In business, success and failure are not the alternative results of the toss of a coin. Good planning is essential for an enterprise to prosper. Starting Up is a step-by-step guide to planning and researching your business idea to ensure its successful implementation. In his clear, methodological approach, Gary Jones covers all the areas which you need to consider as an entrepreneur: *deciding on the best business idea for you and your market and laying out the framework for your plan *weighing up the pros and cons of buying an existing business, franchise or starting from scratch; and those of partnerships, co-operatives and limited companies *marketing, winning customers and building sales *financial planning and raising funds *demystifying the workings of the Internet, identifying its business uses and planning your own website. Each chapter ends with a concise summary and most have detailed checklists to help you monitor your progress so that you don't leave out any vital elements in your preparations. With its practical guidance and accessible style, this book will help you ensure that setting up a business for the first time or expanding an existing business is a lucrative as well as an exciting venture. Avoid the mistakes that lead to business failure.