Tag Archives: AllBusiness.com Inc.

About 4371 days ago E-Commerce

Best of the Web: Doing Business Online

Since April 2000, Inc. has enlisted entrepreneurs to rate Web sites in various categories for its Best of the Web feature. Gathered here are their top picks. Most of these Web sites were rated “A” sites. (In May 2001, the letter-grade system was dropped. Now judges are asked to pick their top site.)Because the Web is such a volatile business environment, it’s hard to keep up with all the sites — even top-rated ones — that have gone out of business. We’ve omitted ones that we know are defunct. If we steer you wrong, please let us know. Adventure Travel From rafting to African safaris, plan your next vacation.www.adventureseek.com www.altrec.com www.iExplore.com Art DealersBuying art for your office is easy.www.visualize.com BarteringBring in new business and hang onto your cash.www.bigvine.com (Now merged with AllBusiness.com) Corporate GiftsAn easy way to send a thank-you gift to an important client.www.redenvelope.com Office FurnitureFurnish your office from the ground up.www.officebydesign.com PDA SoftwareBuy software for your personal digital assistant.www.handango.com www.zdnet.com www.palm.com PrintingSelf-service printing Web sites help you create your own documents and customized products.www.printomat.com Road Warrior TravelHelp for the average small business traveler.www.office.com/travel/www.trip.com Skills TestingHR sites can test skills from programming to accounting before you decide to hire.www.webvaluate.comwww.reviewnet.netwww.brainbench.com Services for SoloistsInformation for the solo business owner.www.guru.com Tax HelpTax pointers without having to hire an accountant.www.bankrate.comwww.irs.ustreas.gov/bus_info/sm_bus Telecommunications ServicesBuy telephones, T1 lines and long-distance plans.www.telecomsmart.com Time TrackingLet these sites do the dirty work of tracking billable hours and invoicing,www.elite.com Virtual TrainersThese sites can help you plan physical activity and dieting.www.active.comwww.asimba.com

About 4706 days ago E-Commerce

Tracking Time on the Web

Best of the Web A slew of sites claim they’ll help you track your billable hours, and some will even produce your invoices — free. Are they worth your while? Here’s what 20 CEOs think Of all the headaches that CEO Melissa McNatt faced while running her sales consultancy, JumpStart Sales, the most pesky was tracking all the 10-minute intervals she spent phoning or E-mailing clients. Sure, she realized that if she actually tracked all those 10-minute intervals, they could add up to hours over an entire project. But why bother? She charged mostly flat fees anyway. And she knew that if she truly made the effort to record each tiny spurt of work, she’d never get any real work done. But in neglecting to track each and every minute, McNatt was missing some important knowledge about her business. Projects for which she charged a $1,000 flat fee — based on the assumption she’d spend 7 hours on them — were consuming 10 hours. As a result, her projects were less profitable than they could have been. And without time-tracking data to reveal just how much less profitable those jobs were, McNatt didn’t know quite how much to adjust her pricing. “I didn’t have a good feeling for the time I was spending on E-mail and calls,” she says. For McNatt’s start-up, problems like those were bad. For an IT consulting business with 25 employees, such problems can be a nightmare. In fact, for almost all service businesses — law firms, public-relations agencies, and so on — time tracking affects not only pricing and billing but also project management: how many employees should work on a given job, and for how long? For years companies and sole proprietors have used software programs like Timeslips or the time-related functions on their accounting software to get by. But just as frequently they’ve relied on the just-wing-it method: jot down a ballpark guess in a daily planner and then do a tally at month’s end to produce a bill or determine pricing and profitability. Now an abundance of time-tracking Web sites have emerged, a small part of the big movement toward Web-based software. They’re hoping that small-business owners will drop their daily planners and time sheets and instead use the Internet to keep track of their time — free or for a low monthly cost. Just type in your client and project information or import it from your Palm Organizer (or other handheld device) or Microsoft Outlook, and — bang — you’ve created an electronic record of your client’s project, on a Web site you can access whenever you need to track those nagging 10-minute intervals. The sites all claim that they will make your life easier: join us, they say, and you’ll be spared paperwork, pricey software, and annoying upgrades