• Preface
• Thinking Through Your Idea
• Complying With Legislation
• Setting Objectives
• Defining Your Business Strategy
• Obtaining The Right Support
• Researching Market
• Identifying Your Products
• Setting The Right Price
• Employing New Staff
• Being In The Right Place
• Promoting Your Business
• Using Professional Help
• Compiling Financial Forecasts
• Looking At Grants And Subsidies
• Writing Your Busines Plan
• Raising Finance
• Keeping Your Accounts
• Looking At Franchising Options
• Buying An Existing Business
• Maintaining Quality Standards
• Exporting For The First Time
• Dealing With Problems
• Staying Ahead Of The Competition
• Using Technology In Your Busines

Start and Run Your Own Business

• Preface
• Thinking Through Your Idea
  • Gaining The Support Of Your Family
  • Do You Have The Skills Required To Run A Business?
  • What Sort Of Business Do You Want To Start?
  • How Will I Start My Business?
  • Investing In Your Own Business
• Complying With Legislation
  • A Word Of Warning To Start This Chapter
  • The Different Forms Of Business
  • Deciding On A Business Name
  • Protecting Your Business Ideas
  • Keeping The Inland Revenue Happy
  • Registering For Value Added Tax (Vat)
  • Trading Laws That Might Affect Your Business
• Setting Objectives
  • Setting Smart Objectives
  • Having A Clear Mission Statement
  • Setting Marketing Objectives
• Defining Your Business Strategy
  • Strategic Analysis
  • Analysing The Environment Using A Peste Analysis
  • Strategic Choice
  • Strategic Implementation
  • Strategic Threats To Consider
• Obtaining The Right Support
  • Business Links
  • Enterprise Agencies
  • The British Chambers Of Commerce
  • The Federation Of Small Businesses
  • Shell Livewire
  • The Forum Of Private Business
  • Lawyers For Your Business
• Researching Market
  • Segmenting The Potential Market
  • The Importance Of Competitive Advantage
  • Using A Swot Analysis
  • Establishing Your Unique Selling Point
  • Defining Your Critical Success Factors
• Identifying Your Products
  • Using The Boston Consulting Group (Bcg) Matrix
  • The Product Life Cycle Concept
  • Using The Product Life Cycle For Product Development
  • Using The Ansoff Matrix To Consider Products And Markets
  • Targeting The Right Product Into The Right Market
  • Understanding Product Management
• Setting The Right Price
  • How Important Is Price To The Consumer?
  • Selecting The Right Price For Your Products
  • Techniques For Fixing A Price
  • Using Price As An Effective Marketing Tool
• Employing New Staff
  • Recruitment And Selection
  • Your Responsibilities As An Employer
  • The Rights Of Your Employee
  • Dealing With Tax And National Insurance
  • Assessing The Performance Of Your Staff
• Being In The Right Place
  • Understanding The Importance Of Location
  • Establishing The Methods Of Distribution
  • Designing The Right Distribution System
  • Managing The Supply Chain Effectively
• Promoting Your Business
  • Understanding The Importance Of Promotion
  • The Marketing Promotion Mix
  • Evaluating Your Promotion Options
  • Using Promotion Methods To Achieve Objectives
• Using Professional Help
  • Choosing And Using An Accountant
  • Using The Services Of A Solicitor
  • Using A Consultant
• Compiling Financial Forecasts
  • The Cash Flow Forecast
  • The Profit And Loss Forecast
  • The Balance Sheet
• Looking At Grants And Subsidies
  • Applying For Grants
  • Knowing The Difficulties
  • Looking For Local Help
• Writing Your Busines Plan
  • Why Do I Need A Business Plan?
  • Where Do I Start?
  • Make Sure The Content Is Understandable
  • Use Fact Not Fiction
  • What To Include
  • What Not To Include
  • The Contents Of A Good Business Plan
• Raising Finance
  • Investing Your Own Money
  • Short-Term Finance
  • Long-Term Finance
  • Gaining Equity Finance
• Keeping Your Accounts
  • Why You Need To Keep Accounts
  • Balance Sheet
  • The Profit And Loss Account
  • Comparing Actual Performance With Your Forecasts
  • Computerising Your Accounts
  • The Benefits Of Computerising Your Accounts
• Looking At Franchising Options
  • The Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Franchise
  • Different Types Of Franchise
  • What Will The Franchise Offer?
  • The Cost Of The Franchise
• Buying An Existing Business
  • Undertaking A Personal Inspection Of The Business
  • Valuing The Business
  • Managing The Purchase Process
  • Financial Considerations
• Maintaining Quality Standards
  • What Exactly Is Quality?
  • Linking Quality To Your Objectives
  • Linking Quality To Competitive Advantage
  • Dealing With Complaints
  • Introducing A Quality Management System
• Exporting For The First Time
  • Why Should You Consider Exporting?
  • Identifying Export Opportunities
  • Starting To Export
  • Managing The Export Process
  • Arranging Insurance
• Dealing With Problems
  • Formulating Contingency Plans
  • Avoiding Disaster
• Staying Ahead Of The Competition
  • Using Market Intelligence
  • Retaining Competitive Advantage
  • Avoid Complacency At All Costs
  • Establishing A Management Information System
  • Updating Your Business Plan
• Using Technology In Your Business
  • Choosing A Computer System
  • Using The Internet