From Acorns...: ...How To Build Your Brilliant Business From Scratch [Paperback]

Caspian Woods (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0273688057 | ISBN-13: 978-0273688051 | Publication Date: December 31, 2003

"If you're wondering whether to take the plunge, this is a great place to start. There are other books that cover the same ground, but few that do so in such an entertaining and inspiring way." " Sunday Times 8th Feb 2004 "This book is great - I wish it had been around when I started in business from my van." Tom Hunter, who sold his Sports Division business for A GBP290 million Discover what every entrepreneur wishes they had known before they started their business! So, you're starting a business? Or thinking about it? Chances are you'll be full of ideas, very excited but a little bit daunted. And you'll certainly have a hundred and one questions about what you should and shouldn't do. Because this is important and you want to get it right. The good news is - you're not alone - because thousands of entrepreneurs have been where you are now. And in this book you can learn from their mistakes and discover everything they wish they had known before they started out - so you can get it right first time.From Acorns is the essential 'how to' guide to starting a business that doesn't bog you down in complex financial forecasting and the intricacies of tax law (because we know you've got enough to worry about this week). Instead it tells you everything you absolutely need to know to get your business off to a fantastic start - and nothing else. Discover: *how to tell if you've got a great business idea*what goes on in the mind of a bank manager*how to price your product/service*why you need a dragon to look after your cash flow*how to be a great guerilla marketer plus hundreds of other tips and pieces of practical advice that make the difference between success and failure. From Acorns is the first book to show how simple - and fun - starting a business can be!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is great - I wish it had been around when I started in business from my van." Tom Hunter, who sold his Sports Division business for 290 million The few business guides I've read have focussed largely on the technical details of the small business. Whilst things like taxation are obviously important in how to run a business it not a major factor in how to successfully run one. It is all about the entrepreneur and his skills and this book targets that area. It is more about wisdom than information although all the relevant technical stuff is in there. It is written in a style that is bit like discussing the secrets with the author himself and it contains some relevant and often very amusing anecdotes/examples to support his advice. If you pick up this book and only read the first few pages you will have already increased your knowledge of what it takes to be the next Richard Branson. I have based my short review on reading the preproduction drafts and on my lifelong friendship with the author. Having witnessed at first hand his triumphs and failures I have to say one of his major triumphs is condensing his experiences so successfully into this book. Basically it shows how simple it is people are scared by the complexity. This guide gives you what is essential. It is pithy and concise. If you are thinking about going it alone it REALLY will make things easier for you and at this price you can't really go wrong! Customer Review. "If you're wondering whether to take the plunge, this is a great place to start. There are other books that cover the same ground, but few that do so in such an entertaining and inspiring way." Sunday Times 8th Feb 2004 What a great book! Business Adviser Magazine stuffed with nuggets of practical, useful advice and entertaining but, at the same time, educational anecdotes. Scottish Business Insider (circ 20,019) "The best book - simple to understand and written by someone who's been there, done it, and got the T-shirt." - Esquire, October 2006

About the Author

Caspian Woods has run businesses since his teens when he set-up the first UK yearbook publishing company and ran an events company called Let me hold your Balls for you. He has won a number of entrepreneurial awards including Young Scot of the Year, Young Achievers of Britain at Buckingham Palace, Shell Livewire, and Ernst and Young Trailblazers. He was recently appointed by Prince Charles as an ambassador for his youth business trust. Caspian currently runs a publishing agency producing magazines on small business for the likes of Scottish Enterprise, Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Scotland. He has written very popular small business columns for papers such as the Herald and Business am.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Financial Times Management (December 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0273688057
• ISBN-13: 978-0273688051
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #843,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than most Startup guides, June 16, 2008

By 

Piaras MacDonnell "Piaras" (Dublin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Acorns...: ...How To Build Your Brilliant Business From Scratch (Paperback)

Woods has written a concise, easy to read and valuable resource for anyone looking for tips on starting your own (ad)venture.

It has the usual tales of success and cautions you'd expect from the "Getting Started" genre but the concise style and excellent structure (think Dummies Guide without the "cute" pictures) means you won't feel you've wasted time on the read

If you are already in business for yourself or are looking for a step by step guide then it's not for you. If you're about to make the jump this could help.

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended by my professor at the University, March 6, 2006

By 

Renata Baldissara Karhu "Renata Baldissara" (Finland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Acorns...: ...How To Build Your Brilliant Business From Scratch (Paperback)

I got to know about this book as a read reference from my professor in my Entrepreneurship course at Åbo Akademi University in Finland and it is just great.
It is simple, easy, go straight to the point and full of tips. It is priceless and Caspian Woods really share his wisdom and experience with the reader. It is perfect for the ones who are wondering how would be open their onw business because it shows the good and the bad side of being an entrepreneur, also what you should do and what you should avoid doing, being very realistic what make it very credible.

The 24 short chapters of the book are consize in 160 pages and I worn you, once you start to read will be difficult you put it down. It is really a book worth to read. The only drawback I see is that is written to UK citzens and the chapter 21 about tax have things that is not worth for not UK citzens like in my case in Finland.
I definetely would recommend this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars From Acorns..., October 8, 2005

By 

Simon Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Acorns...: ...How To Build Your Brilliant Business From Scratch (Paperback)

I was very excited when I got this.Being a complete novice I thought it sounded perfect.It is quite funny and written in a casual but informed manner.Before you can really use it however,you really need to have some idea what business your contemplating...I didn't.Essentially it is a big book of TIPS.
Overall it's a really nice book to own,but it hasn't got all the answers,it does give broad suggestions,but we have to come up with all the initial ideas,dammit!
You can use these tips on your idea,if you have one,I didnt,so I had to wait before I could put the information to use.A good one to have on the bookshelf as a reference.I like it.