Current Issue Cover Story


[cover story]
The Fundamentalist

Kam Talebi details why he believes that the economic meltdown became the perfect opportunity for his $17 million company to start a nationwide expansion. The former technology company entrepreneur vows that fundamentals will guide his decisions, not the wow factor that restaurants, retail and real estate ventures too often chase.

[letter from the editor]
Nothing fancy

Kam Talebi’s Crave restaurants are sleek and stylish, with beautiful people lining the sushi bar or basking in the sun on plush couches outdoors. When he opens a new Crave, he throws a big party and makes a splash in whichever new development he has targeted for growth, which always features big-name luxury retailers flanking Crave on either side.



[business builder]
Borrowing

How to get loans when credit is tight

Construction management

How to choose a contractor? Here’s a checklist

E-mail campaigns

Four steps to rev up responses

Feedback

How to offer comments that boost performance

Hiring incentives

Jobs for unemployed can yield tax credits under new HIRE Act

Social media

Get personal with customers by using ‘big three’ tools

Taxes

Act now before some breaks fade away

[upsize e-tools tips]

"It's lonely at the top. You can find some company in the ivory tower by joining a business roundtable group. These groups provide the business owner a forum to gather new ideas from other non-competitor business owners.

Sign up for more tips each month. [it's free!]