Product Description

A "Must Read" for Anyone Starting a New Business!

There are lots of books out there on how to sell a product or write a business plan. But this is the only book that takes potential entrepreneurs step by step through the entire business start-up process. Jim Sapp, a nationally recognized "Entrepreneur of the Year," draws upon his own 25 years experience building new companies to give readers the basic, yet critical guidelines for planning and building a profitable company.

The book covers such topics as Where to Find Money, How to Set Up your Company to Protect your Assets, Personality Traits of a Successful Business Owner, How to Test your Product or Service, and Ways to Evaluate a Franchise. The book also includes start-up checklists, sample contracts and financial forms, a personality assessment test, listings of outside resources, and a business glossary.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #477989 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

Review
Outstanding examples and reality checks that demonstrate what small business is like and how to handle various situations. -- Dr. John F. Kros, Assistant Professor of Decision Sciences, College of Business, East Carolina University

Step by step guidelines for financing your small business--from developing your business plan to applying for loans. -- Joe Grendys, CEO Koch Foods

Valuable insights from a seasoned and accomplished entrepreneur. I recommended it for anyone thinking about starting a new business! -- Craig Hanson, Senior Associate, Sustainable Enterprise Institute, World Resources Institute

About the Author
JIM R. SAPP is an international business consultant and speaker with more than 25 years experience as a business owner and entrepreneur. He is Founder and Director of the American Small Business Institute, and recipient of the "Entrepreneur of the Year" and "Blue Chip Enterprise" awards.

Customer Reviews

A Business Start-Up Book that's On the Money
Here's a business start-up book that truly "tells it like it is." Even though it's part of The American Dream Series, author Jim Sapp "gets real" right away, urging new business starter-uppers to do some heavy soul-searching and personality assessment. Following your dreams is one thing, but owning and operating your own business certainly can't be done with a dreamy attitude. Business ownership isn't for everyone, says Sapp, especially not the indecisive, pessimistic, or otherwise faint of heart. He sprinkles the book with frank "Reality Checks" and warnings about the difficulties, stress, and need for careful research, planning and resource gathering. With suggestions like forming an advisory board, using SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), and applying for SBA (Small Business Administration) loans, Sapp is all about using available resources and assistance, including his own products -- his www.sappbizz.com website offers many helpful documents and forms, including and a free Business Plan Checklist. Fully one third of the book deals with money -- raising, managing and controlling it. And that's a good way to sum up this excellent business how-to book: It's "on the money."

Valuable Information for Starting a Business
Starting Your First Business is a great book for anyone who is thinking about starting their own business or for those who have a small business. Author Jim Sapp gives "real world" advice on what to expect so you can prepare yourself to run your own business. Sapp has operated a variety of small businesses and he has been successful, but he has also struggled. He is honest and candid about what works and what you can expect if you operate your own business. Just because you've worked for a big company or any company for that matter, it doesn't mean that you truly understand what it takes to run your own business. Sapp provides many valuable resources and real life situations that help you to know and understand what it takes to be successful in small business. Starting your own business can be rewarding, but very challenging. This book gives you solid information that can help you be successful. It is an easy read with lots of great information.

An indispensable tool for new business owners
This comprehensive, well-written book gave me the information I needed to set up my business and write my business plan. The "business plan checklist," the "personal financial statement," and the "Excel spreadsheets" that I downloaded from the author's website saved me many hours.

I highly recommend "Starting Your First Business" to anyone who is considering starting his or her own company. I know I will refer to it often for help with marketing strategy, hiring, and everyday operational decisions.