Building a Dream: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Business of Your Own

Marc Portelance is a graduate business student and researcher at
Laurentian University.

This well-organized self-help guide and workbook is written for
prospective small-business people and potential entrepreneurs “who
wish to start a business of their own or who want to assess their own
potential for such an option.” Good provides descriptive information,
practical outlines, checklists, screening devices, and numerous other
aids that enable the reader to evaluate his or her potential for an
entrepreneurial career. Divided into 10 progressive “stages,” the
book examines the tasks that will permit the successful launch of a
business venture.

The author begins by assessing the individual’s potential for an
entrepreneurial career. He then considers the advantages and
disadvantages of starting a new business, buying an existing one, and
purchasing a franchise. The reader is taken through a step-by-step
analysis of the feasibility study, and is given a framework for dealing
with the financing of the business. Preparing the business plan is next
on the agenda.

This lucid book is heartily recommended for those considering an
entrepreneurial career, whether or not they’ve gone to business
school.