The Canadian Small Business Survival Guide. Rev. ed.

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

The style is stuffy, the tone is tedious, and the typos abundant. But
stick with it. Gallander knows his subject, and the content is both
current and comprehensive—and Canadian.

The guide touches on a huge range of no-nonsense small-business issues:
taxes, employees, GST, location, marketing, cash flow, business-plan
writing, financing, risk and insurance, financial statements, licences,
ethics, the Internet, and inventory. There are checklists, lists of
helpful addresses, a glossary, and a sample partnership agreement.

The guide contains more cautions than encouragements, with an honest
effort made to present a balanced picture. Eleven small-business case
studies are analyzed in detail.

Starting a business is such a large initiative that entrepreneurs will
want to consult a number of books. While others can supply more
motivation and emotional support, Gallander’s work can be a useful
quick reference. It’s an excellent overview, and a strong starting
point for the beginner.