The Unofficial Guide to Starting a Small Business [Paperback]

Marcia Layton Turner (Author)

Book Description

Series: Unofficial Guides | Publication Date: October 1, 1999

In a state of diminished job security, Americans are choosing to start their own businesses at a record rate. Many of these "accidental entrepreneurs" are corporate refugees who have chosen self-employment by default. Nonetheless, aspiring business people need the insider information that only an Unofficial Guide can provide. Author Diana Lynn -- a small business owner who has written several books and regularly lectures on small business concerns -- explains: the lowdown on networking, selling your services, hiring and firing, and tax issues; the benefits of becoming your own boss -- as well as the pitfalls; the savviest ways to keep overhead and expenses to a minimum; and the inside scoop on where to find office space, cheaper supplies, temporary help, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The inside scoop… for when you want more than the official line! There has been an explosion of small business start-ups in the past decade, but only a few have gone on to lasting growth and profits. What are the secrets of starting a small business? To begin, you need to evaluate your interests and goals, conduct market research, develop a business plan, and create a marketing program that brings in revenue. Yet in order to make your small business successful, you also need the confidence and insider information that can boost you to the top. You need the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide^™ to Starting a Small Business is designed to give would-be entrepreneurs like you a fool-proof appraisal of what works and what doesn't—the smart moves and the bad ones. This authoritative, comprehensive work gives you all the information you need, with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. This book, like every Unofficial Guide^™, is intensively inspected by The Unofficial Panel of Experts, a team of top business professionals who ensure that you are getting the most up-to-date insider information available and are being told exactly what "the Official establishment" doesn't want you to know. With their help, you can get started in record time—filing the necessary paperwork, identifying potential customers, and developing financial targets—and begin your transition from employee to business owner by the end of the book. Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal. Proven Strategies for marketing and managing your business successfully. Insider Secrets from successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and consultants. Money-Saving Techniques that keep ;your expenses down and your profits up. Time-Saving Tips that help you make progress quickly with proven business tactics. The Latest Trends on what's hot and what's not in businesses to start or to buy. Handy Checklists and Charts that make start-up tasks virtually stress-free. Valuable Sidebars that offer you advice to get you started on the right foot. visit us on-line at www.idgbooks.com

About the Author

MARCIA LAYTON TURNER received an MBA from the University of Michigan and worked at the Eastman Kodak Company before founding her own marketing consulting firm, Layton & Co. She has been featured in such publications as Money, Entrepreneur, and USA Weekend, and she is the author of several books, including Kmart's Ten Deadly Sins and, most recently, Emeril!: Inside the Amazing Success of Today's Most Popular Chef, both from Wiley. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028625250
• ISBN-13: 978-0028625256
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marcia Layton Turner is an award-winning, bestselling author and writer who specializes in writing about small business, real estate, parenting and saving money. In addition to authoring, co-authoring and ghosting non-fiction books, Marcia also writes for magazines. Her work has appeared in BusinessWeek, Entrepreneur, Woman's Day, Health, Parenting, Black Enterprise and many others. She shares tips for writers and authors at www.becomeasixfigurewriter.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for all small business owners, August 17, 2004

By 

M. Horner (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Starting a Small Business (Paperback)

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is starting or who has a small business. There is a ton of good information and great references given throughout the entire book. I am very impressed with the amount of good information in such a small, compact book.

23 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource guide, filled with useful information., January 13, 2000

By 

Marjorie L. Crum (Pittsford, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Starting a Small Business (Paperback)

I just got the book and cannot put it down. Ms. Turner makes a potentially dry subject come to life. I particularly like the sidebar information, good examples to support the overall message.

20 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!, January 1, 2000

By 

Sandra Beckwith "Sandra Beckwith" (Fairport, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Starting a Small Business (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I've read on this subject. Marcia Layton Turner really knows her stuff. I bought several copies to give to friends who are thinking about starting businesses.