Introduction 1 Book 1: Laying the Groundwork 5 Chapter 1: Preparing for Business 7 Chapter 2: Arranging the Foundations 27 Chapter 3: Can You Do the Business? 47 Chapter 4: Preparing the Business Plan 59 Chapter 5: Establishing Your Starting Position 77 Chapter 6: Researching Your Customers and Competitors 89 Book 2: Sorting Out Your Finances 123 Chapter 1: Finding the Money 125 Chapter 2: Seeking Alternative Funding 149 Chapter 3: Figuring Out the Figures 165 Chapter 4: Budgeting for Beginners 185 Book 3: Finding and Managing Staff 199 Chapter 1: Staying on the Right Side of the Law 201 Chapter 2: Finding and Interviewing Job Candidates 213 Chapter 3: Employing People Successfully 235 Chapter 4: Disciplining and Dismissing Staff 251 Chapter 5: Inspiring Employees to Better Performance 267 Chapter 6: Coaching and Development 285 Chapter 7: Becoming an Expert at Performance Appraisal and Management 299 Book 4: Keeping on Top of the Books 313 Chapter 1: Recording the Financial Facts 315 Chapter 2: Managing Your Tax Position 331 Chapter 3: How Investors Read a Financial Report 343 Book 5: Marketing and Advertising Your Wares 361 Chapter 1: Taking a Closer Look at Customers 363 Chapter 2: Defining Your Business Mission, Vision, Objectives and Values 377 Chapter 3: Marketing and Selling Your Product or Service 383 Chapter 4: Creating and Placing Ads 413 Chapter 5: Public Relations and Publicity 441 Chapter 6: Doing Business Online 457 Chapter 7: Social Media Engagement 485 Book 6: Growing and Improving Your Business 519 Chapter 1: Thinking Strategically 521 Chapter 2: Managing More than One Product 543 Chapter 3: Improving Your Company's Performance 575 Chapter 4: Franchising for Growth 589 Chapter 5: Funding Expansion 597 Chapter 6: Becoming a Great Manager 611 Index 627.