Women Mean Business: Successful Strategies for Starting Your Own Business

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.

For the would-be entrepreneur, female or male, this book is priceless.

Litton writes from the premise that preparation is the most essential ingredient in success for the new business owner, and proceeds to outline how to do the necessary preparation.

She takes the reader through exercises to determine skills, attitudes, preferences, and resources needed for successful entrepreneurship. She provides detailed information on preparing a business plan, on market analysis and the key questions to ask yourself and others at every step of the process from concept to expansion.

Separate chapters cover types of business such as direct sales, partnerships, and franchises, again with excellent self-analysis material and key points to be aware of.

One of the best sections in the book deals with goal-setting and mission statements.

The book makes numerous references to works by well-known authorities and an extensive bibliography is included, as is a very good glossary. Throughout, Litton uses examples of successful entrepreneurs who are both Canadian and female: in a straightforward, quiet way she lets it be known that there are many role models out there.

This is a first-class work certain to be of value to anyone who has ever wanted to start her or his own business.