Building a Business
A Backstage Tour of Orlando’s Startups
Florida's "happiest place on earth" may be best known for mouse ears, but you'll find startups working on everything from healthy school lunches to hybrid geothermal systems.
Sarah Max is a freelance writer in Bend, Ore. She has covered business and personal finance for more than a decade for such publications as Barron's, Money, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. In 2009 Sarah got a first-hand look at the ups and downs of entrepreneurship when she helped launch 1859 Oregon''s Magazine, a bimonthly print and digital magazine for which she is editor at large.
More From Sarah Max
Building a Business
Orlando Entrepreneurs Say Magic Is Returning
After suffering the double whammy of a housing crash and drop in tourism spending, Orlando's economy seems to have turned a corner.
Building a Business
A Look at Indy’s Innovators
Forget the jokes about corn. Indiana's capital city is quietly rolling out solutions for everything from tracking scientific data and charitable donations to juggling kids' soccer schedules.
Building a Business
Indy’s Entrepreneurs Make a Full-Court Press
Sure, Indianapolis is better known for basketball and car racing than entrepreneurship. But proponents say Indy is the best place to launch and grow a startup right now.
Building a Business
Stepping Inside Boise’s Startup Scene
No one ever called Idaho's capital a busting metropolis. But its entrepreneurs know how to think big. Here's a look.
Building a Business
Boise Attracts Startups Seeking Quality of Life
Idaho's capital doesn't have the resources of a bubble town. But sustainable growth and mountain views are drawing entrepreneurs.
Building a Business
Let the Good Times Roll: Big Easy Kicks Off Entrepreneur Week
There's more to New Orleans than jazz and beignets. The city, which has been luring startups with new resources, gears up for its fifth Entrepreneur Week.
Building a Business
Behold Some of Baton Rouge’s New Ventures
Louisiana's capital city is more than just the home of Louisiana State University. Here's a look at entrepreneurs setting up shop there.
Building a Business
Baton Rouge Turns Up the Heat With New Startups
The capital of Louisiana is a petrochemical and manufacturing hub, a thriving college town, and home to several hot startups.
Building a Business
The Incubator Bringing Washington D.C.’s Entrepreneurs Together
1776 Washington D.C.'s is 15,000-square-foot 'incubation platform' that includes an accelerator and co-working space.
Building a Business
A Look Inside Washington D.C.’s Startup Scene
Politicians aren't the only movers and shakers in the U.S. capital. A highly educated population and revitalized urban core make Washington, D.C., an ideal spot for launching a new venture, according to these eight startups.
Building a Business
A Powerful City Finds Its Entrepreneurial Groove
With a crop of startups and hot new accelerators, Washington, D.C., finally has "density" when it comes to entrepreneurs.
Building a Business
Forget Silicon Alley. Stars Head to Houston for Pitch Contest
The Rice Business Plan Competition, set for April, is the biggest student competition of its kind -- and a symbol of Houston's thriving entrepreneurial side.
Building a Business
A Peek Inside Houston’s Startup Scene
A low cost of living, diverse population, and deep ties to energy and life sciences are just a few of the perks for new ventures blowing out of H-town.
Building a Business
Startups Bubbling Up in Houston
Austin isn't the only Texas town launching new companies. Here's a look at what's happening in H-Town, five years since the financial crisis.
Building a Business
NY Tech Meetup’s Jessica Lawrence on the Hottest Ticket in Town
The executive director of NY Tech Meetup talks about what the audience can expect at the city's influential monthly tech event.
Building a Business
A Glimpse Inside NYC’s Startup Scene
In the years since the financial crisis, New York has become a startup magnet. Here's a look ata diverse mix of Gotham entrepreneurs.
Building a Business
Big Ideas in the Big Apple
Five years since the financial meltdown, we look at New York City's blossoming startup scene.
Thought Leaders
How Barbeque Helped Break Down Racial Barriers
John Parker recalls how his dad's BBQ joint, open in 1962, served black and white patrons alike. Today, he's keeping the legacy alive.
Buying a Franchise
A New Take on Aging, From Silicon Valley
A senior home care franchise based in Palo Alto, Calif., and run by young staffers is looking to give its elderly clientele five-star treatment.
Marketing
How to Stump: Storytelling Tips from the Campaign Trail
Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from Ann Romney, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama and even Clint Eastwood about what to do (or not do) when standing in the spotlight.
Buying a Franchise
A Winning Business Idea: Wine & Paint
So-called "paint and sip" franchises promise an evening of cheap entertainment -- and the satisfaction of creating your own work of art.
Buying a Franchise
Beautify My Garage
It's no longer just a place to park the car or the lawn mower. A number of franchises are specializing in garage makeovers.
Buying a Franchise
Get Organized! Cleaning Pros Offer Tips
Warm weather brings out the neat-freak impulse. Franchises that provide everything from decluttering to reorganizing supply their best advice.
Marketing
‘Hunger Games’ Good for Business
Since its big-screen debut, 'The Hunger Games' has helped merchants hawk everything from nail polish to forest tours.
Online Presence
Franchises Get Social
Franchise companies, initially reluctant to embrace Facebook, Twitter and other social media, are finding ways to turn 'likes' and 'tweets' into dollars and cents.
Buying a Franchise
Game On for Pizza Franchises
Forget football. Sales of America's favorite food will skyrocket on Super Bowl Sunday. That's good news for these pizza franchises.
Buying a Franchise
How to Avoid a Franchise Fad
Before sinking your money into a hot franchise concept, make sure it's the real deal -- not a dead duck.
Buying a Franchise
Fitness Franchises Muscle Up
January is when Americans migrate from the bottomless eggnog bowl to the gym. Not surprisingly, fitness clubs win at least a third of all new memberships at the start of the year.
Buying a Franchise
Chicken-Wing Franchises Take Off
Buffalo Wild Wings, Wingstop and other chains report a growth spurt, thanks to cheap prices and changing consumer tastes.
