Your report for Thursday, September 28, 2006

ONLINE MARKETING FIRM OPENS: Hartland-based Michigan Biz Search LLC is open for business. The new company is a "daughter" company of IT consultants Five Sparrows LLC. It provides a suite of online advertising and marketing tools for small businesses, and includes features like online coupons, a Michigan-only business directory, a free Web site, a mobile device search feature and more. The price is certainly right -- under $100 a year for the whole shebang. The company's services were originally built as a tool for Five Sparrows clients, which are small businesses and nonprofits. It was such a hit, company officials said, that they decided to enhance the product and offer it separately. More at www.michiganbizsearch.com.