That sounds mighty boastful, but the author's credentials are strong, the book loaded with business resources and the information is down-to-earth (Everything you need to start a successful business except the money, But we'll show you how to get that, too!")

Author Rieva Lesonsky and the staff of Entrepreneur Magazine put together the book which starts with "Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?" and goes on to starting versus buying, choosing the name attracting investors, hiring employees, location, loans, image, leasing versus buying equipment, choosing a phone system, learning from failure - all the nitty-gritty stuff, plus some long-term thinking.

Lesonsky, Entrepreneur's Vice President / Editorial Director, frequently speaks at small-business conferences and appears on TV and radio business programs. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description
Everything you need to start a successful businessexcept the money. (But we'll show you how to get that, too!) Previous editions of this bestselling book have already helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. Now, the revised and updated Third Edition is packed with additional advice on new topics, including: How to get new business ideas Secrets to getting government grants How the Internet can help you with marketing research, competitive intelligence, marketing, advertising and more. How PDA's, cell phones, and other wireless devices can make your business more efficient Tips for starting a non-profit organization Updated "hot links" that direct you to relevant web sites for detailed information Whether your just thinking about starting a new business, taken the first steps, or already own your own business, this comprehensive, easy to understand guide can help ensure your success. Written in a friendly, down-to-earth style, Start Your Own business walks you through every step of the start-up process, from evaluating your business idea, to laying the groundwork to running day-to-day operations. You'll learn how to conduct market research, choose a business structure, create a winning business plan, handle your bookkeeping and taxes, run your business from home, and much more. Dozens of sample from, work sheets, charts, graphs and even the most complex business issues a breeze.

"the writing is savvy and livelyeven readers with a scant interest in computers, technology or animated movies will find the tale entertaining" (www.getabstract.com, 29 Aug. 2005)

"a story of the personalities behind the facts and figuresincludes some interesting personal touches" (Liverpool Daily Post, 22^nd June 2005)

“…rich in anecdotes and retellings of turning points in the lives of Jobs, Apple and Pixar…” (Information Age, 1^st August 2005)

"the authors paint a vivid picture of Jobs as an occasional genius and a regular jerk. All of which makes for gripping reading for any Mac fan" (icreate, July-December 2005)

“…Young and Simon are particularly good at telling the inside story…” (Belfast Sunday Life, 3 July 2005)

“…new perspectives on the creation of Apple…details Jobs’s meteoric rise, fall and rise again…” (Moneywise, June 2005)

“…a well-balanced look at an incredible life. The achievements are all catalogued in full, as are the personal idiosyncrasies and shortcomings…” (Glasgow Sunday Herald, June 19 2005)

"Provides insight into inner businer business strategies and power plays between larger-than-life personalities such as Disney boss Michael Eisner." (USA Today)

Apparently, this book hit a nerve. Or several.
According to media reports, Apple Computer removed all of the titles published by John Wiley & Sons from its retail stores to protest this book. Included were the successful Dummies series, as well as computer-related volumes from popular authors Andy Ihnatko and Bob LeVitus.
So what's the fuss?
This biography of Apple's co-founder is fairly well balanced. The authors keenly admire Jobs despite the many personal shortcomings they catalog, gleefully referring to sundry over-the-top idiosyncrasies as examples of Jobs' ''Stevian'' hubris.
But there's much to admire about Jobs. An adopted child of a northern California working class couple, he parlayed rabid curiosity about electronics, preternatural entrepreneurial zeal and a fierce sense of self into a partnership with the brilliant Steve Wozniak and created the revolutionary Apple II, the first popular personal computer.
The pair became multimillionaires, though Wozniak eventually left the company to pursue other interests -- including flying small airplanes -- after nearly dying in a plane crash.
Jobs subsequently latched onto and took over a wayward project at Apple to develop the next generation machine, and the resulting Macintosh became the computer of choice for artists and other creative folks.
Jobs' prickly personality and immense ambition may have helped drive his success but also fueled clashes with executives, board members and others, and led to his forced departure from the company he co-founded.
That was Jobs' wild first act.
But authors Jeffrey Young and William Simon also chronicle what came next.
After leaving Apple, Jobs' new computer company, NeXT, was a near-disaster. Though technologically advanced, the box was expensive and ill suited for its intended market, universities. Still, the operating system held great promise and the possibility for Jobs' return to the spotlight.
When divorce forced Star Wars auteur George Lucas to sell off his nascent computer animation company, Pixar, Jobs scooped it up at a fraction of the asking price. Soon, the production company allied with Disney and became a creative powerhouse in its own right, with smash films, Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
When Pixar went public, Jobs became a billionaire. At the same time, Apple was having a rough time with its latest CEO, Gil Amelio, who slashed costs, consolidated product lines and seemed to be on the verge of turning the company around despite a lack of ''Stevian'' political prowess.
His search for an appropriate operating system for a new, more powerful Macintosh attracted Jobs' attention. His NeXT software was the ticket back to Apple. After some deft machinations, Amelio was sent packing and Jobs became ''interim'' CEO.
Soon, some new, very cool computers were introduced by Apple and the company was again deemed successful and sexy, though Young and Simon suggest that Jobs was the beneficiary of the departed Amelio's cost-cutting and new product development initiatives.
Regardless, Jobs struck gold again with the introduction of the iPod music player, and the ''interim'' was removed from his title.
The biography includes many personal details that surely embarrass Jobs, such as his early abandonment of a daughter born to an unmarried girlfriend (both of whom he later reconciled with and supported), along with endless examples of pride, egotism, venality, ruthlessness and conceit.
But it's still an interesting and engaging tale. Warts and all, for better or worse, Steve Jobs is undisputedly an American business icon. (Miami Herald, June 6, 2005)

