Winter 2004

Departments

Keeping the Books – Beyond Wi-fi's Cool Factor

People Power – Don't Be a Scrooge

Customer Care – Follow-up Tactics

Marketing 101 – A Direct Approach

Features

Talent Search
Hiring is one of a small-business owner's toughest challenges, despite the tight job market. But with a little creativity and some alternative recruiting options, companies are finding their match.

A Fresh Start
Ring in the new year with a strategy for growth, anchored by online and novel marketing tactics.

Abagnale's Advice
The season for giving . . . and taking.

From the Pages of Inc.

Banks May Sell Off Your Loans
A secondary market for small-business loans could benefit entrepreneurs.
By: Amy Gunderson

A Small Price to Pay
Long-term care coverage makes growing old a little bit easier.
By: Alison Stein Wellner

Jet Stream E-mail
Frequent fliers can now hope to e-mail at 35,000 feet.
By: Anton Piech

Worker Waist Management
When it comes to healthcare costs, one form of belt-tightening depends on another.
By: Jill Hecht Maxwell

The Lure and Danger of Big-Client Projects
It's every small-business owner's dream to land a big contract with a big corporation – or is it? Learn how eagerness to hook a large fish can get entrepreneurs in trouble.
By: Shirley Leung

Respect Your Elders
Looking for smart, reliable employees? The over-65 set is a good place to start.
By: Donna Fenn

Creativity Regained
Robert Redford happens to be a movie star, but he's the star who founded an enterprise that changed an industry. Along the way, this very successful entrepreneur developed theories of innovation and creativity that will inspire you and improve your business, too.
By: Stephen H. Zades

Time to Fix the SBA
The Small Business Administration is in bad need of an overhaul. Here's Inc.'s bold plan to fix the SBA – delivered just as the agency celebrates its 50th anniversary.
By: Elizabeth Wasserman

Finding the Right Keyword
Marketing via search engines like Yahoo and Google isn't as easy or cheap as it used to be. But it's still a great way to get the word out, if you're smart about it.
By: Ellen Neuborne

Where Seed Money Really Comes From
Forget about venture capitalists, most people rely on the four Fs.
By: Cara Cannella