Product Description

In this practical and comprehensive workbook, Cheryl Rickman, offers a modern approach to self-employment and business start-up. Packed with real-life case studies and practical exercises, checklists and worksheets, it provides a step-by-step guide to researching and formulating your business ideas, planning the right marketing strategies, and managing a team that will drive your vision forward with you. You'll discover what, with hindsight, well-known entrepreneurs would have done differently, what their biggest mistakes have been and what they've learnt: Dame Anita Roddick, Julie Meyer, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Simon Woodroffe and others reveal their best and worst decisions and contribute their wisdom and tips for succeeding in business. You'll learn how to: develop, research and plan "the idea"; design and create the right products and services; define and understand your customers and target audience; secure finance and manage cash flow and accounts; create a winning brand and marketing message; gain and retain customers; achieve competitive advantage; plan, create, launch and promote your website; and manage your business and time. 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3410 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

The best book on starting your own business I've read so far
This book has given me the inspiration and practical guidance I need to get my business up and running. I've been stalling for some time, but this book has been the only one I could find on the market to offer just the right combination of traditional business stuff and ideas, with more modern exercises to really incite action and get me inspired and moving forward! I really know where I am going and how I'm going to get there now I've completed all the workbook exercises and found the useful resources and start-up checklist really useful too. Brilliant!

This book is the Business!!!
This book is absolutely superb!! It really gives you a unique insight into what's required in running a successful business. Cheryl really knows what she is talking about. There are millions of books out there on how to start your own business, but I think this one really does stand out from the crowd. A pleasant and enjoyable read. Keep up the good work Cheryl!!!!

Brilliant! Everything I needed
This is the kind of book I'd been looking for - one that made you want to read on, rather than made you have to read the page again or just stop. I found it inspirational and extremely useful, especially with the checklists and the fact that it is a workbook, not just a book, so you complete the exercises and are ready to go. I can't recommend this book enough.