The book takes you through the stages of setting up and running a business. It is an inspiring mix of practical information and entertaining writing style. If you’re toying with the idea of setting up a business then this is definitely the book for you. Our business has been going for a few years now but even though some of the book was covering old ground I still found it an interesting read, so I would say that it’s not necessarily just for start-ups. It’s given me a new perspective on parts of our business and I’ve set myself some homework to follow up on some ideas.

The only criticism I would have is the bias towards sales rather than marketing as a whole. There’s a whole chapter which is basically on telesales way before the whole marketing concept is covered, which I found offputting. However, the author began the book with explaining that it would be opinionated and this is an example of that. I can see the point he’s trying to make, I just don’t necessarily agree with it.

My previous book review was, I said, not one for lifting your motivation. This book is exactly that – whether you’re thinking of starting up a business, are in the process of doing so, or (like me) have been running a business for a few years, this book could provide you with the inspiration that you need.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Start Your Business Week by Week by Steve Parks does exactly that. Not only is the book a practical guide to setting up your business, presented in bite-sized chunks so that you don’t get too overwhelmed with information, but there is a fantastic website that you can use to log your progress and interact with other people in exactly the same situation as you.

Can you tell that this is one of my favourite business startup books?

What I really like about this book is the way it’s split into weeks, giving you specific tasks to do each week. By following the book you work through the process of setting up your business and writing the all-important business plan. It’s a very easy read and includes quotes from successful entrepreneurs along the way to keep you inspired.

The companion website, Flying Startups, is a great place to hang out. You can keep a log (Pilot’s Log) of your progress and ask for advice on the forums. If you need a bit of boost this is just the place to come – keeping track of what everyone else is up to can work wonders for your motivation.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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