The Only Business Start-Up Guide You Will Ever Need

by Brassil, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780974173801
• ISBN10: 0974173800
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-01
• Publisher: Business Management Pub Co

Table of Contents

There Has Never Been a Better Time to Start a New Business	1	(39)
The Deadly Mistakes Made by Most Business Owners	4	(1)
What Do You Really Want to Accomplish?	5	(3)
The 16 Vital Traits Shared by All Successful Entrepreneurs	8	(2)
The Three Essential Elements of Success	10	(2)
Drive... The Catalyst that Puts It All Together	12	(1)
How to Conduct a Powerful Self-Assessment	13	(1)
The 8 Toughest Questions You Will Ever Ask	14	(2)
The 10 Dynamic Traits of Over-Achievers	16	(1)
How to Set and Achieve Incredibly Powerful Goals	17	(3)
The Remarkable Strategy of Overcoming Fear	20	(2)
How to Find the Best New Opportunities	22	(1)
How to Develop Your Ideas for Maximum Profitability	23	(4)
Buying an Existing Business	27	(5)
How to Find the Right Franchise	32	(7)
The Work-at-Home Revolution	39	(8)
Emerging Economic Trends	47	(4)
The Business Entity -- (Structure)	51	(12)
The Sole Proprietorship	51	(2)
The Partnership	53	(2)
The Corporation	55	(1)
S Corporation (Formally known as a Subchapter S)	56	(2)
Limited Liability Company	58	(5)
How to Write a ``Killer'' Business Plan	63	(20)
Take the Money and Run Your Business!	83	(30)
Debt vs. Equity Financing	85	(2)
How to Obtain Bank Financing	87	(6)
SBA Financing	93	(3)
Venture Capital Firms	96	(3)
How To Obtain a Grant	99	(7)
Additional Sources of Financing	106	(7)
``Jump-Start'' Your Business	113	(20)
Develop Your Dynamic Action Plan	113	(2)
Create Your Advisory Board	115	(2)
Powerful Networking Techniques	117	(1)
Select a Dynamic Business Name	118	(1)
Establish a Credible Image	119	(3)
How to Find an Outstanding Location	122	(4)
Taxes, Licenses and Permits	126	(1)
Insurance	127	(6)
Essential Record Keeping	133	(12)
Your Basic Bookkeeping System	134	(4)
Welcome to the Computer Age	138	(2)
How to Construct a Workable Budget	140	(1)
Basic Tax Obligations	141	(4)
How to Develop a Basic Operations Manual	145	(10)
Good Business Practice	146	(4)
How to Avoid Getting Stuck with a Bad Check	150	(5)
Employees! Your Partners in Progress	155	(38)
Company Policy Manual	155	(2)
Effective Hiring Practices	157	(7)
Maximize Employee Performance for Extraordinary Results	164	(4)
Employee Manual	168	(3)
Workplace Violence	171	(2)
Dealing With Problem Employees	173	(6)
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace	179	(2)
Drug Testing	181	(1)
Embezzling	182	(1)
Establish an Internal Control System	183	(2)
Fire At Will	185	(1)
The Termination Process	186	(7)
Explosive Advertising Techniques	193	(54)
Your Advertising Budget	195	(2)
How to Write Effective Advertising Copy	197	(9)
Selecting the Right Media	206	(1)
Powerful Publicity Techniques	207	(7)
How to Negotiate Advertising Rates	214	(1)
Newspaper Advertising	215	(4)
Direct Mail	219	(7)
Radio	226	(3)
Television	229	(3)
Magazine Advertising	232	(2)
Brochures	234	(1)
Newsletters	235	(1)
Yellow Page Advertising	236	(3)
Postcards	239	(1)
Specialty Advertising	239	(1)
Classified Ads	240	(1)
Outdoor Media (Billboard Advertising)	241	(2)
E-mail	243	(4)
Explosive `Critical-Path' Sales Techniques	247	(30)
Motivational Triggers	249	(1)
Sell the ``Sizzle'' or Sell the ``Steak''?	250	(2)
The ``Critical-Path Sales Process''	252	(1)
Power Prospecting	253	(5)
The Sales ``Funnel''	258	(1)
Pre-Approach	259	(3)
The Dynamic Presentation	262	(2)
The Critical 19 Power-Points	264	(2)
Strategic Objection Avoidance	266	(4)
The Close	270	(7)
Combat Marketing	277	(34)
How to Develop Your Long Term Income-Maximizing Strategy	278	(3)
Strategic Positioning	281	(1)
Proven Ways to Grow Your Business	282	(1)
The 80/20 Principle	282	(4)
Maximize Your Cash Flow	286	(2)
Pricing For Profit	288	(6)
Diversification	294	(2)
Twenty-two Powerful Stress-busters	296	(1)
Dynamic Cost Cutting	297	(1)
How to Keep Customers Coming Back	298	(1)
The Customer is Always Right ... NOT!	298	(4)
When to Turn Business Away	302	(1)
40 Proven Ways To Cut Costs and Increase Profits	303	(3)
Debt Collection Techniques	306	(5)
How to ``Outmaneuver'' Your Competition!	311	(26)
Your Predatory Order of Battle	313	(5)
Strategic Positioning	318	(2)
How to Exploit Your Competitor's Weaknesses	320	(1)
How Wal-Mart Managed to Eat K-Mart's Lunch	321	(3)
Think Outside-The-Box	324	(3)
Creative Differentiation	327	(1)
Beating ``Blockbuster'' at their Own Game	328	(1)
Intelligence Gathering	329	(2)
How to Read Your Competitor's Mind	331	(2)
How to Write an Effective Sales Proposal	333	(2)
How to Handle a Competitor's ``Dirty Tricks''	335	(2)
Turnaround Strategies for Business Survival	337	(14)
The 12 Most Common Reasons for Business Failure	338	(1)
21 Key Indicators that Your Business May Be In Trouble	339	(1)
Develop a Disaster Recovery Plan	340	(1)
Creative Problem Solving	341	(1)
Develop Your Financial Action Plan	341	(2)
How to Protect Your Assets Against Creditors	343	(1)
Create Your Personal Asset Protection Plan	343	(3)
Piercing the Corporate Veil	346	(1)
Bankruptcy, the Dreaded ``B'' Word	347	(4)
Business Law 101	351	(10)
How to Avoid Potential Lawsuits	354	(4)
Investigative Journalism	358	(3)
How to Stay off OSHA's ``Hit List''	361	(6)
The IRS vs. Small Business	367	(1)
15 Little Known Ways to Slash Your Taxes	368	(3)
Stay Out of Jail!	371	(1)
The ``Stupid'' Tax and How to Avoid It	372	(2)
Tax Deductions the IRS Hates, but Must Allow	374	(9)
How to Reduce Unemployment Taxes	383	(1)
How to Avoid A Tax Audit	384	(2)
What to Do if You Are Audited	386	(2)
What the IRS Is Really After	388	(1)
Your Rights as a Taxpayer	389	(1)
The Dreaded TCMP, Your Worst Nightmare	390	(4)
The Truth about Swiss Bank Accounts	394	(2)
Independent Contractors	396	(5)
How to Get the IRS to ``Forgive'' Your Tax Debts	401