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.

The authors explore how effective planning and communication helps business families around the world address growth challenges as they strive to become high performing multi-generation family enterprises. This book shows family businesses working together at their best.

A how-to guide to small business anti-fraud protection and internal control Internal Control/Anti-Fraud Program Design for the Small Business is a practical guide to protection for businesses NOT subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Written by an expert with three decades of forensic investigation experience, this book is geared specifically toward private, non-public small businesses and their unique needs in the realm of fraud protection. Covering all elements of an internal control structure applicable to the small business community, this guide provides a step-by-step roadmap for designing and implementing an effective, efficient internal control structure/anti-fraud program tailored to your business's particular needs. Case studies are used throughout to illustrate internal control weaknesses and the fraud that can result, and follow-up analysis describes the controls that would have reduced the probability of fraud had they been in place. You'll learn how to analyze your company's internal control issues, and implement a robust system for fraud prevention. Guidance toward Sarbanes-Oxley compliance is readily available, but there is little information available for the many businesses not subject to the act until now. This book is the step-by-step guide for instituting an internal control program tailored to your small business. * Understand the five elements of internal control * Avoid gaps in protection with relevant controls * Design the ultimate anti-fraud program * Implement internal control tailored to your needs The majority of small business owners simply do not know the elements of or implementation process involved in internal control, and Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines don't necessarily scale down. Internal Control/Anti-Fraud Program Design for the Small Business helps you design and install the internal control/anti-fraud protection your business needs.

In 2017 34% of the workforce was considered part of the gig economy. This growing workforce of freelancers and side-giggers is also estimated to grow to 43% by 2020. That’s 4 million freelancers, soon to be 7 million by 2020.

Whether it’s people looking to earn extra money, those tired of their 9-to-5, to entrepreneurs looking to grow their side hustle, Entrepreneur is uniquely qualified to guide a new generation of bold individuals looking to live their best lives and make it happen on their own terms. Whatever industry or jobs this new workforce takes, Start Your Own Business will guide them through the first three years of business. They’ll gain the know-how of more than 30 years of collective advice from those who’ve come before them to:

- How to avoid analysis paralysis when launching a business

- Tips for testing ideas in the real-world before going to market with insights from Gary Vaynerchuk

- Decide between building, buying, or becoming a distributor

- What to consider when looking for funding from venture capitalists, loans, cash advances, etc.

- Whether or not a co-working space is a right move

- Tips on running successful Facebook and Google ads as part of a marketing campaign

- Use micro-influencers to successfully promote your brand on social media

A recent MBA graduate, Mike considers himself lucky to secure employment in an organisation where the management is innovative, highly focused on the business it is in and forward looking. Mike's induction at the hands of the CEO and senior executives proves to be exhilarating and at times humbling. He finds that his MBA is the beginning of his learning curve, not the end of it. The management beliefs and practices of the CEO and senior management set him on the path to becoming an innovative and forward looking manager for the future. You, the reader, will travel with Mike on his journey towards becoming an effective manager. Whether you are an executive, a business owner, an employee or a student, when you finish this book you will be aware of new ways of approaching work, realising that every process can be improved, modified, or in some cases, eliminated.

From the international go-to guys in small business know-how:

Your source for the strategies, skills and confidence every business owner needs to succeed

Remember what it was like learning how to ride a bicycle? Now imagine how it would've been if you'd tried to do it blindfolded.

Pretty scary, right?

Yet, right now, all over the world, millions of men and women are trying to make a go of running small businesses without a clear picture of where they're going or how to get ahead. No wonder so many small businesses fail in their first year of operation.

Don't become another statistic. Let the Instant Success Series show you how to get up on that Schwinn and ride it to success.

Written by whiz kid entrepreneur and renowned international business coach Bradley Sugars, the Instant Success Series arms hardworking independent business owners like you with all the tools for success. Instant Success books tackle an array of business topics using strategies developed by Sugars and the crack business coaches at Action International, a global network that has helped nearly half a million business owners, worldwide, realize their dreams of success.

Concise, no-nonsense manuals for business owners on the go, Instant Success books feature: At-a-glance coverage of proven strategies and techniques for instant success Business basics for both beginners and experienced businesspeople in an easy-to-use format Highly-focused coverage of need-to-know subjects like sales, advertising, management, leads, referrals, real estate, and more

An updated third edition of the most comprehensive guide to small business success

Whether you're a novice entrepreneur or a seasoned pro, "The Small Business Bible" offers you everything you need to know to build and grow your dream business. It shows you what really works (and what doesn't ) and includes scores of tips, insider information, stories, and proven secrets of success. Even if you've run your own business for years, this handy guide keeps you up to date on the latest business and tech trends. This "Third Edition" includes entirely new chapters devoted to social media, mobility and apps, and new trends in online discounting and group buying that are vital to small business owners everywhere.