forever. It sounds tempting. But it doesn’t answer the real question: Can any of these sites help my business? That’s where our CEOs come in. We asked 20 small-business chief executives to evaluate six time-tracking sites, some of which offered invoicing and expense reporting as well. There were far more than six such sites out there, so we narrowed down the list based on three criteria: first, the sites had to have some form of free trial, so that our CEOs could check them out. Second, time tracking had to be a major thrust of the site, not part of a bundled suite. Last, the sites had to accommodate all Internet browsers. McNatt was a quick convert. After she’d used one of the sites for a week, it was easy for her to see just how much profit she was losing by failing to track time spent on E-mail and phone calls. Other CEOs, however, were not so zealous. “What happens if this site goes down or simply changes its line of business?” asked one. “If Intuit goes out of business, I’ll have my QuickBooks running for years, but what happens if all your records are on someone else’s servers? I didn’t think these sites did a good job of explaining why the user shouldn’t feel concerned about that.” What other thoughts did our CEOs have? Take a look. www.openair.com What it’s good for: Beginners. OpenAir’s instructions were widely praised, as was its basic service. “Eliminates paperwork in dealing with clients,” reported one CEO. Don’t waste your time if: You’d rather not log on every time you need to enter data. CEOs wished this service had offered access by phone, for easier use on the road. What our CEOs had to say: It “would be overkill for my business” was a sentiment expressed by one sole proprietor, who was also not sold on OpenAir’s advantages over locally installed software. Those who weren’t hooked on installed software generally came away happy. What you ought to know: OpenAir used to be called TimeBills.com. The company concluded that time tracking was but one of several software applications needed by small service businesses, so it entered what’s called the PSA (professional-services automation) space. www.redgorilla.com What it’s good for: The cell-phone nation. Red Gorilla was the only site (at press time) that allowed users to enter information by phone, a feature that our CEOs really liked. Don’t waste your time if: You like trying before flying. Though the basic program is free, “it doesn’t have a built-in demonstration function, so there’s no easy way to test it prior to signing on.” What our CEOs had to say: They were largely pleased, but some — again — were skeptical about Web-based software. “I particularly didn’t like the idea of having to access the Web for my own information,” said one. “Printing out invoices online seemed completely ridiculous.” What you ought to know: Red Gorilla, like some others, actively private-labels its time-tracking technology for use at other business sites. Its customers include AllBusiness.com and eWork Exchange. The company is looking into offering other software applications that will help small service businesses. Like OpenAir, it sees the many possibilities in the PSA space. www.elite.com What it’s good for: Small businesses and virtual companies. “Everything I need for tracking hours and expenses, and making invoices,” said a CEO. Don’t waste your time if: You’re a soloist or your company is hooked on its existing system. “Far too sophisticated for the needs of a sole proprietor,” said a panelist. Another said, “We’re using a PC-based system right now, so I have no reason to go back to the site again.” CEOs who didn’t have a PC-based system were generally pleased with the site and its services. What our CEOs had to say: Links were lauded. “The site steered you to a lot of good business information,” said one CEO. What you ought to know: Although telephone access is still in the works, Elite.com does offer easy accessibility for portable computers, laptops, and handheld organizers. (Elite.com is a subsidiary of Elite Information Group, a company that designs and implements time-tracking systems for large law firms. The site is the company’s attempt to reach small professional-service businesses.) www.freetimesheet.com What it’s good for: The basics. “Simple, low-end, but gets the job done,” commented one CEO. Don’t waste your time if: You want some of the services that other time-tracking sites offer, like invoicing or synchronization with your Palm Organizer. Or if you prefer pizzazz to plainness in Web-page design. What our CEOs had to say: “All the ‘project’ names defaulted to my company name — where I would want to put the name of each client,” said one. What you ought to know: Freetimesheet.com fared poorly with our CEOs, but it still may succeed because of its partnership with Managemark, a company founded by Intuit (which