Entrepreneur Magazine: March 2008

Almost Famous
Common Thread
Stacey Bendet definitely has a knack for designing, but she credits her team with being the brains behind her business.

Business 411
The Big Show
L.A.'s the place to be this month for the latest in gifts and fashion.

Keep in Touch
Yes, prospective customers really do want to hear from you--so follow up.

Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum
Uncle Sam wants you -- or at least your product.

Say What?
Keep tabs on the competition--and track your own reputation--with these resources.

Doing Good
Eco Tripping
Bruce Poon Tip has a basic motto for people interested in booking a vacation with his company: "If you want to travel and have all the comforts of home, I suggest you stay at home."

Money Blogs
If you’re looking for funding, try browsing the blogosphere. A small but growing number of VC managers have blogs, which can help entrepreneurs easily research and connect with funders.

Edge Features
An Apple a Day . . .
Take time to give your business's health plan a checkup.

To the Extreme
Though extreme sports surfaced years ago with activities like skydiving and surfing, these nontraditional sports--typically involving high levels of speed, height and danger--have yet to reach NFL proportions.

Read All About It
Circulation numbers are down at many large daily newspapers. But if Norb Garrett’s experience is any indication, the community newspaper niche offers good news for creative entrepreneurs.

Stick Together
For Gen Yers, birds of a feather truly do flock together. As the group migrates into the work force and baby boomers retire, more companies are seeing the benefits of hiring groups of Gen Y friends.

Moving On
What It’s Worth
There are two ways to look at cost of living: from your viewpoint as a business owner or from the perspective of your employees. If you are relocating or expanding your operation, you need to take both into consideration.

Security Alert
Storage Smarts
Data retention can be a major gray area for growing businesses. Your data is your life-blood, whether it’s employee information, customer payment numbers, internal files or the reams of e-mails you send and receive.

Travel
Bed, Breakfast and Business
Bed-and-breakfasts are well-known among the romantically inclined. But now their charm is reaching road warriors as well.

Wheels
Luxury Ride
Land Rover's latest focuses on power and performance.

Women
The Alpha Advantage
The latest buzz about alpha males has spawned workshops and books geared toward both women and men who want to become more "alpha" in business. How can being more alpha help female entrepreneurs?

Rich Returns
Keeping Tabs
Numbers that are tracked and reported are numbers that grow. How does your business measure up?

The Street.Com
Lean on Me
Though tax liens won’t get you rich quick, they can be a good investment option.

View
Truth Be Told
What’s keeping you from moving to the web? This expert sets the record straight.

Wise Guy
Model Citizen
Here are 5 ways to be not just a better entrepreneur, but also a better person.

Advisor
What’s Yours Is Yours
You don’t have to be Coke, McDonald’s or Nike to borrow against your company’s patents, trademarks or copyrights.

Currency
New Money
With traditional bank loans hard to come by, try these quick fixes to get your business the capital it needs.

Money Buzz
On the Hunt
Finding investors for your business is all about targeting the right people.

Portfolio
Escape the AMT Trap
The AMT is in limbo, but you don’t have to be. Start planning now to avoid tax season surprises.

Raising Money
Loyalty Pays
Show investors you care, and they’ll show you the money.

Snapshot
Energizing Profits
When it comes to maximizing the savings in energy-saving, Steve Gossett is on top of the trend--and he’s making bank, too.

Biz U
A Head Start
Venture capital firms are taking a new interest in student-owned businesses.

First
Stick With It
Tenacity is the key to building business relationships--just don’t come on too strong.

Got Money?
Cash is the lifeblood of your business. Here’s how to keep it flowing.

Tool Time
You may have a brilliant invention, but it doesn’t mean anything if you can’t get it off the ground. These companies can help.

Hype
It’s a Hit
Get customers psyched about your business by using all the web has to offer.

Money Matters
Making the Grade
Because an impressive fico score won’t guarantee a loan, you’ll have to balance out the equation.

Net Profits
Virtual Playground
Building a kidcentric online startup? Here's what you should know.

Opportunities
Balancing Act
The kids may keep them busy, but these franchisees make sure they’re hands-on owners.

Smart Ideas
Rest Easy
Lesley Hatfield got her idea for moisture-wicking sleep garments after talking to a client.

Oh So Simple
Alan Regala, 30, was tired of forgetting to bring his lunch to work.

Start Your Engines
Ricky Dennis was born into the sport of auto racing, and now he’s making money doing what he loves.

Startup Features
Get Sold on eBay
With hundreds of resources at your fingertips, starting a business on eBay is as easy as point and click.

New Wave
The top new franchises for 2008 are making a splash.

Success Coach
Looking Back
Your most powerful business tool is the ability to learn from your mistakes.

Around the World
Around the World
To expand your presence, get together--through a consortium.

Best Practices
Do Something!
Frazzled employees are no good for business. Stop their stress before it starts.

Books
'Billions' and 'Breakthrough'
This month's book selections take a look at business in the Far East and businesses that hit it big without venture capital.

Clicks
Local Motion
Whether they’re web hits or phone calls, leads are going local with Yodle.

Marketing
Go for the Green
Check out these 4 essential tips for turning green marketing into gold.

Sell
That’s the Spirit
When the going gets tough, the tough keep selling. Here’s how to stay in the right frame of mind.

Snapshot
Top This
Blending her passions for adventure and business, Alison Levine helps clients scale new heights.

The Buzz
Make a Wish List
American Express can get customers clamoring for your products.

Work Force
More Than Able
Need new hires? Tap into the motivated, loyal pool of disabled workers.

Buyers Guide
Just Following Directions
The latest GPS devices take the guesswork out of getting anywhere.

Connections
What’s the Outlook?
Microsoft wants to help you reach out and touch someone.

Digitial Edge
Googly Eyed
Prepare to fall hard for a Google-based OS--and the computers that run on it.

Editors Pick
What’s the Skinny?
A machine that’s light but loaded with features.

Gear
Play Your Way
It’s all just a game with this laptop designed for the player in you.

Mobility
Ready, Set, Charge!
Tips, tricks and green gadgets for juicing up your mobile technology.

Snapshot
All in One
Thanks to this dynamic duo, it’s never been easier to put one face to all your online personalities.

Tech Buzz
The New Guard
High-tech heavyweights may reign supreme, but some newbies have their eyes on the throne.

Web Sight
Get Them Talking
Tired of trying to round up new customers on your own? Go online and start yelping for referrals.

Wireless
You’re Grounded
Landline phones are taking flight with a host of slick new features.