Spring 2003

Departments

Keeping the Books – What to Know Before You Lease

People Power – Don't Get Burned by IT Work Gone Bad

Customer Care – Customer-centric Staffing

Marketing 101 – Secrets to Generating a PR Buzz

Features

Three Steps to Do-It-Yourself Market Research
With a little extra legwork, creative companies can capture valuable insight into their market.

Spreading the Word
So what if you don’t have a big marketing budget. Learn how to successfully promote your business with creative, grassroots tactics.

Abagnale's Advice
Our regular columnist, noted security expert Frank Abagnale, gives us his take on how to avoid identity theft.

From the Pages of Inc.

Tax Realities of Husband-and-Wife Sole Proprietorships
The IRS makes it more tempting to set up a mom-and-pop business. But you need to know a little law to take advantage of the tax breaks.

Three Steps to Borrowing from Family or Friends
Keeping the relationship professional is the key to successful borrowing from close acquaintances.

Just-in-Time Talent
Keep overhead low by bringing in workers as you need them.

Grassroots Marketing

The Sweet Smell of Excess
When big-shot Blockbuster alums came calling with plans to start a national chain of florist shops, little guys like John Partridge and Greg Royer thought they'd hit the jackpot.
By: Donna Fenn

The Five Secrets to Electrifying Opt-In E-Mail
Avoid being dumped in the delete bin - create an e-mail that gets results using these five strategies.
By: Heather Martin

20 Tips for Finding Money Now
A list of some of the best sources for financing. Includes information about bank loans, nonbank creditors, private and public equity sources, and international finance.
By: Jill Andresky Fraser

Where Do You Go?
Small-business expert and former Inc. writer Tom Ehrenfeld discusses the various financing options entrepreneurs have in this excerpt from his book, The Startup Garden.
By: Tom Ehrenfeld

A Borrower Be
Tough economies and easy credit usually don't mix. So why are banks falling all over themselves to lend small businesses money?
By: Martin Mayer

The Private-Capital Survival Guide
Even with both the economy and the stock market sputtering, private-capital deals are more appealing than ever. Why? Because well-heeled investors still need a place to stow their cash. But it's not just about the money.
By: Harris Collingwood

Benefits: Looking for the Next 401(k)?
A tax-free savings plan for college sounds like a great perk, but take a close look at the fine print before signing on.
By: Ilan Mochari