In 8 Steps to Starting a Business: How to Quickly Gain the Skills You’ll Need, John B. Vinturella provides a practical step-by-step guide to help readers determine if becoming an entrepreneur is the right path for them.
Vinturella expertly guides his audience through brainstorming a new business, from conducting market research to determining the feasibility of success to considering alternative plans. He devotes a chapter to writing a business plan and then shares how to fund operations and grow the business. He believes that the approach outlined in this book is effective because it “gives a structure to the planning process that makes it less intimidating, and more effective.” Although the book is designed as a self-study, he notes that you can contact him to discuss supplementary materials that would make this book appropriate to use as a class textbook.
Vinturella has structured his chapters well, each starting with a list of objectives. Sections are clearly labeled and contain concise information. Chapters also offer exercises to help readers determine how the concepts shared apply to their own business concepts, and readers will also find case studies, study questions, charts and graphs. The book ends with a fairly in-depth chapter that summarizes key points presented along with a study question appendix and references.
Anyone who attentively follows all of the steps outlined in this book will gain a good understanding of the potential of his or her business concept and the challenges likely to be faced, and will also end up with a well-developed business plan, a crucial document if funding needs to be obtained. Some areas by necessity are covered rather broadly; for example, the section on SEO is only slightly more than one page, whereas entire books can (and have) been written on this digital marketing topic.
But this is a quibble. This is a useful book, well worth its price for anyone who is beginning his or her entrepreneurial journey.
Also available as an ebook.
