Helps inventors plus those who want to sell an existing product or find something appropriate. Start a service business. Select a name and legal structure. Home-based business versus commercial and retail leases. Calculate human resource requirements. Online and offline advertising. Set up a Web site to sell online. Calculate the money needed to start. Software for creating a business plan.

How do I know if my idea will work? How do I decide on the business model? How do I find my audience? Your digital business start-up journey begins here. From the bestselling author of The Small Business Start-up Workbook, Cheryl Rickman brings you a thoroughly practical guide to starting up a digital business, covering the full journey from idea to exit, with easy-to-implement strategies to make your online venture an ongoing success. With a combination of tips, exercises, checklists, anecdotes, case studies and lessons learned by business leaders, this workbook will guide you through each step of digital business. Learn how to: • Assess whether your business idea will work online/digitally • Choose the right business model for your proposition and avoid wasting time • Assess demand, viability and uncover untapped needs and gaps in the market • Build a usable, engaging website and mobile app • Create a buzz using social networking • Drive high quality traffic to your site and convert visitors into paying customers • Use search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing (SEM) tools effectively • Raise finance and protect your business • Build and maintain a strong brand • Recruit and retain a strong team • Sell the business or find a suitable successor. Reviews for the book: “If you want advice on starting your own internet business, don’t ask me, read this book instead. It is more up-to-date and costs far less than a good lunch.” Nick Jenkins, Founder of Moonpig.com “This book excels in providing practical guidance on how to create a successful digital business which exceeds customer expectations and keeps customers happy each step of the way.” Scott Weavers-Wright, CEO of Kiddicare.com, and MD of Morrison.com (non-food) “If you read just one book on digital business, make it this one... It is inspirational, informative and interactive in equal measure. Highly recommended!” Rowan Gormley, Founder and CEO of NakedWines.com “Interspersed with inspiring and useful stories from successful entrepreneurs, this book can help aspiring business owners through a step-by-step process of refining their start-up ideas and building a solid business.” Elizabeth Varley, Founder and CEO of TechHub

A timely reference for all public librarians who serve the business community in libraries, regardless of size or location—from small rural outposts to bustling big-city branches. Serving communities today entails serving businesses—in particular, local businesses, entrepreneurs, and those looking to become entrepreneurs. Understandably, many librarians are not prepared for this role, and as a result feel uncomfortable in it. Supporting Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age: The Public Librarian's Toolkit explains how librarians and libraries can better serve the business community, offering specific guidance on everything from information resources—including books, databases, and free online sites—to programming, special events, marketing, and outreach. Readers will gain insight into key topics ranging from embedded business librarianship, virtual business librarianship, and government documents to seminars, one-on-one appointments, and trade shows. Providing invaluable guidance based on the authors' real-world experience and research as well as interviews with librarians in all sizes of libraries around the country, this book offers practical, actionable advice and proven best practices for serving local business owners and entrepreneurs.

"Napoleon mocked the United Kingdom as ‘a nation of shopkeepers’. What of that nation today in which leading businesses sell physical goods without holding any inventory? Entrepreneurs are opening new enterprises without ‘bricks-and-mortar’ premises, while their back-office staff operate miles away. Innovation is the very root of growth, but it demands adaptive thinking – open minds – and plenty of imagination. Whether you are planning a start-up or taking a mature business forward, crafting your business plan forces critical analysis. This, in turn, demands you justify your suppositions. It serves to eliminate the guesswork and to reduce risk. Above all, your business plan is not merely a tool for gaining investment but becomes, truly, your day-to-day survival handbook How to Write a Modern Business Plan is a guide to encourage fresh thinking. It prompts the reader to leverage both technology and new business practises to forge a successful commercial destiny. Shape your business for what you want it to become and be a business leader." Contents Preface Part One Designing your Business Business Planning Fundamentals General Considerations Financing Options Creating the Cost Efficient Business Client Acquisition in the Digital Age Part Two A step-by-step guide Section One: The Introduction Section Two: The Business Section Three: Market Overview Section Four: Competition Section Five: Sales & Marketing Section Six: Operations Section Seven: Financials Part Three: Model Business Plan Table of Contents Section One: Introduction Section Two: The Business Section Three: The Market Section Four: Competition Section Five: Sales & Marketing Section Six: Operations Section Seven: Financials Section Eight: Appendix

This book provides a coherent framework for understanding the essence of complex systems and the nature of digital transformations, analyzes challenges of and patterns in innovative development, and shares a wealth of insights and best practices, resulting in the most extensive coverage of the topic available. In particular, the book’s cutting-edge contributions, prepared by scientists, engineers, and field experts,focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of practical interventions that promote the innovative and sustainable development of complex systems. In addition to sharing a rich collection of cases from around the world, they provide a broad interdisciplinary analysis of collaboration mechanisms, theories and approaches to support and accelerate the development of complex systems.

