Entrepreneur Magazine: October 2001

Slicker Cities
When not just any metropolitan area will do, seek out one of these best cities for entrepreneurship.

Is SBA S.O.L.?
With a general lack of respect from lawmakers and entrepreneurs alike, some say the agency has outlived its usefulness. Can the SBA be saved?

Adjust Your Focus
You've tried the vertical hold. You've messed with your brightness settings. But there's only one thing to do when those late-'90s management mantras don't offer you a clear picture.



Be Your Own Boss Features
How Low Can They Go?
91 opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to buy a franchise without coughing up franchise-type dollars

Push and Shove
There's plenty of room, no matter how crowded the market. You'll just have to use your elbows.

Biz 101
Lilliputian Loans
When it comes to financing, bigger isn't always better. Have you tried an SBA microloan on for size?

Healthy Profits
With all those mad cows, vegetarian food looks a little better every day.

Innovations
Infantile Inventions
No, no, it's not a bad thing! The baby-products market is the perfect place for brand-new inventors to take their first steps.

Opportunities
The Family Jewelers
A son uses a franchise to follow in his father's jewelry-fixing footsteps.

Moving Pictures
Customers are touched by this couple's video productions.

What's New
Taking Louisiana French Quarter food to the rest of America

Smart Ideas
Nice Threads
She designs 'em. Amish women hand-stitch 'em. And each of these quilts goes for more than $2,000.

What's Your Problem?
Taking It Home
Home is where the heart is, but do you want to hang your corporation's hat there?

Almost Famous
Edu-phibian
Hopping from product to product, Leap Frog's founder makes learning lighthearted and lands his toys on store shelves everywhere.

Editor's Note
Shoot to Kill


Insurance
Let's Take Your Car
Cover your drivers--no matter whose car they drive.

Legal
What Goes Around . . .
Making promises to employees and then giving them the boot? They'll be back--carrying lawsuits that could damage your company.

Management Buzz
Management Buzz 10/01
Making the most of chamber of commerce meetings

Smart Moves
Sickening, Isn't It?
As providers jack up health-care costs, there are options that won't leave your employees out in the cold and flu season.

Staff Smarts
Control Issues
Is one of your employees building an empire right under your nose?

Success Coach 2001
Deep Focus
How do you spell success?

Breakthrough
Cover Girls
Attach magnets to magazine. Await deluge of customers.

Marketing Buzz
Marketing Buzz 10/01
Making the most of industry awards and tightening the restrictions on cold calling

Real Deal
Contract Cons
If you think the other side is sneaky, read this.

Sales Force
Cheer Up!
Downturn got your sales team down? Turn their frowns upside down.

Sales Success
Just Be Yourself
Next time you go on a sales call, don't pocket your personality at the door.

Tactics
Got Ideas?
If not, don't worry! Your workers do, so make them your marketing team.

Case Study
It's Your Move
How to make it through when cash is tight

Dollar Signs
Pay Up
When the minimum wage rises, will small businesses get the downside?

Funds
Check Your Balance
Cover the whole economic spectrum.

Money Buzz
Money Buzz 10/01
What to do to protect yourself from check fraud, the ins and outs of variable rate credit cards and more

Raising Money
Write Soon
Regardless of whether your investors' intentions are honorable, you can make sure their letter of intent is.

Tax Talk
Big Letdown
IRS fumbles security for its e-file system.

Biz Travel
Hotel Hell
Get your accommodations to accommodate with our guide to effective complaining.

Books
Think Fast
Don't let your ideas get stuck behind a granny with her blinker forever on.

Brand Aid
Toon Up
Make your brand as instantly recognizable as Bugs Bunny.

Capitol Issues
Larger Portions
Congress may serve the tech sector a bigger budget share.

Flash
Flash 10/01
Geek sports get popular, the latest in funeral services and the comfort food craze

Hot Seat
Mind Games
Peek inside your head and see how your mentality is affecting your business.

It Figures
It Figures 10/01
The financial worries of small-business owners, celebrating Halloween and more

Smarts Features
Charge It!
Think tech was the end-all of booms? Ever heard of something called energy?

Public Service
Nasdaq looks to test the market for markets--and fund its global expansion.

Ready for Launch?
These are the voyages of the starship Entrepreneur— boldly doing business in space.

Hold Your Fire
You can save your company without laying off all your employees. Try these options.

Now What?
The SBA's got a new leader. Now all it needs is a decent budget...support...focus...

Let Me Think About It
Cell phones, 24/7 e-mail—now it takes a special day just to think for a second.

All Tied Up
When does owning too much of your own company get to be a conflict of interest?

Big Break
Is it time for your product to stop playing supporting roles and steal the show?

What's That Clicking?
Web sites entrepreneurs can't live without

Snapshot
Ed Edmunds
46, president of Distortions Unlimited Corp. in Greeley, Colorado

Tech Toy
Ready to Wear
Trying to go completely wireless? Check out the Mobile Assistant V strap-on headset.

Wheels
Quite a Combo
You want a car . . . no, an SUV. Can't make up your mind?

Women
Gender Blender
Boys don't have cooties, so don't be afraid to mingle at mixed-gender functions.

Buyer's Guide
Keep It Running
Get an uninterruptible power supply, and never fear electricity problems again.

Cool Clicks
Cool Clicks 10/01
Free labor law posters to keep you in compliance and insider information on small businesses from D&B

Digital Edge
Now on DVD!
A feature drive . . . starring your PC backup and graphic-heavy presentations

Gear
Gear 10/01
Transferring handwritten notes to your handheld and backing up your hard drive through photography

Hot Disks
Hot Disks 10/01
Building an online storefront, preventing disk crashes before they happen and more

Net Profits
Pick Their Brains
Dig deep and answer the eternal question: "What do my customers want?"

Tech Buzz
Tech Buzz 10/01
How to offer your Web site visitors ad-free pages, the latest on wireless access and more

Wireless
M's the Word
Mobile commerce is starting small.

On Hand at All Times
Palm wants in on 24/7 wireless e-mail.