Small Development

Why do so many business owners dread looking at the numbers? Financial statements, ledgers, profit and loss reports--many avoid these and treat them like junk mail and phone solicitors. Nevertheless, it’s true--you’re not a numbers person. How can you learn to make sense out of all this Greek? This easy-to-follow guide demystifies your company's financial dashboard: the Net Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet.

The lifeblood of your business is repeat customers. But customers can be fickle, markets shift, and competitors are ruthless. So how do you ensure a steady flow of repeat business? The secret--no matter what industry you're in--is finding and keeping automatic customers. These days virtually anything you need can be purchased through a subscription, with more convenience than ever before.

With the horrific failure rates of restaurants, how can you ensure yours will not only survive but grow and thrive? If your restaurant sucks, it is because you suck at running it; 100 percent. Donald Burns, author of Your Restaurant Sucks has created a methodology and mindset honed from his Special Operations training in the US Air Force. As a Pararescueman, his training developed a keen sense of purposeful and fast decision making. In the military, he learned the phrase, "embrace the suck".

People starting out in business tend to seek step-by-step formulas or rules, but in reality there are no magic bullets. Rather, says veteran company-builder Norm Brodsky, there's a mentality that helps street- smart entrepreneurs solve problems and pursue opportunities as they arise. Brodsky shares his hard-earned wisdom every month in Inc. magazine, in the hugely popular "Street Smarts" column he cowrites with Bo Burlingham. Now they've adapted their best advice into a comprehensive guide for anyone running a small business.

From a business standpoint, the laundromat business model is ideal. Why, may you ask? Think about it; you can run one of these without any employee if you choose to do so. But whether you buy or build an attended or unattended washateria, they both have their unique advantages. The laundromat business has been around for decades and has proved to be one of the very few recession-proof businesses. They are here to stay.

Employee to Entrepreneur is your guide to leaving your job behind and building something for yourself. Author and employee-turned-entrepreneur Steve Glaveski reveals how to navigate the challenges, find the entrepreneurial success that is right for you, and become a better person along the way.

How does a suburban pizza joint end up profiled on national magazine covers and network TV news? (Hint: The secret is not in the sauce.) When Nick Sarillo decided to open a family-friendly pizza restaurant in the suburbs of Chicago, people thought he was nuts. Having worked as a carpenter for much of his adult life, he lacked any formal experience in restaurants or in managing a small business. Everyone told him no one else would ever care about his place the way he did.

Part narrative, part business book, Architect and Entrepreneur is filled with contemporary, relevant, fresh tips and advice from a seasoned professional architect building a new business. The guide advocates novel strategies and tools that merge entrepreneurship with the practices of architecture and interior design.

A seasoned deal lawyer demystifies the process of buying a small business. Learn about what happens before, during and after the closing of the deal. Learn what typical purchase agreement provisions mean. Educating yourself about the process, what to expect, and how to resolve common issues can help reduce stress, save time, and save on legal fees.

No matter how motivated and energetic you are - even if you're the greatest salesperson on the planet! - as a network marketer with limited time, there's only so much money you can make without great people to help you sell your products. Recruiting is the life force of any network marketing, multilevel marketing, or party plan business; it lifts the ceiling off your income, the key that will allow you to keep checks rolling in above and beyond what you can do yourself.

Selling is tougher than ever before. Potential customers are under extreme pressure to do more with less money, less time, and fewer resources, and they're wary of anyone who tries to get them to buy or change anything. Under such extreme conditions, yesterday's sales strategies no longer work. Sales strategist Jill Konrath tells you how to overcome obstacles, get more appointments, speed up decisions, and win sales with today's short-fused, frazzled customers.

Business Credit Decoded is an insider's guide on how to build an exceptional business credit score and profile for any business. This book will reveal how a business owner can be approved for tens of thousands of dollars in revolving credit cards and credit lines. Plus, this special book reveals how business owners can secure large amounts of cash funding for their business without a personal guarantee required from the business owner.

For fifteen years, Steve Chou has run two successful seven-figure businesses in twenty hours a week or fewer, leaving plenty of time for family, friends, and leisure. In The Family-First Entrepreneur, he shares profound insights and practical advice on business and life, demonstrating that you can, in fact, pursue your dream without sacrificing what matters most. Chou offers a series of simple principles that can guide every decision you make, helping you establish a solid foundation upon which you can build the life you’ve dreamed of while comfortably supporting those you love.

Starting with nothing more than a home-brewing kit, Sam Calagione turned his entrepreneurial dream into a foamy reality in the form of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, one of America's best and fastest-growing craft breweries. In this newly updated second edition, Calagione offers a deeper real-world look at entrepreneurship and what it takes to operate and grow a successful business.

91% of small and medium sized businesses fail in the first 10 years. What is the other 9% doing to succeed? The 9% Edge is a highly practical guide to entrepreneurship and taking your business to the next level, no matter where you currently are in your build. Developed from extensive research on businesses and their founders, combined with the real-world, firsthand experience of author Candy Valentino, this book breaks down the core principles and concepts that are essential to bridging the knowledge gap between different stages of a build.

In his comprehensive Starting a Business QuickStart Guide, Ken Colwell concisely presents the core fundamentals that all new entrepreneurs need to know to get started, find success, and live the life of their dreams.

It's easy to feel like networking is a waste of time, energy, or money - but that just means you're doing it wrong. In this new edition of Networking Like a Pro, networking experts Dr. Ivan Misner and Brian Hilliard reveal key networking techniques to help you grow your business. In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover strategies that go beyond collecting business cards and turn networking into a profitable resource for your business. Dive into this book and discover how the most successful networkers leverage their brand, expertise, and customers to achieve greatness in life.

Get money for your business! Learn the financing fast track strategies used by successful entrepreneurs and investors.

Charcuterie boards not only look mesmerizing and taste amazing, but they also add a touch of elegance and class to any gathering. Due to its insane popularity, charcuterie boards have opened up a new array of businesses that’s worth close to a whopping $400 million, and counting. Jam-packed with critical insights into the charcuterie industry, this guidebook will help you have a smooth start to your own business of serving gourmet charcuterie boards in style.

Accounting for Non-Accountants is the must-have audiobook for all of us who have never taken an accounting class, are mystified by accounting jargon, and have no clue about balance sheets, income statements, or statements of cash flows.