So, You Want to Start a Business?: 8 Steps to Take Before Making the Leap / Edition 1 available in Paperback, eBook
So, You Want to Start a Business?: 8 Steps to Take Before Making the Leap / Edition 1
- ISBN-10:
- 0137126670
- ISBN-13:
- 9780137126675
- Pub. Date:
- 08/20/2008
- Publisher:
- Pearson Education
- ISBN-10:
- 0137126670
- ISBN-13:
- 9780137126675
- Pub. Date:
- 08/20/2008
- Publisher:
- Pearson Education
So, You Want to Start a Business?: 8 Steps to Take Before Making the Leap / Edition 1
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Overview
–JEFF ZEIGLER, CEO, TechTurn.com, Austin, TX
“When I started my graphic design business, I knew I had enough talent to impress and keep my clients, but I struggled with the day to day running of the business. So, You Want To Start A Business? is the blueprint I needed to get organized and put all the right things in place.”
–KORY BAILEY, Owner, Creative Counterpart
Build the Successful Company You’ve Always Wanted to Own!
- Avoid the 8 disastrous operational mistakes that kill new businesses
- Walk step-by-step through the entire process of building a winning business
- Master 55 amazingly simple rules of business success
- For every entrepreneur and potential entrepreneur...no previous business experience necessary!
- Launch the winning business you’ve always wanted…or make more money in the business you’ve already started!
More than 5,000,000 new businesses are started each year…but 70% of them will fail. Now, two renowned experts on entrepreneurship identify the 8 “killer mistakes” that cause most business failures–and give you the knowledge, tools, and hands-on advice to avoid them, so you can build a business that thrives.
Unlike other books on entrepreneurship, this book focuses on the crucial operational issues associated with consistent profitability. You’ll learn how to identify the right opportunities and customers; design winning products and services; set the right prices; overcome customer inertia; avoid common day-to-day management mistakes; find and keep good employees; and finally, smoothly manage growth.
Throughout, the authors draw on real life entrepreneurial experiences, case studies, and leading-edge research. There’s nothing theoretical here: This is fast-paced, 100% practical advice you can use to make your business dreams and goals come true–starting right now.
What really makes a successful entrepreneur?
What they do, how they act...and how to find your best path to business success
Get the 3 “Ws” right from the start
What will you sell, who will buy it–and why will they buy it?
55 simple, indispensable rules for success
What you must know about customers, competitors, and your employees
The art and science of managing people, operations, and growth
Create processes, set priorities, maximize quality, measure people–and improve every day
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9780137126675 |
---|---|
Publisher: | Pearson Education |
Publication date: | 08/20/2008 |
Pages: | 232 |
Product dimensions: | 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d) |
About the Author
Charles F. Goetz, MBA, Distinguished Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, has built nine successful businesses in six industries. He serves on the boards of several entrepreneurial ventures and not-for-profits. He recently published The Great Entrepreneurial Divide. His specialties are marketing, customer acquisition, and product development.
Read an Excerpt
Praise for So, You Want to Start a BusinessPraise for So, You Want to Start a Business?
"I used So, You Want To Start a Business? to restructure my furniture hardware company. The book was full of applicable information that I have used and will continue to incorporate into my company. I couldn't ask for a better resource."
Adam Prestwood, Vice President, Pampco, Inc.
"Practical, sensible advice to anyone starting a business. A great short course in entrepreneurship."
Billy D. Prim, Chairman and CEO, Primo Water Corporation, Winston-Salem, NC
"This is exactly the kind of book first time entrepreneurs always needed but was never available. Everyone who is thinking about becoming an entrepreneur must read this book."
Dr. E.W. Leonard, Associate Dean, Executive MBA Program, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
"Here is the straight story about being a successful entrepreneur from people who have been one and taught many. Clear, practical, and concise, this book delivers the goods."
Andy Fleming, Principal, Core Growth Partners, Atlanta, GA
"Solid advice for building and growing a sustainable business."
Andrew Bourne, CEO, WayPoint Technologies, Phoenix, AZ
"Professor Hess's book has helped me improve my services and make clients feel appreciated, respected, and most of all, like they're getting a great service at a fair price."
Sammy Starnes, Owner, Hair Concepts, Inc.
"A treasure trove of information! I just started my company, and I have to say that this book helped me make the right decisions from the very beginning."
Derica Justice, Owner, Bon Bini Print & Design
"This is a great practical guide with lessons and insights for anyone who wants to start a business. You will go back to it again and again."
Ned Morgens, CEO, SarahCare.com, Atlanta, GA
"Whether you are a striving young entrepreneur or a middle-aged person with the courage to trust your wits, this book is indispensable."
Ben Dyer, General Partner, Cordova Ventures, Atlanta, GA
"A must read for entrepreneurs who want to know what it really takes to launch a successful small business."
Jay Myers, CEO, Interactive Solutions, Inc., Memphis, TN
"A precise, pragmatic, wisdom-dripping, rich read. The authors walk the talk."
Jim Christian, CEO, Kandumedia.com, Denver, CO
"A powerful book full of good how-to advice."
Philippe Sommer, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, Batten Institute, Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, VA
"This book is a great primer and an excellent reference book for an entrepreneur."
