July 2011
The Best Business Bars
Our writers barhopped far and wide to search out the nation's top spots for throwing one back in the name of business.
The Best Bar to . . . Show Off Your Classic Style: The Lobby Bar
This Louisville, Ky., hotel bar can be a great place for horse trading of all types.
Signs of Life in Small-Business Funding
A look at some of the more hopeful signals from the world of commercial lending, community banks, credit unions and venture backers
Apple's iPad or the Samsung Galaxy? Small-Business Users Debate
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is one of the first real credible tablet challengers to Apple's iPad. But are its more limited apps a hindrance or an advantage?
Subscribe Today
Keep up with emerging trends, industry leaders, and strategies for success from the comfort of your own home or on the go with a print and digital magazine subscription.
How to Get Better Hosted VoIP Services
Many small-business owners want the flexibility of hosted voice-over-IP but not the lack of reliability and call quality. We asked a tech geek: Is there a way to get both?
From Paycheck to Pay Dirt: Blazing Your Own Trail As a Business Owner
First-time business owners starting a venture in unfamiliar waters face a special set of challenges. Here are three who tackled them with success.
The 10 Most Popular Franchises for Military Veterans
Veterans have myriad opportunities for franchise success--often at special rates. Here's a look at some of the best options.
How Veteran Franchise Centers Helps Veterans Follow Their Entrepreneurial Dream
Lonnie Helgerson has headed up Ident-A-Kid, Expetec and Computer Doctor, but he's also a veteran of the U.S. Army. Helgerson's latest company combines his knowledge of both worlds.
Three Tips for Saving Money on Mobile Plans
As mobile data plans move to a pay-per-use model, you and your business will have to learn to work around them.
How One Army Veteran Made a Smooth Career Transition to Franchising
Snap-on Tools franchisee Greg Welch puts training into action.
How Angry Birds Set Up Its Online Store with Shopify
How digital commerce platform Shopify helped Angry Birds creator Rovio Mobile spread its wings into licensed merchandise sales.
HP Offers a More Rugged Portable Printer
The Officejet 100 is a printer that you can check into your luggage and can either plug into a wall outlet or run off a battery.
Six Tips for Breaking Bad News
Everyone has to deliver unwelcome information at some point. Here's one expert's take on a better way to do it.
Five Businesses Born at a Bar
The back-of-the-napkin business plan is not just a myth. Here are just a few examples of business ideas that took shape over drinks.
Lessons Learned from Failed Mergers
Buying or selling a company? Learn how to avoid the most common mistakes in these business transactions.
Gourmet Coffee Bars: A Caffeine-Fueled Comparison
We look at some of the more notable coffee shops around the U.S.
A DIY Solopreneur Longs for the Days of the Corporate Travel Department
. . . Or does he? The web makes being an informed consumer overseas easier than ever. Plus, eight handy travel apps.
The Unwritten Rules for Online Publishers
Easy and broad digital access has made everyone a content creator. Make sure you know how to behave online.
Knowledge on Tap: The Business of a Beer Sommelier
How one beer lover tanked his career in favor of teaching people about his beverage of choice
The Other Office
Entrepreneur Magazine's editor-in-chief on outside-the-office meeting places.
Mastering the Art of the Deal at the Bar
A bartender muses on one regular's skillful courting of customers.
Business and a Beer: An Entrepreneur Roundtable
Food, brew and wisdom: We assembled a diverse group of entrepreneurs to talk about recipes for success.
Franchise Pros Fill a Niche in Flip-Flops
After conquering gourmet ice cream and Southwestern cuisine, three franchise veterans kick off their shoes and get into sandals.
A Scrappy Entrepreneur's Plan B: Chewing Gum for a Cause
When his first idea doesn't hold water, an entrepreneur turns to gum -- and a philanthropic business model.
The Best Bar to. . . Get the Business Scoop From a Bartender: Elixir
The owner and bartender has an M.B.A. and intel on business locals in San Francisco. Try his award-winning Bloody Mary.
The Best Bar to. . . Get Green Inspiration: Brooklyn Bowl
This LEED-certified converted warehouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., just might inspire your own eco-business idea.
