Six-Week Start-Up. Rhonda Abrams

with three of them having reached the nationally recognized “Top 50 Business Best-Seller” list.

      Rhonda not only writes about business—she lives it! As the founder of three successful companies, Rhonda has accumulated an extraordinary depth of experience and a real-life understanding of the challenges facing entrepreneurs. Rhonda first founded a management consulting practice working with clients ranging from one-person start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. An early Web pioneer, she founded a website for small business that she later sold. Today, Rhonda is CEO of the publishing company PlanningShop, which focuses exclusively on the topics of business planning, entrepreneurship, and new business development. PlanningShop is America’s leading academic publisher in the discipline of entrepreneurship.

      A popular public speaker, Rhonda regularly addresses leading industry and trade associations, business schools, and corporate conventions and events. Educated at Harvard University and UCLA, Rhonda lives in Palo Alto, California.

       Rhonda Abrams:

       facebook.com/RhondaAbramsSmallBusiness

       twitter.com/RhondaAbrams

       PlanningShop:

       facebook.com/PlanningShop

       twitter.com/PlanningShop

       TABLE OF CONTENTS

       Who this book is for

       About Rhonda Abrams

       Introduction

       Week 1 Lay the Foundation

       #1: Clarify your business concept

       Identify your personal goals

       Spell out your business values

       Remind yourself of your source of inspiration

       Describe your business concept

       Identify your strategic position

       Decide whether you want partners

       Decide whether you want investors

       Consider potential exit strategies

       Discuss the impact of starting a business with your family

       Make an appointment with an SBDC counselor

       #2: Create your company identity

       Choose a name

       Check out trademarks

       Secure a domain name

       Consider logos, taglines, and colors

       Meet with a graphic designer

       #3: Get organized

       Set up files

       Create digital records

       Set up a contact management system

       Keep track of your company’s vital statistics

       Keep track of expenses

       Week