With unemployment rates rising, many people are out of work and many more are either underemployed or in fear of losing their jobs. Many of these workers have long thought of owning their own businesses and are pondering whether self-employment is the right choice. This book “The Accidental Startup: How to Realize Your True Potential by Becoming Your Own Boss?” will help them make the call, and go about the process of starting and running their own businesses by learning how to:
- Determine if it makes financial sense to leave the corporate world behind
- Assess whether they have what it takes to be self-employed
- Identify the market for their business and test whether it’s viable
- Calculate start-up costs and revenue streams before making any investments
- Understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Competition
- Advertise and market the business
Click here to see the contents in detail.
Table of contents
Copyright
Letter to the Reader
Introduction
1. Does Self Employment Make Sense for You?
Your Current Position
Benefits of Working for Yourself
Downsides to Working for Yourself
Doing the Math
Final Thoughts
2. Myth Busters!
Common Myths of Self Employment
Final Thoughts
3. Dreams to Dollars
You Have an Idea, Now What?
First Steps
Deciding on an Initial Strategy
Deciding If Your Plan Will Work
Startup Costs
Final Thoughts
4. Your Path to Entrepreneurship
Types of Businesses
No Such Thing as a Bad Idea
Doing Business with Family and Friends
Home Based or Office Based?
Legal Advice
Paying Yourself
Final Thoughts
5. Business Plans
The Basics of Business Planning
Getting Started
What to Do When the Plan Comes Together
Keeping the Plan Updated and Relevant
Transition Time—Decisions, Decisions!
Quitting Time—Leaving Your Day Job
Final Thoughts
6. Raising Capital
Types of Capital-Raising Endeavors
Keeping an Eye on Economics
Dollars and Sense
What to Do When the Signs Look Bleak
Final Thoughts
7. The First Year
Making Your Business Legal
Deciding If You Need to Hire
Contractors Versus Employees
Setting Up for Business
Technology Needs at Home
Hiring Basics
Final Thoughts
8. Money Basics
Business Checking Accounts
Merchant Accounts
Alternative Payment Options
Handling Payroll
Financial Management
Final Thoughts
9. Advertising and Marketing Your Business
Using Online Tools
What Your Buyers Are Looking For
Advertising—What Pays and What Doesn’t
Using the Web as an Advertising Platform
Online Advertising That Works (and Some That Don’t)
Marketing Hooks
The 1,000-Pound Gorilla
Final Thoughts
10. Grow, Baby, Grow!
Moving Your Business Ahead
The Role of the Global Markets in Today’s Economy
Checks and Balances
Outsourcing Opportunities Even for Small Businesses
Final Thoughts
11. Service Demands
Customers Are Demanding—And They Should Be!
Service Demands
Soliciting Feedback
Final Thoughts
12. Watching Out for Scary Monsters
Porter’s Five Forces
Review Your Five-Year Plan
Knowing When You Are Off Course
Managing and Identifying Risks to the Business
Final Thoughts
13. Success!
Feeling Successful and Loving What You Do: The Ultimate Payoff!
Your Personal Definition
Knowing If You Want to Take It to “Another Level”
Deciding to Expand
Final Thoughts
A. Glossary
B. Fast Forms
C. Resources
D. References
Product details
- Publisher : Alpha (May 5, 2009)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1592578861
- ISBN-13 : 978-1592578863
- Item Weight : 1.16 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.42 x 0.81 x 9.2 inches
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