From
one of the best business books: Small business owner's guidebook
There are hundreds of books available on the internet which claim
to have step-by-step, detailed guides to starting your own business.
Many of these also claim to take all the think-work out of the equation
for you and simply allowing you to rake in the profits.
Unfortunately, I have always found that if something sounds too
good to be true, then it usually is. However, there are some great
books out there, so we’ve compiled a list of characteristics
you should look for when buying a book on starting a business.
Practical Books on Starting a Business
We have found an entire library of books available that claim to
open doors for you in short periods of time – in only one or
two months. Look for books which don’t promise this! I know
it sounds strange – go for the less flashy, the not-quite-so-great-sounding
book when you are looking for a book on starting a business. Life
is harsh, and the business world is cutthroat. You can succeed, but
only with practical advice.
Another reality of starting a business which people don’t
often like to think about is the legal side. Unless you are starting
a law firm, this is an area which many people don’t understand
and therefore skim over. Look for a book which has a list of all
the laws and rules that every business needs to comply with, and
points you towards industry-specific guidelines.
Here's something more.
Look for a book which is practical in that it recognizes that not
every single person should be starting a business. There are personality
indicators which can tell whether you’ll be successful no matter
what industry you are in or what niche market you have discovered.
Small business owners, and people who have written good books on
starting a business, know these preconditions for success, and are
open and honest with you about them.
The Mundane and the Magic
It may not be what everybody wants to hear (which is why there is
always a market for small business guidebooks that don’t work),
but there is hard, boring work with the fun stuff.
A good book on starting a business will simplify this work for you,
and make it interesting to you. Look for books with advice on writing
a simple business plan, marketing and advertising. These are some
of the tasks which creative people who are starting a business often
can’t get their head around.
Our
recommended business start-up training manual
|