New chapters include: How to use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools to engage customers and potential stakeholdersHow to generate leads and win strategic partnerships with LinkedInHow to employ videos and YouTube to further your brandWhat you need to know about Groupon and group discount buyingWhat mobile marketing can do for your business

Give your small business its best shot by understanding the best and latest small business strategies, especially in this transformative and volatile period. "The Small Business Bible" offers every bit of information you'll need to know to succeed.

"I don't have time to look at the numbers." "That's what the accountant is for." "I can see what the balance is--that's all I need to know." Why do so many business owners dread looking at the numbers? Financial statements, ledgers, profit and loss reports--many avoid these and treat them like junk mail and phone solicitors. But as a small business owner, having an intimate knowledge of all these crucial numbers yourself is the most important tool you can equip yourself with in order to survive the constantly changing and highly competitive marketplace of the twenty-first century. Nevertheless, it's true--you're not a numbers person. How can you learn to make sense out of all this Greek?Accounting for the Numberphobic to the rescue! This easy-to-follow guide demystifies your company's financial dashboard: the Net Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Balance Sheet. The book explains in plain English how each measurement reflects the overall health of your business--and impacts your decisions. Even self-proclaimed numbers dummies will discover:* How your Net Income Statement is the key to growing your profits* How to identify the break-even point that means your business is self-sustaining* Real-world advice on measuring and increasing cash flow* What the Balance Sheet reveals about your company's worth* And moreDon't leave your company's finances entirely in the hands of a third-party accounting service or an employee who is only loyal to the highest paycheck. Even worse--don't ignore them altogether! Knowing the numbers yourself isn't just about seeing how your company is doing . . . it's about knowing where it is going--and guiding it toward the highest profits possible.

This volume explores the ways in which knowledge and innovation impact business and economic sustainability, offering a wide-ranging and richly illustrated study of knowledge, innovation and sustainability of organizations from a dynamic capabilities perspective. In organizational theory, dynamic capability is defined as an organization's ability to react and adapt adequately and rapidly to external change. In today's global economy, pursuing sustainable strategies and practices is critical to organizational success. Complying with externally and internally imposed sustainability targets might initially appear as a restriction for organizations; however, they can be transformed into a new set of opportunities. This means that the classic ways in which management absorbs the experiences associated with evolving conditions, organizational frameworks and markets must be reconsidered in light of the preservation of the technological, environmental and social ecosystems. Featuring research and case studies from sectors such as NGOs, SMEs, education and agriculture, this book offers students, academics, practitioners and policymakers a multi-faceted understanding of how and why knowledge, innovation and sustainability are intricately linked-and offers insight into best practices that balance organizational and societal needs.

There are twenty million acres of lawns in North America. In their current form, these unproductive expanses of grass represent a significant financial and environmental cost. However, viewed through a different lens, they can also be seen as a tremendous source of opportunity. Access to land is a major barrier for many people who want to enter the agricultural sector, and urban and suburban yards have huge potential for would-be farmers wanting to become part of this growing movement. The Urban Farmer is a comprehensive, hands-on, practical manual to help you learn the techniques and business strategies you need to make a good living growing high-yield, high-value crops right in your own backyard (or someone else's). Major benefits include: Low capital investment and overhead costs Reduced need for expensive infrastructure Easy access to markets Growing food in the city means that fresh crops may travel only a few blocks from field to table, making this innovative approach the next logical step in the local food movement. Based on a scalable, easily reproduced business model, The Urban Farmer is your complete guide to minimizing risk and maximizing profit by using intensive production in small leased or borrowed spaces. Curtis Stone is the owner/operator of Green City Acres, a commercial urban farm growing vegetables for farmers markets, restaurants, and retail outlets. During his slower months, Curtis works as a public speaker, teacher, and consultant, sharing his story to inspire a new generation of farmers.

So you've got the drive to start a business. You might even have the Big Idea all mapped out. But then you realise that you've got no money to take it to the next stage. Back to the day job? No way. That's where "Freesourcing" comes in. Believe it or not, you don't need money to start a business. There's an entire industry out there waiting to help you take your idea and make it happen... for free. All you need to know is where to find the help and how to get your hands on it.

"Freesourcing" is the definitive guide to free business start up resources, showing you exactly where to go and who to talk to when you're starting a business on a shoestring. Freesourcers don't just think outside the box - they find out where they can get the box for free too. You'll find information on free: PremisesMoneyComputersTravelOnline resourcesStationeryAdvice and supportLegal helpBankingNetworking opportunitiesMarketing and PRStock

No cash? No problem. So what are you waiting for?

