The Few, the Proud, the Bankable
A look at how companies from the 1998 Inc. 500 managed to land bank loans or lines of credit right from the start. Read story
Hal Plotkin
What They Do (and Don't) Teach You in Business School
An M.B.A. will help you run an established business, but it can't provide the real-world experience needed to run a start-up. A look at when an M.B.A. comes ... Read story
A Blockbuster Video Idea
Inc. 500 CEO Greg Pabich finds a market for used movies and video games with his company, Movies Games 4 Sale. Read story
I'm Your Assistant, and I'm Not Here to Help You
Virtual assistants offer small business owners excellent help without employee problems. Read story
Trillion-Dollar Jackpot Bypasses Small Biz, Says SBA
A look at how a public pension fund came to the aid of one businessman, and how such a fund could help you. Read story
Seeking Quality, Juicer Squeezes Out Franchisees
Given the choice of franchising or setting up company-owned stores, here's why a fruit-juice firm opted for the stores. Read story
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Vineyard
Here's how an aspiring vintner established a mobile wine-bottling operation to raise money for his own vineyard. Read story
Cisco's Secret: Entrepreneurs Sell Out, Stay Put
Here's a look at how a high-tech giant is buying up small companies and bringing their owners on board, too. Read story
Jig May Be Up on Fantastic Stock Multiples from Roll-up Acquisitions
New SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin may spell the end to the roll-up gravy train. Read story
Hollywood Lures High School Animators with Sweet Deals
An innovative training program in a California high school is churning out graduates who command high salaries. Read story
Wal-Mart Throws the Book at Small-Biz Vendors
An overview of a program that has assisted more than 3,000 entrepreneurs with distributing their goods at Wal-Mart. Read story
Running on Empty
A quick look at a bank online service that warns small-business owners when their accounts are dwindling. Read story
Small Biz Gets No Charge from Electricity Deregulation
Here's why small businesses better pay attention when its electric-utility market becomes deregulated. Read story
Business, Bureaucrats Reinvent Local Gov't
A look at how an assemblage of local business leaders are teaming up with local government to effect a change. Read story
Slow Fingers Stall FDA Approvals
While the FDA has learned how to quickly get its approvals in the Federal Register, it still faces other slow downs. Read story
Student Uprising
A look at why, faced with poor job prospects, university students today are starting companies in record numbers. Read story
Speed Bumps
The promise and problems of ISDN, the next generation of data transmission technology. Read story
Dining a la Data
The owner of a chain of Chinese restaurants explains how and why he turned to technology to automate his eateries. Read story
Spin Doctors
The early days of audio CDs were pioneered in the U.S. by this company that is spread out across the country. Read story
Riches from Rags
After nearly failing, the clothing manufacturer profiled in this article turned to technology, and business is booming. Read story
The CEO Who Came in from the Cold
Story of an entrepreneur who ran a legitimate shipping company that reserved one branch office for CIA business. Read story
International Partners
California company produces goods in Taiwan because of the excellent service. Read story
The End of the Line
One company, plagued by competition of ex-employees, built a technical-information library and lost that, too. Read story
Chinese Checkers
An entrepreneur dramatizes his business in novels and uses the royalties as capital for his next start-up. Read story
How Now, Ed Zschau?
One CEO's desire to build a company and then run for Senate. Read story
Do Not Pass Go
Dual deck VCR manufacturer sues Japan Inc. for blocking access to parts. Read story
The Small-business Mayor
Art Agnos wasn't given much chance when he declared his candidacy for mayor of San Francisco in March 1987. A former social worker turned state assemblym... Read story
Let Them Eat Pies
An elderly couple in Hawaii has finally come up with an American product that the Japanese seem to want as much as Americans want Japanese VCRs and cars: ... Read story
