Start-Up Success: Collection Development

According to a study by the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Advocacy, of the 26.8 million businesses in the United States today, 99.6 percent have fewer than 500 employees and are thus classified as small. The U.S. Census Bureau finds that 98.2 percent of businesses have fewer than 100 employees and 89.3 percent, fewer than 20. Additionally, in the software publishing industry, 97 percent of companies patenting software employ fewer than 500, and in aerospace products and parts manufacturing, the percentage is 92 percent. Obviously, small businesses carry the most weight in innovation and job creation.

All those who dream of working for themselves and being their own boss, whether they are fresh college graduates, recently unemployed, or newly retired from one career, have a thousand questions about where and how to begin. New entrepreneurs especially will need professional, expert help to start and run a small business effectively and successfully. One skill they must develop is to identify when and how best to ask and receive that assistance.

Many business start-ups fail each year because of the lack of thorough research and planning, poor management practices and principles, and lack of financial resources. A good product or service bites the dust because the owner couldn't manage people and things, or make the change from technical expert to strategic thinker and did not get the assistance he or she needed. All small business owners and managers must innovate daily in the way they run, market, manage, and improve their operations. Libraries can help support the economy and their community by assisting would-be entrepreneurs and small business owners with solid print and online resources.

The following titles reflect economists' belief that the coming year will see improvement in the U.S. and global economies. This list does not strive to be comprehensive but provides a well-rounded, current collection to meet the needs of adult entrepreneurs. The books and web sites listed are practical and hands-on, covering the legal, financial, and marketing aspects of small business start-ups, while also reflecting how technological change and globalization are influencing our lives and continuing relentlessly to reshape industries, economies, and world politics. Owing to space constraints, this article concentrates on books rather than magazines, DVDs, or other formats, though it does include a list of useful web resources. The section on specialized topics includes a very few titles on specific types of start-ups (restaurants, cleaning services, green businesses) as examples. Patrons will appreciate more of these kinds of manuals if budget and space allow.

While old, the third edition (1999) of the Entrepreneur's Reference Guide to Small Business Information (bit.ly/bHsyVh) still offers a great basic collection of small business—related titles, including some annuals; for up-to-date resources, the Library of Congress's Business Reference Services (bit.ly/aQGzpN) links to indexes, bibliographies, and guides.

If libraries do not weed regularly or consistently, customers have trouble finding current, interesting, and relevant materials; this is especially true in the business area. Removing those titles that are out-of-date, or have been loved to death, or have just outlived their usefulness makes the collection more visually attractive and more inviting. Patrons expect libraries to supply information that is easy to find and current, whether in print or online.

Small business and entrepreneurship books are generally useful for about five years. By then, the Internet and the global economy have changed marketing techniques, management practices, and probably capitalization avenues, plus new franchises have entered the scene. Good collection development practices encourage librarians to look at publishers' catalogs, book and magazine reviews, and patron requests and analyze their current collection to see if and where there are holes or outdated materials. Wiley, McGraw-Hill, Nolo Press, HarperBusiness, Entrepreneur Press, and Prentice-Hall are a few publishers that offer strong catalogs on small businesses.

Starred [*] titles below are appropriate for all libraries. [For more green business resources, see also Robert Egan's collection development article, "The Green Capitalist," LJ 2/1/09, and Lucy Heckman's "Short Takes: Greening Our Business," LJ 10/15/09.—Ed.]

Small Business Sourcebook. 27th ed. 2 vols. Gale Cengage. Jun. 2010. 3571p. ed. by Sonya D. Hill. ISBN 978-1-4144-4784-1. pap. $624.

This annotated annual guide lists sources to help entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses. Covers about 340 specific and 99 general small business topics including start-ups, associations and other organizations, licensing, trade periodicals, trade shows, franchises, and more. Classic and essential.

Cloutier, George with Samantha Marshall. Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Rules from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru. HarperBusiness: HarperCollins. 2009. 208p. ISBN 978-0-06-183285-7. $24.99.

Emphasizing making sales a top priority and the need for strong leadership, this no-nonsense treatise by a turnaround management expert provides valuable advice on getting a small business focused and profitable in these tough economic times.

DeBaise, Colleen. The Wall Street Journal Complete Small Business Guidebook. Three Rivers: Crown. 2009. 272p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-307-40893-8. pap. $15.

