Due to the vital importance of SMEs in developed economies worldwide, this book aims to provide a unique and much-needed investigation into the underlying mechanisms and practices of management within these companies by collecting a wide range of original conceptual and empirical research in the topical area of management in SMEs and new ventures.

Collecting work from dozens of leading scholars in fields ranging from management and entrepeneurship to human resource management and strategy, this book aims to supply readers with an overview of the field of research in management of SMEs and new ventures as well as in depth knowledge on a variety of related topics. The essays collected here are focused and practical, offering a variety of explicit and pragmatic recommendations for action and developing new tools and strategies useful to scholars and students as well as practitioners working in the field of SME and new venture management and consulting.

This book discusses the concepts, types, models, and patterns of Japan's Hometown Tax Donation Payment system, to provide a clear picture of this newly developed unique and innovative fund-raising tool used by municipalities. It also sheds light on the influences that reciprocal gifts provided by each municipality to donors have on local economies by reviewing empirical works and surveys targeting local business owners and local financial institutions. A distinguishing feature of the book is that it introduces a new social finance mechanism that is unique to the Japanese market and could provide policy implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as regional development. Furthermore, the book explores the efficacy of the demand-pull approach to support-strengthening SMEs, especially in rural areas. Finally, the book identifies some lessons learned from the system with a view toward advancing research on this phenomenon and making the system efficient and sustainable. As a whole, the book can provide ample benefits to novices, academics, researchers, and policymakers interested in Hometown Tax Donation Payment, an innovative social finance tool. This is an open access book.

Die Analyse des Zahlenwerks eines Familienunternehmens hat eigene Fragestellungen, die sich aus den Interessen der Unternehmerfamilie ergeben. Die fur Familiengesellschafter wesentliche, langfristige Perspektive reicht uber die Zahlen des Abschlusses hinaus. Wichtiger als die Rendite ist die Bestatigung, dass das Unternehmen wettbewerbsfahig ist. Wettbewerbsfahigkeit ist Tuchtigkeit und eine Tugend, auf die die Reputation der Familie aufbaut. Wettbewerbsfahigkeit setzt aber auch ein modernes Geschaftsmodell voraus, fur das rechtzeitig und ausreichend investiert werden muss. Wie Gesellschafter sich durch gute Fragen das relevante und profunde Wissen erschliessen, steht im Zentrum dieses praxisnahen Leitfadens. Zur Zielgruppe gehoert auch die Kaufmannische Geschaftsfuhrerin, der Berater oder der Controller, die fur ihre Gesellschaft Zahlen aufbereiten und Zusammenhange interpretieren.

Do you have the passion and the creativity for fashion? Why not earn a living from it?

The" Freelance Fashion Designer's Handbook" is your essential guide on how to go it alone, covering what to expect, making sure you get paid, planning your time, keeping up with your accounts, compiling technical packages for garments. It is your portable mentor, equipping you to work independently.

Part 1 covers all the information to becoming a freelance designer such as creating a basic freelance contract, invoicing, how to find work, tax returns and much more. All supported with case studies.

Part 2 contains the technical aspects of being a designer - including how to compile full technical packages for garments to be manufactured abroad.

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own gift basket business? This comprehensive book contains all the necessary tools and success strategies you need to launch and grow your business. Author Shirley George Frazier, a successful home-based gift basket entrepreneur, shares her experience and down-to-earth advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving business. She will show you how to develop a business plan, estimate start-up costs, select inventory, price services, and stay profitable. From painless record keeping to helpful hints on designs and savvy marketing techniques, her step-by-step methods are realistic, innovative, and easy to understand.

Increasing Management Relevance and Competitiveness contains the papers presented at the Global Conference on Business, Management and Entrepreneurship (the 2nd GC-BME 2017), Surabaya, Indonesia on the 9th of August, 2017. The book covers 7 topics: 1. Organizational Behavior, Leadership, and Human Resources Management 2. Innovation, Operations and Supply Chain Management 3. Marketing Management 4. Financial Management and Accounting 5. Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship, and Contemporary Issues 6. Green Business 7. Management and Economics Education.

