Business Plans Books

Entrepreneur's Notebook: Practical Advice for Starting a New Business Venture

Steven K. Gold

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Learning Ventures Press Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $9.59

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very good, but needs more depth 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The Entrepreneur's Notebook by Gold offer an enthusing reading for anyone interested in knowing the fundementals of starting a new business venture with the least amount of mistakes. This is why I liked this book:
1. Uses real life examples from the author's own experience to explain entrepreneurship and the mistakes not to make when starting a new business.
2. Uses very simple analogies (I love the chapter on cash flow).
3. Very easy to follow and explains the different entrepreneurial personalities in great detail.

I did not like this book for the following reasons:
1. This book is not universal and most of the chapters apply to entrepreneurship in the US only. Although the first chapters are applicable to any entrepreneur, the ending chapters are rigid and US specific.

Final Verdict: Still a valuable buy but more applicable to US entrepreneurs rather than Entrepreneurship in general.

Editorial Review:

Entrepreneur's Notebook propels you on a whirlwind tour of the start-up process. It is an invaluable reference for new and experienced entrepreneurs that includes chapters on a wide range of topics, from entrepreneurial team building to business plans to financing. This excellent book provides an incredible amount of practical information that will help you make smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes. The author, Steven K. Gold, is an accomplished entrepreneur who has co-founded and led five early-stage ventures. As an investor and mentor, he also advises many entrepreneurs and young companies. He earned his B.S.E. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.D. from Brown University Medical School.

Retail Business Kit For Dummies

Rick Segel

Amazon Price: $23.09 List Price: $34.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: For Dummies Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $17.49

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Retailing
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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Small Business & Entrepreneurship -> Retail Businesses

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned retail entrepreneur, Retail Business Kit For Dummies shows you how to start and run your business in today’s retail marketplace—from your original dream and the day-to-day operation to establishing a connection with customers and increasing your sales, both on the Web and at a brick-and-mortar shop.

In this practical, how-to guide, retail expert Rick Segel shares his expertise and reveals what it takes to be successful. You’ll get a handle of the basics of launching and growing your business, from writing a business plan and finding a great location to hiring and keeping great staff. Find out how to meet and exceed customer expectations, create a positive shopping experience, provide top-notch customer service, and earn customer loyalty. And, the Bonus CD includes forms, templates, and samples that help simplify every business task, from managing inventory to creating sales and more! Discover how to:

• Launch a successful independent retail business
• Create a Web site that shines
• Connect with customers and increase sales
• Simplify operations with forms and templates on the CD
• Handle legal and accounting issues
• Design stores that really work
• Practice the 10 keys to retail selling
• Use management practices proven in the trenches
• Make visual merchandising work for you

Make your new venture succeed beyond your wildest dreams with a little help from Retail Business Kit For Dummies!

Startup Guide to Guerrilla Marketing: A Simple Battle Plan for First-Time Marketers

Jay Conrad Levinson, Jeannie Levinson

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Entrepreneur Press Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $10.20

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

How to Get Started with Guerrilla Marketing

"Jay is a genius. Now you can be one too. Just do what he and Jeannie say, don't tell anyone where you got the ideas and you're in. On the other hand, that would be selfish. Time to tell everyone you know what an amazing resource you're getting..." -Seth Godin, author of Meatball Sundae

“The Guerrilla Marketing series has gained the well deserved trust of millions of followers worldwide who have benefited greatly from its wisdom. Now comes the Startup Guide to Guerrilla Marketing that will enable readers everywhere to adopt the mindset of a guerrilla marketer in order to achieve better business results, at less cost, faster. This is a wonderful book from equally wonderful people.” -Stephen M.R. Covey, author of The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything

"If you are starting a business on a tight budget, this book is for you! The Father of Guerrilla Marketing reveals dozens of high impact, low-cost strategies for getting new customers using time, energy and imagination. If you want to start making money from your new business, get this book!” -Mitch Meyerson, founder of Guerrilla Marketing Coaching

“Sit down, buckle your seat belt and be prepared to succeed. With this book you no longer have excuses to fail but a system to succeed. This Startupp Guide to Guerrilla Marketing is consistently unique and stimulating and provides unquestionable value to all who pick it up, peruse it and use it. “ -Al Lautenslager, bestselling co-author of Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days