makes QuickBooks). If Managemark becomes Intuit’s avenue for Web-based software, a lot of QuickBooks users may wind up using the technology that runs Freetimesheet. www.clicktime.com What it’s good for: Small groups seeking a “bare bones” solution. Don’t waste your time if: You’re in no mood for trial-and-error learning. Several CEOs had a tough time navigating ClickTime. However, CEOs who were used to Web navigation found ClickTime simple to use. Some users thought the site lacked a satisfying demo. “I was on my own to figure things out,” said one. What our CEOs had to say: “The design is iffy, the ‘demo’ is actually a sales pitch, and the tools aren’t easy to understand. Their language is presumptuous, and there are errors in the copy,” complained one. Another said he’d stay loyal to QuickBooks, which provided greater “breadth and depth advantages.” What you ought to know: The company, which also offers a tool called GoalManager for tracking employee incentives, is considering changing this application’s name in case it enters the PSA space. www.timeledger.com What it’s good for: “Great interface for Palm,” not to mention terrific instructions. “After the demo I was ready to go and didn’t really have any questions.” Don’t waste your time if: You want online help. “Surprise! Click on ‘support’ or ‘help,’ and there is none — only an E-mail address and phone number.” What our CEOs had to say: The site got decent marks in a number of categories, but there were flaws: “Every time I tried to enter some sample hours in the Time Entry ‘folder,’ I got an error. Also, the monthly calendar was mostly hidden off the screen, and I couldn’t drag it over to see the entire month.” What you ought to know: Although TimeLedger.com offers a free trial, it’s the only site of the six that isn’t free for five users or fewer. It costs $9.95 per month per user. The bottom line Though none of the sites was universally praised or condemned, ClickTime.com and Freetimesheet.com were clearly the least popular. As for the other four: OpenAir.com was well received but didn’t have enough to win CEOs over; Red Gorilla won a lot of raves, especially for its phone access; Elite.com, though applauded by groups seeking detailed time-tracking analysis, was too robust for others; and TimeLedger.com did well in many categories and was singled out for praise for its Palm compatibility. Ilan Mochari is a reporter at Inc. The Savvy Entrepreneur’s Guide to the Time-Tracking Web Would our CEOs go back? What is the site good for? CEOs’ quick take www.openair.com “Perhaps.” “Tracking time and expenses, invoicing clients.” “Not sure what the advantage would be over software you install locally.” www.redgorilla.com “I already did.” “The premium package they offer for input by telephone.” “Offers a new approach that allows me to function on the road.” www.elite.com “Yes.” “Virtual companies that don’t want to invest in other software.” “Very useful.” www.freetimesheet.com “Good time tracker, but doesn’t have all that the others had.” “Just the basics.” “Confusing and not user-friendly.” www.clicktime.com “Not likely unless it’s beefed up a bit.” “Bare-bones time tracking.” “We require a much more sophisticated tool.” www.timeledger.com “If I were in need of an online time-tracking system.” “Keeping up with project hours and invoicing — very portable.” “The Palm interface is terrific.” Grading the Sites Ease of navigation Ease of use Help/ support Customization/ flexibility Remote access Reliability Worth paying for? Overall grade www.openair.com B B+ B B- C B- D+ B- www.redgorilla.com A- B+ A A A+ B C+ A- www.elite.com B+ B+ B B+ A+ A- B+ B+ www.freetimesheet.com B- C C- B- C B+ D+ C www.clicktime.com B+ C+ B- D+ C B- D+ C+ www.timeledger.com B+ B B- B C B C B- Our CEO panelists Sue Atkinson, chairman, Atkinson Public Relations Lori Booker, CEO, CBR Public Relations Lori DiCesare, CEO, Legal Placements Christine Durst, CEO and cofounder, Staffcentrix.com and EthicsCheck.com Matthew Fenton, founder and president, Ninja BrandBuilding Jacquelyn S. Freedman, owner, TimeWorks Annie Gray, CEO, Annie Gray Associates Karetta Hubbard, CEO, Hubbard & Revo-Cohen Bob Jacobs, CEO, V.I. Engineering Cindy Marshall, principal, Marshall Consulting Melissa McNatt, president and CEO, JumpStart Sales Ira Nottonson, author and business/legal consultant Michael Samoilov, president, Javu Technologies Anita Saville, CEO, Purse Strings Evan Scott, president and chief strategist, Evan Scott & Associates RenÉ Shimada Siegel, president and managing partner, HighTech Connect Greg Steckler, president and CEO, Log Rhythms Derek Sylvester, CEO, Sylvester Consulting Group Katherine Thornock, CEO, FortÉ Web Services Jill Stahl Tyler, president, Stahl & Associates International Consulting Please e-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.

