BUSINESS CRIB-NOTES

Entrepreneur Craig D. shares his experiences and advice for aspiring business owners in this debut nonfiction work.

While running one’s own business is often synonymous with the American dream, “the statistics state that you will need to start five businesses in order to have just one that survives and thrives,” cautions the author. Designed as a reference guidebook for would-be entrepreneurs, this volume offers readers practical advice based on the author’s personal experiences and research. (Born to “an entrepreneurial family,” the author combines business advice with examples from his own rise as a self-taught businessman “from laborer to CEO and owner.”) The book is divided into six parts; the first five sections center around the essential elements required for starting one’s business, from raising capital and avoiding early bad debt to the nuts and bolts of running a business venture, including securing insurance and navigating human resources, pricing, and accounting. The book’s final section offers an eclectic assortment of generic advice relevant to all careers on such topics as the importance of first impressions, honing communication skills, building professional relationships, and mastering the art of negotiation. While the handbook is full of relevant anecdotes, its real strength lies in its more pragmatic offerings. Aspiring business owners will find actionable tips, for instance, on selecting a name (“Your business name should offer immediate insight into what your business does”), shielding their personal assets through incorporation and liability protection, and navigating the maze of tax codes. (Though the author mentions online and crypto ventures, he makes the case that one of the best investments that first-time entrepreneurs can make is in the skilled trades, such as high-paying contractor vocations like plumbing and electrical work.) The author also provides readers with a plethora of useful tools, such as sample financial statements, a “Start-Up To-Do List,” and other materials provided on an accompanying website. The book includes a helpful glossary of business terms, ample appendix material, and blank lined pages for personal note-keeping.

A well-researched, pragmatic guidebook for budding entrepreneurs.