"Forget the retired business executives with the firm handshakes and the sincere eye contact. Forget the SBA. Forget the seminar speakers with the expensive haircuts and the million-dollar smiles. If you want the best, most proven, most widely used and easiest-to-implement advice in the world on how to market a startup business, go no further than Jay and Jeannie Levinson's new book. They know what really works, and you need to know what they are so generously willing to share with you." -David Garfinkel, author of Advertising Headlines That Make You Rich

Business Plans That Win $$$: Lessons from the MIT Enterprise Forum

Stanley R. Rich

Amazon Price: $11.05 List Price: $13.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harper Paperbacks Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $3.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Only Guide To Use 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I have tried to find other how-to-books on business plan writing but no other gives you the concise step-by-step instructions this one does. I have written plans for others as well as myself using this book. $$$ have been raised and compliments have been received on the no nonsense approach to business plan writing. I have used this book for over 15 years and have given them to others to use.

Editorial Review:

If you're thinking of starting your own business -- or if you have a new idea that you want to convince your company to sell, build, or promote -- this book will provide you with all the information you need. Based on the expert approaches of the MIT Enterprise Forum, a nationwide clinic providing assistance to emerging growth companies, Business Plans That Win $$$ shows you how to write a business plan that sells you and your ideas. Enterprise Forum cofounder Stanley Rich and Inc. magazine editor David Gumpert use examples real business plans to answer the entrepreneur's most pressing questions about how to effectively present any product or service to potential investors to win their attention and financial support.

Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study

Sharon Fullen

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL) Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $19.57

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Small Business & Entrepreneurship -> New Business Enterprises
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Small Business & Entrepreneurship -> Business Plans

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Restaurants are one of the most frequently started small businesses, yet have one of the highest failure rates. Survivors need a powerful strategic advantage: a sound business plan and feasibility study prior to opening. A new study from The Ohio State University has found the restaurant industry failure rate between 1996 and 1999 to be between 57-61 percent over three years. Don’t be a statistic on the wrong side, plan now for success with this new book & CDRom package.

A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your firm's resume. The basic components include a current and pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, and a cash flow analysis. It helps you allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about your company and how you will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of any loan application. Additionally, it informs personnel, suppliers, and others about your operations and goals. Despite the critical importance of a business plan, many entrepreneurs drag their feet when it comes to preparing a written document. They argue that their marketplace changes too fast for a business plan to be useful or that they just don't have enough time. But just as a builder won't begin construction without a blueprint, eager business owners shouldn't rush into new ventures without a business plan.

The Cd Rom will cover the following subjects: Elements of a Business Plan, Cover sheet ,Statement of purpose, The Business, Description of The Restaurant, Marketing, Competition, Operating procedures, Personnel, Business insurance, Financial Data, Loan applications, Capital equipment and supply list, Balance sheet, Breakeven analysis, Pro-forma income projections (profit & loss statements), Three-year summary, Detail by month, first year, Detail by quarters, second and third years, Assumptions upon which projections were based, Pro-forma cash flow, Supporting Documents, For franchised businesses, a copy of franchise contract and all, supporting documents provided by the franchisor, Copy of proposed lease or purchase agreement for building space, Copy of licenses and other legal documents, Copy of resumes of all principals, Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc.

A new study from The Ohio State University has found the restaurant industry failure rate between 1996 and 1999 to be between 57-61 percent over three years. Don’t be a statistic on the wrong side, plan now for success with this new book and CD-Rom package.

Bankable Business Plans: Second Edition (Bankable Business Plans)

Edward G. Rogoff

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rowhouse Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $15.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Best of the bunch 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I am in the middle of starting my own small business. I bought 4 different books on business plan writing and this one is the one that I kept referring to. It is by far the best of the bunch. It's very readable, and it is organized so well that I was able to use it as a reference book while I was working on my plan. I also used their online tool too, which helped me generate preliminary financials to take to the bank (and to my now first investor). Overall, if you are at any point of the seemingly daunting task of writing a business plan, this book is the best one I found to get you through it.

