Even though 76 percent of Americans think fast food is “not too good” or “not good at all for you,” almost half say they eat fast food at least weekly, according to a 2013 Gallup poll.

Still not sure a membership is a smart investment? Here are a few great reasons why joining a chamber of commerce can help you invest in your business.

Franchise success rates are often touted online as being wildly successful, but further examination has shown attaining reliable data is difficult. The franchise arrangement is inherently risky for both parties — but some Sacramento-based small businesses are going for it regardless.

You might say Dr. Charles Lee created a synthetic bone graft substitute by accident.

Envoy’s launch in Sacramento ties in well with the “Green City” initiative by Volkswagen’s subsidiary Electrify America, in which $44 million in investment in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, car-sharing services, delivery fleet and education is set to occur.

In the early 2000s, Mariah Lichtenstern was an undergrad studying the rhetoric of narrative and image at UC Berkeley and starting a boutique production company in the Bay Area. That was when Napster was disrupting the music industry in a way that would leave it forever changed.

The transition to parenthood can be daunting, particularly for new parents and those juggling work and family life. But several Capital Region-based parents have launched creative businesses and groups that support the whole family — from emotional and physical well-being, to work/life balance.

So you’ve got a terrific idea for a new business or product you’d like to bring to market. But where do you start?

The infomercial world is full of goods that will purportedly forever alter the way you mop, do your laundry, cook eggs, exercise and listen to music.

But are those products truly revolutionary? More importantly, can a product or service truly be revolutionary at all?

Armed with inspiration from a vintage WWII era battle tank, Michael Seals has carved out a niche high-end market as a custom watchmaker in the suburban community of El Dorado Hills, 25 miles east of Sacramento and across the globe from Switzerland’s Alps — home to the watchmakers who have set the standard for quality and precision.