For anyoneconsidering the giant leap into being an entrepreneur or running a small business, The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit is a must. Published by NOLO, a company dedicated to "making the law accessible to everyone," this book truly provides a one-stop set-up shop. Note though, both the book and site are specifically designed for legal advice in the United States. Despite that small limitation, both the book and site provide much needed general legal and business set up information in such a way that any country and reader will benefit.
Written/created by Peri Pakroo, Accomplished Entrepreneur
The book is written by Peri Pakroo, an accomplished consultant and entrepreneur, as well as a lawyer. She has also written Starting and Building a Nonprofit (also published by NOLO), and teaches adult education classes for women and minorities in New Mexico.
The kit contains 13 chapters, a CD Rom (with forms and interviews), and an appendix on how to use the forms and files contained in the CD Rom. As Ms. Pakroo uses many quotes and insights from other women entrepreneurs, she handily provides the reader with a quick synopsis at the beginning of each contributor. Full interviews are contained in the CD Rom of these participants.
Maintain a Work/Life Balance by Following the Advice in the Chapters
A quick rundown of the titles of the chapters shows the fullness and particulars this kit presents to the reader:
- Crafting a Solid Business/Life Fit
- Targeting a Profitable Market With a Winning Idea
- Making the Financial Transition to Self-Employment
- Drafting an Effective Business Plan
- Understanding and Choosing a Legal Structure
- Your Business Location: Working from Home or Renting Space
- Dealing With Start-Up Requirements and Bureaucratic Hurdles
- Getting the Word Out: Cost Effective Marketing
- E-Business: Conducting and Marketing Your Business Online
- Keeping Your Books and Managing Your Finances
- Federal, State and Local Tax Basics
- Building Your Business and Hiring Employees and Other Workers
- Lawyers and Accountants: Building Your Family of Professionals
How to Change Careers to Become an Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner is Explained
Each chapter delves into specifics, with commentary provided by the contributors in a neat chart or table. Each chapter is thorough: key concepts to understanding marketing are explained, as is how to do a detailed analysis for the reader's particular business. Even better though, are the outlined steps on how to get an idea into reality. This kit actually takes the time to explain the why and wherefore of each step. Note this is not done in a "follow me" pattern but gently guides the reader into thinking about all aspects, then delves into specifics with chapter 7. This allows for the complexity of every situation to be decided on its own merit.
One of the most compelling chapters deals with the where – should the business be based from a home or should office space be rented? ALL important aspects, including reminding the entrepreneur to check out zoning regulations, are included in this section. Important questions are raised for the participant to answer, as only the reader can determine the best path.
Bottom Line - This is an All-in-One Kit for Entrepreneurs
Believe the hype! The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit by Peri Pakroo truly is just that – an all in one kit for entrepreneurs or anyone thinking of starting up a business or changing a career to become an entrepreneur. Indeed, NOLO provides for free legal updates to each of its published books, as well as free legal forms and free access to a legal dictionary and encyclopedia.
Book courtesy of FSB Associates.
Reference:
Pakroo, Peri. The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit. Berkley, CA USA: NOLO, April 2010.
Paym Bergson - Paym Bergson - freelance entrepreneur & career coach with extensive experience working in the educational/professional development ...
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