Electric Currency
The former director of the U.S. Mint on whether Internet technology will displace hard currency. Read more
Start-up
Recent Start-up Articles
Copyright Ownership: Who Owns What?
As a general rule, the copyright in a work is initially owned by the work's creator, but not always. What are the exceptions to the rule th... Read more
Types of Trademarks
The term "trademark" is commonly used to describe many different types of devices that label, identify, and distinguish products or services in the markep... Read more
Corporations Defined
The following information deals primarily with the small, privately owned corporation. It assumes that all of the corporate stock is owned by one person o... Read more
Creating a Corporation
Corporations are controlled primarily by state, not federal, law. This means that 50 different sets of rules cover how corporations are created. Terminolo... Read more
Sole Proprietorships Defined
The simplest form of business entity is the sole proprietorship. If you choose this legal structure, then legally speaking, you and the business are the s... Read more
Choosing between a Corporation and an LLC
Let's assume that you've read all of Nolo's Legal Encyclopedia material on Read more
What Web Site Builders Need to Know about Trademark Law
Doing business on the Web doesn't spare you from many of the same laws and customs that govern businesses in the physical world. You must pay especially c... Read more
How can I successfully market my new business?
Marketing & Advertising mentor Jay Conrad Levinson responds to the following question from an inc.com user: What suggestions do ... Read more
My competitor has venture capital backing. How can I use that fact to my advantage?
Finance & Capital mentor Guy Kawasaki responds to the following question from an inc.com user: How would you suggest that I use ... Read more
What business questions concern a venture capital firm most when evaluating a potential investment?
Law & Taxation mentor Richard S. Morse Jr. responds: The venture capital firm will conduct reference checks on the management team, ... Read more
Five Key Ways to Improve Your Customers' Experience
Have you ever been to a Web site and had an all-around excellent experience? The site was easy to use, the checkout was flawless, and when you had to call... Read more
How do I reach a niche business market?
Marketing & Advertising mentor Jay Conrad Levinson responds to the following question from an inc.com user: We have a small, s... Read more
Business for Sale: South Central Airport
Are your entrepreneurial dreams ready to take flight? Consider buying this state-of-the-art airport. Read more
How-to Benefit from R&D
Small businesses may see as much as a three percent increase in market value for every 10 percent hike in investment in research and development (R&D), ac... Read more
Does the Internet help small businesses compete -- or help large corporations dominate?
Jennifer Lawton, an Internet in Business mentor at inc.com, responds: I think it does both of those things. It's an inexpensive pl... Read more
Business Plan Outline
This is an outline of a complete business plan: Summary Business concept Current situati... Read more
Pointers on Putting Together Your Business Plan
Getting started The hardest part of creating a business plan is getting started. It seems like a daunting task at first. But once ... Read more
I'll be the sole owner of a party production company. Which form should my business take?
Law & Taxation mentor Barbara Weltman responds: As the sole owner, your choices are limited to sole proprietorship, S corporation,... Read more
Why Sell Goods in Online Auctions?
From Beanie Babies to large pieces of industrial equipment, if there is a product that can be bought and sold, there is probably an auction site selling i... Read more
I'm not seeking outside investors. Should I bother with a business plan if a bank doesn't demand it?
Offices & Operations mentor Charles J. Bodenstab responds: Every small business should make a business plan, although a plan that ... Read more
Rich Ideas
Reviews of five new business books -- two about creating wealth and giving it away; two on the importance of differentiation; and a basic guide to writing a ... Read more
Where to Start for Business Plan Smarts
Anatomy of a Business Plan, 4th edition, by Linda Pinson and Jerry Jinnett (Dearborn, 1999) The first edition of Linda Pinson and Jerry J... Read more
Managing by the Web
Inc. asks 34 CEOs to test drive small-business Web sites. Editor's note: inc.com, chosen #1 for entrepreneurs by Forbes , w... Read more
Where Has All the Money Gone?
With an unprecedented amount of capital flowing through the equity and debt markets, you'd think anyone can raise money for just about anything. But unless y... Read more
Seven Entrepreneurs in Search of a Deal
From new twists on time-honed tactics to the brave new world of Internet financing, here are strategies that can help land your business in the money. Read more
The Quotable Entrepreneur: Rob Wood
"Private equity is like dating -- they're not permanent relationships. With a VC you get married -- either you're with them for a long time, or there's a ... Read more
Living Business Plans Help Businesses Flow with Future
Sudden, unanticipated changes in your market can have a drastic impact on your business. But you can thwart catastrophe by building flexibility into your bu... Read more
Entrepreneur Profile: Terminalmarkets.com
From Wall Street stockbroker to vegetable importer to Internet entrepreneur, Sinan Talgat has trusted where his serendipitous career would lead. ... Read more
Is the Price Right? Ask Jay Walker
Like every other network before it, the Internetwill eventually become as routine as the highway system,electric grids, and telephone networks. And when i... Read more
How do I protect my ideas when meeting with people who could help me?
Finance & Capital mentor Guy Kawasaki responds: When you are presenting information to potential investors, you have to be careful... Read more
Give Your Marketing Plan a Sure Shot at Success
Writing it down is a good start. But what you do next will make all the difference. Read more
Read moreA New Chapter for E-Books
After falling flat in the early 1990s, are digital books ready to fly? Entrepreneurs are betting that new technology is creating a legitimate market. Read more
