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Premier issue! New name, new look, more information!

Winter 2000

Big Ideas for Small Businesses

Running a business would be a lot easier with unlimited time and cash flow. But few have that luxury. You need to leverage your resources to make every effort count. Here are a few tips:

Consider the outsourcing of day-to-day operations. Concentrate on what you do best — growing your business — and farm out all the distractions. Services are available to handle payroll and benefit administration, tax filing, and retirement plans. Check out the Ceridian, Acupay, and ADP Web sites for starters.

Temp Employment Services offer low-risk staffing. Hire an accounting, marketing, or other professional to tackle short-term assignments. Manpower and Olsten are leading national agencies.

Don't be your own office manager. Share an office suite, including meeting rooms, equipment, and administrative help to offset overhead and eliminate aggravation. Check your local Yellow Page listings under Office & Desk Space Rental.

Need information or advice? Try the Small Business Administration for financial, technical, and management assistance, or call the Service Corps of Retired Executives (Score), a non-profit association of retired executives and former small business owners, for seasoned expertise. And don't forget the Better Business Bureau for reports on ethical practices of potential vendors or customers, or Dun & Bradstreet for credit reports and company financial information. Use them to make informed decisions and build profitable relationships with customers, suppliers, and business partners.

Payroll/HR
www.ceridian.com, www.accupayusa.com, www.adp.com

Temps
www.manpower.com, www.olsten.com

Shared Sources
www.abcn.com, www.omnioffices.com

Business Advice
www.sba.gov, www.score.org, www.bbb.org, www.dnb.com

Fast Internet Access: DSL or ISDN?

Both provide lightning-fast download speeds, but which is best for your business? ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is currently being used by over 18,000 Sprint business customers for versatile and affordable bandwidth. But now everyone's talking about "DSL." What is DSL and how does it compare?

Sprint High Speed DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is indeed fast, offering speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps. That's more than 50 times faster than the typical 28.8 kbps modem. Files that might have taken half an hour to download can now appear in half a minute. Moreover, DSL is "instant-on"— you have "Web tone" at all times — so you don't have to dial up your Internet provider. Plus, you won't need to change your phone number to use this service.

Typically, DSL is packaged as asymmetrical DSL or "ADSL." Asymmetrical means that download and upload speeds differ, reflecting the fact that most of us download far more material from the Internet than we upload back. Standard ADSL configuration speeds generally range as follows:

• 512 kbps to 1.5 Mbps download
• 128 kbps to 640 kbps upload

ISDN may not be as quick as DSL, but it is significantly faster than regular phone lines. In addition, ISDN, like DSL, speeds voice and data simultaneously over the same line. Another plus — ISDN is currently available throughout Sprint local territories.

DSL, on the other hand, is just being introduced. Sprint has started rolling out DSL in Las Vegas, NV, Charlottesville, NC and Orlando, FL and will later move into other areas, but some limitations may apply.

Both ISDN and DSL can be quite affordable. After installation charges, either of these solutions may be available for less than $50 over your regular monthly business line charge. Costs will vary by location and selected features — Sprint can provide you with an itemized analysis. For faster Internet access, either ISDN or DSL will "line" you up for speed.

For more information on how DSL or ISDN can speed up Internet access, call a Sprint Business Consultant at 1-877-454-9182 or visit our Web site: www.sprint.com/bizpark

Special Offer! Ask for your FREE copy of Tips and Tactics for Marketing on the Internet just for making the call!

Stay in Touch with Smart Productivity Tools:

Let Sprint help you become more productive with these telecommunication options.

• Add phone and data lines to keep pace with swelling call volume in order to give customers prompt service.
• Expand or upgrade your current telephone system to allow more users to share existing lines.
• Consider integrated office equipment that faxes, copies, scans and prints all in one space-saving machine. Sprint can now offer these systems to our customers at special low prices through the end of the year. (See offer)
• Use voicemail and pagers to keep you in the loop whether onsite or off. And, don't forget wireless — Sprint PCS provides clear, digital quality connections to your office and your customers.
• Add voice-prompted menus so callers can quickly find the right person to meet their needs.
• Use Caller ID and "screen pops" to display account information as you answer the phone.
• Install a Call Center application to route calls to the first available station, or conference multiple parties for teleconferences.
• Re-evaluate your long distance service. Sprint offers affordable plans, like Business Flex, where the more you spend, the more you get back!

Sprint can help you customize a complete telecommunications package for all your business needs — call now to inquire about our special offers.

For more information on these productivity solutions and current rebates, call your Sprint Business Consultant today at 1-877-454-9182.

Your BusinessAnswers Exclusive Offer:

The Canon MultiPassTM L6000 is a Multitasking Laser Workhorse! It faxes. It scans. It prints. It copies.

It does practically everything your office needs — except, maybe, brew the coffee ... yet! The Canon MultiPass L6000 is a powerhorse of productivity packed in a perfect compact size — just 14.4 inches wide!

