South Carolina’s predatory gas price law is supposed to stop big corporations from selling gas below cost for more than 14 days a year. The South Carolina Small Business Chamber says they believe some of the big businesses aren’t playing fair. T.A. Harman,

By Jerry Bellune, Editor, Lexington County Chronicles Small business owners want the state to enforce the predatory gas pricing law.  Three business organizations have called on the state Department of Consumer Affairs fails to enforce a law limiting gas sales below cost for more than 14 days a year. State officials respond that enforcement is

By C. Grant Jackson, Business Editor, The State The health insurance premium for Don Purcell’s three small businesses rose 18 percent to 20 percent last year. Purcell, who runs Spring Valley Auto Body, Express Rent-A-Car and Long Creek Equestrian Center with 23 full-time employees, is facing the biggest problem of small business today: How to

By Tim Wilkes, Guest Columnist, The State Ask at any South Carolina business if there are sufficient numbers of qualified applicants for white-collar positions, and the answer will be yes.  But ask South Carolina small business owners if they can find homegrown, qualified or skilled technical workers to meet their needs, and the answer will be

April 11, 2001 By Dave L’Heureux, The State By Dave L’Heureux, The State, Columbia, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Apr. 11–Starting Oct. 1, South Carolina consumers will have to pay a new 1.4 percent surcharge on their monthly phone bills. The S.C. Public Service Commission, responding to a 1996 legislative directive, Tuesday voted 7-0 in

April 10, 2001 Columbia, SC– On Tuesday, the Public Service Commission voted to create a $36-$40 million universal service fund for the purpose of formally subsidizing telephone service to rural areas of the state. Another purpose of this fund was to promote the competition for local telephone service. The S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce