From the basics of writing a business plan to the challenges of developing a marketing and sales program, this is the essential resource for success with a new venture Drawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources, this concise guide is carefully crafted to provide a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience, and will prove especially valuable for the new manager.

The Harvard Business Essentials series is designed to provide com-prehensive advice, personal coaching, background information, and guidance on the most relevant topics in business. Drawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources,these concise guides are carefully crafted to provide a highly practi-cal resource for readers with all levels of experience, and will prove especially valuable for the new manager. To ensure quality and accu-racy, each volume is closely reviewed by a specialized content adviser from a world-class business school. Whether you are a new manager seeking to expand your skills or a seasoned professional looking to broaden your knowledge base, these solution-oriented books put re-liable answers at your fingertips.

Introduction

1 Self-Diagnosis

Do You Have the Right Stuff to Start a Business?

  The Makings of an Entrepreneur

  Background

  It May Be Right for You

  Summing Up

2 Finding and Evaluating the Opportunity

Is It Real and Large Enough?

  Characteristics of an Opportunity

  Where to Look for Opportunities

  From Identification to Evaluation

  Summing Up

3 Organizing the Enterprise

Which Form Is Best for You?

  Sole Proprietorship

  Partnership

  C Corporations

  S Corporations

  The Limited Liability Company

  Which Form Makes Sense for You?

  Summing Up

4 Building a Business Model and Strategy

How TheF Work Together

   Your Business Model

   Strategy

   Summing Up

5 Writing a Business Plan

The Basics

   The Purposes of a Business Plan

   Suggested Format

   Style

   Final Thoughts

   Summing Up

6 Financing the Business

Where's the Money?

  A Life-Cycle View of Financing

  Life-Cycle Financing of the

    Entrepreneurial Company

  Financing Growth at eBay

  Other Forms of External Financing

  Matching Assets and Financing

  Summing Up

7 Angels and Venture Capitalists

For Serious Outside Equity

  Business Angels

  Venture Capitalists

  Making a Presentation

  A Caveat on Taking VC Capital

  Summing Up

8 Going Public

Adventures in the Capital Markets

  Pros and Cons of Going Public

  The Makings of an IPO Candidate

  The Role of the Investment Bank

   The IPO Process in a Nutshell

   Alternatives to an IPO

   Summing Up

9 Enterprise Growth

 The Challenge to Management

   The Impact of Growth

   Sustaining Growth

   The Management Challenge

   Is It Time to Change the GuaM?

   Summing Up

10 Keeping the Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive

 The Ultimate Challenge of Success

   Three Challenges

   What Entrepreneurial Leaders Must Do

   Summing Up

11 Harvest Time

 Reaping What You've Sown

   Why Entrepreneurs Cash Out

   Harvesting Mechanisms

   What's It Worth?

   Summing Up

 Appendix A: Understanding Finanicial Statements

 Appendix B: Breakeven Analysis

 Appendix C: Valuation Concepts

 Appendix D: Online Help When You Need It

 Appendix E: Rule 144

 Notes

 Glossary

 For Further Reading

 Index

 About the Subject Adviser

 About the Writer