All-in-one features include:

• plain paper output
• 122 pages of memory (2 MB)
• brisk page/min. speeds
• 600 x 600 dpi printing
• 1-year warranty

It's available to BusinessAnswers readers for Just $499.95. (Reduced from $699.95.)

For more information call us toll free at 1-877-454-9182.

* Certain credit restrictions apply. Shipping and sales tax not included. Allow three to five business days for delivery.

Biz Buzz

Where we answer questions from customers like you.

Q. What e-commerce products and services does Sprint offer to help my retail florist business grow?

Glen Ross
Altamonte Springs Florist
Altamonte Springs, FL
800-663-2736

Have you considered how selling flowers over the Internet can make your business bloom? Sprint can install a high-speed ISDN line, host your Web site and then provide you with an e-commerce kit that allows you to build a site that accepts orders and even processes credit cards — automatically!

You could even put your catalog online to cultivate more sales. So even out-of-towners can use your shop to surprise local family and friends. Or to speed delivery and ensure product freshness, make arrangements with your wholesalers to ship directly to e-customers, anywhere.

There are many ways Sprint can help your business flourish. Just fax your questions to 913-345-6683 and let us show you how.

The Power of Computing in the Palm of Your Hand

Today's lightweight hand-helds offer on-the-go advantages.

Today, wireless data communications and a hand-held mobile computer can put information literally at your fingertips. You can send and receive e-mail, record phone numbers and appointments, even surf the Web — all from virtually any location with a computer that fits in the palm of your hand. PalmPilot(r), the first truly useful PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), revolutionized hand-held computing back in 1996. But now, palmtops come in a variety of shapes and sizes and offer a wide array of features and functionality.

Which is right for you? If you're in the market for a PDA to help you boost productivity — organize meetings and appointments, create to-do lists, access e-mail and the Web, and even do some light database work, all on the go and at a moment's notice — then here are a few tips on what to look for:

• A crisp, clear display is essential. Backlit screens are generally best.
• Some PDAs have an on-screen keyboard; others recognize handwriting for notes and simple data entry. Choose one that best suits your style.
• Make sure your PDA syncs with your PC. For intensive data transfer using Windows CE, or third-party applications, you may need a model with upgradeable RAM or a memory card.
• Battery life shouldn't be an issue; entering phone numbers or checking appointments doesn't use much juice. But for power-thirsty extras, like add-on modems and color displays, consider a rechargeable device.
• Lastly, determine which wireless service works with your device.

For the latest news and product info on PDAs, check out these sites.
www.palmpower.com
www.palmpilot.com

To enter Sprint's Palm Pilot Sweepstakes
1. Write "PalmPilot" and your phone number under this issue's mailing label.
2. Fax label page to 913-345-6683.
3. Random drawing determines winner.

No purchase necessary. Certain restrictions apply. Rules available upon request.

Retaining valuable employees is a challenge for every business. Here are six tips on keeping your best people motivated and with you for the long haul.

1. Create performance-based compensation packages. Roger E. Herman, a Greensboro, NC, employee retention consultant, advises businesses to create compensation programs that reward individuals for performance. "This kind of incentive motivates employees and emphasizes their importance within the company," says Herman.

2. Pay when they stay. Signing bonuses and incentives are becoming the norm with companies trying to lure top talent. Why not offer the same for retention? The longer they stay, the greater the rewards.

3. Expose them to new opportunities. Create employee career development plans. Then provide cross-training so they can try different job functions. Taking on new roles and responsibilities helps fight burnout.

4. Help employees achieve a balance between their work and personal lives. Flextime, telecommuting, daycare and referrals for licensed eldercare are appealing benefits. "Quality of life, on and off the job, is more important to today's workers than ever before," says Herman. Some businesses throw in perks like vacation allowances, housekeeping services and catered lunches.

5. Go beyond seeking the best and brightest. The employees who are most likely to stay are those who fit in best with your company's culture, people, location and ideas. It's harder for employees to be swayed by other opportunities when they feel like they're part of a family.

6. Keep it nice and neat. A survey by design research firm HLW International LLP found that 39 percent of office managers believed retention was adversely affected by cluttered, run-down office space. Employees want workplaces that promote productivity and have quiet,well-designed meeting spaces to allow creative thinking.

* Keeping Good People: Strategies for Solving the #1 Problem Facing Businesses Today, by Roger E. Herman (Oak Hill Press).

* Love 'Em or Leave 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay, by Beverly E. Kaye (Berrett-Koehler).

CyberSites

This issue's pick of hot Internet sites to help access the best for your business. www.home-office-mall.com Find links to sites selling office products and services; super-detailed info and loads of photos, plus dozens of links to other merchant sites.

www.hoovers.com
Need quick info on a company you don't know? Log onto Hoover's Online. Find brief but informative business profiles to help you make important decisions, including histories, stats, industries and more; many helpful business tips offered, too.

http://customprinting.kinkos.com
Create your own business cards, stationery and much more from convenient online templates.

www.ftc.gov
Direct from the Federal Trade Commission — business publications; links to the Better Business Bureau, Public Utilities Commission, State Consumer Affairs and more.

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