Entrepreneur Magazine: April 2002

Is That Really Necessary?
Having trouble figuring out what technology you need amongst all the useless fluff, add-ons and upgrades? We got you covered.

Ga-Ga for Google
Users are fans of the company's highly relevant searches. We're fans because Google is a dotcom that's making money.

Trips Ahoy!
The add-ons and unbelievable deals we saw in past years may be gone, but our 9th Annual Business Travel Awards prove that good value isn't a distant memory.



Be Your Own Boss Features
Got the Goods
The top 117 industry-leading companies from our 2002 Franchise 500

Keep It Coming
Step 1: Start a business. Step 2: Fail. Step 3: Start a business. Repeat as necessary.

Biz 101
All in the Family
Do you want to mix business with family or friends? To preserve the ties that bind, be sure to prepare with care.

I Will Survive
Valuable tips on preparing for the worst-case scenario before disaster strikes your business

Innovations
At Ease, Private!
Private labeling offers an end to all the woes of dealing with retailers.

Opportunities
Comes In Handy
Got some work around the house, but can't find anyone who's up to the task? Just buy yourself a franchise.

Settled Out-of-Court
Stake your mall cafe claim away from the food court.

What's New 04/02
Plane tickets? Check. Bags? Check. Passport Health Inc.?

Smart Ideas
Deep Impact
One entrepreneur uses innovation to help others make a lasting impression without the headache.

What's Your Problem?
Paper Chase
Transcription services by any other name would smell just as sweet and successful.

Almost Famous
In the Bags
Hand-beaded accessories have treated Christiana Lapetina-Johnson almost as kindly as she treats her employees.

Editor's Note
Hearing Voices


Insurance
Bugs Money
Don't take a big loss when a virus strikes.

Legal
John@ v. Jane@
Is the best mediation for online arguments online?

Management Buzz
Management Buzz 04/02
Firing your CEO and the latest ADA Supreme Court ruling

Smart Moves
Under Study
Why did your client say no? Why can't your employees do their jobs? The answer may lie in corporate anthropology.

Staff Smarts
Keep the Faithful
Is it better to cut positions or just salaries? . . . and carry the eight . . . wait, stop calculating and think of employee morale.

A+ Ads
Where Are You Headed?
Sometimes it's not as much what your headline says as where you place it.

Breakthrough
Grab Bag
Plentiful partners can give you what you're groping for.

Marketing Buzz
Marketing Buzz 04/02
Why teaching could be an entrepreneur's most important job and the latest advice on self promotion

Real Deal
Have Your Day in Court?
Lawsuits happen—and as with any other aspect of negotiating, it's up to you to get the best deal for your business.

Sales Force
Hire and Hire
If you plan on making the sales you need to survive the recession, maybe you need more people to do the selling.

Sales Success
Ever After
Will you still respect your clients in the morning?

Tactics
And Another Thing . . .
Successful marketing takes more than a monster budget.

Dollar Signs
Tough Enough
Despite speculations of a kinder SEC, Harvey Pitt is cracking down on business.

Funds
Industrial Strength
Pump up portfolios with strong sector funds.

Money Buzz
Money Buzz 04/02
How number-crunching could predict business success, a solution to low-worth stock options, and the value of "Patriot Bonds"

Raising Money
It's Payback Time
Are your deadbeat debtors getting you down? Don't get mad, get even.

Tax Talk
Don't Be an April Fool!
There's time for some last-minute tax moves.

Biz Travel
"No Fair" Fares
Have you paid the high price of buying cheap airline tickets?

Books
Also-Rans
How to be the best no. 4, 5 or 6 you can possibly be

Brand Aid
Manned Rocket
With a little gender rebranding, this boutique really took off.

Capitol Issues
Unmaking a List
It'll take more than "credible evidence" to keep you out of government contracting.

Hot Seat
Among Friends
How do you make customers comfortable enough to buy? Give 'em an online community.

It Figures
It Figures 04/02
Small-business hiring patterns, keeping in touch with customers and more

Smarts Features
The Art of (Price) War
Low prices sound good, but can you slice deep without hitting profit?

Wasn't Me
If you're not yet suffering from post-Enron guilt by incorporation, you will be.

¿Que Tal?
The Hispanic market keeps on buying, even when you throw a recession in its way.

Off the Market?
Nasdaq is bending the rules to lend a hand to falling companies, but will it help?

Child Stars
Reaffirming the American way, kids are showing new entrepreneurial interest.

Down by Law
Powerful industry lobbies are fighting tooth and nail to stop online competitors.

Snapshot
Julz Chavez
40, creator and co-founder of San Francisco-based Get Real Girl

Wheels
Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Know where your drivers are—and how they got there.

Women
Little Women
In industries dominated by giants, small companies must break the rules to survive.

Buyer's Guide
Double Take
CD-RW/DVD combination drives can give you the best of both worlds, so don't think twice about giving them a second look.

Digital Edge
Broad Horizons
For a while, it looked like the sun was setting on broadband. Now be prepared for the dawn of a new, improved marketplace.

Hot Disks
Hot Disks 04/02
Get snazzier presentations, develop rich media e-mails, prevent computer crashes and compose e-mail on the fly.

Net Profits
Hear and Now
More and more sound-savvy entrepreneurs are realizing that silence isn't always golden when it comes to their Web sites.

Tech Buzz
Tech Buzz 04/02
The skinny on tablet PCs and what the future of Internet technology will hold

Wireless
Jabber-Walkie
Now you can ramble in more ways than one.

Buy? Cell?
Do your homework before choosing a plan.