A Canadian bestseller, now revised and updated! Discover how to: Put together everything your business needs, from furniture to staff Establish an online presence for your business Write a winning business plan Keep your books balanced Stay on the right side of tax authorities An enterprising guide to becoming your own boss Hey entrepreneurs! Got an idea and need some straightforward advice on how to turn your dream into a reality? Let two experts show you how to turn your ideas into gold. Covering every aspect of starting, building, staffing, and running your own show, whether you're starting from the ground up or buying a franchise, this book paves the way to small business success. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Want to start the small business of your dreams? Want to breathe new life into the one you already have? Small Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition provides authoritative guidance on every aspect of starting and growing your business, from financing and budgeting to marketing, management and beyond. This completely practical, no-nonsense guide gives you expert advice on everything from generating ideas and locating start-up money to hiring the right people, balancing the books, and planning for growth. You’ll get plenty of help in ramping up your management skills, developing a marketing strategy, keeping your customers loyal, and much more. You’ll also find out to use the latest technology to improve your business’s performance at every level. Discover how to: Make sure that small-business ownership is for you Find your niche and time your start-up Turn your ideas into plans Determine your start-up costs Obtain financing with the best possible terms Decide whether or not to incorporate Make sense of financial statements Navigate legal and tax issues Buy an existing business Set up a home-based business Publicize your business and market your wares Keep your customers coming back for more Track cash flow, costs and profits Keep your business in business and growing You have the energy, drive, passion, and smarts to make your small business a huge success. Small Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition, provides the rest.

Get your small business up and running — and keep it running for years to come. Millions of Americans own their own businesses, and millions more dream of doing the same. But starting your own business is a pretty complicated matter, especially with all the legal issues and paperwork. This updated edition of the top-selling small business resource is chock-full of information, resources, and helpful hints on making the transition from a great idea to a great business. If you’ve got a great idea for your own business, you need the kind of straightforward advice you’ll find here — the kind of advice you’d normally only get from business schools and MBA courses. Small Business Kit For Dummies, Second Edition covers all the basics on: Recent tax law changes Balancing your finances Hiring and keeping employees Effective management strategies Accounting fundamentals In addition to the basics of business, you’ll also find top-class advice on more advanced business basics, like business plans, the ins and outs of contracts, and using the Internet to expand your business. For entrepreneurs large and small, this comprehensive resource offers authoritative guidance on all your biggest business concerns, and offers unbeatable advice on such topics as: Choosing your business structure — from LLCs to S corps How to develop and write a standard business proposal Going public, issuing stock, and keeping a stock ledger Raising capital and understanding securities laws Bookkeeping standard practices Tax basics for small businesses Handling the paperwork for new hires Designing employee compensation plans Working with independent contractors and consultants Patent and copyright protections Dealing with the Press In addition, the book includes a CD-ROM full of helpful resources — forms, contracts, and even sample versions of the most popular software for small businesses. With Small Business Kit For Dummies you’ll find all the tools you need to get your small business up and running — and keep it running for years and years to come.

Harness the power of marketing and watch your business grow Having your own business isn't the same as having customers, and one is useless without the other. Whether your business is a resale store or a high-tech consulting firm, a law office or a home cleaning service, in today's competitive environment, strategic marketing is essential. If you want your small business to grow, you need a marketing strategy that works. But how do you get people to notice your business without spending a fortune? Packed with savvy tips for low-cost, high-impact campaigns, this friendly guide is your road map to launching a great marketing campaign and taking advantage of the newest technologies and avenues for outreach. Using social media as a marketing tool Communicating with customers Financing a marketing campaign The companion CD includes tools and templates to give you a jump-start on putting your new skills to work If you're looking to give your small business' marketing plan an edge over the competition, Small Business Marketing Kit For Dummies has you covered. CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

Keeping track of the finances is fundamental to the success of every business, but tackling the task yourself can be intimidating. Help is at hand, however, with this complete guide to small business money management. Packed with expert advice on all aspects of business finance, including basic bookkeeping and accounting, monitoring profit and performance, managing payroll, tackling tax, and forecasting for growth, Small Business Finance All-in-One For Dummies helps you to take control of your finances, stay on top of the paperwork, and keep the cash flowing.

If you’re a small business owner, managing the financial affairs of your business can seem like a daunting task—and it’s one that far too many people muddle through rather than seek help. Now, there’s a tool-packed guide designed to help you manage your finances and run your business successfully! Small Business Financial Management Kit For Dummies explains step by step how to handle all your financial affairs, from preparing financial statements and managing cash flow to streamlining the accounting process, requesting bank loans, increasing profits, and much more. The bonus CD-ROM features handy reproducible forms, checklists, and templates—from a monthly expense summary to a cash flow statement—and provides how-to guidance that removes the guesswork in using each tool. You’ll discover how to: Plan a budget and forecast Streamline the accounting process Improve your profit and cash flow Make better decisions with a profit model Raise capital and request loans Invest company money wisely Keep your business solvent Choose your legal entity for income tax Avoid common management pitfalls Put a market value on your business Complete with ten rules for small business survival and a financial glossary, Small Business Financial Management Kit For Dummies is the fun and easy way® to get your finances in order, perk up your profits, and thrive long term! Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Whether you’re a business beginner with big ideas or an established company looking to review you plans in a changing business environment this practical, user friendly guide gives you everything you need to get started. Complete with an interactive CD packed with planning templates including; planning documents, forms, financial worksheets, checklists, operation surveys and customer profiles in both Word and PDF formats you’ll be armed with all you need to kick start the planning process and create a winning business plan that suits you and your long-term business vision. Business Plans Kit For Dummies includes UK specific information on: UK business practice Currency UK business and financial institutions and advisory services UK taxation and VAT Partnerships and Limited company information UK legal practice, contractual considerations and insurance matters UK specific forms UK specific case studies New content covering online business opportunities and resources, alternative ways in to business including franchising, network marketing and buy outs, research methods and choosing suppliers and outsourcing will all be added to the UK edition. Table of Contents: Part I: Laying the Foundation for Your Plan Chapter 1: Starting Your Planning Engine Chapter 2: Generating a Great Business Idea Chapter 3: Defining Your Business Purpose Part II: Developing Your Plan’s Components Chapter 4: Understanding Your Business Environment Chapter 5: Charting Your Strategic Direction Chapter 6: Describing Your Business and Its Capabilities Chapter 7: Crafting Your Marketing Plan Chapter 8: Deciphering and Presenting Part III: Tailoring a Business Plan to Fit Your Needs Chapter 9: Planning for a One-Person Business Chapter 10: Planning for a Small Business Chapter 11: Planning for an Established Business Chapter 12: Planning for a Not for profit Nonprofit Organization Chapter 13: Planning for an E-Business Part IV: Making the Most of Your Plan Chapter 14: Putting Your Plan Together Chapter 15: Putting Your Plan to Work Part V: The Part of Tens Chapter 16: Ten Signs That Your Plan Might Need an Overhaul Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Evaluate a New Business Idea Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Fund Your Business Plan Chapter 19: Ten Sources of Vital Information to underpin your Business Plan Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Use Your Business Plan Note: CD files are available to download when buying the eBook version