Paperback : $39.60
Starting a business is one of the most rewarding and satisfying career moves you could possibly make and it's not as difficult as you might think - if you have the right advice. Start Your Business Week by Week will help you overcome the challenges and turn your idea into reality. In 26 weekly steps it walks you though everything you need to do to get up and running, in the order you need to do it. Each step contains a to-do list, an explanation of what needs to be done, useful hints and shortcuts, and the contact information you need. Plus, each week you'll share the experiences of early stage entrepreneurs like you, as well as advice from established, successful entrepreneurs. It shows you how to:*Develop, text and refine your idea*Find the right bank and accountant*Decide who you need to help you run the business*Budget and forecast (without pain)*Find and secure funding*Plan cash flow*Decide on suppliers*Find customers*Register your company*Avoid the common problems faced by start-ups*And much more This book is written by an entrepreneur for entrepreneurs. Everything inside is tried and tested reality, not academic theory. This is your moment.
And this is the book to show you how. "Steve Parks is probably the best person I know to advise you on starting your own business. He has interviewed most of the best entrepreneurs alive today and also set up his own successful business. This is a practical real-life guide that can be your 'virtual' mentor as you start up your business."John Barnes, serial entrepreneur behind Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chips, La Tasca tapas restaurants, and many other businesses
Starting a business is one of the most rewarding and satisfying career moves you could possibly make and it's not as difficult as you might think - if you have the right advice. Start Your Business Week by Week will help you overcome the challenges and turn your idea into reality. In 26 weekly steps it walks you though everything you need to do to get up and running, in the order you need to do it. Each step contains a to-do list, an explanation of what needs to be done, useful hints and shortcuts, and the contact information you need. Plus, each week you'll share the experiences of early stage entrepreneurs like you, as well as advice from established, successful entrepreneurs. It shows you how to:*Develop, text and refine your idea*Find the right bank and accountant*Decide who you need to help you run the business*Budget and forecast (without pain)*Find and secure funding*Plan cash flow*Decide on suppliers*Find customers*Register your company*Avoid the common problems faced by start-ups*And much more This book is written by an entrepreneur for entrepreneurs. Everything inside is tried and tested reality, not academic theory. This is your moment.
And this is the book to show you how. "Steve Parks is probably the best person I know to advise you on starting your own business. He has interviewed most of the best entrepreneurs alive today and also set up his own successful business. This is a practical real-life guide that can be your 'virtual' mentor as you start up your business."John Barnes, serial entrepreneur behind Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chips, La Tasca tapas restaurants, and many other businesses
The book will have 26 sections, with one for each week in a six-month period.
Each section will include:
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
How to use this book
The Website
A few warnings before you start…
Week One: Getting Ready
Technology
Using your workspace
Identifying your local business support service
Scan through this book and prepare for the weeks ahead
Week Two: Think About Your Dreams
Think about what?
How do I do that?
What should I daydream about?
So many questions!
Turning mind pictures into real pictures
More than pictures
Is there really any point to this?
What do I do with this picture of the future?
To finish the week
Next week
Week Three: Where Are You Now?
The current reality
Time
Money
Emma
What do you know?
Who do you know?
Week Four: Start Learning and Start Work
Sharpening your entrepreneurial skills
Find out about local banks and accountants
Week Five: Find and Develop An Idea
Your business idea
Emma's idea
Following up from previous weeks
Week Six: Take Your Idea to the World
Communicating your work of genius
Test your pitch on yourself
A word of caution
Telling other people about your idea
Improving your idea
Starting to think of a name for your business
Arrange meetings with bank managers
Week Seven: Customers
What type of business are you?
What industry are you in?
What marketplace are you going to be operating in?
Emma
Becoming an expert
Looking for customers
Look your customer in the eyes
Your business plan
Writing the 'Customers' section of your business plan
Week Eight: Management
Decide on roles
Decide on pay
Emma
Writing the 'Management' section of your business plan
Week Nine: Sales
Meeting the bank managers
Selling your services
Emma and Alan
Week Ten: Resources 1
Remember you are flying a kite
Premises
Equipment
Week Eleven: Resources 2
People
Technology
Writing the 'Resources' section of your business plan
Meeting your shortlist of accountants
Week Twelve: Suppliers
Getting information
Understanding pricing
Writing the 'Suppliers' section of your business plan
Week Thirteen: Competitors
Who are your competitors?
Writing the 'Competitors' section of your business plan
New ideas?
Week Fourteen: Planning to Avoid Trouble
What could cause a challenge to your business?
Trends
Planning for these challenges and trends
Don't panic!
Opportunities
Week Fifteen: Forecasting for Profit
Will you register for VAT?
Setting your prices
Forecasting your sales
Emma and Alan
The Profit Forecast
The moment of truth
Think about your company structure
Week Sixteen: Forecasting Cash Flow
The Cash Flow Forecast
How does it look?
Funding your business
Back to your forecasts
Emma and Alan
Week Seventeen: Finishing the Plan
Executive Summary
Test your plans on others
Week Eighteen: Send the Plan Out
Time to reflect
Decide on your company structure
Emma and Alan
Send it off!
Week Nineteen: Sell and Promote
Get selling
Press coverage
Plan your weekly cash flow
Week Twenty: Raise the Money
Meeting the bank managers
Investors: external
Investors: family and friends
Keep selling
Week Twenty-One: Start Your Business
Resigning!
Get legal advice
Registering your company
Domain names
Start getting your other resources in place
Keep selling
Week Twenty-Two: Do the Important Things
Opening supplier accounts
Register with the Inland Revenue
Is there anyone else you need to register with, or comply with their regulations?
Keep selling
Week Twenty-Three: Last Few Forms
Registering for VAT
Issuing shares to investors
Emma and Alan
Keep selling!
Week Twenty-Four: Final Preparations
Taking stock
Sales
Emma and Alan
Week Twenty-Five: Launch!
B2C business
B2B business
Emma and Alan
Week Twenty-Six: Up and Flying!
Keep selling
Keep your customers
Keep learning
Keep proper records
Keep checking your progress against your plan
Keep going
Keep in touch
Racing Greens
"Steve Parks" began his career as a journalist and presenter for BBC Radio. His work has been broadcast on Radio 4, Radio 5-Live, Radio 1, Radio 2, BBC TV and the 'Today' programme. He left the BBC to form his own company, initially to continue producing programmes for BBC Network Radio, but the company then evolved and grew into"Red Audio," the UK's leading publisher of business audio.
"recommended reading" - Edge, November 2006
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
