Whether its hardcover or Kindle Fired, the gift of a good read is always a safe bet in the holiday season. Here are a few recommended reads for the business-owner or entrepreneur in your life:

1.   For the Starter-Upper: 

• Okay, so color me impartial, but the best book out there is still: The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan by Bplans.com founder, Tim Berry. This book encourages readers to jump in! Go ahead and skip around, invites Berry, No two businesses are alike, and so no two business plans will be alike. The

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It’s been dubbed the “coming of age” for solar power – the world’s best-known investor, Warren Buffett, has paid big bucks to snap up a Californian solar farm.

Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings, the utility arm of investment giant Berkshire Hathaway empire, has nabbed Topaz Solar Farm in the biggest acquisition of a single photovoltaic project anywhere.

The project, valued at $US2 billion, is the world’s second-largest photovoltaic plant under construction.

It is expected to produce about half the power of a nuclear reactor – or power about 160,000 homes – when it starts in 2015. The project had

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PORTLAND, Ore. – In a vote of confidence for Oregon, nationally recognized ENG Lending/Bank of England, based out of Little Rock, Arkansas, is expanding its operations in the Portland area and its presence around the state and region. Today the company announced the official opening of its new Portland-based ENG Lending NW branch and underwriting and fulfillment center. The new branch will be hiring top-caliber mortgage professionals and administrators – upwards of 50 employees – for its location, as well as for its satellite offices opening in Salem and Bend.

Its an exciting opportunity for us here in the mortgage industry in Oregon to be able to work directly with an FDIC-insured bank with such a long-standing, impressive track record, says Jason Hillman, who is part of the new branchs leadership team.

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According to information from the Office of Advocacy, just two years ago, there were approximately 27.5 million businesses nationwide. Whether you are a new small business about to unveil itself, or a business that has been around for some time, you will often be asked about your business plan. Simply put, the business plan involves the business owner laying out in detail how they will go about placing their company in a strong position in the marketplace, how they will finance their operation, and how they plan to earn a good return on investment .

While answering those three questions can be difficult, keep in mind that just about every business owner has some business plan in place for when they open up, with that plan being reviewed and retooled over time to make sure the company is meeting its goals.

In the event that you have a business plan in place, but do not feel that your company is benefitting from or adhering to it like it should, keep several factors in mind:

• Review your original goals – Why did you get in business in the first place? Wha

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It was only a matter of time, Chrome has been coming up on the rails for quite some time, and now it’s done it. According to Sitecounter, reported in the Telegraph, Google’s Chrome Browser that has only been available for three years is now the second most popular way of browsing the web. At 25.7%, it’s just overtaken Firefox who has 25.2%. On a worldwide basis Internet Explorer is still way out in front with 40.6% , but all the indications are that we’re looking at a Titantic struggle for the top spot between Chrome and Internet Explorer over the years ahead.

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