Hal Plotkin


The Few, the Proud, the Bankable

By Hal Plotkin |  Oct 15, 1998

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

What They Do (and Don't) Teach You in Business School

By Hal Plotkin |  Dec 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Oct 15, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Oct 1, 1997

Virtual assistants offer small business owners excellent help without employee problems.  Read story

Trillion-Dollar Jackpot Bypasses Small Biz, Says SBA

By Hal Plotkin |  Aug 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Jul 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Jun 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Mar 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Feb 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Jan 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Jan 1, 1997

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Dec 1, 1996

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Dec 1, 1996

Here's why small businesses better pay attention when its electric-utility market becomes deregulated.  Read story

Business, Bureaucrats Reinvent Local Gov't

By Hal Plotkin |  Nov 1, 1996

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Oct 1, 1996

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Aug 1, 1996

A look at why, faced with poor job prospects, university students today are starting companies in record numbers.  Read story

Speed Bumps

By Hal Plotkin |  Jun 15, 1996

The promise and problems of ISDN, the next generation of data transmission technology.  Read story

Dining a la Data

By Hal Plotkin |  Dec 15, 1995

The owner of a chain of Chinese restaurants explains how and why he turned to technology to automate his eateries.  Read story

Spin Doctors

By Hal Plotkin |  Jun 15, 1995

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Mar 15, 1995

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Mar 1, 1994

Story of an entrepreneur who ran a legitimate shipping company that reserved one branch office for CIA business.  Read story

International Partners

By Hal Plotkin |  May 1, 1989

California company produces goods in Taiwan because of the excellent service.  Read story

The End of the Line

By Hal Plotkin |  Feb 1, 1989

One company, plagued by competition of ex-employees, built a technical-information library and lost that, too.  Read story

Chinese Checkers

By Hal Plotkin |  Feb 1, 1989

An entrepreneur dramatizes his business in novels and uses the royalties as capital for his next start-up.  Read story

How Now, Ed Zschau?

By Hal Plotkin |  Dec 1, 1988

One CEO's desire to build a company and then run for Senate.  Read story

Do Not Pass Go

By Hal Plotkin |  Nov 1, 1988

Dual deck VCR manufacturer sues Japan Inc. for blocking access to parts.  Read story

The Small-business Mayor

By Hal Plotkin |  Jul 1, 1988

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

By Hal Plotkin |  Jun 1, 1988

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