What You Need to Know about Starting a Business

Table of Contents

1. Cover
2. Series page
3. Title page
4. Copyright page
5. Dedication
6. INTRODUCTION
7. CHAPTER 1 THE IDEA
   1. IGNORE EVERYONE ELSE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
   2. WHAT PRECISELY IS THE IDEA?
   3. WHAT EXACTLY WILL YOUR BUSINESS BE?
   4. RESEARCH YOUR MARKET THOROUGHLY
   5. DO CUSTOMERS REALLY NEED YOU?
   6. WILL YOUR BUSINESS MAKE MONEY?
   7. GREAT PLANS ARE NOTHING WITH POOR EXECUTION
   8. THE BEGINNINGS OF SELF-BELIEF
   9. TEST-DRIVING YOUR IDEA
8. CHAPTER 2 THE BUSINESS PLAN
   1. WHAT’S THE PROPOSITION?
   2. THE ONE-PAGE BUSINESS PLAN
   3. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED?
   4. GET YOUR WORKING ENVIRONMENT RIGHT
   5. PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION
   6. INVEST IN A DISTINCTIVE NAME AND IDENTITY
   7. GET THE HELP YOU NEED
9. CHAPTER 3 LAWS AND SYSTEMS
   1. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
   2. GETTING THE ACCOUNTS RIGHT
   3. SETTING UP SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
   4. INSURANCE
10. CHAPTER 4 THE MONEY BIT
    1. CONCENTRATE ON THE MONEY
    2. DEALING WITH YOUR BANK
    3. SECURING FINANCE
    4. TAX AND PAY
    5. HOW TO HAVE A DECENT MARGIN
    6. COPING IN A DOWNTURN
    7. LOOKING AHEAD TO AVOID A CRISIS
11. CHAPTER 5 SALES AND MARKETING
    1. MARKETING MATTERS
    2. CRUCIAL SALES AND MARKETING INSIGHTS
    3. THE VALUE OF PRE-MARKETING
    4. DESIGNING A CONTACT STRATEGY
    5. REVIEWING YOUR MARKETING
    6. DESCRIBING WHAT YOU DO
    7. SUCCESSFUL ONLINE MARKETING
    8. EFFECTIVE SALES MEETINGS AND NETWORKING
12. CHAPTER 6 PEOPLE
    1. CREATING A TEAM SHAPE
    2. RECRUITING THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND KEEPING THEM MOTIVATED
    3. HOW TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS
    4. SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS
    5. STAYING IN TOUCH
13. CHAPTER 7 GROWTH AND DURABILITY
    1. THE PROS AND CONS OF GROWTH
    2. ANALYZE YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
    3. KEEPING THINGS VARIED
    4. DEALING WITH SETBACKS
14. CHAPTER 8 LIFESTYLE MATTERS
    1. YOU ARE THE COMPANY CULTURE
    2. GETTING YOUR ATTITUDE RIGHT
    3. REWARDING YOURSELF
    4. LIFESTYLE AND BUILD-TO-SELL QUESTIONS
    5. WHY PLAN B IS OFTEN BETTER THAN PLAN A
    6. TAKE THE ISSUES SERIOUSLY, BUT NOT YOURSELF
15. Index