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Entrepreneurship has long been just another field of academic study, but now many students are looking towards self-employment as a career. Offering a practical action plan, rather than just discussing theory, A Practical Guide to Entrepreneurship combines well researched understanding of entrepreneurship issues with guidance in the form of case studies, exercises, advice and tips. Offering a solid learning experience and a contemporary overview of the subject, the book will benefit undergraduates and postgraduate students. Taking readers through each step of the start-up process, covering: planning, marketing, selling and advertising, finances and business law, this book will also appeal to people who are thinking of starting their own business.
The author includes sections on generating and screening ideas, summaries of academic models and theories, information on new developments in the field, as well as a glossary and appendix listing useful books, websites and links to 200 online video lectures. There are 20 mini case studies of entrepreneurship in action from around the world. Informed by UK practice but offering much to the international would-be entrepreneur, this book includes learning resources that stress the practical through leadership tests, start-up checklists, 380 downloadable Powerpoint slides and other valuable supplementary online material for students, teachers and entrepreneurs.
Michael Morris has taught for university business schools, contributed regular columns to business magazines and has extensive experience consulting to small firms. He is also the author of Starting a Successful Business, published by Kogan Page.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part 1: Entrepreneurship
01 Entrepreneurship today
In this chapter Conclusions
02 Becoming and being an entrepreneur
In this chapter Characteristics of entrepreneurs Where and how Conclusions
03 Not-for-profit (NFP) entrepreneurship
In this chapter Entrepreneurship and the NFP sector Conclusions
Part 2: Evaluations
04 Business ideas - creation and evaluation
In this chapter Creativity and innovation Evaluation Conclusions
05 Running a business yourself
In this chapter The demands of entrepreneurship Personal characteristics Personal finances - spring-clean while you can Pay and rations Using advisers Conclusions
06 IT strategy
In this chapter Trading on the web Conclusions
Part 3: Customers and profits
07 Markets, market research and forecasting
In this chapter Markets, customers and consumers Researching the market Forecasting Conclusions
08 Your proposition and pricing
In this chapter The customer proposition Pricing your proposition Conclusions
09 Channels of distribution
In this chapter Getting it to the consumer Conclusions
10 Marketing communications
In this chapter Knowing what you want to say Effective advertising The web and your market Other new media Conclusions
Part 4: Financial management, raising finance
11 Costing
In this chapter Working out an hourly rate Keeping an eye on costings Conclusions
12 Controlling cash
In this chapter Cash matters more than anything else in a business Keeping on top of the cash Foreseeing the cash position Why cash-flow forecasting matters Conclusions
13 Further financial planning
In this chapter Profit planning How to trade unprofitably Breakthrough to profit Clever costing: the contribution method Conclusions
14 Credit control
In this chapter Credit control in practice Conclusions
15 Sources of finance
In this chapter The need for finance Dealing with banks Investors and others Conclusions
Part 5: The law and the firm
16 Business legal entities and business names
In this chapter Business legal entities Naming the firm Conclusions
17 Criminal and civil law as they affect business
In this chapter Civil law and criminal law: two separate codes Tort Conclusions
18 The law of contract
In this chapter The firm's contracts Other legal matters Conclusions
Part 6: Premises, operations, records and taxation
19 Premises - options and implications
In this chapter Premises The planning system Rates, and water and sewerage charges Conclusions
20 Planning, control and purchasing
In this chapter Planning of operations Control of operations Purchasing Conclusions
21 Safety and quality
In this chapter Safety at work Quality Conclusions
22 Financial records and taxation
In this chapter Financial management NI, pensions, income and corporation taxes VAT Conclusions
Part 7: Employing staff
23 Why employ, planning to employ and employment law
In this chapter Why employ staff?
Planning to employ people Legal aspects of employment Conclusions
24 Executing the recruitment plan
In this chapter Moving on from the plan Conclusions
Part 8: Managing risk, developing the firm
25 Risk management and insurance
In this chapter Strategies for risk management Insurances Conclusions
26 Expansion and culture
In this chapter Expansion Culture Conclusions
27 Leadership and management
In this chapter Leadership Management Conclusions
Part 9: A systematic approach to growth
28 The PLG© Programme
The PLG Programme: Prepare, Launch, Grow©
Learning resources
In this section Associated resources Copyright Mini case studies Suggested topics for class and group discussion Theoretical models Sample assignments and notes
Appendix 1 Cash-flow forecasting explained Appendix 2 Draft terms and conditions of sale Appendix 3 Starting a green business
Useful websites
Selected (free) websites useful to start-up entrepreneurs Websites for further information on aspects of entrepreneurship
Glossary References Index
Overview
Entrepreneurship has long been just another field of academic study, but now many students are looking towards self-employment as a career. Offering a practical action plan, rather than just discussing theory, A Practical Guide to Entrepreneurship combines well researched understanding of entrepreneurship issues with guidance in the form of case studies, exercises, advice and tips. Offering a solid learning experience and a contemporary overview of the subject, the book will benefit undergraduates ...