Picture Yourself a Success If you have a talent for snapping great pictures, why not turn your hobby into a lucrative business? You can take portraits in a studio or on location, submit photos as a freelancer to media companies or businesses, frame and display your favorite shots in a gallery, or record special events like weddings and sweet sixteen parties. No matter where your talents and interests lie, you can make a bundle from your work with this expert advice. Determine your specialty Set up a home office and/or functional studio Choose the right equipment for all types of photos-and find great deals on the cameras and accessories you need Build an attractive online or traditional portfolio Find paying jobs and market yourself professionally Setup a fee structure for your service Get great exposure for your work at art festivals, contests, galleries, local businesses and more Protect yourself from legal concerns such as copyright infringement and privacy issues Whether you want to earn a little extra money or set yourself up as a full-time, professional photographer, all the information you need to succeed is inside.

Massage therapists need basic, practical business advice such as low to mid-cost marketing techniques, taxes, and recordkeeping, but there is also no denying the benefits of "been there, done that" information that can only come from someone else's experience. How to Start a Home-based Massage Therapy Business offers a gold mine of tips and ideas that can lessen the learning curve, stimulate thinking outside-the-box, and increase the odds of having a wildly successful practice.

Thinking of starting a business? Chances are you will be excited by your ideas, but daunted by what might lie ahead. Most start-up guides make that feeling worse, by overloading you with complex, yet missing out the essentials that you really need to focus on to succeed. From Acorns is a different kind of book. Free from jargon and full of practical tips from countless entrepreneurs, it's the only guide that tells you exactly what you need to know - no frills, no complications. In its second edition, this bestselling book now includes information not only for small start-ups, but for those with ambitious growth plans who need to plan big financial pitches, initiate and nurture large scale expansions, and, eventually, sell and move on to the next venture. From Acorns is the no nonsense guide to starting a business - whether your plans or modest or on a grand scale, this book helps you get it right first time around.

Expert tips and advice on starting a home-based business

Starting your own home-based business is a great way to supplement your income in these tough economic times. With thirty percent new and revised material, "Home-Based Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition "gives you the most current and up-to-date information you need to navigate your way through the whole process."

"You'll get trusted and creative advice on how to start being your own boss, bringing in a steady paycheck, and running a business you'll enjoy.Complete coverage of legal and financial aspects of a home-based businessEffective advertising and promotional strategies that won't break the bank""Tips and information you need to make your business profitable""Advice on outfitting and running a home office "

"Whether you've been affected by downsizing in these uncertain times or are just looking to earn some extra cash, "Home-Based Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition" shows you how to avoid scams and truly start working from home for profit.

Startup money is moving online, and this guide shows you how it works. The Art of Startup Fundraising takes a fresh look at raising money for startups, with a focus on the changing face of startup finance. New regulations are making the old go-to advice less relevant, as startup money is increasingly moving online. These new waters are all but uncharted--and founders need an accessible guide. This book helps you navigate the online world of startup fundraising with easy-to-follow explanations and expert perspective on the new digital world of finance. You'll find tips and tricks on raising money and investing in startups from early stage to growth stage, and develop a clear strategy based on the new realities surrounding today's startup landscape. The finance world is in a massive state of flux. Changes are occurring at an increasing pace in all sectors, but few more intensely than the startup sphere. When the paradigm changes, your processes must change with it. This book shows you how startup funding works, with expert coaching toward the new rules on the field. Learn how the JOBS Act impacts the fundraising model Gain insight on startups from early stage to growth stage Find the money you need to get your venture going Craft your pitch and optimize the strategy Build momentum Identify the right investors Avoid the common mistakes Don't rely on the "how we did it" tales from superstar startups, as these stories are unique and applied to exceptional scenarios. The game has changed, and playing by the old rules only gets you left behind. Whether you're founding a startup or looking to invest, The Art of Startup Fundraising provides the up-to-the-minute guidance you need.

