Morris, The Culinary Institute of America
“It has a clearly defined, comprehensive approach.”
— Zane Swanson, Emporia State University, KS
“Here at the SBDC we offer clients an eight-week business planning counseling program called Business Plan Expedited (BPE). BPE is structured around Successful Business Plan—the end result is a well-written business plan that can be used as a part of a business loan application package. I specifically chose this text because I used it, per recommendation from my graduate school advisor, for my MBA project in graduate school 13 years ago!”
— Indria Gillespie, Sierra College SBDC
“Your book has been both an inspirational read as well as a comprehensive guide for starting my business. Being relatively inexperienced with entrepreneurship, your book has not only given me the ability to create a solid roadmap for planning, but has also provided an encouraging and easy way to cope with the enormous amount of information and organization needed. I particularly enjoy the various quotes from business professionals who have had experience in business planning. They give precious insight and different viewpoints that I would not have seen. Thank you for writing this book!”
— Simon Lee, entrepreneur
“It combines, in a very clear way, both aspects of business planning and effective writing of business plans. The book is very well written. The forms are very useful.”
— Eyal Yaniv, Bar Ilan University, Israel
PlanningShop
Palo Alto, California
NEW! 3rd Edition
Six-Week
Start-Up
A step-by-step program forstarting your business,making money, andachieving your goals!
Rhonda Abrams
Six-Week Start-Up:
A step-by-step program for starting your business, making money, and achieving your goals!™
©2013 by Rhonda Abrams. Published by PlanningShop™
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in an information retrieval system, or used in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-933895-41-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013913331
Coca-Cola is a trademark of The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola logo is used by permission.
Third Edition:
Editor: Anne Marie Bonneau
Proofreader: Mark Woodworth
Cover and Interior Designers: Arthur Wait, Diana Russell Design
Services for our readers:
Colleges, business schools, corporate purchasing:
PlanningShop offers special discounts and supplemental materials for universities, business schools, and corporate training. Contact: [email protected] or call 650-364-9120.
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PlanningShop™ is a division of Rhonda, Inc., a California corporation.
“This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, seek the services of a competent professional.” —-from a Declaration of Principles, jointly adopted by a committee of the American Bar Association and a committee of publishers
Printed in the United States of America
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Who this book is for
This book is a step-by-step guide for getting a successful business up and running fast. It covers all aspects of launching a business, from licenses to bookkeeping to marketing to setting up shop. Everything is presented in a step-by-step format with checklists, worksheets, and top-notch advice from one of America’s most highly regarded business writers.
This book is for you if:
About Rhonda Abrams
Entrepreneur, author, and nationally syndicated columnist Rhonda Abrams is widely recognized as a leading expert on entrepreneurship and small business. Rhonda’s column for USA Today, “Successful Strategies,” is the most widely distributed column on small business and entrepreneurship in the United States, reaching tens of millions of readers each week.
Rhonda’s books have been used by millions of entrepreneurs. Her first book, Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, is the best-selling business plan guide in America. It was named one of the top 10 business books for entrepreneurs by both Forbes and Inc. magazines. She is also the author of more than a dozen other books on entrepreneurship and has sold more than a million copies of her books. Rhonda’s other books are perennial