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Software to help prepare a manuscript and conduct research. Ways to edit and proofread plus the cataloguing, copyright and legal stuff. How to publish and market print books and sell online. How to prepare eBooks and the self-publishing alternatives. Learn about pricing and how to sell through resellers.

More than $2.7 billion in crowdfunding is raised every year by charities and non-profits. Rewards-based fundraising is used to launch books and theatre productions. Debt crowdfunding is used for personal debt. Equity-crowdfunding is gaining traction but is struggling under a regulatory burden in the US and Canada.

Where to get an idea for starting a business and find out if it can make money. Learn about the legal forms of business; how to set objectives and begin operations. Computer hardware and software that can help you get off to a flying start. The basics of online and offline advertising and easy ways to create a Web site and sell online. How write a business plan.

This book laments the paltry interest which banks pay on savings deposits and how little is left after inflation and taxation. It urges readers to set a target to stop losing real wealth and to make time to follow their investments. The major exchanges are covered, their regulation together with the Indices which track their performance. It shows how publicly traded shares are created, the types of shares, dividends and share buy-backs. It covers short sales, government and corporate debt instruments, Exchange Traded Funds, Mutual Funds and Hedge Funds. Readers are shown how to set up a trading account and are introduced to fundamental and technical analysis. They are shown how place stops and trailing stops. Stock sectors and the importance of asset allocation are discussed. Outside factors affect share prices and readers are cautioned to not believe everything. They are warned about stock market bubbles. Taking a contrarian approach could help by blocking out'market noise'. Finally, readers are shown where to get more information together with a painless way to gain experience before committing any real money.

This book is about managing time effectively. It helps readers set their priorities and objectives and then organize them into the ones which are the most important down to those which are the least pressing. It provides tips on how to handle time consuming activities such as replying to e-mail, faxes and snail mail. It shows readers how to create time blocks. Since meetings and conferences can eat up a lot of precious time, suggestions are offered on how to make meetings more effective and take less time. Readers are given a review of some software programs which can help with online conferencing and interactive learning, so as to cut down on travel time. This book covers time management during a crisis. A key component of time management is being organized and a whole chapter is devoted to software programs which can help. In addition, customer relationship management software can assist with the effective time management of customer or client contacts. Time management is dynamic and this book recommends that readers monitor their progress and make changes when necessary. It will help them get the most out of every day!

This book is a great introduction to getting started as a successful entrepreneur. It appears that we are on the brink of a global recession. Jobs are scarce to come by and many people are looking to start their own business as the only means of putting bread on the table. This book will help budding entrepreneurs select an idea for a new business and conduct market research to determine if it is viable. It will also help them find out how much money they really need to start their business and whether they can self-finance it or if they will need to seek'love money'from friends or relatives. It points out the importance of exercising controls over costs and managing cash wisely. This book also takes a look at some of the legal and tax aspects of running a business. It also shows ways to encourage employees to do their best. It provides hints on how to advertise both online and offline, plus ways to evaluate what is working best. It also shows how every business needs a business plan to provide a map to success.

The movie, The King's Speech, drew attention to the enormous challenges of public speaking and it can also be a challenge for most people. This book provides hints on making a formal speech from a podium and techniques to enhance delivery. It covers specific scenarios: the after dinner speech, delivering an address at a wedding and the delicate task of delivering a compassionate eulogy at a funeral. It shows readers how to make effective presentations at business meetings, instructional seminars and workshops. It reviews several software programs to create great slides to reinforce a presentation. This book goes behind the scenes at television and radio studios and how to speak'publically'over the Internet. Practice and preparation are of vital importance. This book is all about effective communication: how to impart a message to an audience; whether it be directly, face-to-face or indirectly over the airwaves or over the Internet. For those who want to be effective and dynamic speakers, they should read this book before they do anything else.

This book shows you how you can create your own brochures, books and documents. It is a concept book written to show you how different programs could fill your specific needs. You will get an introduction to word processing programs, fonts, file formats and the concept of WYSIWYG. You will be shown how colour is handled by commercial printing houses. You will learn how to create portable documents which can be read on different computer operating systems and can also be used to send documents to commercial printers. There is a general chapter called'Soup to Nuts'Publishing Programs. Then, you will then be taken on a tour of the heavyweights in software publishing and layout programs which will help you to create books, newsletters, brochures and advertising material. Learn about some specialty programs for research papers and foreign language texts. Find out how voice dictation software can save you countless hours and how Optical Character Recognition can help you scan and import written text on paper into your word processing documents. Finally, there is a chapter on managing your documents.

This book looks at the history of gold as a currency. It examines the current crisis involving the Euro and how the United States is burdened with a national debt which is spiralling out of control. All of this places the major paper (fiat) currencies of the world at significant risk. It maintains that the role of the US dollar as a “reserve currency” is under threat. As a consequence, many central banks around the world have been quietly increasing their gold holdings as a hedge against the possible demise of the US dollar. This book examines some of the key issues affecting world bullion markets. It also shows readers different ways to invest in gold. In addition, it will help them determine for themselves whether a gold bubble has already developed and is about to burst or whether investing in gold still offers an opportunity to hedge against possible chaos in world currency markets and make huge gains.

