Synopses & Reviews
Review
“…a must-read for its simple and encouraging tone, which takes the mystery out of running your own business.” -- Curve magazine
Review
“This is the best $20.00 you'll ever spend on your business. Hit the business section and pick it up now.” -- www.PCB007.com
Synopsis
Like many business owners, Susan-Urquhart Brown never expected to end up as an entrepreneur. Launching her own business spoke to her passions, but she soon realized there was much more to being a successful owner than she ever expected. In The Accidental Entrepreneur, she takes all the mystery out of going solo. For those who are just beginning to consider starting a venture as well as those who want to take their organization to the next level, she offers advice on what works and what doesn’t. With hard-won wisdom and empathy, she shows readers:
• the 8 questions everyone should ask up front
• the top 10 traits of the successful entrepreneur
• how to obtain a license and sellers permit
• the best way to create a business plan
• 10 simple ways to get referrals
• the 6 secrets of marketing a business
• smart tips for investing and finance
• ways to avoid burnout
• how to avoid the 7 biggest pitfalls in business
Starting one’s own business should be exciting, not scary. This is the one book that will show readers how to create a successful and fulfilling venture they can be proud of.
Synopsis
Susan-Urquhart Brown never expected to end up as an entrepreneur. In The Accidental Entrepreneur, she takes all the mystery out of going solo. For those who are just beginning to consider starting a venture as well as those who want to take their organization to the next level, she offers advice on what works and what doesn't.
Synopsis
For those who are just beginning to consider starting a venture or want to take their organization to the next level, this book offers advice on what works and what doesn't.
Like many business owners, Susan-Urquhart Brown never expected to end up as an entrepreneur. Launching her own business spoke to her passions, but she soon realized there was much more to being a successful owner than she ever expected.
In The Accidental Entrepreneur, she takes all the mystery out of going solo. With hard-won wisdom and empathy, she shows you:
- the 8 questions everyone should ask up front
- the top 10 traits of the successful entrepreneur
- how to obtain a license and sellers permit
- the best way to create a business plan
- 10 simple ways to get referrals
- the 6 secrets of marketing a business
- smart tips for investing and finance
- ways to avoid burnout
- how to avoid the 7 biggest pitfalls in business
Starting one's own business should be exciting, not scary. The Accidental Entrepreneur shows you how to create a successful and fulfilling venture they can be proud of.
About the Author
Susan Urquhart-Brown (Oakland, CA) started her own company in 1995. As a business coach and mentor, she has encouraged thousands of people to build the business of their dreams. From 1998 to 2001, Susan wrote an advice column in The San Francisco Chronicle for entrepreneurs called, "Going Solo."
Table of Contents
Contents
Foreword by Jim Horan, ix
Acknowledgments, xi
Introduction, 1
CHAPTER ONE
WHAT IS AN ENTREPRENEUR, ANYWAY?
Eight Questions to Ask Before You Start a Business, 5
Myths About Going into Business for Yourself, 8
Take the Entrepreneur Quiz!, 10
CHAPTER TWO
READY, SET, GO!
The Entrepreneurial Mystique, 13
Taking the Leap, 15
Ten Traits of the Successful Entrepeneur, 18
Know Why You're Going into Business, 19
Tune Up Your Entrepreneurial Skills, 22
Avoid the Seven Common Pitfalls in Business, 24
CHAPTER THREE
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
A Name That Grows with Your Business, 33
A Checklist for Setting Up Your Business, 35
Are You an Independent Contractor or an Employee?, 38
Which Business Structure Is Best for You?, 40
To Partner or Not to Partner, 46
Partnerships That Work, 48
Why a Business Plan?, 55
Target Your Market!, 58
Put Your Own Money on the Line: Investing and Financing, 60
CHAPTER FOUR
WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE PARTY?
What Motivates You to Keep Going?, 65
If You're the Boss, Who Keeps You Accountable?, 69
Magic Formula: Intuition and Intention, 72
Making Procrastination Work for You, 75
What Stops You in Your Tracks: Self-Sabotage and Resistance, 77
The Isolation of the “SoloPreneur”, 79
Burnout: How to De-Stress, 82
How Do You Spell Success?, 84
A Fork in the Road: Which Way Do You Go?, 88
CHAPTER FIVE
MARKET AND SELL YOUR SOCKS OFF!
Mind Your Ps and Qs, 91
Why Market Research?, 93
Going Green and Saving the Environment, 96
Six Secrets of Marketing Your Business, 100
Marketing = Sales!, 102
Ten Simple Ways to Get Referrals, 104
Six Sales Tips to Help You Sell with Confidence, 106
How to Get Unstuck in the Sales Cycle, 109
Position Yourself to Sell a Solution, 110
Why Customers Should Buy from You, 113
Strategic Networking, 115
Customer Service as a Sales Tool, 118
How to Cultivate That “Something Special” in Your Business, 122
How to Warm Up to Cold Calls, 126
Landing Consulting Gigs, 127
Dealing with Downtime in Your Business, 130
CHAPTER SIX
GET CONNECTED TO THE WEB FOR PROFIT
Keep-in-Touch Marketing Using the Internet, 133
Tips from Tech-Savvy Entrepreneurs, 136
Six Ways to Promote Your Business via the Web, 140
Web Promotion Action Plan, 145
Success Stories of Seasoned Web-Based Entrepreneurs, 147
CHAPTER SEVEN
MAKING ROOM FOR MORE BUSINESS
Expanding Your Business, 155
How to Tickle Your Customers, 161
Hire Wisely the First Time, 163
Retaining Good Employees, 166
Action Plan—What's Next?, 168
Your Business from A to Z, 169
Index, 173
About the Author, 179