This well-written and organized practical guide explains business plans, ways to maintain a work/life balance, hiring practices, finding venture capital, and how to plan an exit strategy.

Gerber, Michael E. The E-Myth Enterprise: How To Turn a Great Idea into a Thriving Business. HarperBusiness: HarperCollins. 2009. 224p. index. ISBN 978-0-06-173369-7. $21.99.

Gerber's stunningly simple insights identify four basic features of building a new company—visual, emotional, functional, and financial—and describe the five necessary entrepreneurial skills: concentration, discrimination, organization, innovation, and communication. Also highly recommended is his The Most Successful Small Business in the World: The Ten Principles (Wiley, 2010).

Johnson, Earvin "Magic." 32 Ways To Be a Champion in Business. Three Rivers: Crown. 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-307-46189-6. pap. $15.

The former NBA star—turned—successful businessman describes finding his dream, forming business partnerships, building the business, and social responsibility. He presents a range of options for entrepreneurs, provides cautionary advice, and helps readers understand branding and the market.

* McKeever, Mike. How To Write a Business Plan. 9th ed. Nolo. 2008. 288p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-4133-0908-9. pap. $34.99 w/CD-ROM.

Quickly becoming a standard, this is an outstanding step-by-step guide to writing a professional and sound business plan. Using examples and worksheets, McKeever helps the reader evaluate the profitability of a business idea, estimate expenses, prepare a cash-flow statement, create profit and loss forecasts, and more.

* Pakroo, Peri. The Small Business Start-Up Kit: A Step-by-Step Legal Guide. 6th ed. Nolo. 2010. 368p. index. ISBN 978-1-4133-1099-3. pap. $29.99 w/CD-ROM.

In addition to covering essential legal basics, business consultant Pakroo advises on picking a business name and the best location, drafting and using contracts, managing business finances using technology, choosing the right business structure, and reaching customers using social media. Many business forms are provided as tear-outs, and the CD-ROM includes contact information for state agencies that deal with businesses and taxes.

* Pinson, Linda. Anatomy of a Business Plan: The Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing Your Company's Future. 7th ed. Out of Your Mind...and into the Marketplace. 2008. 352p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-944205-37-2. pap. $22.95.

The new edition features chapters on financing resources and business planning for nonprofits, as well as a sample restaurant business plan. Blank forms and worksheets help readers write a thoughtful, thorough, and professional business plan.

* Strauss, Steven D. The Small Business Bible: Everything You Need To Know To Succeed in Your Small Business. 2d ed. Wiley. 2008. 544p. index. ISBN 978-0-470-26124-8. pap. $19.95.

Budding entrepreneurs will find the advice they need building and growing the ideal business. New chapters cover green businesses, online advertising and marketing, emerging technologies, and cutting-edge business building strategies.

Tyson, Eric & Jim Schell. Small Business for Dummies. 3d ed. Wiley. 2008. 432p. index. ISBN 978-0-470-17747-1. pap. $21.99.

This comprehensive and practical guide addresses how to find your business niche and time a start-up, figure out approximate costs, identify legal and tax issues, market products or services, and learn bookkeeping basics. Also recommended: Steven D. Peterson and others' Business Plans Kit for Dummies (3d ed. Wiley, May 2010.)

Urquhart-Brown, Susan. The Accidental Entrepreneur: 50 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Starting a Business. AMACOM: American Management Assn. 2008. 291p. index. ISBN 978-0-8144-0167-5. pap. $17.95.

Stressing the marketing plan's importance to small business success, business coach Urquhart-Brown presents examples and guidelines for becoming a successful and inspired entrepreneur. Especially excellent are the eight questions to ask before starting a business.

Bennett, Julie & Cheryl Babcock. Franchise Times Guide to Selecting, Buying, and Owning a Franchise. Sterling. 2008. 401p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-4027-4393-1. pap. $17.95.

This authoritative guide to the ins and outs of buying a franchise provides practical tips on financing, marketing, fees, leasing a retail space, and more. Real-life experiences and anecdotes add another perspective. (LJ 4/15/08)

Cooney, Scott. Build a Green Small Business: Profitable Ways To Become an Ecopreneur. McGraw-Hill. 2008. 256p. index. ISBN 978-0-07-160293-8. pap. $19.95.

Suggesting ideas for a wide variety of green products and services, Cooney also advises on ways to plan and create a green business, market it economically, and locate customers. Especially useful is the chapter on helping readers understand if a green business is really for them.