Read this book before you purchase a new computer! Unfortunately, many computer sales people are interested in making a commission and you may overspend on features which you really don't need. This book will take you'under the hood'of the typical personal computer. Take a tour of laptops, ultralights, monitors, modems, keyboards, mice, graphic tablets, voice controls and touch screens. Learn about scanners and how you can use Optical Character Recognition software to import paper-based documents or faxes into your word processing program. Take a look at computer printer technology and how to select the most suitable printer for your needs. Learn how to create your own network; the importance of surge protection and power backup. How to engage in long distance phone conversations for free. This book reviews the different operating systems and give you a brief summary of the different software suites. How to get pictures and videos into your computer. Learn about new technology which may revolutionize the games industry. How to calculate your total cost of ownership and some of the'hidden'costs.

Credit conditions may be tight, but this book should increase your chances of securing a bank loan for your business. It supplies some background on banking and the different kinds of banks; how they operate and what kind of loans they offer. It also covers government loan initiatives in the US, Canada and the UK. To even stand a chance of getting a loan, you will need to prepare yourself in advance. It suggests that preparing a business plan could greatly assist you in securing a loan. You'll get a tour behind your banker's desk and get a view of what is seen from the other side. You will be shown how to finance your accounts receivable from factors. You will also learn how to finance exports and imports. Finally, this book puts the recent financial mess into context and how attempts are being made to bring the big banks back to heel. Hopefully, these actions will create a more sane environment in which small businesses can get better access to loan financing in the future. This book should definitely be on your reading list before you go charging into you bank in search of a business loan.

This book covers traditional venture capitalists as well informal “angel” investors. It describes the venture business; the players and how much money is available. It discusses venturist's preferences and where to find them. It provides profiles of typical angels and the kind of investments they make. It covers angel clusters and how they combine their skills to help companies grow. It also discusses corporate angels. Readers are given hints on where to find angel investors. Tips are given on negotiating a deal; the points to be discussed and the due diligence process. Management fees are discussed; the delicate subject of control, restrictive and affirmative covenants, Term Sheets, Share Purchase Agreements, Investor Rights Agreements, the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, the No Shop Agreement and finally the Legal Agreement. This book will help readers evaluate their chances of obtaining formal venture capital or investment from angels. It takes a realistic approach and will save readers a lot of time and effort in locating equity capital to start or grow their business.

This book examines the job market and the not-too-promising outlook. It then defines self-employment before recommending that readers perform a self-assessment and be prepared to seek training, if necessary. It covers specific areas of self-employment such as an independent contractor, tradesman, proprietor, sales agent, athlete, artist, entertainer or new media creator. It looks at professionals and consultants as areas of self-employment before covering private investigators, security guards, tutors, instructors, translators and interpreters The key to self-employment success is to find a need and fill it Readers are shown how to advertise and market themselves and the importance of customer relationship management in order to keep the work coming in. The final chapters discuss accounting and tax issues and also cover micro loans plus government assistance for the self-employed. This book will guide readers through the process of working for themselves; where to get ideas for self-employment and how to go about it. Readers are also given many practical tips.

Recessions are tough times to start a business and it is imperative to choose one that will survive. This book is designed to assist readers in identifying such businesses. It helps them select business ideas and then test their'survivability'. It also recommends a number of areas that appear to be'recession-proof'. It shows readers how to set up their business and to consider some of the advantages of working at home. It helps them select the right computer hardware and software and how to advertise both on-line and off-line. It covers the importance of business planning during tough times and determining how much money is really needed to get started. Finally, it encourages readers to monitor the progress of their business and be prepared to modify their strategies if circumstances change.

Steps to Starting a Successful Retail Business looks at the importance of retailing in the US and Canada. It suggests ways to find a niche and how to direct import merchandise. It shows how to research the market. A chapter is devoted to getting started and the importance of selecting the right location. Other chapters cover fixturing and store layout, signage, advertising and direct marketing. There is a chapter on staffing and a caution on the rates of shrinkage in the retail business and steps that can be taken to prevent it. The check out is considered in detail and readers are shown how to use plannogramming to analyse their sales on a per square foot basis to identify items which are selling well and those that should be discontinued. This analysis can also identify products which should be relocated in the store in order to increase sales. Four chapters are devoted to the Web and eCommerce. These show readers how to set up their own Web site, how to sell through their Web store and how to get customers to visit it. The final chapter is devoted to preparing a retail business plan and how to use it effectively.

