Inc. 5000


Recent Inc. 5000 Articles

Are You Violating Google's New Copyright Policy?

By Matthew Swyers |  Aug 17, 2012

Avoid becoming a victim to Google's new policy of penalizing the organic rankings of websites suspected of improperly posting the copyrighted materials of ot...  Read more

5 Steps to a Successful Start-up

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 17, 2012

David Klein, CEO of CommonBond, is building his new company with an eye for value creation and growth. Here are five things he's doing that others should emu...  Read more

7 Tips for Creating Your Own Destiny

By Kevin Daum |  Aug 17, 2012

Are you working on your life or just in it? Here is the perspective and method you need to plan and execute the life and career worthy of your potential.  Read more

Scaling is Hard, Case Study: TripAdvisor

By Jeff Bussgang |  Aug 17, 2012

Think scaling a company is a walk in the park? Think again. Check out this in depth look at TripAdvisor's experience.  Read more

3 Ways to Win the RFP Rat Race

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 16, 2012

If your sales force is spending a lot of time on RFPs, but not bringing in a lot of new business, then you might need to consider new investments in your bus...  Read more

Selling Your Business: Checklist for a Smooth Closing

By Mike Handelsman |  Aug 15, 2012

When it is finally time to close a business sale, preparing a closing day to-do list and understanding what will happen will ease the transition.  Read more

OtterBox CEO: Why I Don't Use Social Media

By Curt Richardson |  Aug 15, 2012

Social media has become a powerful tool for all businesses, but a firm belief that 'if you can't do it well, you shouldn't do it at all' is behind my absence...  Read more

Finally! A Way to Calculate Social Media ROI

By Aaron Aders |  Aug 15, 2012

Shares, likes, links and retweets are all great, but what's their impact on sales? Here's a new way to get the metrics you need to measure your online market...  Read more

If Men Are From Mars, Then Women Are Too

By Naveen Jain |  Aug 14, 2012

In business there is so much disparity between women and men, from leadership roles to compensation, but new research proves that our brains work nearly the ...  Read more

5 Steps for Building an Innovation Pipeline

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 14, 2012

If your business has problems turning ideas into business growth, you may need to create an internal team charged with bringing new products to new markets.  Read more

4 Personality Traits All Entrepreneurs Must Have

By Michael E. Gerber |  Aug 14, 2012

Nestled away in the entrepreneur's mind, there are four distinct traits of his or her personality that work together to make an entrepreneur successful.  Read more

10 Secrets of Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur

By Naveen Jain |  Aug 13, 2012

There is a myth that entrepreneurial success is all about innovative thinking and breakthrough ideas. Here's what success truly means.  Read more

Don't Make That Investment Yet. Here's Why

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 13, 2012

About to enter a new market or make a major investment in an existing one? A mistake could be costly. You may need to adopt a test-and-learn strategy first.  Read more

Talk to Your Customers; You Might Learn Something

By Janine Popick |  Aug 13, 2012

CEOs need to put themselves out there to see what their customers are saying. And the best way is to communicate with them directly.  Read more

Inspire Olympic-Size Team Spirit in Your Employees

By Janine Popick |  Aug 10, 2012

Creating a real team-oriented approach, where everyone is rooting for the same thing, is crucial to any company.  Read more

3 Steps to More Insightful Thinking

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 10, 2012

It's easy to fall back on 'group think' to address business challenges. But if you really want to generate game-changing ideas, you need a different approach.  Read more

When Customers Have Had Enough Innovation

By Curt Richardson |  Aug 10, 2012

Can there be too much innovation? Yes, and smartphone manufacturers had to learn this fact the hard way.  Read more

How Washington Can Fix the Economy

By Matthew Swyers |  Aug 9, 2012

Where have all of our heroes gone? We need a hero to get us back to economic prosperity and we need one now.  Read more

5 Actions of Power Networkers

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 9, 2012

You can make the most out of meet-and-greet opportunities if you balance a little advance planning with the flexibility required to forge new and unexpected ...  Read more

Negotiating the Final Terms of Your Business Sale

By Mike Handelsman |  Aug 8, 2012

Owners who have prepared for business sale negotiations will be much more likely to get the purchase terms they desire.  Read more

Boost Sales Using Social Influence

By Aaron Aders |  Aug 8, 2012

Who in your network is more likely to influence the buying decisions of others? A study reveals the group you should be advertising to online.  Read more

Biggest Companies of the 2012 Inc. 5000

By Jillian D'Onfro |  Aug 7, 2012

Which of America's fastest-growing companies sells the most stuff? Would you guess Facebook, Levi Strauss, or Publix, or none of the above? Find out.  View slideshow

Top Black Entrepreneurs of the 2012 Inc. 5000

By Abigail Tracy |  Aug 7, 2012

These 10 fast-growing, private companies are led by black entrepreneurs, most of whom are forging a decisive path in the government services industry.  View slideshow

Fundraising Saga of a Desperate Entrepreneur - Part 2

By Shazi Visram |  Aug 7, 2012

In the second part of this launch story, Shazi Visram, founder and CEO of Happy Family, shares how advice and angels helped her launch her growing company in...  Read more

4 Ways to Successfully Mix Business & Pleasure

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 7, 2012

There's nothing wrong with pitching business to your friends as long as you follow these unwritten rules of engagement.  Read more

5 Reasons to Build an In-House Creative Team

By Janine Popick |  Aug 7, 2012

It's tempting to take creative responsibilities off your shoulders and hand it over to an agency, especially when you're growing. Here's why I decided to bui...  Read more

3 Reasons to Look to the Angels for Start-up Funding

By Langley Steinert |  Aug 7, 2012

VCs can pack a powerful punch. But here's why you should hold that thought.  Read more

5 Signs That You're an Entrepreneur at Heart

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 6, 2012

You might be surprised how many "entrepreneurs" are not at the helm of a growing business but rather are among the employees helping to build it.  Read more

When Do You Need an HR Specialist?

By Janine Popick |  Aug 3, 2012

If HR-related issues are getting in the way of running your business, then it's probably time to bring in an expert.  Read more

3 Ways to Benefit From the Lies of Others

By Kevin Daum |  Aug 3, 2012

Newsflash: People lie to get ahead, to get attention and to rationalize their behavior. But you can protect yourself and benefit from their dishonesty. Here'...  Read more

What Olympic Athletes Can Learn From Entrepreneurs (& Vice Versa)

By Naveen Jain |  Aug 3, 2012

Many entrepreneurs have the same drive and dedication as Olympic athletes, but the difference is an entrepreneur's target is always moving.  Read more

3 Non-Financial "Gifts" for Your Sales Team

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Aug 2, 2012

Growing sales is not about motivational efforts or higher commissions for your sales force. The best incentive is to invest in your business model and your b...  Read more

5 Tips for Getting and Handling Press

By Matthew Swyers |  Aug 2, 2012

Harness the power of the media to market your business using these five tips.  Read more

Financing and Tax Implications of Selling Your Business

By Mike Handelsman |  Aug 1, 2012

Taking the time to research the financing and tax implications of a sale can provide you with a strong advantage come negotiation time.  Read more

5 Idea Generators (& Idea Killers)

By Michael A. Olguin |  Jul 31, 2012

To get the most out of each brainstorming session, follow these tips for generating innovative ideas.  Read more