Book Description
When you’re establishing, expanding, or re-energizing a business, the best place to start is writing your business plan. Not only does writing out your idea force you to think more clearly about what you want to do, it will also give the people you work with a defined road map as well.
Business Plan Kit For Dummies, Second Edition is the perfect guide to lead you through the ins and outs of constructing a great business plan. This one-stop resource offers a painless, fun-and-easy way to create a winning plan that will help you lead your business to success. This updated guide has all the tools you’ll need to:
- Generate a great business idea
- Understand what your business will be up against
- Map out your strategic direction
- Craft a stellar marketing plan
- Tailor your plan to fit your business’s needs
- Put your plan and hard work into action
- Start an one-person business, small business, or nonprofit
- Create a plan for an already established business
- Cash in on the Internet with planning an e-business
Featured in this hands-on guide is valuable advice for evaluating a new business idea, funding your business plan, and ways to determine if your plan may need to be reworked. You also get a bonus CD that includes income and overhead worksheets, operation surveys, customer profiles, business plan components, and more. Don’t delay your business’s prosperity. Business Plan Kit For Dummies, Second Edition will allow you to create a blueprint for success!
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Customer Reviews:
Crash Business Corse.......2007-10-17
This book was very precise. Just follow the steps and you will have your business plan when your done. I found it very helpful as I had no idea what a business plan should look like. I highly recommend it.
Good Format.......2007-06-12
Simple and easy to follow. Great to have CD for forms etc.
Looking for an intro to business before starting a plan?.......2007-05-02
Business Basics Bestseller 1: The Easy, Interesting, Open-book Look at the Game of Business Numbers! 2nd Edition
I've read some "Dummy" books and like them (it's how I learned to do PowerPoint). However, if you aren't quite ready to start a business plan and want to learn more about the financial side of business first, you will want to look at "Business Basics Bestseller 1" as a starting point. If you find the "Dummy" books to your liking, you'll enjoy zipping through this 150 page sketch filled title. This is not a suggestion that you substitute it for this book (it isn't), just that you check it out as well. The BBB #1 book was written by a guy who is not an accountant -- imagine what that can do for cutting through the jargon accountants love.
BBB #1 will introduce you to the basics of business including the terms behind the numbers and where all the financial statements and key formulas come from. That's a big help before you plow into setting up a business and talking to an accountant. Search for "Business Basics Bestseller 1" and add it to your consideration. It can be one of your best investments.
Excellent and Simple.......2006-02-28
If you are writing a business plan and have absolutely no idea how to do it, Business Plans for Dummies is the only way to go. This is my first experience with the "Dummies" series and I have to say I am very impressed. I am a commercial artist with very limited business experience. This book guided and helped me, especially making a lot of analitical sense to a very right brained person. I just dont think in terms of graphs and charts, yet they simplified it to a level that was intriguing, entertaining, and extremely useful. An excellent, excellent book!!!!
Practical, convenient, comprehensive.......2005-11-30
This book and cd combination is likely to be a good buy for quite a range of people. The great advantage that I see is that it is encyclopedic in scope. And by scope I am referring not to the great range of business and management knowledge that is available but to the processes that someone attempting to prepare a business plan is likely to face.
For example the book begins with Part I: Doing Your Planning Homework. This section assumes that you may not yet have a firm business idea. Yet the material on creating or identifying a business idea may very well be quite useful even to those people who have their basic idea in place.
In Part I Chapter two deals quite well with understanding the why of the business plan. This point, why you must be a business plan believer, is often taken for granted or dealt with by a few platitudes by some authors but here the topic gets full treatment. This could be particularly important to people who are attempting a business and a business plan for the first time.
Is the book encyclopedic? Well if you really want to understand market segmentation in depth you will have to go to a text or a couple of seminars. Nevertheless, the concept is here along with many others, but tailored to the beginner and to the new, small enterprise.
Perhaps comprehensive, rather than encyclopedic, would be a better word. However, if it is a topic likely to affect your startup or small business it is here at least in elementary terms. In fact, with an MBA and nearly 40 years experience, I would say that the technical treatment, for the given audience, is really quite good.