Howard Tullman has successfully founded more than a dozen high-tech businesses in his 50 year career and created more than $1 billion in investor value as well as thousands of new jobs. Tullman is the CEO of 1871 in Chicago where digital startups get their start. He is also the General Managing Partner of two venture funds: Chicago High-Tech Investment Partners and G2T3V, LLC, which both focus on funding disruptive innovators. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy in Chicago. He is an active member of numerous city, state and civic boards and organizations and a tireless supporter and mentor to many start-ups and other businesses and individuals. Launching a Startup in the Digital Age is a collection of Tullman’s straightforward, plain-spoken principles which are crucial to the successful funding and launching of a new start-up today in almost any technology-driven marketplace.

Running a Creative Company in the Digital Age helps you navigate the landscape and learn from seasoned professionals, understanding the mistakes they made so you don't have to make them too! In the modern media industry digital content production is cheaper, more democratic and accessible and it's becoming more attractive - and easier - to do things your own way. So what if you want to set up on your own? This book will guide you through the joys and pitfalls of running your own creative company in today's diverse media climate. This is a nuts and bolts guide to company set up, structure, management and content production for digital platforms, TV, festivals, charities, education, brands and businesses. Full of tips for creating innovative business models and platforms, handling tricky people and situations, funding and networking, these pages are your touchstone for making that bold first move into founder/managing director status. Featuring interviews with industry experts including digital agency and production company CEOs, creative entrepreneurs, crowd funding platforms, investors, film makers, media lawyers and accountants. 'Running a Creative Company in the Digital Age will definitely help you understand how to go about this. It's essential reading for any writers and filmmakers who want to work for themselves or set up their own company' - Writesofluid 'Should be on the reading list of every Media/Arts/Entrepreneurship college course in the country' - Rajesh Thind, founder of Pindu Productions 'This plain-speaking, accessible guide to setting up a creative business demystifies the entire process, and does so from the unique perspective of a creative who has been there, done it and has the scars to prove it' - Nicola Lees, WFTV

Your journey of starting and running a successful business in the digital age starts with your knowledge and understanding of business, finances, marketing, and customer service. In the highly competitive world of business, your lack of knowledge and understanding can break and destroy your dreams of being in business for yourself. Getting Your Business On Track in The Digital Age is a practical guide to building your profitable business online. In this book, you’ll learn: Money secrets: learn how money really works How to start a business with no money How to keep your business up and operational and what to do if it fails The difference between the creative mind VS the educated mind The top 7 rules to business success made simple The entrepreneur's mindset: the 8 pillars to success The 10 millionaire success habits for the average person The negotiation skills that can close deals How to successfully building your web business How to make money with your internet business Search engine optimization (SEO) & web analytics success How to properly manage your business during a crisis How to get customers to keep buying from you As an invaluable tool for your path to online business success, the information within this book is easy to understand and presented practically to make this book the best tool in your entrepreneurial library.

The award-winning guide for any woman starting or running a business Have an idea or skill that you’re ready to turn into a business? Want to expand or improve your current business operations? This book is for you! Learn how to: draft a solid business plan raise start-up money choose a legal structure and hire employees manage finances and taxes qualify for special certification programs and contracts for women-owned businesses, and efficiently market and brand your business online and off. You’ll also hear from successful women business owners whose insights will inform and inspire you. And you will learn valuable tips for maintaining work-life balance. The 6th edition is completely updated to cover the latest IRS rules, changes to the Affordable Care Act, and legal developments on classifying workers and online sales tax. With Downloadable Forms: includes access to a cash flow projection worksheet, partnership agreement, profit/loss forecast worksheet, and more (details inside).