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Table of contents: VOL. 15, NO. 10 - December 1, 2005
COVER STORY
Risk/Reward
by Anne Fisher
Executives who think it's safer to buy a franchise than start a business need to think again. (more)

Features
The Quick and the Rich
by Brandi Stewart

Loaded for Bear
by Carlye Adler
Lionel NeffCEO PBC INTERNATIONAL (more)
Ask Them Yourself
by Ellyn Spragins
How to survey your customers on the cheap. (more)
Blogging for Dollars
by Justin Martin
How would you like to survey 20 million consumers in two minutes? (more)
Sunken Treasure
by Lindsey Gerdes
A Florida couple mill beautiful lumber out of logs they salvage from the South's river bottoms. (more)
Hire Education
by Norman Cloutier
After 25 years of building businesses and recruiting employees, I've learned ways to seek out the best talent. (more)
Scrap Mettle
by Arlyn Tobias Gajilan/Chicago
United Scrap Metal is one grimy business. So why do so few employees ever want to leave? (more)
Smooth Sailing
by Maggie Overfelt
A ship chandler saves on maintenance with open-source software. (more)
Soft Sell
by Maggie Overfelt
An open-source application that helps your sales force perform. (more)
Data Lockdown
by Ron Stodghill/Oakbrook Terrace, Ill
As online fraud spreads, an inexpensive device from a small firm catches on. (more)
Keys to Success
by Patricia B. Gray / Orono, Minn.
Chances are you've never heard--or heard of--Lorie Line's music. But that is because of the concerted effort she has made to get rich, not famous. (more)
Siberian Slice
by Christopher S. Stewart/Moscow
An American entrepreneur finds success east of the Urals. (more)
Addicts-R-Us
by Ron Stodghill/St. Paul
A fast-growing intervention firm seeks treatment from FSB's experts. (more)
The Shipping News
by Ron Stodghill
A novelty greeting-card firm sails toward profitability. (more)
off hours
New Winter Gear ...
by Rachele Lynn
Made by small businesses. (more)
Resources
by David Whitford

Green-Eyed Monster
by Corey Hajim
An entrepreneur's quest to change the face of sushi. (more)
Indie Caribbean
by David Whitford/St. Lucia
A new venture from a native entrepreneur lets you blend luxury and local color. (more)
Weathervane
by Carlye Adler

What's Different About This Car?
by Alex Taylor III
It's powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. With gas prices soaring, it also might be the ride of the future. (more)
startup
Sales From the Crypt
by Julie Sloane

Rebox Yourself
by Tahl Raz

Liquid Assets
by David Whitford
Boone Pickens, once an oil baron, now finds water cooler. (more)
Branching Out
by Kevin Kelly
Bringing in new managers reshaped the business--and forced me to grow. (more)
Think Brighter
by Pat Croce
Here's how I try to build brainstorming into my daily routine. (more)
Train Wreck
by Ian Mount

A Hidden Tax on Small Business
by By Brian O'Reilly, Fortune Small Business magazine
The alternative minimum tax is expanding to hit millions of entrepreneurs. (more)
Cut Your Exposure to a Sneaky Tax
by Jeanne Lee
One way to avoid the AMT may be to shift some deductions into your business. (more)
Katrina Blowback
by Maggie Overfelt

Wal-Mart as VC?
by Terrell Johnson

the edge
Stuck on You
by Joshua Hyatt
A new high-tech spitball could prove handy for more than just police work. (more)
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