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Description: Setting up a business and ensuring its survival can be a risky and daunting task. Knowledge, preparation and forward planning dramatically reduce the risk of failure, especially during the firm`s crucial first 18 months. For over 25 years this book has helped a generation of entrepreneurs to get established and succeed. The seventh edition of Starting a Successful Business is the definitive guide to setting up a business that will thrive.
Covering all the information needed to turn a new idea into a growing and profitable business, it takes the reader through each important step of the start-up process in clear, accessible way. Practical advice is offered on key topics such as:
¢ ideas for new start-ups
¢ business planning
¢ marketing
¢ selling and advertising
¢ finances and financial control
¢ business law
¢ employing staff
Now with international case studies, information on how to start an internet business and an introduction to cloud computing and setting up a green business, Starting a Successful Business will show you how to make your business a success, keep you from making costly mistakes and save time and money in the process.
Contents
First thoughts and foundations ¢ What`s your big idea? ¢ What`s it like to run a business? ¢ Family matters ¢ Four types of entrepreneurs ¢ Women entrepreneurs ¢ Male entrepreneurs ¢ Personal finances: spring clean while you can ¢ What sort of firm to start? ¢ Buying a business ¢ Taking up a franchise ¢ Starting a green business ¢ Your IT strategy ¢ Web trading ¢ Getting orders, making profits ¢ What are you selling, exactly? ¢ Choosing customers ¢ Finding out what you need to know ¢ Customer-based operations ¢ Forecasting your sales ¢ What exactly are you selling, then? ¢ Why should anyone buy from you? ¢ Getting it all to the consumer ¢ Dealing direct with the public ¢ Shops` and distributors` margins ¢ Attracting the distributor ¢ Visiting the customer ¢ Pricing for marketability ¢ Selling via the big catalogues: big orders, quick payment ¢ Effective advertising ¢ Publicity: nearly free and better than advertising. ¢ The web and your market ¢ Sales via the internet ¢ Controlling the money ¢ Costs and costing ¢ Calculating an hourly rate ¢ Controls on costing ¢ The importance of cash ¢ Clever cash conservation ¢ Forecasting the cash situation ¢ Why cash-flow forecasting matters ¢ Planning for profits ¢ Credit control ¢ Positive strategies for credit control ¢ When credit control fails ¢ Breaking through to profitability ¢ Smarter costing ¢ Raising the money ¢ Grants: free money is best ¢ Beg, steal or. .. ¢ Banks - all the same? ¢ Presenting your case to the bank ¢ Your business name and legal status ¢ The options ¢ Sole trader ¢ Partnership ¢ Limited company ¢ Your business name ¢ Business and the law ¢ Civil and criminal law: how the difference affects you ¢ Contract law ¢ Tort ¢ Going to law ¢ Contracts to buy ¢ Contracts to sell ¢ Conditions, warranties, guarantees and exemptions ¢ Product liability ¢ Copyright, registered designs, trademarks and patents ¢ Premises ¢ Can you work from home? ¢ Finding small premises ¢ Planning permission ¢ Applying for planning permission ¢ Appealing against a planning decision ¢ Leases ¢ Rates and water charges ¢ Managing operations ¢ Operations? You think I`m a surgeon? ¢ Plan before you leap ¢ Being in control ¢ Safety ¢ Purchasing ¢ Quality ¢ Financial housekeeping, VAT and tax ¢ Financial records ¢ Bank accounts ¢ VAT - Value Added Tax - in outline ¢ Income and corporation taxes and National Insurance ¢ Employing people ¢ People: the small firm`s powerhouse ¢ The search for good people ¢ Define the job ¢ Define the person ¢ Advertising ¢ Shortlisting ¢ Interviewing ¢ Deciding ¢ Induction ¢ The law; not as big a problem as some think ¢ Risk management and insurance ¢ Risk management strategy ¢ Insurance strategy ¢ Insurance suppliers ¢ Sources of help ¢ What advisers can do for business ¢ Finding a generalist consultant or adviser ¢ Specialist advisers ¢ After a successful launch. . . developing your firm ¢ Your experience ¢ Key issues ¢ Expansion strategy ¢ Your new job ¢ The three stages of growth ¢ Organizational culture ¢ Your managerial development ¢ Your firm and consultants ¢ Funding your growth ¢ The PLG Programme for Growth ¢ The PLG Programme: Prepare, Launch, Growa ¢ What it`s for ¢ How it works ¢ Business plan: introduction ¢ Business plan: Part one: Overviews ¢ Business plan: Part two: Operating plans ¢ Business plan: Part three: Appendices ¢ Business plan: Presentation ¢ Business plan: Implementation ¢ Business plan: Growth ¢ Executive summary ¢ Business plan: Part one: Overviews ¢ Business plan: Part two: Operating plans ¢ Business plan: Part three: Appendices ¢ Business plan: Presentation ¢ Appendices ¢ Cash-flow forecasting illustration ¢ Draft terms and conditions of sale ¢ Small business contacts list ¢ Help for small businesses ¢ Taking up a franchise ¢ Starting a green business ¢ Index
About the Author: Michael J Morris writes on and teaches small businesses and management topics for a number of organizations and institutions.
Target Audience - Small business owners, students of management
Special prices are applicable to the authorised sales territory only.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice. ISBN 9780749461485
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Pages : 240
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