The forms or questionnaires, I believe, selectively could be useful to business people at almost any level. The forms take you through an exhaustive chain of concepts and detailed questions. Sometimes it seems that the questions are repetitive. Some of them may be redundant for your business but don't jump too quickly. Take your time and mull over the questions. If you do take the time, you may come up with an eye opening new thought here and there.
The CD allows you to print the forms, including your input, if you choose. The CD also introduces some trial versions of software that might be worth your consideration.
Since I do business plans as a part-time business, I expect that I will be referring to these convenient forms again and again in the future as my projects shift from one type of business situation to another.
Take a good look at this choice if you are serious about a business and a business plan.
Book Description
Entrepreneur's Notebook propels you on a whirlwind tour of the start-up process. It is an invaluable reference for new and experienced entrepreneurs that includes chapters on a wide range of topics, from entrepreneurial team building to business plans to financing. This excellent book provides an incredible amount of practical information that will help you make smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes. The author, Steven K. Gold, is an accomplished entrepreneur who has co-founded and led five early-stage ventures. As an investor and mentor, he also advises many entrepreneurs and young companies. He earned his B.S.E. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.D. from Brown University Medical School.
Customer Reviews:
Nice Guide for Beginners.......2007-06-16
The author writes a nice overview of the entrepreneurial process. It's basically for novices but it does a good job for this audience. The only problem I have with this book is that it is too basic and is therefore non-unique because it is so low-level. Regardless, I must say that for the right audience, it does a fine job over giving the big picture.
If you are advanced or aspire to become advanced, I would recommend "The Startup Company Bible for Entrepreneurs" but only for high-tech entrepreneurs. Even this author has recommended it.
A Must-Have for Entrepreneurs.......2007-05-14
Steven gives great illustrations to drive home his insightful advice for entrepreneurs. As he's "been there, done that," we can take his advice to heart in the hopes of becoming a success like him!
Exellent Book.......2007-05-11
Great book for getting ready to open a new business. Would refer to anyone thinking about opening a business.
Brief and to the point.......2007-04-27
This is a delightful little book that contains a wealth of useful and helpful information and ideas on starting a small business and ensuring that it is viable and succesful. The book is well written and easy to follow and interesting to read.
This is a must read for entrepreneurs, particularly budding ones as the information the book provides is very practical and can help you avoid making costly errors. The book covers a wide range of topics including the start-up process, marketing the business on a small budget, cash-flow forecasting, among other things.
The book is an excellent companion for the entrepreneur that is well worth having.
Invaluable advice for the budding entrepreneur.......2007-03-04
This book does a terrific job of presenting some of the most important issues entrepreneurs face when embarking on new ventures, touching on topics such as the business plan, funding, team building, and cash flows. Using simple, yet stunningly accurate models of the entrepreneurial process, Steven Gold distills complex subjects into simple, practical, take-away messages. The classification of entrepreneurial personalities (professionals, pragmatists, and inventors) is something I think we can all relate to. I find the metaphor which compares building a new company to making "stone soup" equally compelling. There are countless books out there for budding entrepreneurs, but this one is no fluff. It gets right down to the nuts and bolts so you can concentrate on your business.
Book Description
Would you take off on a road trip to a new destination without a map or good directions? Probably not. Yet, sometimes business owners go full speed ahead without even having a destination in mind, much less a map on how to get there. That’s why so many businesses never make it. In today’s competitive marketplace, 3/4 of all new businesses fail within two to three years. Whether you’re launching a new business or working to strengthen or expand an established one, a business plan is your road map to success.
