Learn Small Business Startup in 7 Days E-Book

Heather Smith

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 273

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

The practical guide to learning the essentials of starting your own business in just one week Thinking about starting a business? Then Learn Small Business Startup in 7 Days is the book for you. Guiding you through the key aspects of getting a new business up and running, from a self assessment about whether you are really prepared, through to finance, marketing, and legal issues, highly sought-after small business commentator Heather Smith covers it all. Carefully explaining everything you need to know to efficiently and effectively start a business, the book comprehensively covers the basics in 7 chapters, one for every day it will take you to get ready to leave the rat race and live your small business dream. * Covers everything you need to know to start and prosper as a small business owner * Helps you gauge whether running a small business is right for you * Offers expert advice from a highly-respected small-business specialist While running a small business allows you to turn your passion into your livelihood, it is also often very demanding on your time, your cash reserves, and your sanity. With this book in hand, you have everything you need to lay a solid foundation for small business success.

Leseprobe

First published in 2013 by Wrightbooks an imprint of John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 42 McDougall St, Milton Qld 4064

Office also in Melbourne

Typeset in 11.3/14 pt ITC Berkeley Oldstyle Std

© Heather Nicolette Smith 2013

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

Author: Smith, Heather (Heather Nicolette).

Title: Learn small business start-up in 7 days: Launch a lean, efficient start-up / Heather Smith.

ISBN: 9780730378235 (pbk.)

Notes: Includes index.

Subjects: Learning.

Small business.

New business enterprises.

Success in business.

Dewey Number: 658.022

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. All inquiries should be made to the publisher at the address above.

Cover design by Xou Creative

MYOB® is a registered trademark of MYOB Technology Pty Ltd and its affiliates.

Printed in China by Printplus Limited

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Disclaimer

The material in this publication is of the nature of general comment only, and does not represent professional advice. It is not intended to provide specific guidance for particular circumstances and it should not be relied on as the basis for any decision to take action or not take action on any matter which it covers. Readers should obtain professional advice where appropriate, before making any such decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.

Learn Small Business Start-Up in 7 Days

Table of Contents

Day 1: Are you ready to start a business?

What is a small business?

Goals for running a business

Are you suited to running a business?

Work-life balance

Finding a product or service to sell

Does your business idea have merit?

Researching your business idea

Understanding your competition

Understanding the business environment

Evaluating the business environment

Avoiding mistakes

Expert advice

Advertising

Mates rates

Branded stationery

Paths of communication

GST registration

Self-discipline

Getting additional help

Day 2: Establishing your business

Filing

Licences, permits, registrations and certificates

Registering for an ABN

Choosing a business structure

Sole trader

Partnership

Proprietary limited company

Trust

Date of commencement

The business name

Registering a business name

Choosing a business name

Brainstorming names

Trademarks

Funding the initial investment

Franchising

Strategic planning

The strategic planning process

Advantages of strategic planning

The business plan

Exit strategies

Day 3: Getting professional advice

Selecting a specialist

What to look for

Legal requirements

Finding a lawyer

Financial requirements

Finding trusted business advisers

Advisory boards

Business coaches

Business mentors

Personal empowerment

Insurance requirements

Intellectual property considerations

Technology considerations

Servers

Software

Cloud computing

Telecommunications requirements

Sustainability considerations

Day 4: Marketing

Marketing strategy

The marketing calendar

Branding

Business colours

Logo

Fonts

Customer relationship management

Email

Newsletters

Competitor profiles

Cooperation vs competition

Offline activities

Networking

Word-of-mouth marketing

Online activities

Website domain names

Website content

Website hosting providers

Social media

Day 5: Finances

Financing your business

Banking and merchant facilities

Business tax obligations

Connecting with the ATO

Choosing accounting software

Accounting 'in the clouds'