Great user experiences (UX) are essential for products today, but designing one can be a lengthy and expensive process. With this practical, hands-on book, you'll learn how to do it faster and smarter using Lean UX techniques. UX expert Laura Klein shows you what it takes to gather valuable input from customers, build something they'll truly love, and reduce the time it takes to get your product to market. No prior experience in UX or design is necessary to get started. If you're an entrepreneur or an innovator, this book puts you right to work with proven tips and tools for researching, identifying, and designing an intuitive, easy-to-use product. Determine whether people will buy your product before you build it Listen to your customers throughout the product's lifecycle Understand why you should design a test before you design a product Get nine tools that are critical to designing your product Discern the difference between necessary features and nice-to-haves Learn how a Minimum Viable Product affects your UX decisions Use A/B testing in conjunction with good UX practices Speed up your product development process without sacrificing quality

Are you an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurs are their own breed, unique individuals with very specific character traits and mindsets. In Self Employed, Joel Comm & John Rampton detail 50 different qualities that personify those who could do well as entrepreneurs. These 50 qualities provide a framework for those already working or about to enter their careers so they can decide if they might make it in business on their own. Not sure if the entrepreneurial lifestyle is for you? Or do you want to double-check on yourself to see if the business you have already started in congruent with who you are? This book is for you! Written by two successful entrepreneurs, this book will inspire you to follow your dreams and create your own entrepreneurial success!

Candlemaking is a traditional craft which can be converted into a modern small business with viable markets in most countries around the world. This book includes instructions on how to determine the feasibility of a candlemaking business, and advises on essential business planning. It gives detailed and specific guidance in the critical areas of pricing, marketing and selling. "Candlemaking for Profit" covers the various materials and methods used in candlemaking. It includes step-by-step illustrations to explain methods appropriate for small-scale production and advises on different wax types, wicks, dyes and scents and gives advice on dealing with material suppliers. The methods illustrated include dipping, molding, pouring and how to make container candles. Finding workshop space is also covered, with information about costs of premises, workshop layout, stock control and safety. The book explains how to keep ahead through design and innovation. It includes advice on how to generate creative ideas, respond to market trends and safeguard intellectual property. This is a simple and clear practical guide for those who are looking for a business start-up or who want to convert their candlemaking hobby into a profitable small business, whether living in an economically rich or developing country.

Event planning continues to be a thriving business area for the motivated entrepreneur. Jill S. Moran is a certified special events professional with twenty-five years of experience in the field and the owner of an award-winning event-planning company. This fourth edition of her popular book includes updated ideas about creating business plans, balancing home and work, building a client base, and a more in-depth discussion on the role of social media in your event planning business.

Creating a Freelance Career covers everything anyone needs to know about becoming a freelance writer, graphic designer, copy editor, artist, musician or any other creative occupation. It includes chapters on how to get started with your career and where to look for work, how to write pitch or query letters, how to work with contract employers, and how to build and sustain your business. Lingo necessary for successfully navigating the freelance world is defined throughout. Author Jill L. Ferguson, an experienced freelance professional and educator, guides you through finding success in the gig economy, discussing how to pursue freelancing with an entrepreneurial spirit. Creating a Freelance Career includes examples of what to do, and what not to do, when pursuing freelance projects, and includes perspectives from additional real-life professionals who have found success in their fields.

Family businesses prosper by pursuing unconventional strategies. Because they are values-driven and think very long-term, they take approaches not popular with current management fashion or most companies. That is the key to their competitive advantage. However, family businesses must find ways to simultaneously serve business needs and family goals, which require very different priorities and principles. As a result, they must think paradoxically, and find insights that single-purpose enterprises need not contemplate. They must dare to be different. Family business requires a different governance system, but it must nevertheless be one that can be controlled. Building on insights from the worldaAA's premier family business executive education course, this book offers the Unconventional Wisdom needed to leverage the strategic and cultural uniqueness of a family business for enduring success.

Brexit is arguably the most significant UK foreign and economic policy event since at least 1945. Opinion is bitterly divided between whether to leave, when to leave, how to leave and even on what Brexit is. Mastering Brexits Through the Ages: Entrepreneurial Innovators and Small Firms - The Catalysts for Success explores these dynamics through the lens of three previous 'Brexits' - the end of Roman Britain, the Henrician Reformation, and the Elizabethan age. Using multiple historical epithets, it illuminates insights into innovation needs, smaller firm growth, previous step change events and related economic understanding. This book paints a broad picture of possible UK post-Brexit landscapes. Echoing an earlier European Treaty (Versailles, 1919), fourteen action points that can contribute to mitigating downside risks and making post Brexit UK a leading force in the Global Economy are identified. At all times, dynamic entrepreneurs and small companies are at the centre of the narrative. This book is both a key contribution to understanding implementation risks and to identifying what a 'winning' post-Brexit UK economy should look like. Drawing on extensive research, the book identifies the strategic framework and associated practical measures needed to realise a positive outcome. It concurrently analyses Brexit mythology through carefully unpicking and demystifying complexities, anticipated Brexit risks, impacts, implications and unknowns. A book for academics, policy makers, advisers and interested bystanders alike.