About 4797 days ago E-Commerce

Managing by the Web

An increasing number of Web sites promise to provide everything you need to run and grow your business. We asked real-world CEOs to try Type the phrase small business into Yahoo’s search engine and you’ll see there are 7,618 sites listed in 68 categories. Narrow your search down to entrepreneur and there are a mere 102 sites. The Web is bursting with brand-new destinations — we get an E-mail notice nearly every day about yet another one — purporting to solve all the problems and fill all the needs of small businesses. They offer expertise on management, finance, business planning, technology, and recruiting. They offer online tools for creating business plans, finding venture capital, and scoping out the competition. And they provide chat rooms, where, they claim, you can engage in hearty discourse with like-minded CEOs. Naturally, they also sell every kind of office product you may ever need. In short, these sites bill themselves as one-stop shopping for busy CEOs coping with the day-to-day challenges of running a growing business. And you can do it all from the cozy comfort of your desk. It sounded great to us. Wouldn’t it be nice if you actually could manage your business entirely by the Web? So we sorted through hundreds and hundreds of sites and culled the 10 best of the general-interest small-business offerings. (In the interest of full disclosure: Inc. has its own Web site — inc.com, which is a sister company to the one that publishes this magazine. To avoid any potential for conflict of interest, we are leaving our site off the list.) Then we asked a panel of 34 CEOs and entrepreneurs to put the promises made by the sites to the test. We had them evaluate the wide array of online offerings and let us know which ones were worth checking out — and which were a complete waste of time. Boy, did they ever. Our CEOs told us in no uncertain terms that most of the sites weren’t up to snuff for business builders who live in the real world. We’d picked experienced CEOs and company leaders who described their Internet savvy as “good.” And we asked them to rate each site based on 40 criteria, including sophistication of content, quality of experts, and usefulness of online tools. Most important, we asked them if they would ever go back to the site — and for what reason. So what passed the real CEO test? The answer was clear: not much. In general, the sites’ level of sophistication was far below what most heads of growing companies could really use. As one of them put it: “It’s like going to a sale. You go because you might find a deal, but generally you walk out of the store with things you don’t really need.” Still, our panel turned up worthwhile nuggets hidden here and there. One CEO, for example, raved about Onvia.com’s request for quote (RFQ) tool, saying it was “incredible — easy to use, comprehensive, and what a time-saver!” And even the harshest of our judges said they might go back to most of the sites for reference. Certainly, most of the sites offered worthwhile starting points for novice entrepreneurs looking for the basics. And after we had studied the sites for more than two months, one thing became clear to us: Web sites are changing and developing faster than you can imagine. What fails to meet CEO standards today may improve dramatically tomorrow. But there’s still a long way to go. As one disappointed CEO put it when asked if she’d go back to a particular site: “Never. Maybe for a zip code.” Read on for what our panel of CEOs had to say about the best of the offerings for small businesses on the Web. Additional reporting and site evaluations were provided by Inc. staffers Jill Hecht Maxwell, Anne Stuart, Christopher Caggiano, and Susan Greco. The Lowdown on the Sites We asked several senior Inc. staffers to give us their take on the 10 winning Web sites. (For reviews of sites run by nonprofits, see below.) Here’s what they had to say: AllBusiness.com All singin’, all dancin’, AllBusiness.com covers finance, human resources, sales and marketing, and office services, among other things. However, our CEO evaluators tell us that this Web powerhouse tries too much to be all things to all CEOs. Despite its easy-to-use design and good organization, it ends up being overwhelming in scope. Among its useful amenities: a “virtual file cabinet,” in which you can store documents or Web tools. There are also handy links to the site’s numerous partners and informal alliances: Lawyers.com (legal advice), Barnesandnoble.com (books), Onsale.com (auctions), AtYourOffice.com (office supplies), and so forth. DigitalWork.com This site offers small businesses help in doing such tasks as collecting bad debts, issuing press releases, listing a site on search engines, and posting jobs to recruiting sites. Don’t look here for free content or discussion groups. This is a down-to-business site with a handful of very specific functions. While some services, such as online travel booking, are available elsewhere, time-strapped novice CEOs may find DigitalWork.com’s one-stop convenience worth a visit. IdeaCafe.com Geared to new entrepreneurs, this site offers information, networking, and inspiration. It might be tempting to dismiss it as a neophyte-only destination, but Idea Cafe scores points for its disarming attitude and fresh point of view. Although many of our CEOs thought it might be good for beginners, they generally said they wouldn’t be going back. Its food motif (“chewy biz questions”) gets tiresome really fast. The sophistication level of the questions in the chat forums also