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What You Need to Know about Starting a Business

What You Need to Know about Starting a Business

by Kevin Duncan
Publisher: Capstone
Release Date: October 2011
ISBN: 9780857082053
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Book Description

Ever wanted to be an entrepreneur? Ever wanted to control what you do, when you do it and stop just making money for someone else?

Now is your chance. Starting up a business has never been more exciting.

This book explains what you really need to know to make your business a success:

  • How you'll know if you've got a good idea

  • The practicalities of setting up a company

  • How to manage the money

  • How to sell what you do

  • How to make sure you stay soon through it all.

This is the book you need to swagger into the Dragon's Den full of confidence.

Introduction

Chapter 1 - The Idea

Chapter 2 - The Business Plan

Chapter 3 - Systems, Tools and Legalities

Chapter 4 - Money

Chapter 5 - Sales & Marketing

Chapter 6 - People

Chapter 7 - Growth and Staying Power

Chapter 8 - Lifestyle

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