For 21st-century entrepreneurs, this book provides the practical guidance they need to overcome the often intimidating challenges of starting, organizing, and running a new business effectively and efficiently. The economic downturn has many individuals considering going into business for themselves, rather than relying on an employer for their income. Unfortunately, according to data from the Small Business Administration, the odds of long-term success are against them: 69 percent of businesses do not last past seven years and 56 percent fail in less than four. This book provides entrepreneurs with a comprehensive guide to the resources they need or will likely want to consult when starting a small business-and in order to stay profitable over the long run. The Entrepreneur's Information Sourcebook: Charting the Path to Small Business Success, Second Edition provides the expert guidance and up-to-date print and web resources an entrepreneur may need to make his business thrive and grow, from inception and information gathering, to raising capital, to marketing methods and human resource concerns. Nearly half of the resources in this newly updated book are new, and the essays have also been updated to reflect current business practices. This book is an essential tool that provides quick and easy access to the information every small business owner needs. 400 unique evaluative descriptions of print and electronic resources for initial start-up, creating a business plan, management, marketing, personnel and HR, and competitive analysis Screenshots of important and useful web pages A glossary of relevant terms and acronyms An index provides access by author, title, subject, and webpage

This title helps small and medium-sized enterprises discover the advantages and disadvantages of international business and plan their entry or expansion strategies. In an age where globalizing a business has gone from an innovation to an imperative, how can entrepreneurs make sure their small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are set up for maximum worldwide reach from the very beginning? Going Global: An Informational Sourcebook for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses is an extraordinary resource that points the way to a wealth of available print and web resources for helping SME owners research their international sales potential. Going Global offers separate chapters on such critical topics as how to do a business plan, how to analyze the competition and the market, how to find foreign customers, how to set up an international business, how to manage a global business, and how to use the Internet to its fullest. No matter what stage of entering international trade a company is in, its owners, managers, and stakeholders will be able to quickly and easily find the information and expertise they need to compete in a world-based economy.