| Book: |
Business for Beginners (3rd edition) |
| Author: |
Frances McGuckin |
| Publisher: |
Eastleigh Publications |
| ISBN: |
0-9684011-1-2 |
If you're looking to start your own business there is no shortage of titles at your local bookstore that will offer to help. Business for Beginners is likely to be among them. Now in its third edition McGuckin has found a formula that works by providing a detailed overview of key components you need to know about when starting your business.
McGuckin walks the reader through each of the basic steps from whether you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur to developing a marketing strategy and organizing your accounting books. The check-lists found throughout the book act as simple exercises that allow you to easily identify which areas you need to pay close attention to, and which you already have a good grasp of.
Another good thing about this book is that McGuckin attempts to give the readers a realistic picture of what it means to start and run their own business. While there is an entire section dedicated to success stories meant to inspire you, there are also case studies telling stories of what can go wrong. One example tells the story of a husband and wife who took early retirement to open an ice cream shop in a mall. Thinking that they could fulfill their dream of owning a business and provide jobs for their children they weren't prepared for the long hours and great expenses. With less than $20,000 in profits they were forced to close the business within two years.
While Business for Beginners provides a good overview of the considerations you need to think about when starting a business it should not be considered a comprehensive guide on its individual sections. The legal section, for example, covers general issues that you may have to consider such as registration and any municipal zoning laws. Yet each province carries its own set of laws and regulations for running your business and you will need to contact these offices to find out what your responsibilities are. McGuckin provides a list of provincial contacts in the appendix that can point you in the right direction.