could try the patience of any CEO, as could the chirpy responses from the “advisers” (read: consultants on a marketing mission) who seem to provide the lion’s share of the feedback. Office.com As one CEO put it, it’s hard to figure out exactly what Office.com is supposed to be until you’ve cruised the site awhile. But even navigating it isn’t easy. If you stick with it, what you’ll find is an array of online tools and software — some of them fun, most of them pretty basic. Maybe the best thing we can say about Office.com is that it provides a number of decent links to other sites as well as articles aimed mainly at beginners. Onvia.com You need a lawyer, some insurance, and a Web designer — and you need them yesterday. One place you can turn is Onvia.com, an ambitious online marketplace for small-business products and services. You may find some decent suppliers — or at least a good deal on PCs — from these folks. And one CEO raved about Onvia.com’s RFQ feature. At best, Onvia.com is a shopping mall for small businesses. Most of its attempts to offer broad content — such as the news-and-tools section — fall short. Don’t even waste your time there. SmartOnline.com Smart Online looks as if it offers a lot when you first get there. The site bills itself as having easy-to-use Web-hosted software to help people start, grow, and manage their businesses — but in reality, it’s damn hard to find your way around it. What we did figure out looked as if it would be interesting for beginners; it ranged from canned business letters to tools for creating financial statements. workz.com If you’re thinking of launching — or relaunching — your Web site without spending a lot of money, you may want to consider the resources of workz.com. For real beginners, the site delivers layer upon layer of how-to articles, checklists, and links. You’ll find everything a novice needs — from advice on how to build a Web site and maintain it to how to actually make money with it — discussed here in detail. Our CEOs didn’t have much time for workz.com, but we think it might not be bad for absolute beginners. Not for Profit Here’s the Inc. reviewers’ bottom line on the best of the Web sites that are not focused on making money from your business: edge.lowe.org Edge.lowe.org is the business library you wish you had down the street. Cleanly lit and well organized, it’s a good place to begin research on many start-up topics, from preparing a profit-and-loss statement to creating a marketing campaign. However, the fact that it’s run by a nonprofit shows. The content is all pretty basic and may frustrate more experienced entrepreneurs. EntreWorld.org The official Web site for the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Mo., is helpfully organized into three areas: “starting your business,” “growing your business,” and “supporting entrepreneurship.” While it does have some original content and some promising if ill-attended chat groups, Entreworld.org mostly just links you to other sites you might need. Some of the material is old, and it’s probably useful only for those just starting a business or wanting to be part of the entrepreneurship-education community. sba.gov Run by the Small Business Administration, this utilitarian site is the definitive source for small-business information from the government. Visitors can search a comprehensive online library about regulations, download loan forms and other documents, and take “workshops” in tasks such as preparing a business plan. The material is at the beginner level and often needs updating. (Y2K information was still on the site in February.) But the site is well set up and a snap to search. The Savvy CEO’s Guide to the Small-Business Web What CEOs say about the best of the Web offerings for small business Would our CEOs go back? What is the site good for? CEOs’ quick take AllBusiness.com “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Reference “This site relates to small businesses and start-ups with little previous experience. Not the sort of site I look to for advice.” DigitalWork.com “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Applications, one- stop shopping, purchasing “Applications seem useful, especially to newcomers. But those applications are limited to 11 functions.” IdeaCafe.com “Never.” Training for novices “What’s the mission? Business or humor?” Office.com “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Training, reference, purchasing “I didn’t have a clue as to what the site is about. If I wasn’t critiquing this site, I probably would have surfed right past it.” Onvia.com “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Purchasing “The RFQ tool was incredible. I needed a new printing company, and within minutes I had 15 responses.” SmartOnline.com “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Reference “Nothing on the site really captured my interest. Some relevance for those thinking about starting a business. Minimal relevance for me in helping run a business.” workz.com “Never.” Training for novices “The site is very general, designed for the very small company just getting into the Internet.” edge.lowe.org “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Training, reference “This site is good for ‘just in time’ learning on a variety of subjects all entrepreneurs will invariably deal with at various stages of growth.” EntreWorld.org “Occasionally, whenever I have a specific need.” Training, reference “Good links to other sites.” sba.gov “Never.” Training, reference “Good if it’s relevant to you — all SBA- and government-related.” Our