Most students have a tough time economically. They have to be at school so they have little time, and the jobs that are available are often low paying. Since most students are looking for work, jobs are very scarce and the competition is fierce. Students face inconvenient hours working mostly in retail, fast food, or doing manual labor. Detailed in this new book are more than 100 business ideas that can be started for very little money and yet provide the student with more money than is being paid by the hour. Many of these businesses can actually be started with less than one hundred dollars and some can really be started with next to nothing. Many can be operated from home.
Starting and managing a business takes motivation and talent. It also takes research and planning. This new book is intended to serve as a roadmap for starting your business. It is both comprehensive and easy to use. It also includes numerous Web links for additional information. While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author leads you in developing a winning business plan, structuring the business, handling legal concerns, using proven sales and marketing techniques and pricing formulas, learning how to set up computer systems to save time and money, generating high-profile public relations and publicity, learning low-cost internal marketing ideas and low- and no-cost ways to satisfy customers and build sales, learning how to keep bringing customers back, accounting and bookkeeping procedures, as well as thousands of great tips and useful guidelines.
http://www.atlantic-pub.com/cgi-local/shopper.exe?preadd=action&key=101-FS
Well, this book certainly lives up to its promise in the title. This is a must read for any student contemplating any form of self employment. This book is inspiring, realistic, factual, easy to read, and well laid out. The career choices are immense, and some are quite original, eg: astrologer. This book covers a lot of areas and includes lists of organizations throughout each U.S.state where the student can obtain assistance.
This book includes a self-evaluation test, the pro’s and con’s of self employment, sound advice on advertising, legals, obtaining finance, start up costs, and guidance on starting up. The book contains inspiring success stories that appear realistic. The book also stresses the importance of a sound business plan and gives fine detail on how to implement this. The book is divided into three sections, depending on the available cash of the student to set up a business.
An excellent book. A true 5 stars. This reader could not find one fault with this well written and well organized book. A sound investment for any student.
Comment by Coco Swan — September 26, 2007 @ 2:46 am
101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars For Students
By Heather L. Shepard
5 out of 5 stars
There are hundreds of books out there that are informative “how to’s” for entrepreneurs. I have read countless books that have all given the same message, “determination, will-power and courage are what makes a successful business.” Often they forget to inform you of the procedures and neglect to educate you on the subject all around. This book by Heather Shepard has honestly been the first book that I would purchase and that would have me actually pursuing a successful business investment.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that, unlike the others in the same genre, this book by Heather Shepard gives you a variety of examples of businesses to start. It is also not biased on the topic of entrepreneurship. You are enlightened as to the pro’s and the con’s of starting a business and you are educated on factors such as the risks and rewards. Not to mention the numerous success stories. I was amazed to find that the actual financial investment for some business, contrary to what popular opinion and sources say, were not capable of giving you the status of bankruptcy.
This book is perfectly organized to help the future business owner. Everything is covered, leaving not one question unanswered. You are taught about everything from health care to being able to have your own proper business plan and establish a successful business. The two main benefits in Heather Shepard’s book that I find extremely helpful are, one, the chance to get involved and interactive within the book from all of the check list’s and questionnaire’s, and two, all of the references and links to other helpful sources that can help guide you in the right direction.
This is definitely the ultimate book to educate and enlighten anyone looking to start a successful business.
Comment by Dannielle Pierce — October 1, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars For Students
by Heather L. Shepard
My grandson is heading off to college with no scholarships, very little money and student loans looming in the distance. Heather L. Shepard’s book ‘101 Businesses you can start with less than one thousand dollars for students’ is truly a great informational book.
It is targeted specifically for students in a simple and precise format. It lists the qualifications, the resources, clientele, educational criteria and skills needed. Heather has provided numerous resources, contacts and websites.
Heather stresses the importance of a business plan. She details the business plan in great detail. This is in chapter 6 but it should be in chapter 1 due to the importance of the success of your business.
The self evaluation is very realistic and informative. It offers three checklists for your new business. Heather offers many hints and advice for the student entrepreneurs. This book should on the list for every student who wishes to make extra money.
Heather’s book details the money one can make at specific professions and also gives a detailed business overview. There is also a chapter on adding a sister business to your established business. Information regarding business license including city, county and state are also listed. Numerous success stories are highlighted in this book.
Heather’s book is motivating, inspiring and filled with resources. Working at home is not as easy as working at your kitchen table. Chapter 8 discusses establishing your home office. Is leasing a storefront right for you? Organization a major role in your business is also addressed in this chapter.
A success story about Art Guy Design Inc. states: follow your passion and the money will come. Advice to new business owners from Dana Bell, ‘Do it. Don’t be afraid to fail. Fail forward. You succeed just by trying.’
I give this wonderful book a rating of 5.
Comment by Colleen Braun — October 23, 2007 @ 8:45 am
101 Businesses You Can Start with Less than a Thousand Dollars was a great read for the beginning entrepreneur. I was able to get some great ideas on what businesses I could get into, where to start, and where to go for online business resources. This book was also packed with great tips on how to succeed in your chosen business. You don’t have to be a business student or graduate to be able to understand and use this information; the basics of business are covered within the book.
I loved the true life success stories included; as well as, the checklists on everything from self-evaluation to marketing plans, business finances to start-up procedures. 101 Businesses gave me the information I needed to choose a business, learn what that venture involved and required, and evaluate whether that idea was the right fit for me. It even provided money saving tips on starting a personal business. This book is a great read if you are looking to start working for yourself.