Step 1: Find a Need: Where to get great ideas to start a business. Step 2: Conduct Research. How to use the Internet and traditional sources to conduct market research. Step 3: Prepare Your Plan. How to prepare a plan and the topics that it should cover. Step 4: Locate Financing. How to use the plan to obtain financing. The decidision between debt or equity. Learn about angels or informal investors and how to get bank financing. Step 5: Start Operations. The choices for the legal form of the business. Registration for sales taxes. How to protect trademarks. Step 6: Advertising & Marketing. The use of direct mail marketing, telemarketing, fax broadcasting, advertising in magazines, newspapers and on radio or TV. How to calculate the effectiveness of Yellow Page advertising, participating in trade shows, fairs and flea markets. Consider door-to-door selling, cold calling and house parties. How to use permission-based e-mail and e-newsletters. Step 7: Monitor Your Progress. Constantly review the progress of the business and be prepared to change strategy.

Steps to Opening a Successful Web Store starts by taking a look at the importance of e-commerce and the different types that exist. It points out the advantages of operating out of your own home. It suggests ways to find products to sell and ascertain whether there is a market for them. The next part of this book is devoted to setting up your business and selecting a computer and software. It then shows you how to create your own Web site and what's involved in conducting e-commerce together with reviews of software to help you. Online advertising is covered in detail as well as off-line advertising to support it. A chapter is devoted to selling at eBay auctions and on opening an eBay Store. This book takes a look at how much it costs to set up a Web store. The final chapter strongly recommends that you start by preparing a business plan and then using it to monitor your progress.

Business Planning for Beginners starts by examining the necessity of having a plan. Then, it covers the preparation of the components of a business plan: the operational plan; the marketing plan; the advertising plan; the Internet plan; the human resource plan; and the strategic plan It shows readers how to determine their financial requirements and then bring everything together as a final business plan. This book reviews some popular software that can help in the preparation of a business plan. It then recommends ways of printing the plan and how to use it as a financing document. It makes suggestions on ways to present your plan to potential investors or lenders. Finally, it recommends that progress be monitored and how to treat the plan as a dynamic document that can be changed as circumstances warrant.

Business Financing for Beginners examines different sources of funding. It looks at'Love Money'from family, friends and relatives. Then it examines informal investors or'Angels'. It covers the players in the formal venture capital game and how to approach them. It provides hints on negotiating with them, the due diligence process, the term sheet and the final agreement. Different types of bank financing are covered together with hints on preparations to make before seeking a loan. Types of leasing arrangements are reviewed together with the advantages and disadvantages. The factoring of accounts receivable is explained as well as where to locate factoring companies. Selling shares to employees is covered in a chapter on Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and the process of selling shares to the public is covered in the chapter on Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). A brief chapter covers sources of government assistance in Canada and the US. The final chapters help readers establish how much money they really need and why a business plan is so important.

Part-Time Business for Beginners starts by suggesting that you keep your part-time business a secret and talks about ways to camouflage it Then it shows you where to get ideas to start your own business and figure out if there is a market for the product or service which you have selected. A chapter is devoted to setting up your part-time business and how to select computer hardware and software to help you run it efficiently. The next two chapters show you how to open your own Web store. There's also a chapter on running a part-time business on eBay with tips on how to make money selling at auctions. The final chapters consider the merits of marketing by direct mail plus other ways of marketing and advertising.

Home-Based Business for Beginners starts by discussing the tax and other advantages of running a home-based business. It also alerts readers to some of the disadvantages. It makes suggestions on where to find products or services to sell or whether readers want to develop their own products. It suggests ways to find out if there is a market for them. This book reviews the different legal forms of operating a home-based business and how these could affect the ability to obtain financing. It also takes a look at the practical side of handling pick-ups and deliveries. This book takes the reader on an extensive tour of ways to advertise and market their products or services. It shows them how to create their own Web site. How to let potential customers find them through search engines and to use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to their advantage. It then shows readers how to conduct e-commerce from their Web site. There is a discussion on what's involved in selling at eBay auctions and how to set up an eBay store. The final section covers the financing of a home-based business and whether it can generate enough money to bootstrap its way to success.

Direct Marketing for Beginners starts by defining direct marketing and shows what is involved with the process of disintermediation to cut out the middleman and increase profit margins. This book covers direct mail marketing, telemarketing and fax broadcasting. It shows how to effectively use newspapers, magazines, yellow pages, radio and TV. Two chapters are devoted to creating a Web site and provide reviews of eleven Web authoring software packages. They show how to conduct e-commerce and cover software that can be used. They demonstrate how to drive visitors to a Web site using Search Engine Optimization. They cover permission-based e-mail and e-newsletters. A chapter is devoted to selling at auctions on eBay and how to set up an eBay store. Trade shows and flea markets are covered, as well as door-to-door selling, making cold calls and selling at house parties. This book covers the preparation of a marketing plan and reviews some software which can be helpful. The final chapter looks at some of the laws and regulations which govern advertising and marketing together with the Do-Not-Call lists.