Smart Guide to Starting a Small Business

by Rogak, Lisa

• ISBN13: 9780471318859
• ISBN10: 047131885X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-03-08
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This volume in the popular Smart Guides series provides a variety of tips on finding the ideal business to suit your goals. Author Lisa Rogak shows how to design a concise business plan, establish an organizational structure, and secure all the necessary financial backing. Also included is expert advice on finding top-notch employees and suppliers, getting the most out of your advertising budget, and taking advantage of Internet opportunities.

Author Biography

Lisa Rogak is the owner and publisher of Williams Hill Publishers. The author of more than 25 books, Ms. Rogak has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and in USA Today. She lives in Grafton, New Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
Why You and Why Your Own Business?	1	(22)
Do You Have What It Takes?	2	(4)
Self-Assessment Quiz 1	5	(1)
The Skills You'll Need	6	(5)
Stamina	7	(1)
Self-Discipline	8	(1)
Self-Reliance	8	(1)
Flexibility	9	(1)
Drive to Succeed	10	(1)
A People Person	10	(1)
A Sense of Humor	11	(1)
Understanding the Risks...and Rewards	11	(3)
A Matter of Time	12	(2)
Show Me the Money!	14	(2)
Floating Your Bills	16	(1)
Family and Friends	17	(2)
Attitude Adjustment	19	(2)
What Comes Next?	21	(2)
Choosing Your Business	23	(20)
What Do You Want to Do?	24	(1)
What Don't You Want to Do?	25	(3)
Self-Assessment Quiz 2	27	(1)
Service or Product?	28	(4)
Self-Assessment Quiz 3	30	(1)
Service-Oriented Businesses	31	(1)
Product-Oriented Businesses	31	(1)
Some Businesses That Are Both Service- and Product-Oriented	32	(1)
Research Upcoming Trends	32	(4)
Self-Assessment Quiz 4	34	(2)
How to Scope Out the Competition	36	(1)
What Did You Learn?	37	(1)
Will It Fly?	38	(3)
Evaluate Your Resources	39	(1)
Put It In Writing	39	(2)
After Laying the Groundwork	41	(2)
The Best-Laid Plans	43	(24)
Business Structures	44	(1)
Sole Proprietorship	45	(2)
Your Liability	46	(1)
Pros	47	(1)
Cons	47	(1)
Partnership	47	(3)
The Articles	48	(2)
Pros	50	(1)
Cons	50	(1)
Corporation	50	(2)
Pros	51	(1)
Cons	52	(1)
Limited Liability Company	52	(2)
Pros	53	(1)
Cons	53	(1)
The Long Arm of the Law	54	(4)
Claim Your Name	55	(1)
Protect Your Trademarks	55	(1)
Check Your Zoning	55	(1)
Conform to Code	56	(1)
Get an EIN	56	(1)
Register to Collect Sales Tax	57	(1)
See If You Need a License	57	(1)
Getting Professional Advice	58	(5)
Good Counsel	59	(1)
By the Numbers	60	(1)
Consultants	61	(2)
Your Business Plan	63	(2)
Get to Work!	65	(2)
Tools of the Trade	67	(20)
Keeping the Books	68	(2)
Insurance	70	(4)
Liability Insurance	71	(1)
Automobile Insurance	72	(1)
Fire Insurance	72	(1)
Workers' Compensation Insurance	73	(1)
Taxes	74	(2)
Working with Suppliers and Vendors	76	(3)
Finding Them	77	(1)
Joining Forces	78	(1)
Hiring Employees	79	(4)
What Are You Looking For?	80	(1)
What Can You Pay?	80	(1)
Where to Look	81	(1)
Stay the Course	82	(1)
Managing Employees	83	(2)
Empower Your People	83	(2)
Using Independent Contractors	85	(1)
Now That You've Got the Tools	86	(1)
Money, Money, Money	87	(26)
Start-Up Costs	88	(3)
Your Start-Up Expenses	90	(1)
Overhead	90	(1)
Your Operating Budget	91	(5)
Your Operating Expenses	93	(1)
Overhead	93	(1)
Office Expenses	93	(1)
Professional Expenses	93	(1)
Office Equipment	94	(1)
Company Vehicle(s)	94	(1)
Employee Expenses	94	(1)
A Personal Budget	94	(1)
Your Personal Budget	95	(1)
Fixed Monthly Expenses	95	(1)
Money Terms	96	(7)
Sales Forecast	96	(1)
Cash Flow Statement	97	(4)
Balance Sheet	101	(1)
Income Statement	102	(1)
Finding the Funds You Need	103	(7)
Extending Credit to Customers	110	(2)
Now That You Can Show Us the Money	112	(1)
Technologically Speaking	113	(22)
Computers	114	(3)
Which Platform?	115	(1)
Do You Need Portability?	115	(1)
Vendors	116	(1)
Other Hardware	117	(5)
Ink Jet Printers	118	(1)
Laser Printers	119	(1)
Scanners	119	(1)
Multifunction Peripherals	120	(2)
Choosing Software: What You Need to Do	122	(3)
Word Processing	122	(1)
Spreadsheets	123	(1)
Accounting	123	(1)
Database	123	(1)
Desktop Publishing	124	(1)
Graphics	124	(1)
Telecommunications	124	(1)
Voice Recognition	125	(1)
Shopping for Software	125	(2)
Check for Support	126	(1)
Register	126	(1)
Check the Web	127	(1)
To Network, or Not to Network?	127	(3)
Private versus Shared Data	128	(1)
Do You Need a Server?	129	(1)
Telephone Systems	130	(3)
Voice Mail Options	131	(1)
More Power	132	(1)
Fax Machines	133	(1)
What's Next?	134	(1)
Marketing Your Business	135	(18)
The Purpose of Marketing	136	(1)
Two Kinds of Marketing	137	(1)
Sending a Message	138	(1)
Distinguish Yourself from the Competition	139	(1)
Common Ways to Market Your Business	140	(5)
Advertising	141	(1)
Publicity	141	(1)
Direct Mail	142	(2)
The Internet	144	(1)
Making a Plan	145	(2)
Who Is Your Customer?	147	(2)
Self-Assessment Quiz 5	148	(1)
Your Marketing Budget	149	(2)
You're Almost There	151	(2)
Putting It All Together	153	(18)
Tracking Your Progress	154	(3)
Watch the Numbers	155	(1)
Who's Buying?	156	(1)
Networking	157	(3)
Benefits and Costs	158	(1)
Do It Yourself	159	(1)
Managing Your Time	160	(2)
Start Slowly	160	(1)
Control Your Agenda	161	(1)
Keep Track	162	(1)
Managing Meetings	162	(2)
Growing Your Business	164	(3)
More People	166	(1)
More Money	166	(1)
The Taxman	167	(1)
What's Next for You and Your Business?	167	(2)
Ready, Set, Go!	169	(2)
Index	171