Donors have poured large sums into funding the delivery of business development services (BDS) to small, medium and micro enterprises in developing countries. Emerging, however, is a feeling that these services have not attained the impacts needed to justify the substantial investments made. While donors and practitioners may have different ideas about how best to develop BDS markets, they generally agree that a more demand-driven and private sector-oriented approach is needed in order to reach larger numbers with relevant services.In the search for a new approach to BDS provision, the chapters in Part I of the book present the findings of new studies and thinking into BDS markets, revealing a greater complexity and diversity than has previously been envisaged. Part II explores the implications of these findings for donor interventions, including the design of BDS products, using information and communication technologies to deliver services, promoting BDS markets for clustered enterprises, and intervening in new markets.It is vital that donors are able to demonstrate that BDS interventions are a worthwhile investment and the book goes on to explore the issue of performance measurement. Using a common framework for performance measurement, Part III presents case studies from across Asia to identify lessons learned on good practice in BDS.

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.

Is Your Marketing as Simple, Effective, and Affordable as Duct Tape?

Let's face it, as a small business owner, you are really in the business of marketing. The problem for most small business owners is that they suffer from "marketing idea of the week" syndrome instead of implementing a systematic approach to the problem of small business marketing.

In "Duct Tape Marketing," renowned Small Business Marketing guru John Jantsch shows you how to develop and execute a marketing plan that will give your business the life and longevity you knew you could have when you made that decision to go out on your own.

"CAREFUL Duct tape is a serious tool... it sticks where you put it. So are the ideas in this book. If you're ready to make a commitment and are willing to make something happen, John's book is a great place to start." ―Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow

"For all those who wonder why John Jantsch has become the leading advisor and coach to small businesses everywhere, Duct Tape Marketing is the answer. I have never read a business book that is as packed with hands-on, actionable information as this one. There are takeaways in every paragraph, and the success of John's blog is living proof that they work. Duct Tape Marketing should be required reading for anyone who is building a business, or thinking about it." ―Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large, Inc. magazine, and author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big

"Duct Tape Marketing is a worthy addition to the growing library of how-to books on small business marketing"―"concise, clear, practical, and packed with great ideas to boost your bottom line." ― Bob Bly, author of The White Paper Handbook

"With the world suffering from depleted reserves of trust, a business that sells plenty of it every day tends to create the most value. The great thing about trust as a product feature is that it delivers exceptional returns. With this book, John Jantsch has zeroed in on exactly what small businesses need to sell every day, every hour." ―Ben McConnell, co-author of Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force

"John Jantsch has provided small businesses with the perfect perspective for maximizing all marketing activities - offline and on. Jantsch has the plan to help you thrive in the world of business today. Read it, all your competitors will." ―John Battelle, cofounding editor or Wired and author of The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture

"Duct Tape Marketing is a great read for anyone in business. It has fresh ideas laid out in a practical and useable way. I highly recommend this book for growing any business." ―Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI and Co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Masters of Networking

Transform your pastime into your livelihood. If your sweet corn is tall, your brood of chickens is beautiful, and your half-dozen goats give delicious milk, then you know firsthand the rewards of running a small farm. But what if you could turn that Do-It-Yourself hobby into a long-term source of regular income? Nurturing a healthy harvest is only half the battle--what you "really" need to know is how to create a successful and sustainable business. In "The Farm to Market Handbook," veteran dairy-goat farmer Janet Hurst combines her deep knowledge of farming life and farmers' markets with her hard-won experience turning farm products into a living wage. From CSAs and weekly markets to school programs and local chefs, Hurst guides you through every type of market available to small farmers. She explains how you can develop a realistic marketing plan, provides a breakdown of the food laws and regulations you'll need to be aware of, and offers insider tips on how to be a successful businessperson. Through enlightening interviews with producers around the country who speak of their successes - and their failures - this book takes a look at some of the nation's top markets and analyzes why they have thrived where others have not. So if you've ever wondered how to get started selling your produce, entertained the idea of raising meat goats, or wanted to spread the word about your homegrown honey, you should read "The Farm to Market Handbook" and figure out how to put money in your pockets.

One key for success of an entrepreneur is to obtain sales (revenue) and profits as quickly as possible upon launching the venture. Entrepreneurial Marketing focuses on the essential elements of success in order to achieve these needed sales and revenues and to grow the company. The authors build a comprehensive, state-of-the-art picture of entrepreneurial marketing issues, providing major theoretical and empirical evidence that offers a clear, concise view of entrepreneurial marketing. Through an international approach that combines both theoretical and empirical knowledge of entrepreneurship and marketing, this book informs and enhances the entrepreneurs' creativity, their ability to bring innovations to the market, and their willingness to face risk that changes the world. Key components addressed include: identifying and selecting the market; determining the consumer needs cost-effectively; executing the basic elements of the marketing mix (product, price, distribution, and promotion); and competing successfully in the domestic and global markets through implementing a sound marketing plan. Numerous illustrative examples throughout the book bring the content to life. The mix of theoretical content, examples, empirical analyses, and case studies make this book an excellent resource for students, professors, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers all over the world.