Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73399 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
"How to Start and Run Your Own Home-based Business" is the new book for budding entrepreneurs by writer, consultant and home-business expert Matthew Thomas. The book takes you through everything you need to consider before starting a home-based business - from assessing the pros and cons, through drawing up a business plan and cashflow forecast, to matters such as marketing and credit control, and later deciding when and how to expand. The book is crammed with detailed practical advice, backed up by carefully researched facts, figures and contact information. For anyone hoping to join the 2.1 million people currently running a home-based business in the UK, it's essential reading.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant advice, I liked it
I LIKED this book. It's clearly set out, with easy to understand information in an order that makes sense. And it pulls no punches in warning of the dangers of not doing things properly.

With chapters on 'requirements for success' and 'a few drawbacks', it doesn't paint an unremittingly too bright a picture for the wannabe home-based entrepreneur and has excellent chapters on the nitty-gritty stuff like tax, national insurance and VAT, as well as how to price your services.

For the aspiring freelance writer, there's also plenty of food for thought, even if the 'how to get free publicity' chapter may be teaching your granny to suck eggs!


I'm not always a fan of the sort of 'free PR' advice to be found in various business resources, but was impressed by the realistic tone of the guidance included here.

As someone who has expanded a home-based business to move into offices and now work with colleagues, I'd have liked to have seen more about this aspect of working for yourself. Perhaps this could be a starting point for a further volume.

But even in this chapter, the winning tone of the writer is persuasive. There's a chatty and warm feeling to the advice on offer - like having a handy, more knowledgeable and supportive friend there with you as you chart your course through red tape and inevitable problems.

Author Matthew Thomas describes himself as a writer and consultant - working from home of course. It would have been nice to know more about him, but even without this personal touch, his advice is obviously steeped in real-life experience and still rings true.

Another area I'd like to see explored more would be the social networking aspect of marketing a business as times are changing so fast. Perhaps a book isn't the best vehicle for in-depth guidance as it would date so quickly.

But as most of the advice is evergreen - and particularly relevant in the current economic climate - I'd say overall this is a great resource for anyone starting out in business, however lofty or modest their ambitions are.

All You Need To Know - And More!
I've been a home-based entrepreneur since 1987 when a friend recommended this book to me. I took a look at it to be polite, thinking I had nothing new to learn.

I was wrong!

This book is not just a good and solid introduction that touches all the key points for first-timers, it also comes with 50 or so home-based business profiles which offer a range of biz-opp ideas that will make you money.

What did it teach me?

As someone who's been doing this for 22 years now, I thought I knew it all. But Matthew's advice on how to get free publicity was a real eye-opener. I followed his advice for a new email service I'd been offering and within just a few days had several hundred members signed up.

Thanks Matthew!

And that's why I am happy to recommend this book - quite frankly, it tells you all you need to know to set up your own home-based business, and a whole lot more.

Iain Maitland
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Essential Reading!!
If you're thinking of starting a home-based business in the UK, you'll find this book indispensable! It is packed full of useful guidelines - everything from choosing your business idea to negotiating the everyday practicalities of starting and running an enterprise from home. There are handy checklists throughout and plenty of informative examples. The book covers market research, marketing, bookkeeping, income tax, and much more. The chapter on raising finance is particularly helpful and there is a useful bonus chapter that profiles over 50 viable home-based business opportunities. The book also contains contacts for further information, thus providing an essential resource. Highly recommended!