Understanding financial reports

Profit and loss

Balance sheet

Accounts receivable report

Accounts payable report

Job report

Accounts receivable

Business invoices

Maximising income

Accounts payable

Minimising expenditure

Bookkeeping procedures

Budgets and forecasts

Inventory management

Financial benchmarks

Day 6: People power

Creating an organisation chart

Determining your personnel requirements

Employing personnel

Record keeping and privacy

Modern awards

Codes of practice

Visa status

Tax file numbers

Tax rate tables

Superannuation

Fringe benefits tax

Insurance and WorkCover

Occupational health and safety

Confidentiality agreements

Personnel specialists

Contractors

Outsourcing

The recruitment process

Job descriptions

Employment application forms

Interviewing

The true cost of employing staff

Connecting with your employees

Motivating employees

Employee starter packs

Day 7: Launching your business

Choosing a location

Leasing space

The home office

E-commerce

Incubator opportunities

Business equipment

The paperless office

Operational strategies

Business procedures

Style guides

Formalising procedures

Franchising your business

Before you give up your day job

Juggling the business and your life

Finding your first client or customer

The business plan

Vision statement

Mission statement

Goals and objectives

Action plan

SWOT analysis

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Financial KPIs

Non-financial KPIs

External environment

Company story

Key activities

Management team

Worst-case scenario

Appendix A: Business plan template

Appendix B: Business plan for Mulrenan Gardeners

Appendix C: Resources

Appendix D: Glossary

Heather Smith has built a wonderful business and career based on her genuine desire to help small businesses succeed. An empathetic and considered business woman, Heather understands the day-to-day challenges faced by small business, including limited resources, fierce competition and, of course, maximising time. She is the perfect person to author this book as it draws on her years of experience and allows her to further her passion of creating enduring and successful businesses.

Simon Lockyer — Co-Founder Everyday Hero Pty Ltd

Heather's knowledge of, and passion for supporting small business is on display once more in this comprehensive book, a must for all would-be start-ups. Her accessible, informative style is a pleasure to read.

Sam Leader — Director, www.flyingsolo.com.au

Heather Smith's new book Learn Small Business Start-Up in 7 days contains practical information that will help those wanting to start their own business. Her down-to-earth and friendly style makes reading and taking action each day simple.

Susan Oakes — Director, Marketing For Business Success, http://www.m4bmarketing.com

If anyone can teach you how to start a business in 7 days, it's Heather Smith. Reading this book is like having a trusted friend guide you through your uncertain — but exciting — journey of starting your own business.

Valerie Khoo — National small business columnist for six daily news sites, start-up adviser and author of Power Stories:The 8 Stories You MUST Tell to Build an Epic Business

I have read a lot of start-up books and e-newsletters; however Learn Small Business Start-Up in 7 Days is just so useful and comprehensive – I wish I had access to this resource for clients years ago. It's so well-written, helping you map your own start-up journey — with sound, practical advice from a lady who knows this topic very well.

Mark Paddenburg — CEO, Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast Pty Ltd, www.innovation-centre.com.au

If you aren't reading this book, I bet your competitors are! Its full of down to earth, practical advice that will help you achieve better business results.

Louise Stuart — Head Girl, Academy Apps

About the author

In the 1940s Heather Smith's grandfather, Ashley Smith, wrote A City Stirs. He spent a day in London, observing activity from the crack of dawn until when the city went to sleep. Heather says, 'I write very much like my grandfather. I observe what happens with the businesses I consult into, and I write about it. People tell me that when I articulate something, it can set off a light bulb moment, and can help them in their own business. I know small businesses inside out and upside down, and my expertise combined with my education and experiences enable me to help small businesses. Through writing, speaking and consulting I aim to help as many small businesses as possible, and maximise their productivity and profitability.'

Heather utilises remote technology to connect with the businesses and is able to provide education, training and support across Australia. She writes for, and has been quoted in, national online and printed publications, including Latte, Flying Solo (a website for solopreneurs), My Business (a website for business advice), ninemsn, , , the,thewebsiteand magazine. She has a bachelor of commerce degree from Griffith University in Queensland and is a Management Accountant, and a fellow and ambassador of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Heather is a and consultant. Her first book was , and she has started work on her third book, a guide to the cloud accounting solution XERO.