This book concentrates on the creative heart of business, on how to develop an exciting enterprise from the original germ of an idea. It covers topics such as: Finding a good idea; Getting started; Creating a winning business plan; Funding your enterprise; Marketing your business; and, Maintaining progress.
Author(s): Jim Green
Edition: 5
Publisher: How to Books
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 299
Contents......Page 6
List of illustrations......Page 10
Preface......Page 12
What’s holding you back?......Page 16
Overcoming the mental blocks......Page 18
Fighting back......Page 21
Checking your readiness......Page 27
Case studies......Page 28
Action points......Page 30
Looking right in front of you......Page 31
Cashing in on change......Page 32
Carving a niche......Page 33
Working on your self-esteem......Page 35
Choosing a trading name......Page 36
Case studies......Page 39
Action points......Page 41
Planning ahead......Page 42
Your blueprint for success......Page 45
Getting help from the banks......Page 51
Checklist......Page 52
Constructing your ‘blueprint for success’......Page 53
Case studies......Page 58
Exercises......Page 60
Start-up costs......Page 61
Getting outside finance......Page 64
Approaching the public sector......Page 65
Approaching potential funders......Page 69
The plan that will fix your funding......Page 73
Presenting your case......Page 76
Checklist......Page 77
Case studies......Page 78
Action points......Page 80
Choosing a partner......Page 81
Case studies: going into partnership......Page 84
Measuring the competition......Page 86
Competitive analysis......Page 90
Finding the right premises......Page 92
The systems you will need......Page 94
Deciding your business status......Page 95
Understanding the basics of taxation......Page 96
Preparing to survive – and succeed......Page 99
Case studies......Page 100
Action points......Page 102
Debunking the marketing myth......Page 104
Creating the right personal image......Page 105
Marketing research......Page 110
Above the line promotion......Page 112
Avoiding mistakes in small business marketing......Page 114
Case studies......Page 118
Action points......Page 119
How to begin......Page 120
Learning to negotiate......Page 121
Prospecting for customers......Page 122
Making your appointments......Page 123
Clinching a deal face-to-face......Page 128
The ten commandments of selling......Page 131
Ten ways to increase your sales......Page 132
Ten ways to convert prospects into buyers......Page 134
Case studies......Page 136
Action points......Page 137
Seventeen essential qualities......Page 138
Qualities to add steeliness......Page 139
Relating well to people......Page 141
Case studies......Page 146
Action points......Page 148
Controlling the cash flow......Page 149
Negotiating successfully......Page 157
Succeeding through strategy......Page 165
Boosting your decision-making prowess......Page 172
Feeling the fear......Page 176
Avoiding costly mistakes that cripple small business......Page 177
The golden rule of personal integrity......Page 180
Never allow your route to the top to be compromised......Page 181
Case studies......Page 183
Action points......Page 184
Your secret powers......Page 185
Moving mountains......Page 189
Are you ready?......Page 190
Actual case study......Page 194
Looking to your future......Page 199
Action points......Page 202
11 Why Women Excel in Small Business......Page 203
Women’s vs men’s needs......Page 205
The value of personal goal-setting......Page 209
Deciding the right time to start up on your own......Page 212
Narrowing the focus to meet your objectives......Page 214
Matching personal interests with marketplace needs......Page 219
Visualising yourself in business......Page 220
Appreciating your self-worth......Page 223
Evaluating trends in home-based small business......Page 226
The pros and cons of working at home......Page 228
A major force in world economics......Page 229
Case study......Page 230
Using the internet for the purpose it was invented......Page 234
Why the internet is such a wonderful marketing tool......Page 236
The best way to create a dedicated website......Page 238
Unspoken secrets......Page 241
Before you open for business......Page 243
Employing the right people......Page 246
Evolving your purchasing policy......Page 248
Doing the right things to ensure success......Page 249
Motivating and rewarding key personnel......Page 250
Creating profit centres......Page 252
The ups and downs of starting up......Page 253
Identifying common commercial problems......Page 254
Handling threatening scenarios......Page 255
The top ten ‘do’s’ when starting a business......Page 256
The top ten ‘don’ts’ when starting a business......Page 257
14 Monitoring Growth Using an Audit Checklist......Page 258
The audit analysis......Page 259
B......Page 272
C......Page 273
D......Page 274
F......Page 275
I......Page 276
M......Page 277
P......Page 278
S......Page 279
T......Page 280
Y......Page 281
Appendix 1: Learning Skills Councils......Page 282
Appendix 2: The Internet......Page 291
Business Address Book......Page 295
More Business Books to Help You......Page 303
E......Page 311
M......Page 312
T......Page 313
Y......Page 314