The Best Bar to . . . Find a Behind-the-Bar Mentor: Marquee Grill & Bar
The serial entrepreneur and mixologist serves up solid business advice at his Dallas establishment.
The Best Bar to . . . Network Without Spending Big Bucks: Copa D'Oro
This Santa Monica, Calif., hangout offers the kind of soft lighting and easy-on-the-wallet happy hour that can appeal to Gen-X startup founders.
The Best Bar to . . . Rent a Stylish Meeting Space: Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks
This Boston brasserie has a private dining room favored by liquor-industry insiders, among other members of the city's business elite.
The Best Bar to . . . Rub Elbows With a VC: Tom & Jerry's
This popular dive bar in Manhattan attracts its share of venture investors scouting startup talent.
The Best Bar to . . . Get Some Work Done: Bookstore Bar
This Seattle bar can be a great place to power through emails.
The Best Bar to . . . Hide Out in When Business Goes Bad: Holland House
This East Nashville stop is dark and takes mixology seriously.
The Best Bar to . . . Hang With Hipsters: Teardrop Cocktail Lounge
This Portland, Ore., nightspot is an island of modernity in the city's retro hipster Pearl District.
The Best Bar to . . . Celebrate a Big Win: The Chandelier
This Las Vegas venue is one of the more glitzy places in Tinsel Town to toast a business victory.
Bar Keep: How a Bar Becomes Your Own
The staff of Esquire put away plenty of drinks at the bar in the San Domenico--and the bartender became their (somewhat) silent partner.
Poggled Serves Up Local Deals for Drinkers
This social network says it's more than just 'Groupon for nightlife.'
How Do Your Sales Leads Measure Up?
Here are a few ways to check the effectiveness of online business generation by developing a lead-scoring model.
How an Art Gallery Created an Online Store for Social Shopping
Moontoast's digital platform helps affinity brands like Nashville's Arts Company translate Facebook fan fervor into online revenue.
How a Family-Owned Franchise Makes It Work
Two sisters and their retired mom team up to nurture a neglected franchise that sells used clothing for kids.
Groupon Now and the Rise of the Real-Time Deal
What do you get when you combine the daily discount model with the urge of the impulse purchase? Merchants hope the answer is instant customers.
Money, Happiness and the Secret to a Rich Life
You don't want to be rich. You want to be happy. The question is, can money buy happiness? Turns out it can--to an extent.
Stumptown's Duane Sorenson, the Coffee Connoisseur
This innovator elevated coffee to a level of appreciation on par with gourmet food and fine wine. An inside look at how the company helped launch a culture of coffee aficionados.
How Gamesalad Can Help You Create Your Own Video Game
This Austin company can turn almost anyone into a game developer.
Go Union: How I Got My Funding
Gary Hicks, president and CEO of SkillSniper.com, describes how he secured financing from a credit union to launch his job-hunting site.
This Robot Will Do Your Business Traveling for You
Fed up with traveling for business? Anybot's 'personal avatar' can help.
inDinero: A Real-Time Financial Dashboard for Your Business
Following $3 billion in transactions for 20,000 companies can take 3 billion keystrokes across 20,000 spreadsheets--or, with inDinero, just a few clicks
All the Right Moves
These franchisees packed up their homes and their previous careers to pursue small-business success in new cities
How to Turn Bar Trivia into a Team-Building Exercise
The leader's guide to winning bar happy-hour trivia contests.
How to Open a Coffee Bar
Consider these essentials to help make your caffeinated dreams come true. Plus, a list of the leading coffee franchises.
A San Francisco Incubator Blends Foodie and Startup Culture
The Summit SF is helping entrepreneurs brew the next big idea.
Chris Brogan on How to Make Your Customer a Hero
Most marketers put the focus on their product. Try flipping that around and showing your customers how they can be successful.
Jargon: Tweat
A tweet designed to discredit you and damage the reputation of your business.
Looking for Past Issues?
Looking for past issues of Entrepreneur magazine? Find them in our extensive archive collection.