Editorial Review:

The secrets behind creating compelling and successful business plans sure to attract financial backers are revealed step-by-step in this invaluable guide. Containing detailed information on Risk Management Association (RMA) data and clear explanations of the guidelines that banks, venture capital firms, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) use to grant loans and other financial support to businesses, the resource equips potential business owners with a wealth of knowledge on lending procedures. Hundreds of useful ideas for developing, operating, marketing, and building a profitable business are included as are copious examples and resources for further study. By demonstrating how to make each business plan uniquely suited to a particular endeavor—such as home-based businesses, sole proprietorships, and franchise operations—this comprehensive handbook ensures that anyone can embark on a new business venture with confidence.

How to Write a Great Business Plan for Your Small Business in 60 Minutes or Less - With Companion CD-ROM

Sharon Fullen, Dianna Podmoroff

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Atlantic Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $18.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Business Plan Demystified! 5 out of 5 stars.
17 of 18 people found this review helpful.

Where was this book when I needed it? Take it from somebody who's learned the hard way: Probably no aspect of creating a new small business attracts as much attention as the business plan. In starting my own venture, I read all the books, took all the courses, and attended all the seminars. Everybody promised me the "magic bullet" formula for writing a winning business plan.--none of them worked. I could have saved myself a ton of time (not to mention a boat load of money) if I had Sharon Fullen and Dianna Podmoroff's book in front of me on day one.

In these gem-packed pages you'll get all the hand-holding you need to write a winning business plan--one that has the traction to secure financing. And you can move through the process in a way that works best for you. Follow the easy-as-pie blueprint to build your business plan from the ground up. Absolutely no experience necessary! Or, take the FAST PLAN approach and get the quick-hit tools and concepts you want in only the topic areas you want. There's even a companion CD-ROM with business plan and financial spreadsheet templates, so you can plug in your own data and add it to your plan.

It's all here--samples, resources, toolkits, and real-life applications. The help is easy to get and easy to use! This is "business plan demystified." So, where was this book when I needed it?
-- Robert Gardner

Editorial Review:

A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals and serves as your firm's resumé. The importance of a comprehensive, thoughtful business plan cannot be over- emphasized. Much hinges on it: outside funding, credit from suppliers, management of your operation and finances, promotion and marketing of your business, achievement of your goals and objectives. Yet many small businesses never take the time to prepare one. Now it's easy—and you can do it in less than an hour. This new book and companion CD-ROM will demonstrate how to construct a current and pro- forma balance sheet, an income statement and a cash flow analysis. You will learn to allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications and make good business decisions. The CD-ROM, written in Microsoft Word, allows you to simply plug in your own information while providing specific and organized information about your company.

The Plan-as-You-Go Business Plan

Tim Berry

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Entrepreneur Press Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $8.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Build Your Plan-Build Your Business

The plan-as-you-go premise is simple-plan for your business' sake, not for planning's sake. Leading business plan expert Tim Berry invites you to block all thoughts of overwhelming, traditional, formal, cookie-cutter business plans and embrace an easier, more practical, modern business plan-the plan that evolves with your business and allows you to start building your business now!

“In The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan you have no formal processes to learn, no special methodologies to master. Just practical advice that will inspire you to get going and make your business a success. Tim Berry shows us how our businesses can be all we dream of them becoming.” -

Anita Campbell, Editor, Small Business Trends, www.smallbiztrends.com

“Only the father of business planning could forge classic planning fundamentals and 21st century realities into a new planning alloy. Tim Berry is that person and this book delivers that alloy upon which you can build your business.”

-Jim Blasingame, host of The Small Business Advocate Show, author and small business expert

“Planning- the small business equivalent of dental work? Maybe, but not if your plan is a tool-a flexible, modular, guiding light of a tool. Tim Berry's The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan is that kind of business power tool. Let it guide your vision and then just remember to floss!”

-John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing

“The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan is exactly what my clients need. It is adaptable, comprehensive, understandable and educational. And I can think of no better guide than Tim Berry to help us create successful 21st century businesses.”

