Entrepreneur's Toolkit : Tools and Techniques to Launch and Grow Your New Business

by Luecke, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781591394365
• ISBN10: 1591394368
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-01
• Publisher: Ingram Publisher Services, Inc.

Summary

From the basics of writing a business plan to the challenges of developing a marketing and sales program, this is the essential resource for success with a new ventureDrawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources, this concise guide is carefully crafted to provide a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience, and will prove especially valuable for the new manager.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
Self-Diagnosis	1	(10)
Do You Have the Right Stuff to Start a Business?
The Makings of an Entrepreneur	2	(5)
Background	7	(1)
It May Be Right for You	8	(1)
Summing Up	9	(2)
Finding and Evaluating the Opportunity	11	(20)
Is It Real and Large Enough?
Characteristics of an Opportunity	13	(7)
Where to Look for Opportunities	20	(4)
From Identification to Evaluation	24	(5)
Summing Up	29	(2)
Organizing the Enterprise	31	(16)
Which Form Is Best for You?
Sole Proprietorship	32	(2)
Partnership	34	(4)
C Corporations	38	(3)
S Corporations	41	(1)
The Limited Liability Company	42	(1)
Which Form Makes Sense for You?	42	(2)
Summing Up	44	(3)
Building a Business Model and Strategy	47	(16)
How They Work Together
Your Business Model	48	(5)
Strategy	53	(8)
Summing Up	61	(2)
Writing a Business Plan	63	(24)
The Basics
The Purposes of a Business Plan	65	(1)
Suggested Format	66	(11)
Style	77	(6)
Final Thoughts	83	(1)
Summing Up	84	(3)
Financing the Business	87	(24)
Where's the Money?
A Life-Cycle View of Financing	88	(7)
Life-Cycle Financing of the Entrepreneurial Company	95	(7)
Financing Growth at eBay	102	(4)
Other Forms of External Financing	106	(1)
Matching Assets and Financing	107	(1)
Summing Up	108	(3)
Angels and Venture Capitalists	111	(18)
For Serious Outside Equity
Business Angels	113	(4)
Venture Capitalists	117	(5)
Making a Presentation	122	(1)
A Caveat on Taking VC Capital	122	(5)
Summing Up	127	(2)
Going Public	129	(14)
Adventures in the Capital Markets
Pros and Cons of Going Public	131	(2)
The Makings of an IPO Candidate	133	(2)
The Role of the Investment Bank	135	(1)
The IPO Process in a Nutshell	136	(4)
Alternatives to an IPO	140	(2)
Summing Up	142	(1)
Enterprise Growth	143	(20)
The Challenge to Management
The Impact of Growth	144	(2)
Sustaining Growth	146	(6)
The Management Challenge	152	(5)
Is It Time to Change the Guard?	157	(4)
Summing Up	161	(2)
Keeping the Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive	163	(14)
The Ultimate Challenge of Success
Three Challenges	165	(3)
What Entrepreneurial Leaders Must Do	168	(8)
Summing Up	176	(1)
Harvest Time	177	(14)
Reaping What You've Sown
Why Entrepreneurs Cash Out	178	(2)
Harvesting Mechanisms	180	(5)
What's It Worth?	185	(3)
Summing Up	188	(3)
Appendix A: Understanding Finanicial Statements	191	(16)
Appendix B: Breakeven Analysis	207	(4)
Appendix C: Valuation Concepts	211	(12)
Appendix D: Online Help When You Need It	223	(4)
Appendix E: Rule 144	227	(4)
Notes	231	(4)
Glossary	235	(8)
For Further Reading	243	(4)
Index	247	(10)
About the Subject Adviser	257	(1)
About the Writer	258