Customer Reviews

Small Time Operator: How to Start Your Own Small Business, Keep Your Books, Pay Your Taxes and Stay Out of Trouble!

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is okay if you have no prior business knowledge. It will bring you up to speed before you read the better books that offer the heavy artillery.

For first timers, okay. Experienced, pass.

I began researching business start-up about two years ago, and I've been in business now for about a year. As a career bureacrat, I had no prior knowledge whatever about the nuts and bolts of business. Being something less than an accounting whiz, I found most of the scores of "idiots guides" and "made simple" books I consulted on business startup incomprehensible, poorly written, "what to" rather than "how to," or some combination thereof. Mr Kamoroff's book is different. He begins at the beginning, and builds on fundamental ideas in a way an absolute novice such a myself can comprehend. Yet, he packs a phenomenal amount of information into a short space, and his expertise is obvious. His book provides clear instructions for creating and maintaining the bookkeeping side of a business. I built the single-entry bookkeeping system for my "one person" business using Small Time Operator, and I constantly refer to the book when I have tax questions. This is a book that cannot be recomended too highly to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Bernard (Bear) Kamoroff proves an author/publisher can make a living on one book. Through 24 revised editions and 54 printings in 22 years, this very successful guide has to be the best-selling accounting book of all time. Continually updated, it just keeps on getting better and better.

Kamoroff takes you through Getting Started (business location, financing, legal structure, licenses & permits, import & export, insurance, business name and business plan), Bookkeeping (bank accounts, recording income, sales & expenditures and financial management), Business Growth (hiring help, incorporation), Taxes (expenses, self-employment tax, retirement deductions, the IRS, returns, other taxes), and in the Appendix (how to find a good accountant, home-based businesses, buying & selling a business, freelancers and more).

This book has a great title and it was the title that made people pick it up to discover the great content.

I have been a publisher for 31 years and I wish this book had been written 32 years ago. Fortunately, it has been with me for 22. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

Small Time Operator is a fantastic book that helps new business owners make sure they do everything by the book. This book leaves no stones unturned, and it's entertaining and easy reading to boot. Reading it gives you ideas on how to get money for your business, and how to stay out of trouble with the government. It also has explanations of all the different options you have for organizing and planning your business, filling out bureaucratic forms, whom to contact for help, bookkeeping, etc. I highly recommend this book, and I am about to buy an updated copy (my second). It really gives you something to work with, and helps you to sort through some things you may not have thought about, or that you might have to pay someone else to do for you, otherwise!

First of all, let me say that I do not agree with the five star reviews nor do I agree with the 1 star reviews. That said, I feel this book is smack in between and does offer some useful information, especially for the newbie to business.

Five stars reviewers are too generous and 1 star reviewers are way too critical.

Good book and worth a read.

This book covers every aspect of starting your own business, and even gives you state by state information on taxes and other requirements. It is simple and easy to understand. I find myself going back to it for a refresher over and over. It has forms in the back that can be used to keep inventory and other information.

Now in a fully updated and expanded 24th edition, Bernard Kamoroff's Small-Time Operator continues to be the premier "how to" reference for starting a small business, keeping the books, paying taxes, and staying profitable. The most "user friendly" manual available today, the aspiring entrepreneur and small businessman will learn how to obtain all necessary permits and licenses, finance their business, find the appropriate location for their business, create and implement a business plan, choose and protect a business name, determine whether or not to incorporate, establish a simple but effective bookkeeping system, hire employees, deal with federal, state and local taxes, buy a business or franchise, utilize the Internet, deal with (or avoid!) the IRS, and much, much more. If you are contemplating starting your own business and only have time to read one book on the subject, then make it Kamoroff's Small-Time Operator!

This is a terrific book that outlines all the things you need to know about starting a small business. It was originally recommended to me by the State University of New York Small Business Development Center. It's an easy read, replete with photo-copyable forms that you can use. I use a lot of this stuff in my speaking business.

We were starting a small business out of our home and this book told me all I needed to know in the way of legalities and taxes and paperwork without being overwhelming. Our situation was simple and so this book was our first and last resource and helped us to get our business off to a good start and showed us what we needed to do and where to go and how to do it. Very, very good for anyone even contemplating starting a business.

There's a good reason this book is one of the most successful self-published books of all time. It gives solid, practical advice in a comfortable, voice and has a softer touch than most business books. If you like this (or the sounds of it) also check out The Mindful Money Guide. It's for anyone (not just for business owners) who wants a more humane and harmonious relationship with money. It too has lots of wise and practical advice