Start Ups Paradise

Looking for advice on starting or running a business? Check out what the blogosphere has to offer. It's filled with scores of Web journals on various topics of interest to entrepreneurs.

Here's a sampling of blogs in this niche and what small-business owners can get out of reading them.

WorkHappy.net
www.workhappy.net

Carson McComas is on a mission to help fellow small-business owners succeed. His two-year-old blog provides advice, ideas, inspiration and resources he's accumulated through his own experience as a consultant to entrepreneurs and owner of four Web-based ventures. "A lot of entrepreneurially related content on the Internet is get-rich quick garbage," he says. "It's very important for me not to be that." Writing about once a week from his home office in Spokane, Wash., Mr. McComas reviews products and services such as mynewcompany.com, which helps entrepreneurs with the paperwork for incorporating a business. Readers can suggest items for review and submit their own write-ups, he says. Another feature, called "Happy Links," lists URLs to Web sites and blogs with helpful information for entrepreneurs, and "Happy Quotes" offers a regular dose of inspirational sayings. Look for interviews Mr. McComas conducts with entrepreneurs such as Markus Frind, founder of PlentyofFish.com, a dating site.

Franchise Pundit
www.franchisepundit.com

In spring 2004, Ryan M. Knoll considered purchasing a franchise, and he created this blog to document his research. Though, he later opted to practice law instead, he says he continues to blog about investing in franchises because the subject draws heavy commentary from readers. He also stays current on the subject because about a quarter of his law-firm clients are professionals seeking counsel on buying franchises, he says. Franchise Pundit discusses the pros and cons of various franchise investments, and many posts end with a thumb's up or down vote from Mr. Knoll on whether a particular franchise is a wise purchase. The blog, which is updated daily, also reports on emerging franchises, relevant legal news and various industry happenings. In addition, franchise owners frequently contribute posts about their personal business experiences. Check out the blog's discussion board and a page listing links to archived posts on franchises by company name.


Young Go Getter
www.younggogetter.com
Originally an online discussion forum, younggogetter.com was revamped in January as a blog. "We try and cover all aspects of starting and running a business from the perspective of a young person," says Travis Hines, one of its three twentysomething contributing writers from around the U.S. who each run their own businesses. The discussion board still exists as a link from the blog and has about 400 members. Another interactive feature is a weekly poll, which asks questions such as, "What business events do you attend most each year?" Look for posts offering opinions and advice, plus book reviews, podcasts and interviews with young entrepreneurs. There's also a section called "Entreprenews" which links to articles on the Web that discuss entrepreneurialism.

Escape from Cubicle Nation
www.escapefromcubiclenation.com

Nearly a decade after quitting a corporate-consulting job to start her own business, Pamela Slim started this blog to help other professionals switch to sole proprietorship. She says many of the cubicle dwellers she used to advise griped about their jobs, but were too afraid to try their hand at being entrepreneurs. For this reason, says she focuses her blog posts on the emotional aspect of leaving the corporate world to start a business. "I write about the human side of that change -- how to manage your personal fears in addition to getting the kind of information you need," she explains. She receives about 150 emails a week from readers and chooses topics to blog about based on their questions and concerns, she says. Her postings are syndicated to several Web sites.
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