The Small Business Bible

An updated third edition of the most comprehensive guide to small business success Whether you're a novice entrepreneur or a seasoned pro, The Small Business Bible offers you everything you need to know to build and grow your dream business. It shows you what really works (and what doesn't!) and includes scores of tips, insider information, stories, and proven secrets of success. Even if you've run your own business for years, this handy guide keeps you up to date on the latest business and tech trends. This Third Edition includes entirely new chapters devoted to social media, mobility and apps, and new trends in online discounting and group buying that are vital to small business owners everywhere. New chapters include: How to use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools to engage customers and potential stakeholders How to generate leads and win strategic partnerships with LinkedIn How to employ videos and YouTube to further your brand What you need to know about Groupon and group discount buying What mobile marketing can do for your business Give your small business its best shot by understanding the best and latest small business strategies, especially in this transformative and volatile period. The Small Business Bible offers every bit of information you'll need to know to succeed.

An updated third edition of the most comprehensive guide tosmall business successWhether you're a novice entrepreneur or a seasoned pro, TheSmall Business Bible offers you everything you need to know tobuild and grow your dream business. It shows you what really works(and what doesn't!) and includes scores of tips, insiderinformation, stories, and proven secrets of success. Even if you'verun your own business for years, this handy guide keeps you up todate on the latest business and tech trends. This ThirdEdition includes entirely new chapters devoted to social media,mobility and apps, and new trends in online discounting and groupbuying that are vital to small business owners everywhere.New chapters include:* How to use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools toengage customers and potential stakeholders* How to generate leads and win strategic partnerships withLinkedIn* How to employ videos and YouTube to further your brand* What you need to know about Groupon and group discountbuying* What mobile marketing can do for your businessGive your small business its best shot by understanding the bestand latest small business strategies, especially in thistransformative and volatile period. The Small Business Bibleoffers every bit of information you'll need to know to succeed.

About the Author viiPreface: 7 Secrets of Great Entrepreneurs ixS E C T I O N I Starting Your BusinessP A R T I GenesisCHAPTER 1. In the Beginning 5CHAPTER 2. Choosing the Right Business 15CHAPTER 3. Buying an Existing Business 23CHAPTER 4. Understanding Your Potential Market 31CHAPTER 5. Calculating Your Start-up Costs 41CHAPTER 6. Writing a Winning Business Plan 47CHAPTER 7. Structuring Your Business 57CHAPTER 8. Get Your Business Funded 67CHAPTER 9. Getting Help 83P A R T I I Opening Up ShopCHAPTER 10. Location, Location, Location 91CHAPTER 11. Branding 101 97CHAPTER 12. Products and Inventory 105CHAPTER 13. Savvy Pricing Strategies 113P A R T I I I FranchisesCHAPTER 14. Selecting the Right Franchise 123CHAPTER 15. Secrets of Franchise Success 135P A R T I V Home-Based BusinessesCHAPTER 16. The Home-Based Business 145CHAPTER 17. Successful Home-Based Business Strategies 153P A R T V Business on a ShoestringCHAPTER 18. The Shoestring Entrepreneur 163CHAPTER 19. Marketing on a Shoestring 175S E C T I O N I I Running Your BusinessP A R T I Small Business in the Twenty-First CenturyCHAPTER 20. Our Flat World 191CHAPTER 21. The Green Business 199CHAPTER 22. The New Consumer 211P A R T I I MoneyCHAPTER 23. Accounting Ease 219CHAPTER 24. Making a Profit 227CHAPTER 25. Insurance 235CHAPTER 26. Get a Handle on Taxes 243P A R T I I I ManagementCHAPTER 27. Hiring and Firing 255CHAPTER 28. Pay and Benefits 265CHAPTER 29. Training and Motivating Your Staff 277CHAPTER 30. Exemplary Customer Service 291CHAPTER 31. Negotiate Like a Lawyer 297CHAPTER 32. Legal-Ease I 309CHAPTER 33. Legal-Ease II 319P A R T I V TechnologyCHAPTER 34. Managing Your Technology 329CHAPTER 35. Mobility I: Small Office Mobility 341CHAPTER 36. Mobility II: Mobile Mania 349CHAPTER 37. Small Business Software 359S E C T I O N I I I Growing Your BusinessP A R T I Advertising and MarketingCHAPTER 38. Basic Advertising Strategies 371CHAPTER 39. Marketing Muscle 383CHAPTER 40. Advanced Marketing and Advertising 397P A R T I I Your WebsiteCHAPTER 41. Creating Your Website 411CHAPTER 42. E-Business Essentials 419CHAPTER 43. Advanced E-Marketing 429P A R T I I I Social MediaCHAPTER 44. Social Media Overview 439CHAPTER 45. Facebook for Business 449CHAPTER 46. Twitter and You 457CHAPTER 47. Link in with LinkedIn 467CHAPTER 48. Videos and YouTube 475CHAPTER 49. Groupon and Other Deal-of-the-Day Websites 487P A R T I V Growth StrategiesCHAPTER 50. Developing New Channels and Multiple Profit Centers 501CHAPTER 51. Secrets of Sales Superstars 511CHAPTER 52. Small to Big 521CHAPTER 53. Exodus 529P A R T V Strategies for Small Business SuccessCHAPTER 54. Small Business Success Secrets 541CHAPTER 55. The Visionary Small Business 551APPENDIX A How I Became an Entrepreneur 557APPENDIX B Sample Business Plan 561Index 563