Few people can think of all aspects of starting a new business and know how to do each one. In Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months: A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works, Melinda Emerson outlines all the key things to do and provides support with questions to ask, activities and resources to help you. And she does it with an honest, straight-forward approach.

Emerson has been through the good and the bad of starting a business, and shares her experiences and mistakes. She covers everything. Having family support, quitting your job too soon, creating an online strategy, marketing and more. The month-by-month plan built around the six-phased Emerson Planning System works like a step-by-step list so you’re won’t get stuck wondering what you need to do next or if you’ve omitted a step. Every chapter ends with an action steps checklist for easy referencing.

Most start up businesses tend to be conscious about money. Emerson gives options and resources for saving money. For example, you have three choices for hiring an accountant: bookkeeper, accountant and certified public accountant (CPA). She explains the differences, lists questions to ask when hiring one and offers suggestions for which one to hire as each has different hourly rates. What about leasing office equipment? I wouldn’t have thought of that or know how to decide if it’s the best option. Emerson guides you through all that.

Even if you’ve already started your business, you can gain value in this brimming guide as you may have areas that need addressing or improvement. Though my business is a one-person business and doesn’t have the complexities of hiring people, I uncovered some useful tips and information to strengthen parts of my business or to fill an overlooked gap.

The only nitpick is the formatting. Some pages have inconsistent content formatting in terms of paragraphs, spacing and bold text. Numbered and bulleted lists also feel off and take away some readability. Italics — hard to read when there’s too much of it — appear a little too often.

Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months is a fast and easy read because of Emerson’s casual writing style that stays away from dull, corporate-like business talk. For those starting out, I suggest reading the entire book on the first go-round to grasp the whole picture. Then, reference it often as you work on specific activities.

No one can guarantee your business will succeed. However, Emerson’s solid and organized plan makes good business sense. Her guidance will put you on track to do it right and increase your chances for long-term success.

FTC disclosure: Author received copy from publisher, which had no influence on the review or the affiliate link.

With a sub-title of, “The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything,” the book makes a big promise, which might make a doubter out of a reviewer. Note that “starting anything” refers to a business, not a career, school, or hobby.

Obviously, it’s impossible to create a comprehensive book of business best practices because every business has its own variables. What works great for one may kill another. However, the book doesn’t take that approach. Rather, it tells how it is starting a business and the rough road of dealing with VCs (venture capitalists). If you expect a positive spin on stuff that’s hard to do. Read a fairy tale instead.

Rather than abrasiveness and a “do this, don’t do this” attitude, Kawasaki uses humor to explain the process. Anyone who has a small business including those around for a few years will benefit. When ready to take action, use this book as the manual that doesn’t come with starting a business. Thinking about it isn’t going to make a business successful.

Every chapter begins with the GIST of it, an overview of what’s to come. Each ends with FAQ, frequently AVOIDED questions, to review the chapter’s content and drill it in deeper for better understanding and implementation.

Get simple, but important hints on everyday business practices such as how to give a strong presentation. How many times have you sat through a presentation where each slide has over 20 words in size 12 point and the presenter practically reads the words adding little to what is on the slide? Kawasaki smartly covers the 10-20-30 rule. 10 slides, 20 minutes, and size 30 font. Making changes to the small practices can lead to reaching the next milestone.

This book can be likened to a quick reference guide for starting a business and useful strategies: has just what is needed without heavy-duty or dry language. It is, however, larger than most quick guides, but a fast and easy read into the world of startups and dealing with VCs. If a VC isn’t involved, the book provides valuable tools and ideas to help with any business. However, technology start ups seeking VCs will benefit most.

Stuck on a business plan? Learn what is needed and not needed. Don’t waste valuable time and use the book to do what’s necessary without going overboard.

If long hours and challenges aren’t in the plans, then read a romanticized business book instead. The Art of the Start shows how it really is and it’s hard, but it can be a little easier with this book as a guide.

Get a taste of the book by reading its manifesto, a free PDF download. The 34 page document should give you a clear idea of whether or not the book is for you as it includes the same components found in the book. As a bonus, the manifesto includes Great Ideas for Starting Things, covered in the first chapter. If the material and the table of contents sound enticing, get it.

Title: The Art of the Start
Author: Guy Kawasaki
Publisher: Portfolio
ISBN: 1591840562
Date: September 2004
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 226
Cover Price (of course, it’s marked down and these are the original cover prices):
US: $19.99
CDN: $28.99
UK: £15.99