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Description Contents Features Author Reviews Description
"Start Your Business Week by Week is written in such a clear and friendly way that you can't help being drawn into the excitement of becoming an entrepreneur. Breaking down the process into weekly steps makes it suddenly seem more achievable, and I'm sure many more people will be encouraged to turn their ideas into their own businesses as a result." Prime Minister Tony Blair "I wish I'd had this when I started the gadget shop." Jonathan Elvidge, founder of The Gadget Shop Setting up a new business is a daunting task, 400,000 in the UK do it every year , yet millions more are put off before they ever begin to trade. Once you've done it, it seems actually quite straightforward. But knowing where to start and what to do is impossible, there is a mountain to climb and you are lost at the bottom. Not any more. Each week for six months this book will tell you what you should be doing. Split into weekly sections that include explanations of the weeks' requirements, a checklist, useful contact information, a glossary, a case study of an entrepreneur, and suggestions for further reading material. This book will take you through the whole process from brainstorming and refining your business ideas, registering your company, opening a bank account to finding your first customer and keeping records. This book will ensure you know what you should be doing and when, it’s like having a super-efficient project manager by your side as you tackle one of the biggest projects of your life.
topContents
The book will have 26 sections, with one for each week in a six-month period. Each section will include: - Narrative describing what needs to be done in that stage, how and why.
- A checklist of jobs to do during the week for you to tick off.
- Contact details that you will need to complete the stage, eg Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue, etc etc. In some cases these will refer to a section at the back for local information in different UK regions, such as Business Links, Business Angels clubs, Banks etc. The narrative will include advice on what questions you need to ask these people, what to tell them etc.
- Glossary of terms used in this section, and that might be used by the people you call.
- Quotes from inspirational people, entrepreneurs etc.
- A list of common mistakes people make in this stage, including examples from well known entrepreneurs.
- Tips from entrepreneurs who have been there done that, and professional advisers.
- Notes on differences, or extra things to consider, if your business is in specialist sector e.g. retail, manufacturing, catering.
- If necessary, examples of letters and forms you have to write or fill in.
Contents Acknowledgements Introduction How to use this book The Website A few warnings before you start… Week One: Getting Ready Technology Using your workspace Identifying your local business support service Scan through this book and prepare for the weeks ahead Week Two: Think About Your Dreams Think about what? How do I do that? What should I daydream about? So many questions! Turning mind pictures into real pictures More than pictures Is there really any point to this? What do I do with this picture of the future? To finish the week Next week Week Three: Where Are You Now? The current reality Time Money Emma What do you know? Who do you know? Week Four: Start Learning and Start Work Sharpening your entrepreneurial skills Find out about local banks and accountants Week Five: Find and Develop An Idea Your business idea Emma's idea Following up from previous weeks Week Six: Take Your Idea to the World Communicating your work of genius Test your pitch on yourself A word of caution Telling other people about your idea Improving your idea Starting to think of a name for your business Arrange meetings with bank managers Week Seven: Customers What type of business are you? What industry are you in? What marketplace are you going to be operating in? Emma Becoming an expert Looking for customers Look your customer in the eyes Your business plan Writing the 'Customers' section of your business plan Week Eight: Management Decide on roles Decide on pay Emma Writing the 'Management' section of your business plan Week Nine: Sales Meeting the bank managers Selling your services Emma and Alan Week Ten: Resources 1 Remember you are flying a kite Premises Equipment Week Eleven: Resources 2 People Technology Writing the 'Resources' section of your business plan Meeting your shortlist of accountants Week Twelve: Suppliers Getting information Understanding pricing Writing the 'Suppliers' section of your business plan Week Thirteen: Competitors Who are your competitors? Writing the 'Competitors' section of your business plan New ideas? Week Fourteen: Planning to Avoid Trouble What could cause a challenge to your business? Trends Planning for these challenges and trends Don't panic! Opportunities Week Fifteen: Forecasting for Profit Will you register for VAT? Setting your prices Forecasting your sales Emma and Alan The Profit Forecast The moment of truth Think about your company structure Week Sixteen: Forecasting Cash Flow The Cash Flow Forecast How does it look? Funding your business Back to your forecasts Emma and Alan Week Seventeen: Finishing the Plan Executive Summary Test your plans on others Week Eighteen: Send the Plan Out Time to reflect Decide on your company structure Emma and Alan Send it off! Week Nineteen: Sell and Promote Get selling Press coverage Plan your weekly cash flow Week Twenty: Raise the Money Meeting the bank managers Investors: external Investors: family and friends Keep selling Week Twenty-One: Start Your Business Resigning! Get legal advice Registering your company Domain names Start getting your other resources in place Keep selling Week Twenty-Two: Do the Important Things Opening supplier accounts Register with the Inland Revenue Is there anyone else you need to register with, or comply with their regulations? Keep selling Week Twenty-Three: Last Few Forms Registering for VAT Issuing shares to investors Emma and Alan Keep selling! Week Twenty-Four: Final Preparations Taking stock Sales Emma and Alan Week Twenty-Five: Launch! B2C business B2B business Emma and Alan Week Twenty-Six: Up and Flying! Keep selling Keep your customers Keep learning Keep proper records Keep checking your progress against your plan Keep going Keep in touch Racing Greens topFeatures
The author is a former BBC journalist with great PR contacts.Over 400,000 people a year actually start a business in the UK, and The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reports that 39% of the adult population in the UK believes they have a business opportunity.This is the first book to take the budding entrepreneur step-by-step through the process of starting up. This book breaks the work into manageable chunks, and navigates the reader through each stage. Famous names such as the founders of Microsoft, The Gadget Shop, Yo Sushi, Amazon.co.uk and Freeserve are featured as are lesser known entrepreneurs - providing real, down-to-earth advice.The book makes everything clear and easy, listing the contact information you need, giving examples of correctly filled in forms, business letters and telephone conversations.
topAuthor
Steve Parks began his career as a journalist and presenter for BBC Radio. His work has been broadcast on Radio 4, Radio 5-Live, Radio 1, Radio 2, BBC TV and the ‘Today’ programme. He left the BBC to form his own company, initially to continue producing programmes for BBC Network Radio, but the company then evolved and grew into Red Audio, the UK’s leading publisher of business audio. topReviews
"recommended reading" - Edge, November 2006 top
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