SUBMIT YOUR PLAN FOR CHARGING UP YOUR EXISTING BUSINESS
AND YOU COULD WIN THE CAPITAL TO MAKE IT COME TRUE!

Do you own or run one of the millions of small businesses that make America great?
Do you know how you would use $100,000 to make your small business even better?

Now you can earn the chance to bring home the loot and boost your business to new levels.

Grand Prize winner and 4 runners-up will also win an HP Compaq 2730p Business Notebook,
plus an HP OfficeJet Pro 7600 All-in-One.

Entries will be judged by small business experts, Forbes.com editors and readers.

See the detailed entry preparation and submission instructions next to the entry form below
and in the Official Rules

ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

We are accepting submissions for the first round of the contest through May 31. Contestants who survive the first round will be required to submit more detailed information, including a 30-second "elevator pitch" video recording.

Enter the contest by completing the entry form on the right. Submit a brief write-up - 500 words max - about your small business. Your write-up MUST include the following elements:

Description Of Your Business

Specifically, what product or service do you sell and to what type of customer? What is the estimated size of the addressable market?

Discussion Of Your Business Model

How, specifically, does your company earn a profit? (Examples: retail sales, consulting fees, advertising.)

Capitalization

How is your business funded? (Examples: loans from family and friends, venture capital, bank loans, cash flow from operations.)

Differentiators

How is your business different from - or better than - your competition? Why do people want or need your product or service? What is your company's sustainable competitive advantage? If your business is technology-based, has a relevant patent or license been secured?

Years Of Relevant Experience

For how long, and in what capacity, have you and your management team been involved in the industry?

Your Plan For Using The $100,000 Prize Money

This is critical! Briefly but specifically describe how you would invest the largesse to take your business to the next level. (Examples: new equipment, new people, more marketing, etc.)

Remember: 500 words is not a lot of space, so be as clear and direct as possible. Get your points across with numbers and facts, not airy assertions.

ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

We are accepting submissions for the first round of the contest through May 31. Contestants who survive the first round will be required to submit more detailed information, including a 30-second "elevator pitch" video recording.

Enter the contest by completing the entry form on the right. Submit a brief write-up - 500 words max - about your small business. Your write-up MUST include the following elements:

Description Of Your Business

Specifically, what product or service do you sell and to what type of customer? What is the estimated size of the addressable market?

Discussion Of Your Business Model

How, specifically, does your company earn a profit? (Examples: retail sales, consulting fees, advertising.)

Capitalization

How is your business funded? (Examples: loans from family and friends, venture capital, bank loans, cash flow from operations.)

Differentiators

How is your business different from - or better than - your competition? Why do people want or need your product or service? What is your company's sustainable competitive advantage? If your business is technology-based, has a relevant patent or license been secured?

Years Of Relevant Experience

For how long, and in what capacity, have you and your management team been involved in the industry?

Your Plan For Using The $100,000 Prize Money

This is critical! Briefly but specifically describe how you would invest the largesse to take your business to the next level. (Examples: new equipment, new people, more marketing, etc.)

Remember: 500 words is not a lot of space, so be as clear and direct as possible. Get your points across with numbers and facts, not airy assertions.

 

 

Top of Form

CONTEST ENTRY FORM
*First Name		*Last Name
*Address		*City
*State SelectAKALARAZCACOCTDCDEFLGAHIIAIDILINKSKYLAMAMDMEMIMNMOMSMTNCNDNENHNJNMNVNYOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVAVTWAWIWVWY	*Zip	*Phone Number
*Email Address		*Confirm Email Address
*Company		*Title
*Company Size Select1 - 56 - 1011 - 2526 - 5051 - 7576 - 100100+	*Name or title of your small business

 

*Has your company been incorporated for 5 years or less? (LLCs, LLPs & LPs allowed)	YES	NO
*Is your company a for-profit entity?	YES	NO
*Are the company's annual revenues between $0 and $5 million?	YES	NO
*Does the company have at least one salaried employee (besides the owner)?	YES	NO

Your Business Write-up in 500 words or less (see details of what must be included in the instructions to the left.)

Compose your plan offline, copy it and paste below.