A Guide to Entrepreneurship

A classic guide to entrepreneurship, now completely revised and updated in this new edition. Journalist and business writer David Oates interviewed hundreds of small business owners and managers to research and compile this unique appraisal of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Many small business entrepreneurs feel they are a neglected breed and that they are fighting a lone battle almost impossible for them to win. They are beset by problems. Raising capital from banks and venture capitalists seems to be an uphill battle, to say the least. Many small firms have insufficient financial resources to hire in badly needed expertise or to invest in new technology. They cannot afford to indulge in expensive marketing schemes to get their products known. They are swamped with government red tape. They often have to wait an inordinate length of time to get paid for the goods and services they supply. A guide to Entrepreneurship is a practical guide, packed with examples and case studies, demonstrating how (and how not) to make a small business work. The book will help readers decide whether this is a course they want to pursue, what skills and disciplines they will need to make a go of it, and what obstacles they will need to overcome along the way.