Business Plans For Dummies, 2
nd Edition helps you keep your businesses on track and reach your goals. Written by Paul Tiffany, PhD, professor at UC Berkley Haas Business School and the Wharton School of Business and Steven Peterson, PhD, Professor at UC Berkeley Haas Business School and CEO of Strategic Play, it helps you
- Realistically determine where your business is and where you want to go
- Create a detailed business plan and put it into action instead of in a drawer
- Use the plan to secure financing
- Prepare for opportunities avoid common pitfalls
In short, Business Plans for Dummies helps you determine where you want your business to go and create a map for getting there. You’ll discover how to:
- Identify and approach potential financial backers, including venture capital firms, angels, bankers, and others
- Clarify and crystallize your company’s mission, vision, and values
- Analyze your industry and your competition
- Identify your customers, including their needs, habits, purchase triggers, and decision-making processes
- Objectively analyze your company’s strengths and weaknesses
- Analyze your financial situation in order to do realistic forecasts and budgets
- Recognize trends and anticipate changes, both in the overall economy and in your industry
- Plan for growth, considering the product life cycle, new products, or new markets
- Structure your organization and nurture leadership
Complete with diverse techniques and approaches plus a sample business plan, Business Plans For Dummies gives you detailed how-to for designing a dynamic, business plan that will keep you on course in spite of the inevitable curves and detours in today’s marketplace. It’s a plantastic resource for business owners and entrepreneurs.
Customer Reviews:
Great Information!.......2007-09-23
Business Plans for Dummies has great information in it and is a wonderful resource for those starting or contemplating starting a business. Well worth the cost!
Good Reference for Beginners and Intermediates Alike.......2004-03-22
I've done a number of business plans in my time and bought this book as a gift for a friend who wants to start her own business. I purchased it because it includes all of the basics needed to develop a business plan that will guide you as you start and build your business and will also give you the credibility you need to secure outside financing. This is a very good step-by-step guide for those completely new to business and an excellent refresher guide for those who already know the basics.
And, by the way, you can skip the companion Dummies book called Business Plans Kit, which covers the same ground as this book but includes a CD-ROM that doesn't add much value. The truth is, this book is cheaper and offers just as much help as the larger and more expensive kit version.
The title says it all..........2002-12-12
I'm a business planning consultant and a client just gave me a copy of this book. Way too basic, not enough help on the most important part of any business plan: the financials. If you want to get funded, look for a better book.
Not bad.......2002-10-29
This book was not bad, but it needs more sample plans. If you are writing a Business Plan, this book will get you started, but it will not get you finished.
For the non-MBA entrepreneurial wannabes!.......2001-06-04
As someone who fits the above category, this book seems to have all, and more, that I need to constructively think about what it takes to build a business from scratch, and have a document that will help induce others to invest in it! (Although talk to me after I've actually tried to launch the thing!;-))
Book Description
Get the most out of your 401(k) in any economy
Filled with sample 401(k) portfolios for every stage of life
Invest your 401(k) money wisely and make the most of your retirement
Want to know what kind of investment mix you need to make your retirement money grow? Don't know what to do with a 401(k) account from your last job? Worried that your company's 401(k) plan doesn't cut it? Relax! This simple, plain-English guide shows you how to manage your accounts, minimize your risks, and maximize your returns.
The Dummies Way
- Explanations in plain English
- "Get in, get out" information
- Icons and other navigational aids
- Tear-out cheat sheet
- Top ten lists
- A dash of humor and fun
Customer Reviews:
Future 401k Member.......2007-02-17
I must admit, I'm pretty slow when it comes to finances. It's my first year as a post-college student and I can't imagine saving my money until 59. But, I like the ideas in this book and I think I will. It explains everything! If you're an expert or not, you can use this book. I like the idea that saving for a 401k will lower the taxes on your paycheck. I'm on that borderline where if I made a little less, they wouldn't take out so much. So, I want to start a 401k to lower that income a bit. This book will make a believer out of you. There is a chapter dedicated for every excuse you may have for not wanting one (and it's easy to read). I dare you to see if you're excuse is not in there. See if they don't have a section for your special case. Prove me wrong. You won't.
Informative and well-written.......2006-04-03
Though a bit dated (2002/2003), it offers a good amount of information and detail on the 401(k) plan for the beginner. The authors build a good case and show by examples why investing for retirement is important and how starting early can make a lot of difference. It was a quick read even with a lot of financial terms explained and I believe I am wiser having read it.
