For 21st-century entrepreneurs, this book provides the practical guidance they need to overcome the often intimidating challenges of starting, organizing, and running a new business effectively and efficiently. The economic downturn has many individuals considering going into business for themselves, rather than relying on an employer for their income. Unfortunately, according to data from the Small Business Administration, the odds of long-term success are against them: 69 percent of businesses do not last past seven years and 56 percent fail in less than four. This book provides entrepreneurs with a comprehensive guide to the resources they need or will likely want to consult when starting a small business—and in order to stay profitable over the long run. The Entrepreneur's Information Sourcebook: Charting the Path to Small Business Success, Second Edition provides the expert guidance and up-to-date print and web resources an entrepreneur may need to make his business thrive and grow, from inception and information gathering, to raising capital, to marketing methods and human resource concerns. Nearly half of the resources in this newly updated book are new, and the essays have also been updated to reflect current business practices. This book is an essential tool that provides quick and easy access to the information every small business owner needs.

Table of Contents:
CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 ARE YOU AN ENTREPRENEUR? WHAT IS AN ENTREPRENEUR? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED? A NOTE OF CAUTION SELF-ASSESSMENT OTHER RESOURCES TO EXPLORE TALK ABOUT IT! CHAPTER 2 RESEARCH, STATISTICS, AND INFORMATION GATHERING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATISTICS THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU THE NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FEDSTATS STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COMMERCIAL PUBLISHERS BASIC STATISTICAL CONCEPTS CHAPTER 3 START UP SELECT YOUR BUSINESS A CAUTIONARY NOTE RESEARCH YOUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY FIND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS FIND NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES, TRADE PUBLICATIONS, AND NEWSLETTERS DETERMINE YOUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE ESTABLISH YOUR BUSINESS IDENTITY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BREAK-EVEN ANALYSIS BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS BUSINESS LOCATION INSURANCE CHAPTER 4 YOUR BUSINESS PLAN WHAT IS A BUSINESS PLAN? SAMPLE PLANS: WHERE TO FIND AND HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A BUSINESS PLAN FORMAT YOUR PLAN REVIEW, UPDATE, AND CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS PLAN THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 5 FRANCHISING OPTIONS TYPES OF FRANCHISES UNIFORM FRANCHISE OFFERING CIRCULAR RESEARCHING FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES FRANCHISING AND YOU! VISIT A FRANCHISE TRADE SHOW A FINAL CAUTIONARY NOTE CHAPTER 6 RAISING CAPITAL WHAT WILL IT COST? SOURCES OF SEED CAPITAL TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF LOANS A CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT SBA LOAN GUARANTEES vi CHAPTER 7 MARKETING AND ADVERTISING YOUR MARKETING PLAN FOUR PS OF MARKETING WHERE TO FIND MARKET RESEARCH WRITE YOUR MARKETING PLAN MARKETING ACTIVITIES CHAPTER 8 THE INTERNET AND SELLING GLOBALLY GETTING STARTED QUICK CHECKLIST FOR MAKING THE E-COMMERCE DECISION INVESTIGATE MORE POSSIBILITIES OTHER TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS THE LANGUAGE BARRIER EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS ONLINE E-COMMERCE PITFALLS CHAPTER 9 MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT ACTION PLANS STRUCTURING YOUR ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION CHART ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING TECHNOLOGY TIME MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION CHAPTER 10 PERSONNEL / HUMAN RESOURCES DETERMINING WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE HIRING EMPLOYEES GOOD HIRING PRACTICES UNSATISFACTORY EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE KEEPING GOOD EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT (ERISA) FIRING AN EMPLOYEE CHAPTER 11 LEGAL AND TAX ISSUES KNOW THE LAW COMPLYING WITH THE LAW LEGALITIES OF BUSINESS NAMES TAX BASICS HOW AND WHEN TO USE A LAWYER FINDING AN ACCOUNTANT AND/OR A LAWYER CHAPTER 12 WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FEDBIZOPPS.GOV CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION NETWORKING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR NEGOTIATED PROCUREMENT WRITING BIDS AND PROPOSALS STATE GOVERNMENTS CHAPTER 13 COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS IDENTIFY YOUR COMPETITORS DATA GATHERING MONITOR THE COMPETITION CONSTANTLY ANALYZE COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE SWOT ANALYSIS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE CHAPTER 14 GROWING YOUR BUSINESS AND MOVING ON GROWING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS EXIT STRATEGIES TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO SELLING SELLING STRATEGY FOR YOUR BUSINESS MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS CLOSING INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING FAMILY SUCCESSION RETIREMENT GLOSSARY INDEX