"One of the most captivating business biographies of recent years. Young and Simon have done a masterful job." (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram)

"A fascinating tale of an imaginative genius." (BookPage)

Joseph A.Covello and Brian J. Hazelgren, authors of the highly successful Your First business Plan, reveal the secrets of creating a powerful, winning business plan based on their more than two decades of combined experience writing business plans. Follow their proven methods--help your business succeed now!

Discover How To:
--Take total control of your business
--Dramatically improve your profits
--Provide the critical elements required by investors, lenders and buyers
--Develop your unique selling advantage
--Raise capital in any economy
--Operate a profitable enterprise with one powerful management tool
--Stay ahead of your competition--always
--Make your business plan the heart and soul of your operation

You'll Be Able to Create Powerful--
--Market Analyses
--Selling Concepts
--Marketing Strategies
--Financial Presentations
--Management Systems
--Product Advantages

• Delivers all the know-how would-be online entrepreneurs need to get their business off the ground, from identifying a market need and choosing a Web hosting service to securing transactions and attracting customers
• The book has been fully revamped with new coverage of setting up Amazon, Yahoo!, and other storefronts; running an eBay business; building profits via affiliate programs and middlemen; improving rankings on Google and other search engines; securing sites with firewalls; monitoring site traffic; and blogging
• Completely updated throughout, with new profiles of successful online businesses, a revised directory of Internet business resources (now available on the book's companion Web site), and the latest on advertising techniques and legal and tax requirements
• Contains helpful examples of businesses that survived the dot-com bust and continue to thrive, plus examples of strategies to avoid

"Elaine Biech is truly the consultant's consultant. Anyone considering a move to an independent consulting career should devour this book." —Diane Hessan, CEO, Communispace Corporation

"The Consultant's Quick Start Guide is an invaluable resource for all new and seasoned consultants. Elaine Biech has packed into one book tools and references that would take most consultants years to learn and develop." —Richard Chang, CEO, Richard Chang Associates, Inc., and author of The Passion Plan and Performance Scorecards

"What a treat for the new or wannabe consultant-you can think through the initial career decision, plan for the launch of the business, and hang the proverbial shingle with this book as your guide. The author has produced another practical, hands-on approach!" —Ronald E. Gailbraith, CEO, management 21, Inc

"There's a reason Elaine Biech has the Midas Touch. She's the best at what she does, and she's generous with all her inside information. Even old pros are sure to pick up a few golden nuggets." —Elizabeth Engstrom, director, Maui Writers Retreat

"Elaine Biech does it yet again! She provides what most say can only be learned in the school of hard knocks! Take her wonderful advice to heart!" —Beverly Kaye, president, Career Systems International, Inc., and co-author of The Wall Street journal best-seller, Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay

Product Review
"Elaine biech is truly the consultant's consultant. Anyone considering a move to an independent consulting career should devour this book." —Diane Hessan, CEO, Communispace Corporation

"The Consultant's Quick Start Guide is an invaluable resource for all new and seasoned consultants. Elaine Biech has packed into one book, tools and references that would take most consultants years to learn and develop." —Richard Chang, CEO, Richard Chang Associates, Inc.,Author of, The Passion Plan and Performance Scorecards

"Elaine Biech builds your confidence to take your first steps into consulting. She asks important, tough questions, and them helps you answer them. Read the book, answer its questions, and you will be well-prepared for your first year." —Geoff Belman, consultant and author of The Consultant's Calling

"There's a reason Elaine Biech has the Midas Touch. She's the best at what she does, and she's generous with all her inside information. Even old pros are sure to pick up a few golden nuggets." —Elizabeth Engstrom, Director, Maui Writers Retreat

"Elaine Biech does it yet again! She provides what most say can only be learned in the school of hard knocks! Take her wonderful advice to heart!" —Beverly Kaye, President, Career Systems International, Inc., Co-author of WSJ Best Seller, "Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay"