Q. I am rather new to this area, and as I have always worked for big corporations, I am very new to small business. I presently work at a business I would like to own. The owner has offered to sell me the franchise. I am very intrigued by the possibility of owning this business, but have zero experience from which to draw. I am 50 years old, in good health, willing to work hard and have very good credit (but no cash). My husband is very supportive of this idea and will be a very large presence in running this franchise. However, he is still years from retirement and generally puts 40 to 50 hours into his job weekly. Could you possibly direct me to the type of advisor that would be the most helpful? I don't know how viable an option this would be, and while I don't want to pass up an opportunity to increase our retirement nest egg, I don't want to jump into something that could become an albatross. I appreciate your time and input on this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you. ...more

December 23, 2009

The two members of the city commission whose terms expire in 2010 say they plan to file for re-election. Mayor Rick Lott and Commissioner Dan Raulerson say they want to help guide the city's future. ...more

December 19, 2009

Sept. 22, 2009 ...more

September 22, 2009

AREA DEATH ...more

May 10, 2009

An accountant who submitted false statements to a bank so he could get loans for his business and his clients was sentenced today in federal court to one year and a day in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. ...more

February 25, 2009

Professional golfer Jim Thorpe is facing federal tax evasion charges, accused of failing to pay about $1.6 million owed to the federal government over three years. ...more

February 11, 2009

Federal agents on Wednesday searched the home of a man linked to the fatal 1982 Tylenol poisonings in Illinois and the FBI in Chicago said authorities are reviewing evidence in the deaths, which caused a nationwide scare and led to dramatic changes in the way food and medical products are packaged. ...more

February 5, 2009

Another Sarasota resident has been charged with securities fraud. ...more

February 3, 2009

An accountant was arrested Saturday on charges that he stole $1.6 million from a law firm for which he was doing some work, apparently to support a gambling habit, according to Pinellas County sheriff's records. ...more

January 26, 2009

As you know many condo associations are dealing with some residents' inability to pay assessments as owners face foreclosure. As a result of the rules governing foreclosures, for the first time our association expects to incur bad debt expenses this year. ...more

January 25, 2009