Description
Written by a team of business and finance experts, Starting & Running a Business All-In-One For Dummies is a complete guide to every aspect of setting up and growing a successful business.
Featuring straight-talking advice on everything from business planning and marketing, managing staff and dealing with legal issues, to bookkeeping and taking care of tax obligations, this book is your one-stop guide to turning your business plans into profit. This amazing all-in-one guide brings together specialists in finance, bookkeeping, planning, marketing and sales, staffing, taxation and more, all of them eager to share their hard-won expertise with you.
- Discusses ways to identify new business opportunities and how to put together a business plan
- Get the scoop on securing the financing you need to get started
- Includes tips on finding, managing, and retaining excellent staff
- Offers information on marketing and selling your products or services
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Book 1: Laying the Groundwork 5
Chapter 1: Preparing for Business 7
Chapter 2: Structuring Your Business 19
Chapter 3: Can You Do the Business? 43
Chapter 4: Preparing the Business Plan 55
Chapter 5: Establishing Your Starting Position 73
Chapter 6: Researching Your Customers and Competitors 85
Book 2: Sorting Out Your Finances 119
Chapter 1: Finding the Money 121
Chapter 2: Seeking (Nearly!) Free Money 143
Chapter 3: Keeping Track of Finances 161
Chapter 4: Budgeting for Beginners 181
Book 3: Finding and Managing Staff 193
Chapter 1: Staying on the Right Side of the Law 195
Chapter 2: Finding Person Friday – Advertising and Interviewing 207
Chapter 3: Employing People Successfully 229
Chapter 4: Disciplining and Dismissing Staff 245
Chapter 5: Inspiring Employees to Better Performance 259
Chapter 6: Coaching and Development 277
Chapter 7: Being an Expert at Performance Appraisal and Management 291
Book 4: Keeping on Top of the Books 307
Chapter 1: Recording the Financial Facts 309
Chapter 2: Managing Your Tax Position 325
Chapter 3: How Investors Read a Financial Report 337
Book 5: Marketing and Advertising Your Wares 355
Chapter 1: Taking a Closer Look at Customers 357
Chapter 2: Considering Your Business Mission, Vision and Objectives 371
Chapter 3: Marketing and Selling Your Wares 377
Chapter 4: Creating and Placing Ads 409
Chapter 5: Public Relations and Publicity 439
Chapter 6: Doing Business Online 457
Chapter 7: Social Media Engagement 483
Book 6: Growing and Improving Your Business 511
Chapter 1: Thinking Strategically 513
Chapter 2: Managing More than One Product 533
Chapter 3: Improving Performance 563
Chapter 4: Franchising for Growth 575
Chapter 5: Funding Expansion 583
Chapter 6: Becoming a Great Manager 607
Index 625
