What is the best book to read about starting up?

skater_kat

I have a idea for a small business which is for a soft play centre. I really want to think eveything through properly to understand viability of the whole thing. I want to buy a book which will be spot on for everything i need to know about starting a small business. i had a look on amazon but frankly i am overwhelmed by the choices and not sure how to tell if the books are from the USA or not which would make it not relevant. can anyone recommend something?

thanks you

paddyrg

There's a market in books especially for aspirants, but which have absolutely no obligation to the business the buyer sets up. As such, some can be strong on 'you can do it', and verge into the evangelistic/self-help territory!

Instead, is there a course at your local college that can help you? These are often inexpensive and mean you really talk things through with real people, giving you far more insight into your own specific position. It also allows for the broadening if the gene pool - for instance if you meet someone who wants to do bouncy castles, you have an immediate synergy and alliance. Or just discussing your idea with others may mean you come to think 'OOo actually it may not work because I hadn't thought of....'. And the tutor should give you fresher, better local pointers than any book.

My 2p, anyway ;-)

Savvy_Sue

I agree with Paddy: there's no one book which will tell you everything you need to know about YOUR business (whatever it is) and all the other things you need to know about running A business.

However, I did (to my surprise!) find that there is a Play Providers Association - I was going to recommend reading up on the Ofsted and PACEY websites for regulations relating to children, which add a whole new dimension to the delights of employing staff. ;-)

Also, given the nature of your business, you are going to NEED a solicitor, possibly more than one. This is not an optional extra: you need proper (paid for) advice on the terms of any lease you take out on premises, and IMO proper (paid for) advice on staff contracts.

Mistral001

paddyrg wrote: »

There's a market in books especially for aspirants, but which have absolutely no obligation to the business the buyer sets up. As such, some can be strong on 'you can do it', and verge into the evangelistic/self-help territory!

Instead, is there a course at your local college that can help you? These are often inexpensive and mean you really talk things through with real people, giving you far more insight into your own specific position. It also allows for the broadening if the gene pool - for instance if you meet someone who wants to do bouncy castles, you have an immediate synergy and alliance. Or just discussing your idea with others may mean you come to think 'OOo actually it may not work because I hadn't thought of....'. And the tutor should give you fresher, better local pointers than any book.

My 2p, anyway ;-)

Yes lots of "anybody can make it" books and stuff like that, but few that can actually teach you anything useful. Many of the useful books are aimed at business studies students, and can be a bit daunting to some people. I agree with Paddyrg that evening classes can be useful. I went to a class in "accounts for small businesses", which was very useful. However, that was some time ago and it seems that there are fewer and fewer of those types of courses being offered by the Further Education colleges.

skater_kat

thanks all, very useful thoughts from you, so - i am currently researching opportunities for sort of 'business incubator' type schemes and the like

paddyrg

Great stuff, Kat. Anything that gets you talking to other business owners is good, too. It takes you from someone reading about business to someone doing it...

And don't worry - nobody knows it all, and most people are interested in helping you develop your business, especially if it can help theirs, too. You will make mistakes, EVERYONE DOES, just learn and move along