Getting Down to Business: A practical, no-nonsense guide to growing your own business

Written specifically for owners of small businesses, Getting Down to Business provides everything you need to know to grow your business with confidence and realise your ambitions. By following the suggestions in this book you will be able to: Establish your goal and develop a step-by-step action plan to achieve it Find and satisfy the customers who will truly value what you offer Set up the systems to run your business smoothly and efficiently as you grow Achieve the returns your intelligence, talent and effort deserve Have fun and enjoy running your own business!

Table of Contents:
Contents Foreword Introduction Acknowledgements About the Authors Chapter 1 Setting the Scene Setting your Goal Preparing your Own Organisation Chart Developing your Objectives Chapter 2 Sales and Marketing Getting It Getting Ready Getting Out There Getting Connected Getting Referred Getting Known Getting the Whole Picture Getting Sales Getting More Sales Getting Better Getting into Retail Getting into the Public Sector Getting New Products and Services Chapter 3 Resources and Support Functions People Finance IT Premises, Plant and Equipment Purchasing and Stock Control Administration Legal Issues Business Continuity Chapter 4 Managing Yourself Attitude and Mindset Time Management and Getting Organised Delegation and Managing Staff Management Meetings Coaching and Professional Development Taking Care of Yourself Chapter 5 The Growth Plan Evaluation (SWOT Analysis) Writing and Reviewing the Plan Financing your Growth And Finally - The MOMENTUM Programme

About the Author :
Doug D'Aubrey Before launching his own business, Doug worked at senior level in the manned guarding security sector for Burns International Services, dealing with large manpower issues, training, people management, HR, logistics and sales development. His most notable success was turning them round from an GBP800,000 flagging annual turnover, to a GBP5m resounding success story. Capitalising on these skills, Doug then moved into management consulting and training, launching the MOMENTUM programme in 2002 when he recognised the challenges that small businesses faced in trying to access the experience and knowledge of the consultancy sector. This laid the foundation for the formation of Executive Training and Consultancy Ltd, of which Doug is the Managing Director. Doug is married with two sports-crazy sons, and lives in Dudley, at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation that encompasses Birmingham, the Black Country and Wolverhampton. Matthew Chuck Matthew pursued a career in the manufacturing industry at home and abroad, the majority of it with the Chemicals Division of Alcoa (The Aluminum Company of America), where he spent a lengthy period as Sales Director at their Frankfurt HQ, directing sales of 120 million annually. He returned to the UK in 2002 to set up his own consulting business, later joining Doug as a co-director of ETC, bringing with him international clients such as DuPont Sustainable Solutions and The European Council of International Schools, as well as many smaller owner-managed businesses. Matthew is married with three grown-up children, and lives in the picturesque spa town of Malvern, Worcestershire.

Review :
"This is a must-have guide book for small to medium businesses. It provides a comprehensive, but easy-to-follow and very practical framework to identifying your strengths and weaknesses as a business. It demonstrates how to work with them to grow to your full potential and reach your goals." Marianne Henio - art historian, writer and critic "Just what you would expect from Doug and Matthew - a no-nonsense, practical, and down-to-earth book that distils their combined experience of dealing with the SME business sector. An excellent book, well worth reading and, more importantly, implementing!" Peter Roper - award-winning speaker, best-selling author and business strategist