Entrepreneur's Toolkit : Tools and Techniques

From the basics of writing a business plan to the challenges of developing a marketing and sales program, this is the essential resource for success with a new ventureDrawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources, this concise guide is carefully crafted to provide a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience, and will prove especially valuable for the new manager.

Introduction

xi

Self-Diagnosis

1

(10)

Do You Have the Right Stuff to Start a Business?

The Makings of an Entrepreneur

2

(5)

Background

7

(1)

It May Be Right for You

8

(1)

Summing Up

9

(2)

Finding and Evaluating the Opportunity

11

(20)

Is It Real and Large Enough?

Characteristics of an Opportunity

13

(7)

Where to Look for Opportunities

20

(4)

From Identification to Evaluation

24

(5)

Summing Up

29

(2)

Organizing the Enterprise

31

(16)

Which Form Is Best for You?

Sole Proprietorship

32

(2)

Partnership

34

(4)

C Corporations

38

(3)

S Corporations

41

(1)

The Limited Liability Company

42

(1)

Which Form Makes Sense for You?

42

(2)

Summing Up

44

(3)

Building a Business Model and Strategy

47

(16)

How They Work Together

Your Business Model

48

(5)

Strategy

53

(8)

Summing Up

61

(2)

Writing a Business Plan

63

(24)

The Basics

The Purposes of a Business Plan

65

(1)

Suggested Format

66

(11)

Style

77

(6)

Final Thoughts

83

(1)

Summing Up

84

(3)

Financing the Business

87

(24)

Where's the Money?

A Life-Cycle View of Financing

88

(7)

Life-Cycle Financing of the Entrepreneurial Company

95

(7)

Financing Growth at eBay

102

(4)

Other Forms of External Financing

106

(1)

Matching Assets and Financing

107

(1)

Summing Up

108

(3)

Angels and Venture Capitalists

111

(18)

For Serious Outside Equity

Business Angels

113

(4)

Venture Capitalists

117

(5)

Making a Presentation

122

(1)

A Caveat on Taking VC Capital

122

(5)

Summing Up

127

(2)

Going Public

129

(14)

Adventures in the Capital Markets

Pros and Cons of Going Public

131

(2)

The Makings of an IPO Candidate

133

(2)

The Role of the Investment Bank

135

(1)

The IPO Process in a Nutshell

136

(4)

Alternatives to an IPO

140

(2)

Summing Up

142

(1)

Enterprise Growth

143

(20)

The Challenge to Management

The Impact of Growth

144

(2)

Sustaining Growth

146

(6)

The Management Challenge

152

(5)

Is It Time to Change the Guard?

157

(4)

Summing Up

161

(2)

Keeping the Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive

163

(14)

The Ultimate Challenge of Success

Three Challenges

165

(3)

What Entrepreneurial Leaders Must Do

168

(8)

Summing Up

176

(1)

Harvest Time

177

(14)

Reaping What You've Sown

Why Entrepreneurs Cash Out

178

(2)

Harvesting Mechanisms

180

(5)

What's It Worth?

185

(3)

Summing Up

188

(3)

Appendix A: Understanding Finanicial Statements

191

(16)

Appendix B: Breakeven Analysis

207

(4)

Appendix C: Valuation Concepts

211

(12)

Appendix D: Online Help When You Need It

223

(4)

Appendix E: Rule 144

227

(4)

Notes

231

(4)

Glossary

235

(8)

For Further Reading

243

(4)

Index

247

(10)

About the Subject Adviser

257

(1)

About the Writer

258

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Entrepreneur's Toolkit : Tools and Techniques to Launch and Grow Your New Business

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials