Inc. 5000


Recent Inc. 5000 Articles

Test of a True Entrepreneur: Can You Step Away?

By Michael E. Gerber |  Feb 13, 2012

Can your business run indefinitely without you at the helm? Michael E. Gerber, author of The E-Myth, outlines the steps you need to take to get there.  Read more

What You're Not Doing to Maximize Profit (But Should Be)

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 13, 2012

If you don’t know which products create the most value for your business, you’re probably missing out on key growth opportunities.  Read more

NextLot: $1 Billion in Auction Sales Online

By Eric Markowitz |  Feb 13, 2012

Founder Scott Finkelstein is expanding NextLot, this week's Inc. 5000 applicant of the week, for the next generation of Web users.  Read more

How We Saved 30% on Our Benefits Plan

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 10, 2012

When your business is built around talent, you can’t afford to skimp on healthcare and other employee benefits.  Read more

7 Steps to Turbocharge Your Efficiency

By Matthew Swyers |  Feb 10, 2012

We all want more time. But how do you get it? The answer is to become a master of efficiency.  Read more

Redbox's Smart Move: What You Can Learn

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 9, 2012

The company's movie streaming deal with Verizon is a classic adjacency move that leverages the brand while limiting the risk.  Read more

5 Ways to Reward Your All-Star Employees

By Jay Love |  Feb 9, 2012

There's no such thing as too much employee recognition. Learn five ways to reward your team.  Read more

3 Steps to Build Your Business Up by Tearing it Down

By Matthew Swyers |  Feb 8, 2012

Sometimes the best way to keep your business growing is to analyze what would bring it to an end.  Read more

6 Steps to Define Your 'True North'

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 8, 2012

Identifying your business’s one true objective will provide a strong foundation for all strategic decision-making.  Read more

I Love You, You’re Fired

By Seth Goldman |  Feb 7, 2012

What do you do when the product you conceived, nurtured and loved, fails to thrive?  Read more

2 Factors That Define Great Leaders

By Glen Blickenstaff |  Feb 7, 2012

How setting an objective and influencing people will define your leadership success.  Read more

How to Fix Your Sales Team: 3 Ways

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 7, 2012

How one company re-incentivized its sale force to pursue high-value customers.  Read more

Don’t Grow Your Business With Bad Customers

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 6, 2012

Take the time to discover which customers add the most value to your business.  Read more

3 Lessons From the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Disaster

By Janine Popick |  Feb 6, 2012

The foundation's recent public relations mess offers valuable takeaways for small businesses.  Read more

Growing Fast at a Campus Near You

By Caitlin Berens |  Feb 6, 2012

Inc. 5000 applicant The Campus Special, founded by Chau Nguyen, is growing fast by marketing coupons to college students the old-fashioned way.  Read more

5 Easy Ways to Drum Up PR Coverage

By Janine Popick |  Feb 6, 2012

Does the press love your business as much as you do? Here are five ways to grab the media's attention--no PR expertise required.  Read more

The Stealthiest Start-up Killer

By Chris Mittelstaedt |  Feb 6, 2012

It's the threat you never see coming. In fact, even after you crash and burn you still might not recognize it.  Read more

Get an Offer That's Just Right

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 3, 2012

Finding the perfect investor can be a Goldilocks-type challenge. Here's how one company found that 'just right' investor.  Read more

5 Steps to Thinking Outside of the Box

By Matthew Swyers |  Feb 3, 2012

How do people think outside of the proverbial box? They know how to view things more expansively. Here's how.  Read more

5 Steps to Saying You're Sorry

By Glen Blickenstaff |  Feb 3, 2012

It's a mistake to refuse an apology to angry customers. Here's how to get really good at saying 'I'm sorry.'  Read more

5 Alternative Ways to Get Your Story Told

By Andre Leb |  Feb 2, 2012

The best business story might not get noticed by the top publications, but there are plenty of other ways to get it published.  Read more

3 Characteristics of a Great Investor

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 2, 2012

Outside investors can propel your business and create a foundation for long-term success. The trick is finding the right ones.  Read more

No Really! Change is a Good Thing

By Kevin Bailey |  Feb 2, 2012

Spearheading a rapidly-growing business has its challenges but don't resist the urge to evolve as the business grows.  Read more

Can a Shoe Color Really Be Trademarked?

By Matthew Swyers |  Feb 1, 2012

With a Federal Court Case underway many are asking can the color of the soles of shoes be protected as a trademark. The answer may surprise you.  Read more

3 Ways to Lower Your Break-even Point

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Feb 1, 2012

Taking steps to improve profitability can actually help you to increase customer value and build brand equity.  Read more

10 Steps to Teaching Your Kids to Become Entrepreneurs

By Duane Spires |  Feb 1, 2012

For business owners, it may be the most important lesson you can pass along. Use these 10 tips to put your kids on a start-up track.  View slideshow

3 Problems with the ‘Bain Capital’ Model

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Jan 31, 2012

The traditional private equity model could use a makeover. Our goal: build a new model that creates more value for investors and management teams.  Read more

Why TARP Failed Small Business (And How to Fix It)

By Glen Blickenstaff |  Jan 31, 2012

There are other options for reviving the economy, including asking Americans to invest in something similar to war bonds.  Read more

How I Got My Business Model Right With My Second Company

By Lewis Schiff |  Jan 30, 2012

The CEO of Stage 2 Networks, an Inc. 5000 company, recaps his $100 million education.  Read more

Who Are Your A-list Customers?

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Jan 30, 2012

Which customers should you be rolling out the red carpet for? Follow these three steps to identify the customers and prospects worth nurturing.  Read more

Making a Bundle on Baby Bloomers

By Abigail Tracy |  Jan 30, 2012

RuffleButts founder Amber Schaub reinvented the bloomers from her youth, which led to a full-fledged children's apparel company she now runs with her husband.  Read more

Taxi Drivers Get Around Card Fees

By Janine Popick |  Jan 30, 2012

Small businesses are always thinking about clever ways to save money, and cab drivers are no exception.  Read more

Survive the Brink of Disaster 

By Inc. staff |  Jan 27, 2012

How Colleen Molter, founder of QED National, an IT staffing firm, survived the dot-com bubble and Sept. 11th, and other lessons.  Watch video

Are You Doubling Down for Growth?

By Karl Stark and Bill Stewart |  Jan 27, 2012

Entrepreneurs and growing companies must be willing to bet last year’s profits to increase the odds for future growth.  Read more

How to Lead a Fast Growth Company

By Glen Blickenstaff |  Jan 27, 2012

Turnaround specialist Glen Blickenstaff, in the last of five articles, explains how to turn a failing company into a breakout success. This week he offers a ...  Read more