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ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page iii The Small Business Bible Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Your Small Business s Steven D. Strauss John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page ii ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page i The Small Business Bible ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page ii ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page iii The Small Business Bible Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Your Small Business s Steven D. Strauss John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page iv Copyright © 2005 by Steven D. Strauss. All rights reserved. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Published simultaneously in Canada. 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For general information on our other products and services please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (800) 762-2974, outside the United States at (317) 572-3993 or fax (317) 572-4002. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, visit our web site at www.Wiley.com. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Strauss, Steven D., 1958– The small business bible : everything you need to know to succeed in your small business / Steven D. Strauss. p. cm. ISBN 0-471-68431-7 (pbk.) 1. Small business—United States—Management. 2. Small business—United States—Finance. 3. New business enterprises—United States. I. Title. HD62.7.S875 2005 658.02'2—dc22 2004016912 Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page v For my sweet, fun, loving, funny, wonderful family who make it all possible, and worthwhile. ffirs.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page vi fpref.qxd 11/8/04 2:54 AM Page vii Preface Starting, owning, and running a successful small business is one of the great joys in life. No, there are no guarantees, and yes, there are obsta- cles. But if you do it right, if you start the right small business—one suited to your strengths, one that you are passionate about, one that epitomizes your highest dreams and values, and certainly one that al- lows you to make a nice profit—then there is no telling how far it can take you. This book shows you how to get there. But be forewarned: If what you are looking for is a book that will give you the theoretical underpinnings of small business theory and ex- pository prose about business assumptions, this is the wrong book for you. Put it down. What you will get instead in these pages are tried- and-true, real world business tips, skills, examples, and strategies that have been proven to help small businesses grow, that can help your small business grow. Written in a friendly, easy-to-understand manner, chock full of interesting, actual examples, The Small Business Bible contains everything you need to know to have a successful, fulfilling, enjoyable entrepreneurial journey. Covering the simple to the complex, The Small Business Bible al- lows you to easily and quickly get up to speed on any pertinent subject. Would you like to know how to create a memorable brand for your small business? It is in here. Unsure about small business accounting? Read on. Shoestring marketing? Yep, it is here, too. It is all here. The Small Business Bible covers everything you need to know, or might need to know, about starting or running a successful and enjoyable small business. It is not called The Small Business Biblefor nothing. As the long-time small business columnist for USATODAY.com (www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/front.htm), I have the op- portunity to interact with many small business owners. I hear their war stories and learn their secrets, and that is what I want to impart vii