Product Description

In this practical and comprehensive workbook, Cheryl Rickman, offers a modern approach to self-employment and business start-up, with a Foreword written by Dame Anita Roddick.

Packed with real-life case studies and practical exercises; checklists and worksheets, this book provides a step-by-step guide to researching and formulating your business idea; planning the right marketing strategies; sourcing opportunities, markets and finance; and managing a team that will drive your vision forward with you.

You’ll discover what well-known entrepreneurs would have done differently with hindsight, what their biggest mistakes have been and what they’ve learnt, as Dame Anita Roddick, Julie Meyer, Stelios Haji-Ioannou and Simon Woodroffe (among others) reveal their best and worst decisions and contribute their wisdom and tips for succeeding in business.

This fresh approach to small business start-up also includes information and recommendations on making your business ethical and socially responsible, along with exercises to help build self-confidence and visualize success. All this fits snugly alongside the more traditional business start-up topics such as cash-flow management, competitor intelligence, and how to create a website that works.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1480 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 270 pages

Better Business Magazine, July 2005
When Anita Roddick recommends reading a book you take notice! An inspiring must-read book for anyone starting their own business.

Win FM, June 2005
This book really inspired me. It didn't come across as patronising like other books on this topic. Highly recommended!

All That Women Want.com, July 2005
Inspirational and practical workbook that takes you from having a business idea to actually having a business.

Customer Reviews

Guiding you on the way..
My wife bought this book for me to help me achieve a dream.

Without a doubt, I'd not be so far advanced and positive about a small business future without it.
Cheryl holds your hand and guides you through each step of the start-up process. All your considerations, your ideas and even doubts are discussed. Even better, there's practical exercises to get your thoughts going and push you forward.
The advice and exerpts from successes and failures of business provide excellent ideas, inspiration and guidance.
If you buy just one book to help you start your business - make it this one.

If you want to start your own business...this is a must read
A brilliant book. It explains every detail of what you need to start up a business. It also gives you tips from well known personnel from big firms about starting up and the challenges and hurdles you will face along the way. I am now more than prepared to start my own business... A must read for any entrepeneur.

An excellent workbook - all you need to know to start-up
I've bought most of the top 10 business books and have found this to be the best one - partly because it is so easy to read and digest, partly because of the pearls of wisdom from well-known entrepreneurs (including the lessons learned sections about what they'd do differently with hindsight) and partly because of all the really useful exercises peppered throughout that get you to do something practical to drive the business forward. Congrats to the author on a truly inspiration read that incites action. Can't recommend this book highly enough!