On the Shelf at CCBC Libraries
Boss Life by
When columnist Paul Downs was approached by The New York Times to write for their 'You're the Boss' blog, he had been running his custom furniture business for twenty-four years strong. or mostly strong. Now, in his first book, Downs paints an honest portrait of a real business, with a real boss, a real set of employees, and the real challenges they face. Fresh out of college in 1986, Downs opened his first business, a small company that builds custom furniture. In 1987, he hired his first employee. That's when things got complicated. As his enterprise began to grow, he had to learn about management, cash flow, taxes, and so much more. But despite any obstacles, Downs always remained keenly aware that every small business, no matter the product it makes or the service it provides, starts with people. He writes with tremendous insight about hiring employees, providing motivation to get the best out of them, and the difficult decisions he's made to let some of them go. Downs also looks outward, to his dealings with vendors and to providing each client with exemplary customer service from first sales pitch to final delivery. With honesty and conviction, he tells the true story behind building and sustaining a successful company in an ever-evolving economy, often airing his own failures and shortcomings to reveal the difficulties that arise from being a boss and a businessperson. Countless employees have told the story of their experience with managers - Boss Life tells the other side of that story. 'In this eye-opening debut . . . Downs drills down into the ins and outs of running a small business, focusing on sales, operations, money, and the personal demands of being a boss . . . this frank accounting will be a godsend to any small-company owners wondering if they're the only ones constantly second-guessing themselves - or on the verge of going out of business. An honest look at a usually overlooked demographic.' Publishers Weekly' A large-hearted memoir . . . Refreshingly absent of bulleted lists and sidebars, this is a welcome addition to the literature of business ownership.' Kirkus Reviews' A day-to-day, minute-to-minute tour of the intricacies of running a business, from dealing with employees to negotiating with vendors, the roller-coaster ride of sales, and the headaches of customer service. This is an invaluable look into operational details for anyone considering starting a business or caught up in the struggle of owning and running one.' Booklist'This book is ostensibly about a year in the life of a small business owner, but it is actually a fascinating peek behind the scenes of a small Pennsylvania furniture factory . . . The combination of a humorous, self-deprecating, jargon-free writing style and content that mixes business fundamentals (cash flow, salesmanship, HR issues) with day-to-day events on the shop floor makes for a truly immersive narrative . . . A great read for those who wish to understand what running a small factory or business entails, as well as anyone interested in woodworking and craftsmanship.' Library Journal'My husband and I own a small book store in Memphis, TN. I read a review of your new book somewhere, thought it sounded intriguing, got a copy in and started it a few days ago. Before I even finish it I think I want to thank you for writing it. Finally someone being totally honest about running a small (tiny) business! I have felt so much better in the past few days knowing that someone else has experienced the same things we have - no cash, employee struggles, family life and business life merging into each other, cars breaking down, etc. I think we are all hesitant to talk about the struggles because we might be perceived as failures. I plan to recommend this book to all small business people.' Cheryl Mesler, Burke's Book Store
Call Number: HD8039.C152 U63 2015
Roadside MBA by
While playing hooky from a conference in Boston a few years back, three former colleagues from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management hopped in a car and headed on a road trip. They pulled into a shoe store in Maine and noticed that the sales help was unusually pushy. After a few questions, they discovered the store had a "secret shopper" program, in which employees would be marked down if they were not sufficiently aggressive with customers. A lightbulb went off. Instead of teaching the tried-and-true case studies involving GE and Microsoft, these three wise men decided to pull their heads out of their ivory towers and go in search of insights about product differentiation, pricing, brand management, building a team, and a host of other topics. Why take your cues on employee compensation from Wall Street when you can learn from a Main Street company like Couer D'Alene's best crime-scene cleaner? Want to learn about scaling a business? Come meet Dr. Burris, the flying orthodontist, who operates multiple, profitable practices in rural Arkansas. The book isn't all egghead; the chapters are spiced with the type of vehicular mishaps and Maalox moments that are common on any road trip.
Call Number: HD62.7 .M387 2014
The Handy Accounting Answer Book by
An informative, easy-to-use guide to accounting fundamentals and concepts Everyone needs to budget money and manage costs, whether for groceries and everyday purchases, rent or mortgage, education, retirement, or even a business. Like it or not, accounting infuses most everything in life. From credits, debits, and basic bookkeeping to getting the most out of tax deductions and from reading or creating a business' financial statement to better understanding accounting lingo,The Handy Accounting Answer Book can help anyone acquire the skills to start or run a business, plan for retirement, set money aside for a big purchase, establish everyday budgets, and improve their money management. Find out about the concepts and assumptions behind the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Understand tax returns and maximize write-off. Manage retirement account statements and find ways to improve their results. Learn how to create a business plan. Learn about a business' financial ratios, cost of goods, depreciation, tax planning, recognizing revenue and expenses, financial audits, year-end closing the books, and other terms and rules. Maximize profits and improve personal or business bottom lines. Covering accounting fundamentals, concepts, and jargon,The Handy Accounting Answer Book is for everyone who wants to understand the language of money and business. It uses basic terms and simple examples to illustrate complex accounting topics and can help you make better decisions about your business or personal finances. This handy primer answers nearly 800 questions and offers fun facts covering the basics of accounting, including ... What is the earliest known form of accounting? What are the elements of financial statements? When is revenue recognized? What is accrual basis accounting? How does an accountant determine which asset account titles to use? What is goodwill? How many different types of financial statements are there? What is the basic accounting equation? How is operating income different from net income? How do you know if a company is doing well? What is the quick ratio? How is earnings per share evaluated? What is a journal entry? What is a purchase order? What is the fraud triangle? How is depreciation expense calculated and recorded? What is a franchise? What are the employer payroll taxes? What is indirect labor? How is a budget prepared? What is a revenue variance? What is contribution margin? What is the time value of money? What is one of the first things that must be done when starting a small business? What are some of the key components of a business plan? Can a business be successful if it doesn't make a profit? What is a CPA? What happened at Enron? For anyone planning for a business, retirement, college, or life in general, this informative book also includes a glossary of commonly used terms to cut through the jargon, a helpful bibliography, appendices providing examples of accountancy practices, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. It will help anyone's financial intelligence!
