Inside the February 2004 Issue
Features
What Women Want
The growing economic power of women consumers is transforming today's marketplace. Find out how to tap into the desires of women--and watch your business take off.
Columns
Be Your Own Boss Features
The 101 fastest-growing franchises for 2004 are gunning for the lead.
Be Your Own Boss Features
A seasoned entrepreneur reveals the 17 most common mistakes startups make and how to avoid them -- plus, the 5 things you must do to ensure success.
Biz 101
Your small start-up really does have a chance at succeeding in a marketplace full of big-name competitors.
Biz 101
Three entrepreneurs share their ethical dilemmas-and why they're better because of them.
Biz 101
It's OK to toot your own horn every once in a while. Here's how to pull it off.
Biz 101
Insuring your company from the get-go may be expensive, but it's crucial to your survival.
Innovations
You don't need a mammoth staff or an elaborate office to make millions from your invention.
Opportunities
A former baseball player decided to take a swing at making gourmet pizzas.
Real Life
Having successfully navigated start-up negotiations, Jack and Diane get ready for franchise ownership.
Success Coach
Want to make a real connection while networking? Build lasting relationships by offering solutions to others' needs.
Whats Your Problem
Don't know the difference between HTML and a URL? Here are some things to think about when seeking a Web site designer.
Almost Famous
Life's little twists molded the man who has patrons tapped into yard-high beers and gourmet food.
Legal
Test the regulatory waters early if your product doesn't fit into a recognizable category.
Management Buzz
How work is really judged, security clearances for government contracts and more
Real Deal
A little training each day helps you pump up your game at the bargaining table.
Smart Moves
Stuck for extra office space? Mobile furniture could help you maximize the space you've already got.
Staff Smarts
If you can't afford to offer employee benefits on your own, why not join forces with a PEO?
A+ Ads
An ad inviting prospects to interact with the publication in which it appears can really grab attention.
Sales Force
Speeding up your regular sales cycle is an excellent way to make your company's profits soar sky-high. So what are you waiting for?
Sales Success
When it comes to making the sale, projecting a confident attitude is key. So what can you do to give yours a boost?
Tactics
Looking for new marketing opportunities? Then maybe it's time to consider the great outdoors.
Personal Finance
Should you dump shares of fund companies implicated in scandals?
Raising Money
Juggling growth and financial risk is one balancing act you can't afford not to master.
Tax Talk
States back a uniform sales-tax system that would raise additional revenue. What will the change mean for you?
Capitol Issues
The SBA evens the odds for smaller businesses seeking to win contracts.
Smarts Features
Brushing up on your small talk is more important than you think.
Smarts Features
If The Bridge Act gets past "go," fast-growth businesses could benefit from a tax deferral.
Snapshot
Allison Kugel, 29, founder of LongIslandLefty.com and TireSignal.com, Plainview, New York
Buyers Guide
It may be high time to maximize your network's performance, now that there are newer, cheaper Ethernet switches in town.
Connections
Not quite ready to cut the cord? Never fear—your local Bell will offer VoIP, too.
Digital Edge
Are tablet PCs Really all they're cracked up to be? We took one model for a spin to find out.
Net Profits
Using coupons can be a great way to get new customers to visit your site-if you do it right.
Magazine Resources
