Product Description
A Consultant in a Book for the millions who start a new business every year on the barest of resources, Shoestring Venture: The Startup Bible is like hiring a high-level consultant to deal with the bewildering maze of issues from finance to marketing to technology that all entrepreneurs face. Every business is nothing but a series of decisions which can make or break the business. You could say that, if there's a science of business, it's the science of making good ... More >>
Shoestring Venture: The Startup Bible
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Shoestring Venture serves as a detailed resource for anyone starting a business, especially on their own. Not to mention, Richard Hooker’s unique and entertaining writing style keeps the boredom of the typical business book at bay!
Rating: 5 / 5
If you’re looking for an inspirational book that will help you achieve the right mindset for business success, look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a tome of resources that will teach you everything from product development to outsourcing, Shoestring Venture is it.
I was overwhelmed, at first, by the sheer size of the book. But then I realized that Shoestring Venture isn’t something read in one sitting. It’s a resource you revisit again and again for help on e-commerce, finding investors, building a web site, and any other area where you need guidance.
Each section is short and to the point, with bullet points and action items that make it easy to find the information you need without having to skim through a lot of filler. Reading it is like reading a business blog in that sense … but it’s much more convenient, because the information is all in one chunky manual that you can highlight and dog-ear to your heart’s content.
Much of Shoestring Venture applies to startups with products to sell. Because, as a writer and marketing consultant, I don’t fit that category, I found myself skipping through the chapters that deal with concepting, testing and e-commerce. But the book also offers a wealth of marketing tips and other information that applies to service providers such as myself. It even has a section on the aspects that distinguish good copywriting from bad, and how to outsource that part of business when the time comes. That’s something most business books fail to cover.
My only concern in purchasing the book is that the vast number of online resources might become obsolete in a few years, but the authors have anticipated that and offer readers access to an online list of links that can be updated at any time.
This is a great resource, and I recommend it to anyone who finds themselves needing guidance in the business arena. You’ll find yourself turning to it over and over again.
Rating: 5 / 5
Awesome. A very complete and detailed book with all the information you need to plan and start a business. As an occasional internet seller, I can tell you that a lot of the technical details in this book, such as where to find cheap contractors and software products are spot on. Another good thing is that you can definitely use the book as a reference guide as you go through various phases of your company’s growth – from formation, to financing, to handling taxes. These guys know their stuff and they also provide a wealth of advice and insight based on personal experience and business know how.
I loved the introduction and first few chapters of the book as they give a good overview of the book and it’s writers then launched into the first steps of planning your new business. As an IT lover, I enjoyed the technical sections in the latter portions of the book but the earlier sections provide me with a good reference on handling the legal and financial aspects of handling a business, and also a glimpse of the authors credentials. I definitely agree with the open source and freelance outsourcing sections.
Rating: 4 / 5
I’ve been a freelance writer on a part time basis for some time and am considering making it a full time career in the New Year. I really only needed information about the financial aspect of working for myself, or I thought I did, but this book literally has everything. It covers aspects that I didn’t even think about let alone plan for. Take outsourcing for example. I didn’t even consider what I would do if I had too much work and not enough time in terms of client retention. That section is outstanding because it deals with everything I need to know in a straightforward and yet comprehensive manner. In fact, every section is. I would like to see more on blogging in future editions though as that’s a key part of my plan
The Startup Bible is everything that is promises to be and will certainly be a fixture on my desk in the years to come. I’ve tried other business books and got bored but this one is well laid out so it acts as a practical how to book rather than a complex and useless book by a self indulgent and arrogant businessman!
Rating: 5 / 5
The Shoestring Venture: The Startup Bible is well developed, well thought out, well organized. It provides a wealth of information for those looking start their own small, medium, or large business venture.
Hooker and Monas provide websites appropriate for learning about incorporation, choosing a domain name, marketing strategies, finances, taxes and anything else anyone ever wanted to know about starting their own business.
This is an invaluable resource that has opened my eyes to all the resources available. Hooker and Monas have also established a website where all the links they mention in the book are listed and accessible by a click of the mouse, without having to retype all the links in a browser to find the information wanted. What a great idea!
This is certainly one resource I am glad to have on my bookshelf.
Rating: 4 / 5