Call Number: HF5635 .G774 2019Publication Date: 2019-04-01
Start-Up by Call Number: HD62.5 .H37 2019
The Young Entrepreneur by Call Number: HD62.5 .G673 2022
Other Useful Guides
Streaming Videos
- Small Business Management: Starting UpFlexible hours, the opportunity to make large profits, and being your own boss can all make the idea of starting up a business very appealing—but getting that idea off the ground can be quite a challenge. This program explores what it takes to be a successful small business owner, covering topics such as product demand, niche markets, profitability, the importance choosing an appropriate name, and legalities. With solid market research, an understanding of business principles, and a lot of hard work, success may well come your way. Produced in Australia. A viewable/printable worksheet is available online.
Inc. Magazine's Streaming Videos
Finding an Association for Your Industry
Associations often have excellent research materials. Some you need to join to have access to the tools but others you do not need to. To find an association for your business search Google using the type of business (i.e. spa, restaurant, daycare, etc.), the word association and the words United states. EX: restaurant united states association.
You're the Boss
Online from CCBC Libraries
Business Skills All-In-One for Dummies by
Find workplace success There are some things that will never go out of style, and good business skills are one of them. With the help of this informative book, you'll learn how to wear multiple hats in the workplace no matter what comes your way--without ever breaking a sweat. Compiled from eight of the best Dummies books on business skills topics, Business Skills All-in-One For Dummies offers everything you need to hone your abilities and translate them into a bigger paycheck. Whether you're tasked with marketing or accounting responsibilities--or anything in between--this all-encompassing reference makes it easier than ever to tackle your job with confidence. Manage a successful operation Write more effectively Work on the go with Microsoft Office 365 Deal with marketing, accounting, and projects with ease If you've ever dreamed about being able to juggle all your work responsibilities without ever dropping the ball, the book is for you.
Publication Date: 2018-04-17
Small Business for Dummies by
Make big sense of small business Small Business For Dummies has been a leading resource for starting and running a small business. Calling upon their six decades-plus of combined experience running small businesses, Eric Tyson and Jim Schell once again provide readers with their time-tested advice and the latest information on starting and growing a small business. This new edition covers all aspects of small business from the initial business plan to the everyday realities of financing, marketing, employing technology and management--and what it takes to achieve and maintain success in an ever-changing entrepreneurial landscape. Write a strategic business plan Start, establish, or rejuvenate a small business Hire and retain the best employees Get a small business loan If you're a beginning entrepreneur looking to start and run your own small business, this book gives you all the tools of the trade you'll need to make it a success.
Publication Date: 2018-08-07
Social Media Branding for Small Businesses by
Often the complaint from consumers and business people is: 'some businesses are not sure what to discuss on their social networking pages. They just bombard us with specials and try to sell their products and services. Social media is not about selling, it's about the link. Building and engaging likeminded people with the brand.' In response, Social Media Brand provides the thinking, evidence and practice to create a road map for practioners to develop and implement their brand in online and offline communities. This approach is called 5 Sources (5S). The five fundamental branding principles simply outsource the brand and put the customer back in control. The 5 Sources approach asks the following questions of the brand and its stakeholders: 1. Functional: What is the role of the brand in enabling customer objectives? 2. Emotional: What is the role of the brand in customer acknowledgement? 3. Self: What is the role of the brand in customer acknowledgement and actualization? 4. Personal (Social): What is the role of the brand in the reality of a customer's social interactions? 5. Relational: What is the role of the brand in defining collective relationships? In essence it signals the day when the brand is no longer owned by the marketer or company. Rather, it is outsourced to the customer and other stakeholders in the social media community. Secondly, it provides a practical orientation and insight. This is book is research-based. It reflects what the social media community told the authors they wanted, without bias, prejudice or agenda. It is their call for ownership of the brand. A lot of companies are using social media, but many of them fail to build relationships and position their brands as community assets. This book will contribute value to your brand and community relationships both on and offline.
Publication Date: 2014-12-01
Small Business in a Global Economy by
This informative set analyzes the dynamics involved with creating, growing, and managing small businesses amid different geographic, institutional, and political environments. * Reveals insights into the internal and external constraints facing small firms * Explores the effectiveness of a variety of strategies used by small business owners * Offers a window into the dramatic influence small business has on the economy * Contains contributions from the leading scholars in the field
Publication Date: 2015