Book Description
There’s no question: The cost of college continues to soar, even when the rest of the economy stagnates, and this reality is not likely to change any time soon. Fortunately, everyone, including you, the various governments (federal and state), and the colleges themselves, are in on this secret, so everyone can plan and plot, well in advance of that eventual first day of your child’s freshman year, ways to get that child there, and ways to help you pay the bills when they happen. Consider this book to be your accomplice.
529 & Other College Savings Plans For Dummies is simply a way to find a reasonable solution to a seemingly unreasonable problem: saving for future college costs in the sanest, least stressful way possible for you. In keeping with the theme of stress reduction, you can use this book in a variety of ways:
-
As a reference: It’s all here: the ins, the outs, the do’s, and the don’ts. The world of college savings is one of very specific rules, and they’re here, in all their glory, and they’re all explained.
-
As an advisor: It’s a case of the very good savings techniques, the merely okay savings techniques, and the truly ugly techniques (which you really want to avoid), and this book highlights them all.
-
As a little light reading: Amazingly enough, the topic of money can be mildly amusing, and college savings is no exception. Read this with an eye towards the absurd, and you won’t go far wrong.
This down-to-earth book is designed to explain the strategies that are out there to help you save, save, save. There’s no doubt that the bill will be large; there’s also no question that, with planning, strategy, and purpose, you can achieve your goal. To help you get there, this book covers all these vital topics, and more:
- Evaluating all your resources
- Understanding the basics of Section 529 plans
- Working around the 529 shortcomings
- Contributing to Coverdell accounts
- Choosing savings bonds that work
- Looking at your investment options
- Searching for scholarships, fellowships, and grants
- Tapping into your Roth IRA
- Financial Aid 101
In this one-size-fits-all world, the powers that be have recognized that all people don’t save money the same way. Some save more, some save less, some can live with risk, and others can’t tolerate any risk. Clearly, no two are alike, but you’re all savers, either present or potential. Numerous options exist that make saving possible and desirable for everyone. 529 & Other College Savings Plans For Dummies is here to tell you that it is possible to understand the costs associated with college, both right now and in the future, and then find ways to pay for those costs.
Customer Reviews:
This is the book to read about 529's.......2006-11-14
After my baby was born, I knew I wanted to save for her college. I read this book and another 529 book. This book was the best. It walked me through the college savings process, explained how to get college financing, and listed all the 529 companies to go with for each state. It decussed tax issues as well. This was an easy read for someone that does not have a clue about 529's (Me).
Book Description
The friendly guide for retirees who want to get back into the workforce
More than 76 million baby boomers will begin retiring in 2011. Eighty percent of boomers expect to continue working past the age of 65 due to financial and healthcare concerns (seniorcitizensguide.com, 1-06). Working After Retirement For Dummies shows retirees and workers approaching retirement age how to stay in the workforce and thrive after 65 or get back into the workforce after retirement. The book covers new job searching and resume writing; how to overcome employer myths about retirement age workers; and the flexibility of various career options from telecommuting to job sharing. In addition, it also covers nontraditional job search methods that work particularly well for seniors. Even retirement age workers who just want to volunteer their time will find helpful, straightforward advice on getting back to work at any age.
Product Description
Four book set, softcover. Great selection for a new or existing retail business.
Titles include: Business Plans for Dummies by Paul Tiffany and Steven Peterson: Published in 1997 by IDG Books Worldwide/Retail Business Kit for Dummies with cd: Published in 2001 by Hungry Minds/1,001 Ideas to Create Retail Excitement by Edgar Falk: Published in 1994 by Prentice Hall/Start & Run a Retail Business by Jim Dion and Ted Topping: Published in 1998 by Self Counsel Press.
Book Description
Are you concerned about your pension? In today’s tumultuous business environment, you have every right to be. With revised pension laws and under-the-table pension cuts by companies making waves, you have to be ever vigilant about protecting what you have.