-Pamela Slim, Escape from Cubicle Nation

16 Weeks to Your Dream Business: A Weekly Planner for Entrepreneurial Women

Nada Jones, Michelle Briody

Amazon Price: $14.21 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $8.81

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Been wondering for some time when somebody was going to write this wonderful book for PEOPLE to help them start their startup! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow! I love it. This is the book every woman (or man) who wants to take the leap into entrepreneurship should get. It lays out a sound process spanning a 16 week period that is very doable for just about anyone serious about starting their own business. AND, it stresses the importance of preparing a written business plan! The book has the following 16 chapters:

1. You and your big idea!
>>Getting your dream in writing
2. Welcome to your world.
>>Get to know your industry, and your competition
3. Bull's eye.
>>Identifying your target market
4. Strategy to reality.
>>Everything you need to create an action plan for success
5. Make some noise.
>>How to communicate with your target market
6. Get some attention.
>>Public relations 101
7. To be or not to be online, that is the question.
>>What you need to know before building a Web site
8. Rules of engagement.
>>The importance of networking, moving, and shaking
9. Start your engines.
>>Budgeting for success from the beginning
10. A girl's gotta live.
>>Taking a closer look at your personal finances before you leap
11. Lawyers and bookkeeping and accountants, Oh my!
>>Setting up your business right from the start
12. Gotta plan?
>>Get your business out of your head and onto paper
13. Make it, track it, keep it.
>>Everything you need to know about keeping track of the green stuff
14. Raising dough.
>>How to come up with the cash you need to launch your dreams
15. Manager makeover.
>>Managing yourself and those around you
16. Making a difference makes the difference.
>>Giving and serving for a better business and a better you

This book took some time to put together. And it is full of sound advice and logic. It is well written and well organized. I cannot praise it enough. I recommend the reader also consider getting the following four books as companions to the instant one being reviewed:

>>Real You Incorporated (ISBN: 9780470176580)
>>Seven Step Business Plan (ISBN: 9781589804715)
>>Successful Business Research (ISBN: 9780974080130)
>>Self Employment: From Dream to Reality (ISBN: 9781563709227)

And if you have any questions along the way, then don't forget to use the free face-to-face and email coaching provided by SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives), an arm of the US Small Business Administration. 6 stars!

Editorial Review:

Plan the Business You've Always Wanted--One Week at a Time

Whether it's selling products you love, or creating a service you know people need, business startup experts Nada Jones and Michelle Briody will take you step-by-step through the process of making your business aspirations a reality. From carefully planning out a bullet-proof business model, to marketing your business and finding a customer base, this planner helps you track your progress and nail down all the details that will make your business thrive.

Sixteen Weeks to Your Dream Business gives you

• Tips on researching your industry, competition, and potential customers
• Money management advice—from finding financing to bookkeeping and accounting
• Networking techniques to target new contacts and customers
• Forms, worksheets, and folders for ultimate organization and overall planning
• Valuable Web site links for resources, references, and more

Business Plans that Work

Jeffry A Timmons, Andrew Zacharakis, Stephen Spinelli

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $6.92

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not Bad, but not great! 3 out of 5 stars.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.

"Business Plans That Work" might work for you, if you're planning on marketing a product (not a service business) and borrowing ALOT of money. The sub-title of the book is "A guide for small business". The problem I had with this book is that it assumes that you want to borrow $500,000 or more and start a business revolving around a product. I would not consider that a small business! I was more interested in starting a service business (UPS or Fed Ex shipping store), but the examples in this book didn't translate very well for that goal. The book follows a start up toy company called Firefly Toys, whose product is a toy designed for children that are coping with a life crisis (divorce, death, abuse). To me this is kind of goofy! The reader would be more well served if the book had exapmles from many different kinds of businesses, or at least a more mainstream product. Bottom Line: This is not a bad book for any business. It does have a fair amount of useful info, but I would definitely try to get it from the library if I were you!

Editorial Review:

Today's top experts in entrepreneurship deliver a streamlined, step-by-step guide for crafting effective business plans

"Timmons is one of the two most powerful minds in entrepreneurship in the nation." --Success Business

Plans That Work arms entrepreneurs and small business owners with an easy-to-follow template for writing persuasive business plans, along with proven models that can be used to analyze potential business opportunities from initial idea to viable venture. This value-packed book will show both entrepreneurs and current business owners how to:

• Determine what to include in each plan, why, and for whom
• Recognize and avoid common pitfalls in the process
• Use the renowned "Timmons Model" to analyze potential business opportunities