Daniels, Paul. Restaurant Business Start-Up Guide. Venture Marketing. (Real World Business). 2008. 240p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-58291-103-8. pap. $49.95.

An expert in specialty food service offers detailed chapters on key issues like the legal matters involved in starting up, human resources management, and equipment decisions. Also includes a sample business plan, location selection and leasing tips, detailed business checklists, and specific software via the book's Internet site.

Drake, John. Mopping Up Millions! Making a Killing in Cleaning. CreateSpace. 2009. 172p. ISBN 978-1-4414-8896-1. pap. $19.95.

Because of its low start-up costs, a service business doing what others don't want to do makes sense for first-time entrepreneurs, writes Drake. His thorough guide has ideas on developing a client base, writing a business plan, finding customers, and doing market research.

Kaplan, Jennifer. Greening Your Small Business. Prentice-Hall. 2009. 320p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7352-0446-1. pap. $19.95.

To help small businesses make greener decisions without going broke, Kaplan's guide covers how to recycle, reduce waste, be more energy efficient in the workplace, adopt new green shipping practices, implement green employee benefits, and use green information technology. (LJ 10/15/09)

Sargent, Dennis J.& Martha S. Sargent. Retire—and Start Your Own Business: Five Steps to Success. Nolo. 2008. 336p. ISBN 978-1-4133-0765-8. pap. $24.99 w/CD-ROM.

This step-by-step guide uses 80 exercises to help the retiree determine how to define success, understand what is wanted from retirement, identify skills and experience, perform "reality checks" on ideas, and prepare to launch a new business.

Warner, Ralph & Bethany K. Laurence. Save Your Small Business: 10 Crucial Strategies To Survive Hard Times or Close Down & Move On. Nolo. 2009. 352p. index. ISBN 978-1-4133-1041-2. pap. $29.99.

Businesses that make it through a severe economic downturn emerge more competitive and more focused. Two attorneys discuss the aggressive steps needed to steer through a recession, including minimizing personal liability, innovating, spending marketing dollars wisely, keeping the best people, and sharing costs and resources with competitors.

Culwell, Lori. Million Dollar Website. Prentice-Hall. 2009. 288p. index. ISBN 978-0-7352-0441-6. pap. $19.95.

Learn how to pinpoint what your business web site needs and take the steps to improve it and get it noticed. Detailed advice by a web site consultant can help the business owner ramp up a web presence and use the right tools to gauge its success. (LJ 6/15/09)

Holzner, Steven. Small Business Web Sites Made Easy. Osborne: McGraw-Hill. 2009. 272p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-07-161481-8. pap. $21.99.

Holzner explains how to take a business online and generate additional revenue by using search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, marketing on Facebook, enabling credit card transactions, and more. He also covers HTML skills, as well the use of Cascading Style Sheets and JavaScript to establish a solid online presence without the aid of a professional designer.

Sharp, Julien. Design and Launch an Online Social Networking Business in a Week. Entrepreneur, dist. by McGraw-Hill. (Clickstarts). 2009. 200p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59918-268-1. pap. $17.95.

Practical guidance on starting a social networking business includes tips on setting goals, generating traffic and membership, and building advertising and other revenue streams.

Business Owners Idea Café

www.businessownersideacafe.com

Launched in 1995 by successful entrepreneurs, this lively and comprehensive site presents short articles on all aspects of small business or entrepreneurial life. Main section headings include Start a Business, Business Ideas, Business Financing, and Marketing. Also features fun entrepreneur profiles and business advice from experts.

Entrepreneur.com

www.entrepreneurmag.com

Besides reading Entrepreneur magazine's features and columns, users can sign up for six newsletters and join a social networking site, Entrepreneur Connect.

U.S. Census Bureau

www.census.gov

The type of business that will succeed in a given city, county, or state depends on the area's demographics and the competition. A first step for would-be business owners is to check out data on population, housing, income, and companies, which is gathered by the U.S. government's largest statistical agency.

* U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

www.sba.gov

New business owners will find a wealth of useful resources and programs. Under "Small Business Planner," check out sections on writing a business plan, legal aspects, taxes, buying a business, and more. Under "Services," find online training, financial assistance, and international trade information. Also part of the SBA are the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), which deliver counseling and training to small business owner/managers; go to sbdc-us.org. The SBA also has a YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/sba.