Start your own business : the only startup book you'll ever need / Rieva Lesonsky and the staff of entrepreneur magazine.

Includes index.

On your mark -- pt. 1. Think -- ch. 1. Introduction -- ch. 2. Taking the plunge : get ready to be an entrepreneur -- ch. 3. Good idea! : how to get an idea for your business -- ch. 4. Good timing : should you launch your business full or part time? -- ch. 5. Build it or buy it? : starting a business vs. buying one -- pt. 2. Plan -- ch. 6. Choose your target : defining your market -- ch. 7. If you build it, will they come? : conducting market research -- ch. 8. The name game : naming your business -- ch. 9. Make it legal : choosing a business structure -- ch. 10. Plan of attack : creating a winning business plan -- ch. 11. It's official : don't forget licenses and permits -- ch. 12. Protect yourself : understanding patents, trademarks and copyrights -- ch. 13. Call in the pros : hiring a lawyer and an accountant -- pt. 3. Fund -- ch. 14. All in the family : financing starts with yourself and friends and relatives -- ch. 15. Nothing ventured, nothing gained : how to find and attract investors -- ch. 16. Looking for loans : the ins and outs of debt financing -- ch. 17. Fed funds : how to get government loans

Get set -- pt. 4. Prepare -- ch. 18. What's your deal? negotiating successfully -- ch. 19. Site seeking : choosing a location for your business -- ch. 20. Bring it home : starting a homebased business -- ch. 21. Looking good : creating a professional image -- ch. 22. Stock answers : the lowdown on inventory -- ch. 23. It's in the mail : setting up mailing systems and shipping accounts -- ch. 24. Charging ahead : offering your customers credit -- ch. 25. Cover your assets : getting business insurance -- ch. 26. Staff smarts : hiring employees -- ch. 27. Perk up : setting employee policies and benefits -- pt. 5. Buy -- ch. 28. Buyer's guide : business equipment basics -- ch. 29. Play it safe : tech security and privacy -- ch. 30. Business 24/7 : using technology to boost your productivity -- ch. 31. Net works : building your company website -- ch. 32. Keep in touch : using technology to stay connected -- ch. 33. Drive time : the inside scoop on buying or leasing a car -- Go! -- pt. 6. Market -- ch. 34. Brand aid : building a brand -- ch. 35. Marketing genius : advertising and marketing your business -- ch. 36. Net sales : online advertising and marketing -- ch. 37. Talking points : how to promote your business -- ch. 38. Sell it! : effective selling techniques -- ch. 39. Now serving : offering superior customer service

pt. 7. Profit -- ch. 40. Keeping score : the basics of bookkeeping -- ch. 41. Making a statement : how to create financial statements -- ch. 42. On the money : effectively managing your finances -- ch. 43. Pay day : how to pay yourself -- ch. 44. Tax talk : what you need to know about your taxes -- pt. 8. Succeed -- ch. 45. It's about time : time management -- ch. 46. Second wind : learning from your failures -- Appendix A: Business resources -- Appendix B: Government listings -- Appendix C: Small-business-friendly banks -- Index

A comprehensive guide to starting a business that discusses defining the market, offering credit, getting insurance, hiring employees, setting policies, purchasing business equipment, technology security, building a website, advertising, selling techniques, bookkeeping, managing finances, and other related topics