Entrepreneur Magazine: March 2004

The Wonder Years
Are your kids starting to ask questions about where businesses come from? Remember, it's never too early to teach young people the value of entrepreneurship.



Be Your Own Boss Features
Home Grown
Are you ready to plant the seeds of a new business? Start by reaping the harvest of these 101 homebased franchises.

Good Sports
Get off the sidelines and into the game! Starting a business based on professional sports could put you in the big leagues.

Biz 101
Life in the Fast Lane
Are you dreaming of explosive growth during your first year of business? Be careful what you wish for.

Mentor Notes
Finding a great mentor is crucial, but it takes a lot of legwork. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Take a Load Off
Weighed down by a ton of duties? Maybe it's time to outsource some of that work.

What's the Occasion?
Special events don't have to be few and far between. Keep things exciting by having them regularly.

Habit Your Way
Seven success habits you won't want to break

Innovations
The Cost Is Clear
Or is it? Keep manufacturing costs in check so you can compete with the big names.

Opportunities
A New Lease on Life
Real estate franchising gets a fresh twist from one seasoned veteran.

Having It Nailed
A zest for woodworking helped this entrepreneur get out of a rut.

What's New 03/04
Prepared for take off

Real Life
Portrait of a Franchise
It's been a rocky road, but Jack and Diane are finally nearing their destination: franchise ownership.

Smart Ideas
Smart Ideas 03/04
Cookie-party store, job listings for ex-military personnel and more

Success Coach
Give-and-Take Growth
When it comes to achieving success in your business, compromise doesn't have to mean surrender.

What's Your Problem?
Ready to Make the Leap?
How to know if the time is right to start a business

Almost Famous
Hit for Misses
With high fashion at low prices, this clothes-minded dynamo's store is right on target with young women.

Editor's Note
Reality Check


Feedback
Feedback 3/04
Letters from our readers

Resources
Resources 03/04
Web sites, organizations, events and more to grow your business

Insurance
Pick and Save
Get with the health-care savings programs!

Legal
Search Party
If you need to find a good attorney, forget the Yellow Pages and hop online.

Management Buzz
Management Buzz 3/04
Insuring international expansion, office socializing breeds productivity, and more

Real Deal
On Your Terms
To protect and control your interests, keep these tips in mind when negotiating with consultants.

Smart Moves
Letting Grow
The road to expansion is open, even if your business is built around your own specialized skills.

Staff Smarts
Otherwise Engaged
Get blase employees motivated about their jobs, and they'll really take care of business.

A+ Ads
Against the Tide
To grab attention in a crowded marketplace, try breaking away from the pack with an understated ad.

Ask the Expert
Name-Dropper
How to successfully navigate a name change

Marketing Buzz
Marketing Buzz 03/04
Getting A-list clients

Retail Register
A Clothes Call
Tips for creating uniforms that work

Sales Force
Trump Card
Could adopting a straight-commission system be a good bet for your business?

Sales Success
Hitting the Wall
Is talking to certain prospects like talking to a brick wall? It may be time to cut your losses and walk.

Tactics
Team Effort
Talk is cheap; failed marketing programs aren't. To get results, get sales and marketing teams working together.

Dollar Signs
Road to Riches?
Convertible bonds are still in vogue, but proceed with caution around the bend.

Funds
Smooth Sailin’
This fund navigates well, even in rough waters.

Money Buzz
Money Buzz 3/04
A drop in 401(k) enrollment, micro-payments and more

Personal Finance
Do It Your Way
Tailor your portfolio with separately managed accounts.

Raising Money
I Take It Back!
When a merger goes awry and you want to buy your company back, there are plenty of ways to do it.

Tax Talk
Easy Street
A new IRS regulation makes it a snap to calculate and report company vehicle deductions on your next tax return.

Biz Travel
Need for Speed
Hotels say hello to high-speed Internet access—and goodbye to high usage fees.

Books
Don't Be a Hero?
Not if this book has anything to say about it.

Capitol Issues
Healthy Choice
Congress comes up with a better alternative to the troubled MSA.

Hot Seat
It's a Style Thing
Style really does stand for something, says this author.

It Figures
It Figures 3/04
Public companies going private, abandoning e-mail and more

Point/Counterpoint
Health of a Nation
The debate rages on about the cure for America's rising health insurance costs.

Smarts Features
Mixed Messages
Is California driving away businesses--or setting an example for other states?

Open Up!
More businesses are choosing open source software.

Get In the Game
Score marketing points with video game product placement.

Shoot for the Stars
Aim high, and you could land a big-name investor.

The Sun Also Rises
Is a revival on the horizon for Japan's economy? That may be good news for you.

Think Bid
Want your business to grow? Maybe eBay can help.

Labor Dispute
Maternity leave is a hot issue. Find out how to handle it without ruffling any feathers.

Guarding the Flock
As the economy improves, how can you keep your employees in the fold?

Snapshot
Snapshot 03/04
Steve Appelbaum, 44, founder of Animal Behavior & Training Associates Inc. (ABTA) in Los Angeles

Tech Toy
Get snappy
Carry this camera along with your car keys.

What's the Point?
If There's a Will . . .
Simply having a desire won't cut it if you want to make your dream of business expansion a reality.

Wheels
Fancy That!
Show 'em who's boss by rolling up in one of these posh cars.

Women
Psst! Pass It On
Entrepreneurs reflect on the hand-me-down advice they've loved and loathed.

Buyer's Guide
In Living Color
Time to upgrade your color printer? Think about your production needs and budget before choosing.

Connections
Soft Spot
Software that turns your wi-fi connection into a "phone line"? You bet, and it could save you big bucks.

Digital Edge
Dial for Discounts
VoIP promises a slew of fresh messaging options to boost your productivity--and save you money.

Gear
Gear 03/04
Seeing double and one-push data back-up

Hot Disks
Hot Disks 03/04
Data protection, recycling computers and more

Net Profits
Canning Spam
Spam concerns have forced many e-tailers to rethink their e-mail marketing programs. Should you?

Spotlight
Early Birds
Before DVDs became big business, this pair of entrepreneurs saw the chance to get in on the ground floor.

Tech Buzz
Tech Buzz 3/04
Voice control, protecting your laptop and more.

Wireless
In the Cards
Grab wireless data at broadband speeds.

I Want My Cell TV
Now you can get TV right in the palm of your hand.