Entrepreneur Judges Amilya Antonetti, president, Soapworks Jim Brock, partner, Amicus Chris Colbert, president, Holland Mark Edmund Ingalls John Coleman, president and cofounder, VIA Richard Colombik, president, International Tax Associates Eric Crown, CEO, Insight Enterprises Liz Elting, copresident, TransPerfect Translations Prashant H. Fadia, president and CEO, Abacus Software Group Maura FitzGerald, president and CEO, FitzGerald Communications Larry Gilbert, president, The Event Network Mark Gordon, CEO, Synergy Networks Ron Harris, president and CEO, Pervasive Software Charlie Horn, president and CEO, ScriptSave Karen Janson, CEO, 10 Minute Manicure Linda Kaplan, senior account executive, Identity Group Andrea Keating, president and CEO, Crews Control Linda Kellogg, founder and CEO, Start-Up Resources Deb Klein, founder, LMI Management Eric Kriss, president, Workmode.com Daryl Magana, founder, president, and CEO, Bidcom Marion McGovern, president, M Squared Debbi Milner, president and CEO, Jade Systems Glenn Neff, cofounder, Marketing Connections Brad Neuenhaus, president, TPC Steven Nickerson, chairman and CEO, Mucho.com Gerry Philpott, CEO and president, E-Poll.com Linda Pinson, owner, Out of Your Mind… and into the Marketplace Robert Posten, managing partner, Icon & Landis Eric Schechter, president, GAME: Great American Marketing & Events Randy Schilling, CEO and president, Solutech Eileen Shapiro, venture consultant, The Hillcrest Group Al Shariff, owner and president, GlobeTrends Marc Smith, CEO, NetStrategy Maura White, founder and CEO, GoBabies.com Crowded House Why are so many sites targeting you? With all the sites competing for the attention of companies like yours, small business has become one of the most hotly contested spaces on the Web. And why not? Small business is big business. There are some 15 million small companies in the United States today, according to the Small Business Administration. They employ more than half of the private-sector workforce. In 2000 they’ll spend $10 billion on personal computers alone, the Yankee Group estimates. And most important, small businesses are going online. No wonder Onvia.com, AllBusiness.com, Office.com, and the rest are lining up to give small-business owners advice, sell them office supplies, let them chat with other entrepreneurs, and even — in the case of Idea Cafe — tutor them in the gentle art of paper-airplane folding. (See the site for an, er, explanation. Yes, it claims it helps you understand leadership.) And the Web-service boom also explains why, for instance, NBC Internet Inc. agreed to pay $225 million to buy AllBusiness.com, on February 1, which was the same day that DigitalWork.com filed for an initial public offering. “Internet penetration into small businesses is higher than ever. At the end of the year it will be close to 80%,” says Internet analyst Kneko Burney of Cahners In-Stat Group. “It’s a huge opportunity.” Overall, Burney says, more than 30 companies that provide small-business destination sites have plunged into the fray, 19 of them in a serious way. Although the revenue models vary, most of the companies aim to sell business-related services, content, or products, sometimes through partnerships with other E-vendors. “The Web really allows the creation or potential creation of a channel to what has historically been a very fragmented market — and very difficult to reach,” says Teymour Boutros-Ghali, CEO of AllBusiness.com (and, yes, the nephew of that Boutros-Ghali). Founded by an accountant, a lawyer, and a serial entrepreneur, and armed with $20 million in venture-capital backing, AllBusiness.com offers entrepreneurs help with legal matters and human resources over the Internet — “all the things that small businesses hate to do,” says Boutros-Ghali. In classic Web fashion AllBusiness.com is gunning for market share over profits and doesn’t plan to break into the black until 2002. E-commerce marketplace Onvia.com, launched in 1997, has attracted some impressive bets, too, including $71 million in financing from Internet Capital Group and other investors. With total revenues since its founding of $28 million and net losses of $44 million, Onvia.com was heading for an IPO at press time. By comparison, the cozy, playful Idea Cafe, a bootstrapped operation with revenues of less than $1 million, seems more like a labor of love. But, says founder Francie Ward, who runs the site with five part-time employees, it does make a profit, with revenues primarily from banner advertising. Back in the 1980s, when she was publishing small-business manuals, Ward figured that what entrepreneurs really wanted was to talk to other entrepreneurs, and her site offers that service. Workz.com founder David Johnson had a similar revelation. In the pre-Web world, he published newsletters for software users that boiled down a complex subject into simple, digestible tidbits. He started workz.com — which has $1 million in start-up funding — when he figured out that he could do the same thing over the Internet. On the other hand, not everyone sees the Web as a panacea. The Edward Lowe Foundation (named after the man who invented Kitty Litter) has had a Web site for small businesses since 1994. But last fall the foundation decided to supplement the site with a radically different channel for distributing information: an old-fashioned newsletter, printed on paper and sent out by snail mail. Says content-development manager Eric Vines, “A journal gains legitimacy if it has a print version.” –Emily Barker Please e-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.