Entrepreneur Magazine: January 2003

We Shall Overcome
With our expert's help, you can follow these entrepreneurs' examples and turn your weak points into problems solved.

Explore Your Auctions
Once the domain of small sellers, eBay has become a valued resource for entrepreneurs.

Upward Mobility
This is the year wireless takes off. Are you along for the ride or letting your competitors get off to a huge start?

Enron But Not Forgotten
Being a former Enron employee doesn't necessarily leave you out in the cold in the business community--not for entrepreneurs with the guts to restake their names on ventures of their own.



Franchise 500®
Have You Heard the Latest?
Want to build a hot business in 2003? These areas of franchising may be your best shots at getting there.

Stick to the Path
Get your trip down franchise-buying lane off on the right foot with a little how-to help.

Do the Math
Subway is the No. 1 franchise in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. . . for the 11th time. That translates to more than 17,000 locations in 75 countries. Are you impressed yet? We are.

Entrepreneur's 24th Annual Franchise 500
A closer look at this year's ranking of the top 500 franchises

Franchising Basics and Funding
Creative Endeavors
Just because you bought into a franchise system that has everything thought out for you doesn't mean you should stop thinking for yourself.

Minority Matters
Pick a resource and get all the help you need to overcome your obstacles.

Can You Spot Me Five?
Can't find the cash? Have you tried these 5 common resources?

Profiles
Never Seen Anything Like It
This IHOP owner was international enough, but what's a pancake?

Repeat Business
When your franchise is a roaring success, what's the next step?

Do It Yourself
When corporate benefits are layoffs and cutbacks, why not buy a franchise?

Trends
You Bought What on eBay?!
Need an even simpler solution to the franchise buying process? How does an online auction sound?

One Big, Happy Family
These days, franchise systems seem to be irresistibly attracted to each other. But consolidation doesn't have to turn into a family feud.

Almost Famous
Fancy Footwork
An orthopedic surgeon-turned-entrepreneur proves to the world she can stand tall on her own.

Editor's Note
The Only Constant


Creative Zone
The Missing Think
Your business can't survive without some creative thinking.

Insurance
It's a Gamble
The cost of being underinsured might just defeat the purpose of insurance.

Legal
Asking for a Fight
You have to get tough with transgressors if you want to protect your intellectual property.

Management Buzz
Management Buzz 1/03
Why you may want to have your lawyer give your company the once-over; the consequences of firing your CEO

Real Deal
Seeking Counsel
Closing on a big deal and need an attorney? Here's how to find a deal-maker, not a deal-breaker.

Smart Moves
Instant Mess
Grab the spackle. Instant messaging is the latest crack in your security.

Staff Smarts
An Ounce of Prevention . . .
May be worth its weight in gold when it comes to cutting insurance costs.

A+ Ads
Dare to Compare
Put your product to the test with comparison ads and earn top grades from your target audience.

Breakthrough
Ice and Easy
With TV publicity, this treat wasn't hard to sell.

Marketing Buzz
Marketing Buzz 1/03
Getting interviewed on the radio; selling based on the love

Net Sales
The Keyword to Success
Search engine marketing can open the door to growing your business.

Sales Force
Training Day
Coaching your reps on pushing a new product can help them play the selling game better.

Sales Success
Rise and Shine
Drifted into a sales slump? It's time to wake up and sell your way back to the top.

Tactics
Evolution Theory
Your customers' tastes are always changing. Question is, are your marketing efforts doing the same?

Dollar Signs
Plastic Rap
The pros and cons of the latest trend--using credit cards to finance your business

Funds
Fund & Games
This investment is so bad it might be good.

Money Buzz
Money Buzz 1/03
The VC arena for family businesses, Nasdaq's new trading platform and more

Raising Money
Our Little Angels
Angel investors haven't left us; they're just scaling back their operations.

Tax Talk
Is That New?
To prove you deserve an R&D credit, when the IRS says "Jump," you'll say "Which hoop?"

Biz Travel
Good Ill Hunting
Getting the best deal from the ailing travel industry

Books
More's Code
The secret of turning less into something bigger

Brand Aid
Brand-Spankin' Brew
Whipping its logo into shape got this brewery's business hopping.

Capitol Issues
Fuelish Ideas
Jump-starting the economy the entrepreneurial way

Hot Seat
Get the Picture?
Portrait of a branding artist: how to market your products by marketing yourself first

Smarts Features
Remember When
These are the milestones you'll remember 2003 by. Hope you take advantage.

Need a Lift?
How to retain employees when pay raises and job security are but a memory

Housing Crunch
How would a real estate downturn affect you? Well, it starts with your bank . . .

Microsoft Is No Softy
It looks like Gates and Co. are playing hardball with Licensing 6.0. Is it worth it?

All Good Things . . .
. . . must be taxed. Europe has busted through the Internet taxation barrier.

First Family
California has made paid family leave law. Will the rest of the nation follow?

Snapshot
Tena Clark
50, founder and CEO of Disc Marketing Inc. in Pasadena, California

Tech Toy
Play Mate
A travel companion that pulls its weight

Wheels
Under the Hood
"Conservative company car" is just a secret identity.

Women
Do You Take This Man?
Looking for qualified hires? Your significant other may be just what you're after.

Buyer's Guide
Pretty in Ink
Which color printer is the fairest of them all? Depending on your business needs and your budget, the possibilities are endless.

Digital Edge
Small Wonders
Desktop computers may be shrinking in size, but certainly not in long-term savings.

Gear
Gear 01/02
Take a closer look at this notebook-sized wireless server.

Hot Disks
Hot Disks 1/03
Spam protection, an alternative office suite and more

Net Profits
Caught in the Web of Lies
With Internet fraud reports on the rise, is there any way for legitimate e-tailers to avoid a bad rap?

Solutions
Tech Mates
Tearing your hair out over your computer equipment? You need professional help.

Tech Buzz
Tech Buzz 1/03
Wouldn't it be great to have just one password for all your online transactions?

Wireless
Rolloverkill?
The truth behind keeping those rollover minutes

Look, Up in the Sky . . .
It's weather balloons to GPS' rescue!

Homing Devices
Chipping in for employees' home broadband can really pay off.