Protecting Your Pension For Dummies helps you do just that. This easy-to-follow guide explains all the latest pension laws, what your rights are, and the best ways to keep your money safe. It demystifies the various types of pension plans and outlines just what it takes to qualify for a pension. Once your plan is set up, you’ll see how to navigate company bankruptcies, mergers, and pension cutbacks, as well as divorces, loans, and personal bankruptcy—and take action if you’ve been shortchanged to recoup what is rightfully yours. You get all the expert guidance you need to:
- Understand the Pension Protection Act of 2006
- Evaluate different pension plans
- Plan for retirement while you’re working
- Ensure that you get your pension
- Request essential plan documents
- Understand eligibility, accrual, and vesting
- Guard your pension from your employer—and from life’s ups and downs
- Understand pension distributions
- And much more
Complete with a glossary of terms and an appendix of charts and forms discussed throughout the book, Protecting Your Pension For Dummies is the fun and easy way® to grasp all the important pension rules—and retire with a full nest egg!
Customer Reviews:
Finally, a voice that speaks to ordinary people..........2007-10-11
Virtually the entire pension investment and consulting industry is devoted to chasing employers to sell them products or services and speaking and writing well over the heads of the vast majority of the ordinary people who make up the millions of plan participants. It's little wonder that studies show year after year that the American workforce in increasingly mystified by the terms and procedures of their own employee benefit programs. As an ERISA attorney with more than 35 years experience, and founder of an online employee benefits counseling firm, BenefitsZoom.com, I have rarely found a book so well written for the end user of pension plans. Employers would do well to save a few dollars from the big bucks they pay their brokers and pension consultants and include a copy of this book with each summary plan description they distribute about their pension plans.
A Great Resource for Employees.......2007-09-14
As a pension lawyer, I know how difficult and arcane the pension laws can be. Yet they affect tens of millions of employees. I also know how difficult it can be for employees to get access to an understandable explanation of these pension rules. Without this knowledge, employees are at a real disadvantage in understanding and enforcing their rights. And these rights pertain to many employees' most valuable asset other than their home. This fine book covers the waterfront of all of the important pension concepts and rules in an impressively understandable and readable manner. The reader should not be daunted or intimidated by the subject of pensions when this resource is available. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about their retirement savings and well-being. This is one subject where it pays not to be a "dummy."
REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE.......2007-08-11
This book is a must read for anyone who is worried about retirement and the ins and outs of retirement plans. The information is extremely informative and invaluable. As a financial planner and long term company employee, this book answered the many questions and concerns regarding my 401k and pension benefits that my company corporate benefit department couldn't answer. It is an easy read and cuts through the legal "mumbo jumbo" to present information in a simple and understandable format. If "Knowledge is power" then this book will definately give you the power you need to be in control of your retirement plan and financial future. Anyone putting away money through a company retirement can't afford not to buy this book.
protecting your pension plan for dummies.......2007-07-31
This book is a virtual Cliff's Notes for corporate executives and human resources professionals who must be able to answer questions and speak intelligently about corporate pension plans. The book is neither intimidating nor simplistic. It seems like a great resource for those who need to clearly understand pension plans, whether they are participants or professionals in the business world.
I especially like the book's handy format, using icons which alert the reader to the importance of certain issues and information. If you or your spouse has a pension plan, this book can save you big money. Knowing your rights equals keeping more of your assets. You will learn how to make informed, insightful decisions.
The only "dummies" regarding this book are those who don't read it.
Book Description
Author Rebecca St. Martin publishes the worksheets she uses to consult clients in her web design practice. This workbook is an excellent tool for leaders needing a launching pad for their next project and a must-have for web designers who need a comprehensive line of questioning for their clients.
No Technical Knowledge Required
This is not a book to help you design or build your web site. You simply need to know your business. When you've completed the workbook, you'll have all of the components required to prepare an effective e-business strategy and plan or to find the specialists you need to assist you.
How To Use the Workbook
Use the completed workbook to gather and centralize research, create a solution that compliments your working style and wishes and get proposals and estimates from vendors and ultimately compare them apples-to-apples.