This is the first book of its kind to systematically integrate crowdfunding in the entrepreneurial finance research field and extend the current debate to show how crowdfunding can be leveraged as a strategic tool to grow new ventures. Utilising original empirical evidence of companies that have raised funds via crowdfunding, it discusses the value-added services that the crowd provides to entrepreneurs, as well as how and under which conditions crowdfunding helps company development by facilitating subsequent access to critical financial and non-financial resources from external stakeholders. The first part introduces the most popular models and tactics for a successful crowdfunding campaign and illustrates the characteristics of the crowdfunding phenomenon and its evolution across the world during the last decade. The second part of the book, demonstrating how crowdfunding can be a starting point to seed financing, illustrates and discusses how entrepreneurs can use crowdfunding as a strategic tool for accessing subsequent resources from external stakeholders - showing the benefits, beyond capital, that entrepreneurs can gain from the crowd, as well as potential risks. Crowdfunding for Entrepreneurs is particularly useful for academics, advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in entrepreneurship and innovation, entrepreneurial finance, strategic management, as well as professionals interested in how crowdfunding can be utilised as a strategic tool to create competitive advantage.

With an increasing demand for quality kennel accommodation for dogs and cats, a good boarding kennel is a sound investment and can provide a healthy income if run efficiently. Running your own Boarding Kennels, the only guide of its kind available, is essential reading for anyone who is considering starting out in the business. This new edition by animal care expert David Cavill provides advice on every aspect of running a boarding kennel. With an exhaustive breadth of detail it covers every related topic, including: boarding fees, raising finance, insurance, kennel cleaning, dangerous dogs, types of food, exercise, grooming, beds and towels, staff training, accommodation, advertising, puppy and kitten rearing, and product sales. Comprehensive and unique, Running your own Boarding Kennels also includes information on ancillary services such as dog-walking, pet sitting and home boarding.

CRAFT YOUR OWN SUCCESS Whether you're a master crafter, a carpenter, a jewelry designer, or have become passionate about making the best home decor in town, now is the time to go from hobby to full-time business owner. And with million shoppers ready to discover your unique offerings it only makes sense to join the largest, most successful online community of creative entrepreneurs on Etsy (R). Our experts have teamed up with successful shop owners to provide you with Start Your Own Etsy (R) Business, an easy-to-understand, comprehensive blueprint that takes you through setting up, branding, marketing, and managing your store. You'll learn how to: Create listings and marketing plans that attract the right customers Choose keywords and tags design to drive traffic to your shop Pick the right shipping and packaging methods to meet your inventory needs Define your brand with carefully crafted logos, product listings, and images Reach more shoppers with targeted social media and advertising campaigns Create storytelling product listings and professional looking product photos Decide when it's time to turn your part-time hobby into a full-time business venture Plus, gain worksheets, templates, resource lists and tips designed to go from passion to profits. If you're ready to share your passion for your craft with millions around the world, this guide is for you.

The New York Times No. 1 bestseller that can transform your life and career - now in a revised and updated edition. ____________________________________________________ 'I think that the startup approach to life is necessary. This book distills the key techniques needed to succeed.' Jack Dorsay, co-founder of Twitter Co-founder and chairman of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, and author Ben Casnocha offer a revolutionary method to accelerate your life and career. The secret is to think like an entrepreneur - to run the 'start-up of you'. Entrepreneurs are nimble. They invest in themselves. They build their networks. They take intelligent risks. They make uncertainty and volatility work to their advantage. These are the very same skills we all need to get ahead. Hoffman and Casnocha show how you can create opportunities where others see dead-ends, and when to take proactive risks where others may seek safety. They reveal how to maintain a competitive advantage so you can stand-out from others. They explain how you can build your network. Above all, they share the insights and strategies you need to succeed in the most important venture of all - your own life. ___________________________________________________________ 'Everyone, women and men alike, needs to think big to succeed. This is a practical book that shows you how to take control and build a career that will enable you to have real impact.' Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In and former COO of Facebook

Everything you need to know to run a profitable and satisfyingcar detailing business from your home