Heat wave: which new businesses are on the fast track to success? The companies in entrepreneur and D&B's 10th Annual Hot 100 listing are blazing their way to the top

Entrepreneur, June, 2004

Furnished extended-stay housing

Thomas G. Atchison

Began: May 1999 w/o employees; now 23 employees

Initial investment: $50K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $11.7M

Success secret: Surround yourself with great people, provide them with proper direction, and help them serve your customers well.

49. Panther Technologies Inc.

MEDFORD, NJ

www.panthertech.com

Environmental remediation

Peter J. Palko, John M. Twomey, Robert Foley

Began: February 2000 w/5 employees; now 41 employee

Initial investment: $80K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $9.3M

Success secret: Control overhead, maximize project profitability through effective project management, and keep clients happy every step of the way.

50. What Kids Want! Inc.

NORTHRIDGE, CA

www.whatkidswant.net

Toy marketing agency

Jordan Kort, Steven Kort

Began: August 1999 w/o employees; now 13 employees

Initial investment: 5400k from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $10.4M

Success secret: Success begins and ends with property servicing our customers. Our entire team emphasizes meeting or exceeding our customers' expectations.

51. RE/MAX Legends

ALTA LOMA, CA

www.remax-legends-ca.com

RE/MAX real estate franchisee

Jodi Lee

Began: February 2001 w/3 employees; now 150 employees

Initial investment: $250K from friends/family, bank loan, private investors, savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $6.8M

Success secret: Focus first and foremost on ethics, and create the sort of environment where people can work and be successful.

52. Talisman International LLC

WASHINGTON, DC

www.talisman-intl.com

Litigation assistance & computer network security consulting

Michael J. Hutsell, Arthur J. Wacaster, Hugh L. Thompson Jr. John A. Olshinski, O. Niel Skousen, Thomas H. Heitman

Began: April 2002 W/12 employees; now 35 employees

Initial investment: $79K from friends/family, savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $4.1M

Success secrets: Be a colleague, not a vendor; add more value than what our clients expect; make sure that services we provide truly meet the clients' needs.

53. Gain Inc.

RICHMOND, VA

Marketing agency

Peter A. Trost III

Began: July 2001 w/5 employees; now 20 employees

Initial investment: $1M from line of credit

2003 sales: $5.8M

Success secret: Show a serving spirit to our clients, treat our vendors like clients, and be a "home" to our employees.

54. Virtual-Agent Services

SCHAUMBURG, IL

www.vagent.com

Inbound contact-center service provider

Robert J. Camastro

Began: April 1999 w/35 employees; now 570 employees

Initial investment: $500k from private investors

2003 sales: $9.95M

Success secret: Good things only come to a company through the efforts of its employees. Building a motivated employee team will ensure success in all endeavors.

55. Frontier Steel Company Inc.

CANONSBURG, PA

www.frontiersteel.com

Steel distribution & processing

John Matig, John Godwin, Mike Hancock

Began: May 1999 w/1 employee; now 17 employees

Initial investment: $120K from savings/personal funds

2003 sales: $10.5M

Success secret: Give people a long leash, let them be creative, and make sure they know they're appreciated.