Walter Negley, CEO, TSP, Houston, TX
© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xviiAbout the Authors xix
Introduction xx
Chapter 1 Can You Be a Successful Entrepreneur? 1
What Do Successful Entrepreneurs Do? 2
Who Are Successful Entrepreneurs? 3
Two Common Paths to Entrepreneurial Success 5
Chapter One: Lessons Learned 6
Chapter 2 Basic Rules of Business Success 9
The 8 Common Start-Up Mistakes 10
Basic Rules of Business Success 18
Chapter Two: Lessons Learned 19
Chapter 3 What Is a Good Business Opportunity? 21
Pencil It 23
Example 1: The Best Sandwich Shop 24
Example 2: Children’s Clothing Shop 30
Two Different Types of Businesses 32
Estimating Your Costs 35
Chapter Three: Lessons Learned 38
Chapter 4 How Do You Choose the Right Customers? 41
The Right Customers 42
The Competition 52
Chapter Four: Lessons Learned 58
Chapter 5 How Do You Design Your Product or Service? 59
Give Customers Only What They Truly Need 60
Features or Benefits 60
What Is Value? 61
Example: Enhancing Your Product/Service Value 62
Your “Reason for Being” 66
Low Innovation 68
It’s Now Time to Build Your Product/Service 69
Can You Build or Produce It? 70
The Prototype–The Test 70
Chapter Five: Lessons Learned 74
Chapter 6 What Is the Right Price for Your Product or Service? 77
Competitive Pricing 80
Break-even Formula 81
Additional Pricing Factors 82
Chapter Six: Lessons Learned 84
Chapter 7 How Can You Overcome Customer Inertia? 97
Obstacles to a Sale 88
The Risks of Buying from You 89
Making Sales Takes Practice 92
Chapter Seven: Lessons Learned 95
Chapter 8 How to Manage Your Business 97
Start-Up Overload 98
Your Value Chain 99
Your Supply Chain 100
Your Manufacturing (Assembling) Chain 101
Why Do You Flow Chart Your Business? 102
Management by Objectives 103
Management by Exceptions 106
The Power of Simplicity 108
Measurements and Rewards 110
Stay on the Front Lines 114
Iteration 114
Make Work Fun 115
Chapter Eight: Lessons Learned 116
Chapter 9 How Do You Find and Keep Good Employees? 119
This People Stuff Is Hard 120
What Do Employees Want? 121
Why Is High Employee Turnover Bad? 121
Hire for Fit 121
Hiring Tools 122
Buy-In 123
The Rules of the Game 124
Best Practices of Managing Employees 124
Mental Rehearsal 127
Mental Replay 127
Chapter Nine: Lessons Learned 128
Chapter 10 How Do You Manage Growth? 131
Growth Can Be Good or Bad 132
The Two Absolutes 134
Process 135
Financing Growth 136
Financial Controls 137
Managing the Unexpected 137
People 138
Small Business Services 139
Check-Off 140
Legal 140
Legal Structure 140
Small Business Networks 141
Upgrading People 142
Customer Diversification 142
Growth Changes Your Job 142
Chapter Ten: Lessons Learned 145
Conclusion 147
Business Rules 148
Lessons Learned 160
Bibliography and Resources 169
Books 169
Articles 181
Information Portals 183
Author’s Commentaries 184
Index 187
Preface
Praise for So, You Want to Start a Business Praise for So, You Want to Start a Business?
"I used So, You Want To Start a Business? to restructure my furniture hardware company. The book was full of applicable information that I have used and will continue to incorporate into my company. I couldn't ask for a better resource."
Adam Prestwood, Vice President, Pampco, Inc.
"Practical, sensible advice to anyone starting a business. A great short course in entrepreneurship."
Billy D. Prim, Chairman and CEO, Primo Water Corporation, Winston-Salem, NC
"This is exactly the kind of book first time entrepreneurs always needed but was never available. Everyone who is thinking about becoming an entrepreneur must read this book."
Dr. E.W. Leonard, Associate Dean, Executive MBA Program, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
"Here is the straight story about being a successful entrepreneur from people who have been one and taught many. Clear, practical, and concise, this book delivers the goods."
Andy Fleming, Principal, Core Growth Partners, Atlanta, GA
"Solid advice for building and growing a sustainable business."
Andrew Bourne, CEO, WayPoint Technologies, Phoenix, AZ
"Professor Hess's book has helped me improve my services and make clients feel appreciated, respected, and most of all, like they're getting a great service at a fair price."
Sammy Starnes, Owner, Hair Concepts, Inc.
"A treasure trove of information! I just started my company, and I have to say that this book helped me make the right decisions from the very beginning."
Derica Justice, Owner, Bon Bini Print & Design
"This is a great practical guide with lessons and insights for anyone who wants to start a business. You will go back to it again and again."
Ned Morgens, CEO, SarahCare.com, Atlanta, GA
"Whether you are a striving young entrepreneur or a middle-aged person with the courage to trust your wits, this book is indispensable."
Ben Dyer, General Partner, Cordova Ventures, Atlanta, GA
"A must read for entrepreneurs who want to know what it really takes to launch a successful small business."
Jay Myers, CEO, Interactive Solutions, Inc., Memphis, TN
"A precise, pragmatic, wisdom-dripping, rich read. The authors walk the talk."
Jim Christian, CEO, Kandumedia.com, Denver, CO
"A powerful book full of good how-to advice."
Philippe Sommer, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, Batten Institute, Darden School of Business, Charlottesville, VA
"This book is a great primer and an excellent reference book for an entrepreneur."
Walter Negley, CEO, TSP, Houston, TX
© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.