Calling All Business Owners for Entrepreneur Magazine's Entrepreneur of 2010 Contest Presented by The UPS Store

IRVINE, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Entrepreneur  magazine is calling upon business owners nationwide to enter the Entrepreneur of 2010 contest presented by The UPS Store ®. This marks the third year Entrepreneur and The UPS Store are in search of small-business owners making an impact on their industries, employees and communities—and the many innovative ways in which they're doing so.

Entrepreneur of 2010 and Emerging Entrepreneur of 2010 Categories

Businesses with no more than 100 employees and gross sales revenue of at least $3 million in 2009 will qualify for the Entrepreneur of 2010 award. The Emerging Entrepreneur of 2010 is open to companies that have been in business for less than four years with no more than 12 employees and posted at least $350,000 in gross sales revenue for 2009. Entrepreneurs can submit their entries and, as an added bonus, simultaneously promote their businesses online to thousands of web visitors at www.entrepreneur.com/e2010.

College Entrepreneur of 2010 Category

College students with the entrepreneurial fever get a chance to pitch their business ideas for a shot at $5,000 in startup capital. Interested students should visit www.entrepreneur.com/e2010college. Entrants must be either an undergraduate or graduate student between the ages of 18 and 25 during the time of submission.

"Coming off our 2nd annual Growth 2.0 Conference in January, there is no doubt entrepreneurs are considering this economy an opportunity to grow their businesses. In all facets they are showing their grit, determination and innovative brilliance," says Amy Cosper, VP/editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. "Considering that small businesses represent more than 99.7 percent of all employers and provide 60 percent to 80 percent of net new jobs annually, it's clear that their success transfers to our collective resilience. And while every Entrepreneur issue is dedicated to assisting them in their efforts, the Entrepreneur of 2010 contest gives us a singular opportunity to champion and support these business owners."

Last year's winners included Entrepreneur of 2009 Rick Alden of Skullcandy, Emerging Entrepreneur of 2009 Kelly Giard of Clean Air Lawn Care, and College Entrepreneur of 2009 Bradley Ericson. "We're tremendously excited to see who will enter as we head into another great year for small-business owners," says Cosper.

An expert panel of judges, including representatives from Entrepreneur's editorial department and Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), franchisor of The UPS Store, will choose the finalists. The panel's decision will be based on several criteria, including business growth in terms of number of employees and annual gross sales revenue as well as impact on an industry, the community, employees, and customers.

"As America begins to rebound from the recession, it is small-business owners that will fuel our economic recovery, positioning themselves and their customers for great opportunities in the coming years," says MBE President Stuart Mathis. "Each and every The UPS Store franchisee is a small-business owner as are many of their customers. Supporting Entrepreneur magazine's Entrepreneur of 2010 contest is another way our network continues to support the entrepreneurial community."

In addition to the start-up capital for the College Entrepreneur of 2010, all three winning entrepreneurs will receive two roundtrip tickets within the continental U.S. and a profile in the January 2011 issue of Entrepreneur magazine. The three winners will also be honored at an awards luncheon and ceremony in January 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia at the 3rd annual Growth 2.0 Conference and receive a gift certificate for $500 in free services at The UPS Store, a three-year subscription to Entrepreneur magazine and a selection of Entrepreneur Press books.

Entry criteria and the complete rules can be found on www.entrepreneur.com/e2010/rules, or for the college contest, visit www.entrepreneur.com/ce2010college. The deadline to enter is June 15, 2010.

About Entrepreneur Media Inc.

Entrepreneur Media Inc. is the premier content provider for and about entrepreneurs. Our products engage and inspire every day with the advice, solutions and resources that fuel the bold and independent way entrepreneurs think.

After 31 years, nobody reaches more growing businesses. As the original magazine for the small and midsize business community, Entrepreneur continues to be the definitive guide to all the diverse challenges of business ownership. Entrepreneur.com is the most widely used website by entrepreneurs and emerging businesses worldwide. Entrepreneur Press publishes the books that turn entrepreneurial skills into business success.

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About The UPS Store

With approximately 4,800 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc.® network comprises the world's largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, document and business service centers. In the United States, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a UPS subsidiary. In Canada, locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of master licensee MBEC Communications, L.P. For additional information, please visit www.theupsstore.com or www.mbe.com.

SOURCE Entrepreneur Magazine