Small Business Kit for Dummies (Paperback)

by Richard D. Harroch (Author) "When starting a business, you need to decide early on what legal form the business should take..." (more)
Key Phrases: sample shareholder resolution, corporation election form, disclosing party, Secretary of State, Sales Contract, Articles of Incorporation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Imagine everything you'd ever need to start up and run your own small business packed into one convenient, easy-to-read book. Throw in a CD-ROM with more than 250 documents and forms, along with trial versions of great small business software programs, and you've got the new Small Business Kit For Dummies, your perfect resource for the daunting process of starting a small business venture.

Small Business Kit For Dummies is chock-full of information, resources, and helpful hints on making the transition from a great idea to a great business. This book has plenty of straightforward advice on things that an MBA degree won't get you, from the basics of mastering legal, financial, employment, and management hurdles to advanced topics on business plans and strategies, accounting, contracts, taxes, attracting investors, and putting your business onto the Web. Whether you expect your business to become the next Microsoft or you've set your sights on a more modest goal, you'll find comprehensive and authoritative counsel -- without all the confusing jargon and legalese -- in this fun and friendly guide to the world of small business success.

From the Back Cover
Get the legal tips and start-up savvy you need tomake your small business a success

Save time and money — over 250 key documents on CD-ROM!

Wall Street Journal business bestseller!

"A thorough and detailed help guide... Covers all of the major topics." Fort Worth Star-Telegram

You probably have a great idea for a business. But how do you get started — and deal with all the legal rigmarole? That's where this kit comes in. Richard D. Harroch walks you through the legal issues and paperwork you'll have to deal with — and even gives you the actual forms, agreements, and policies you'll need on the CD-ROM.

Discover how to:
Form corporations and partnerships
Fund your business with venture capital
Protect your ideas and inventions
Negotiate cost-effective leases
Expand your business on the web

All this on the CD-ROM
Over 250 ready-to-use Business documents, forms and agreements
Bonus chapters on real estate leases and business insurance plus Adobe Acrobat Reader
Trial version of QuickBooks, QuickBooks Pro, Turbo Tax for Business, ACT!, WinFax, and Norton Utilities
Demo version of ModelOffice

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (June 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550934
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550935
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #260,003 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 141 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Helpful for Everyday Chores, January 9, 2000

By	Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Initially I was confused over how this book would be different from "Small Business for Dummies." Now I think I know. This book focuses on the everyday chores of starting, funding and running a small business, and gives you lots of legal forms which you can use in order to save money on attorney fees. I find the forms on the CD-ROM extremely useful and helpful.

The book does NOT talk about business ideas or marketing. It approaches the small business from a legal standpoint. For example, how do you talk to venture capitalists? How do you give employees stock options (incredible info in the book!)? How do you deal with employee discontent? How to protect your business legally? How to write a contract? And so on.

If you need to know how to get a small biz idea or how to sell your products/services, this book is not for you. But, once you get your idea off the ground, you ABSOLUTELY NEED this book to survive -- unless you've got lots of cash to afford a good attorney. This book is no substtitute for a lawyer in many situations, but I have been able to use the forms in the book and on the accompanying CD-ROM to save my company thousands of dollars. I think this is a must-have reference for every small business owner.

I wish IDG would put out an updated edition soon.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but slowly being replaced by online resources, January 26, 2004

By	Manny Hernandez "Author of Ning For Dummies" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This a good book, don't get me wrong. However, having been edited back in 1998, and being -as it is- largely focused on the documents that you, as a Small Business Owner, are likely to be in need of, it now seems a bit outdated and old-fashioned when you compare if with the ease with which you can get (for free) similar formats (business plans, marketing plans, invoices, etc.) online (in office.microsoft.com > Templates, for instance). It is a good reference of what to look for, though, which is why I give it 4 stars.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for those starting their business, September 26, 2003

By	Dan Mentzer (USA) - See all my reviews

It's great to see a book written by an attorney who also understands business.

Too many other books out there are written by amateur business people who's real business is in promoting and selling lousy books.

The CD-Rom will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars and time.

Also recommend "The Small Business Kit" and "How to Incorporate in any State" by J.W. Dicks, another attorney and businessman with real world knowledge.

Good luck with your business!