Chapter 1 - Starting
Thinking of a business idea
Have a look at franchises
Get your plan together
Presentaion is everything
Maintain a trusted sounding board
Maintain a network of supportive people
Check all sources of funding
Funding start up and growth
Company names that work
Action overcomes fear
How to sell
Testimonials
Deciding how many people you need
Finding the right people
Keep your focus
Keep your uniqueness
Dealing with setbacks
Create a great image
Chapter 2 - Developing
Premises and contracts
Measuring up
Embrace things most people fear
Get your accounts organised from day one
Don't spend more than you need
Don't juggle too many balls
Choosing suppliers and partners
Brochures, website, letters, emails, etc
Moments of truth
Website Marketing
Chapter 3 - Expanding
Read the poem 'If'
Keep the ball in your court
Keep your pipeline primed
Don't do anything until you get a signed order
Business Link
Don't be swayed by terminology or technical language
One for techies
Chapter 4 - Publicity (for free)
It's who you know
Build a PR network of journalist contacts
Create your own story
Write an article on your subject
Find awards to enter
Enter business awards
Do speaking events
Maximise your presentation skills
Chapter 5 - Customers
The Customer is always right
The customer is the business
You don't have to be perfect to win
Believe your product is the best
Have confidence in your systems
Don't Keep reducing the price
Setting a price for a proposal
Remember the subliminal messages
Remember that customers have plenty of choices
Chapter 6 - Money
Meet all your legal requirements
Know where you are at all times
Set a budget and measure success against it
Practical tips for managing cash flow
Don't spend anything you don't need to
Reducing costs
Least-cost routing
rates reductions
Purchase price vs ongoing costs
Business results
Accountants, bankers and investors
Setting prices
Know your labour market
Chapter 7- People
Know your own strengths and weaknesses
Know your staffs strengths and weaknesses
Part-time hours, big time result
Deciding employee salaries and benefits
Recognize staff achievement
Do as you want them to do
Do little things for your people
Sit next to your people and do their job
Never stop learning
Get to know your people and their circumstances
Listen, listen, listen
Chapter 8 - You
Set huge goals - use your imagination
Don't believe in luck
Keep positive
Enjoy everything you do
Keep mentally and physically fit
Get on with it
As you approach one goal, set the next
Keep enjoying what you do
Appendix
