Entrepreneurship For Dummies

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started in Entrepreneurship 5

Chapter 1: Understanding Entrepreneurship 7

Chapter 2: Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century 25

Chapter 3: Preparing to Seek Opportunity 45

Chapter 4: Testing an Opportunity Before You Leap 61

Part 2: Testing the Feasibility of Your Business Concept 77

Chapter 5: Understanding Your Industry 79

Chapter 6: What Your Customers Can Tell You 95

Chapter 7: Designing Solutions for a New Marketplace 117

Chapter 8: Protecting Your Products and Services 137

Chapter 9: Putting Together Your Founding Team 161

Chapter 10: Getting Solutions to Customers: The Supply Chain 181

Chapter 11: Developing and Testing Your Business Model 193

Chapter 12: Assessing Your Initial Financial Needs 209

Part 3: Designing a Company 231

Chapter 13: Preparing a Business Plan 233

Chapter 14: Finding Money to Start and Grow Your Venture 257

Chapter 15: Starting with the Right Legal Structure 279

Part 4: Growing a Company 297

Chapter 16: Planning for Growth 299

Chapter 17: Developing a Marketing Strategy 333

Chapter 18: Making and Using Money Wisely: The Financial Plan 357

Chapter 19: Planning for Things That Go Bump in the Night 381

Part 5: The Part of Tens 397

Chapter 20: Ten Reasons Not to Start a Business 399

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Spark Your Innovative Spirit 405

Index 411