This review was written by Linda A Stortz. Linda is a CPA in Florida and also a budget/debt coach with Crown Financial Ministries. Find her at LStortzcpa.com and FinancialPeace4You.com.
I reviewed the book, The Women’s Small Business Start-Up Kit: A Step-by-Step Legal Guide
The author states that this book is designed specifically for women because it addresses issues such as special certification programs for women-owned businesses, creative ways to maintain work-life balance, and resources for women nationwide that focus on providing resources for women-owned businesses. In addition, the author includes interviews with eleven successful women business owners throughout the book who offer practical and legal advice to women based upon their personal experiences. However, I believe that since the information in the book applies to the start-up and operations of any business, the book is for any business owner — either man or woman.
The thirteen chapters in this book include:
- Crafting A Solid Business
- Targeting A Profitable Market With A Winning Idea
- Making The Financial Transition To Self-Employment
- Drafting An Effective Business Plan
- Understanding And Choosing A Legal Structure
- Your Business Location: Working From Home or Renting Space
- Dealing With Start-Up Requirements And Bureaucratic Hurdles
- Getting The Word Out: Cost-Effective Marketing
- E-Business: Conducting And Marketing Your Business Online
- Keeping Your Books And Managing Your Finances
- Federal, State and Local Tax Basics
- Building Your Business And Hiring Employees And Other Workers
- Lawyers And Accountants: Building Your Family of Professionals
In today’s world, approximately eight million U.S. businesses are currently women-owned, and the number is growing at twice the national average for all businesses. When a woman launches out to start her own business, in most cases she has a passion and enthusiasm for performing her particular skill or selling a particular product but also has an unfamiliarity with areas such as recordkeeping, financing, types of business organizations, business software, hiring employees, marketing, sales, taxes, and legal requirements. This book is a valuable resource guide that gives women practical and useful advice in these unfamiliar areas and also the knowledge needed for them to run a successful business. This book should be read by every woman thinking of starting her own business and also every woman who has already started her own business. The book addresses the common issues and concerns that every woman entrepreneur faces – from independent consultants to Fortune 500-seekers.
The book also includes a resource CD containing free downloadable .pdf and Excel spreadsheet files containing business forms and agreements such as:
- Cash Flow Projection Worksheet
- Profit/Loss Forecast Worksheet
- Break-Even Analysis Worksheet
- Billable Rate Calculator; and more.
Even though this book is longer than most and contains 482 pages, I read the book in only four days because the information in these pages kept my attention and aroused my curiosity to want to read more. I would definitely recommend this book as an excellent resource book to every woman who is thinking of starting her own business. I believe that many new business start-up failures could have been prevented if this book was read and the advice was followed in the early planning stages of the business. From a personal perspective as a CPA, reading this book has given me a renewed desire to develop a business consulting niche with women entrepreneurs.