Book Description
You’re not alone if the thought of running your own business has crossed your mind. Even if your vision of a small business differs from your neighbor’s, you probably dream of being your own boss and of providing a needed service or creating a cool new product.
But your very first small-business decision may be to admit that you’re not ready for this career – at least not yet. If you’re straddling the fence, Small Business For Dummies will uncover whether this career works for you. You’ll also gain insight into getting your personal finances in order before exposing yourself to the risk of a new business, and discover how to draw a roadmap to reach your career destination. This easy-to-understand guide is also for those who want to
- Write a gang-buster business plan
- Create the right legal framework for your business
- Locate financing that suits your needs
- Develop and market your product
- Hire the right employees for the right jobs
- Build your business
You’ll also gain understanding of the tactical side of running a small business, from pricing, budgeting, business expansion, and complying with government regulations to operational issues including:
- Managing your time
- Collecting accounts receivable
- Understanding your financial statements
- Taking good care of your customers
- Locating new financing or revising existing financing
You don’t need to be a genius to run a successful small business, but you do need some help. And that’s exactly what this book is, a guide into the stimulating world of small business ownership and management.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource!.......2007-09-23
Small Business for Dummies is an excellent resource for those getting into small business or testing the waters before making that decision. Lots of great information and written well.
Great Review.......2007-01-26
This was my first order. The actual ordering was simple and easy...book was received as reported and was a complete pleasant experience. Thanks Amazon.
A book for all entrepreneurs.......2006-08-01
I think that before anyone becomes an entrepreneur they should read this book.
It is filled with facts and evaluations to help you. There are also some very important things to take note of.
I especially like the definitions of a small business, and what we need to look out for when thinking of venturing into a small business.
Chapters one to three are very important reading material.
A very useful book to have.......2006-05-12
I am quite happy with my purchase of this book and Eric Tyson has done a good job at giving us some very interesting alternatives.
However, I'd like to recommend that you also pick up a copy of Untapped Wealth Discovered by Jeff Marquis & Kerry Harrison.
This book gives us a fresh new approach to realism, has suggestions for reducing costs and increasing revenues, and has an eye for booming markets.
Hats off though to Mr Tyson.
Great Book for starting your own business!.......2005-08-20
There are so many great books on business out there and I have found this one called "The Wal-Mart Way" by Don Soderquist to be an invaluable tool when starting my business.
Books:
- Business Process Execution Language for Web Services BPEL and BPEL4WS 2nd Edition
- Construction Project Management (2nd Edition)
- Contemporary Strategy Analysis: Concepts, Techniques, Applications (5th Edition)
- Crafting and Executing Strategy : The Quest for Competitive Advantage - Concepts and Cases (Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases)
- Crafting and Executing Strategy : The Quest for Competitive Advantage - Concepts and Cases (Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases)
- Crafting and Executing Strategy : The Quest for Competitive Advantage - Concepts and Cases (Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases)
- Data Analysis and Decision Making with Microsoft Excel (with InfoTrac and CD-ROM)
- Data Analysis and Decision Making with Microsoft Excel (with CD-ROM, InfoTrac , and Decision Tools and Statistic Tools Suite)
- Decision Analysis for the Professional
- Design and Equipment for Restaurants and Foodservice: A Management View
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Search Engine Marketing, Inc.: Driving Search Traffic to Your Company's Web Site
- Eminent Georgians: The Lives of King George V, Elizabeth Bowen, St. John Philby, and Lady Astor
- The Shawshank Redemption: The Shooting Script
- The World's Easiest Guide to Using the APA : A User Friendly Manual for Formatting Research Papers A
- 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List
- Dope, Inc.: The Book That Drove Henry Kissinger Crazy
- Alfalfa, Beans, and Clover
- Some of the Essentials of Finance and Investment
- The SAP R/3 Guide to EDI and Interfaces
- Wolf to the Slaughter
Strategy & Competition
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Writing a Convincing Business Plan
Small Business Kit for Dummies
Small Business for Dummies, Second Edition
Business Plans For Dummies
Business Plans That Win $$$: Lessons from the MIT Enterprise Forum