This book gets a five from me!
Comment by Keva R. Bailey — November 10, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
If you are considering starting a home-business this is the book for you! 101 Businesses You Can Start with Less Than One Thousand Dollars for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads is the complete guide to starting a home business for parents. If you are a parent considering starting a home business then this is the book for you. It is obvious Shepherd writes from personal experience for she thinks of everything one needs to know before starting a home business. She even includes a self evaluation to see how prepared you are to start a home business.
Are you short on cash? Shepherd included a section about home businesses you can start for $0 to $100. The same section will tell you how to start your chosen home business, and how to advertise so you will have clients.
Comment by Gina-Marie Cheeseman — November 16, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
Who doesn’t know a college student needing more money? What better way to make additional money than by starting your own business? “In 101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars (for students)”, Heather L. Shepherd outlines various business opportunities for the college student to pursue.
Not only does Shepherd list business opportunities for less than five hundred and between five hundred and a thousand dollars, she gives helpful advice on setting up a home office, writing a business plan, and marketing your new business. Shepherd even helps you evaluate why you want to start a business and takes you through the entire process.
The success stories included are inspiring as well as informational. I strongly recommend this book to any student looking for lucrative ways to become self-employed.
Rating: 5
Comment by Jill Dutton — December 12, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Increasing numbers of people are taking the plunge and setting themselves up in business, so if you’ve got an idea and the motivation to get started, it’s very possible to create a successful business. If however you know you’d like to run a business, but you’re short on funds and don’t really know what kind of business it is possible to start up on your own, then this book is going to be worth every cent you paid for it.
Aimed at students who want to start a business in order to make an income to support their studies, Heather L. Shepherd’s book is easy to read, easy to follow and interactive. It doesn’t just talk about setting up a business as if it’s something someone else does. Instead this book makes the reader really think about what they want to do. From the opening chapter the book with its self evaluation quizzes and financial planning forms makes the reader seriously consider their suitability for running a business of their own.
With honest case studies of people who have started their own business showing what they’ve done, and what they’ve learned along the way, the book also gives two sets of possible businesses for readers to consider. The first set are for those who have no or relatively small start-up capital (under $100), and the second set are for those who have a little more (under $1000). Each of the businesses highlighted are a concise guide of what the business would need in terms of start-up such as a general overview, how to get started – including equipment required, advertising tips and further information resources. Along with all of this information there are also chapters covering a more in-depth look at the legal, financial and marketing aspects of running a business.
Whether you’re a student, or a stay-at-home mom, or just someone who is tired of the 9-5 routine working for someone else but don’t have any spare capital to really sink into a business, this book is a great start to get you thinking about the possibilities out there for creating a business on less than $1000.
Comment by Katie-Anne — February 8, 2008 @ 8:54 am
Shepherd is the credible mother of seven children who has owned several home businesses. You could painstakingly extract the same information about business start-up Shepherd compiled in this book by amassing dozens of government pamphlets, but you will retain the information much better with 101 BUSINESSES because Shepherd’s Classified Case Studies are humorously related by fellow entrepreneurs in their own words. For example, Shepherd teaches us when not to bargain with a buyer, and how to avoid legal liability through the Case Study of a locksmith called by a desperate husband at 1:35 a.m. The caller wanted the locksmith to immediately unlock four pairs of handcuffs pinning the caller’s naked wife to their bedposts, but refused to allow a witness, or let the locksmith use bolt cutters that would damage the handcuffs, worth $16 dollars a pair.
101 BUSINESSES surveys a remarkable array of businesses, from astrologer to webmaster. It warns against scams like mystery shopping and medical billing. In addition to the Case Studies, this e-book features handy fill-in-the-blank checklists, step-by-step, plain language directions, and an alphabetical listing of business types to guide the nervous new entrepreneur in an almost maternal fashion. Although it focuses on American stay-at-home parents hoping to generate extra income, 101 BUSINESSES will also appeal to active retirees, students, hobbyists, and readers who want to return to the workforce – any healthy, persistent, independent person with an entrepreneurial spirit. Many of Shepherd’s generic tips can be applied by Canadian entrepreneurs. 101 BUSINESSES lists many supports for the entrepreneur: Sources of free software; downloadable forms; grant money; no-cost or low-cost healthcare; Web sites to find contracts and government regulations; supplementary books to educate you further; and expected earnings. It helps readers evaluate their characters for suitability as entrepreneurs, and tells readers how to fill in gaps in their knowledge of sales, marketing, administration, and finance. 101 BUSINESSES helps you select a business appropriate to your education and skills, available equipment, ability to travel, the amount of money you need to make, and the likelihood that you can find clients. It gives all the background readers will need for business start-up, like choosing a name and drafting business and marketing plans. Shepherd realistically cautions readers that most businesses will not show a profit until the second year of operations, but she does explain some methods of earning cash immediately as a contract teleworker.
101 BUSINESSES also outlines lucrative add-ons, like estate sale specialist as a sideline for a rental agent. It is a very rich resource for the beginner, and written in a very accessible, calming style. The book’s design is very intuitive and easy to follow. The only controversial message Shepherd advocates is volunteering your services free to non-profits to showcase your talents, advice many business owners would disagree with because that time might be better spent drumming up paying clients. However, Shepherd’s otherwise grounded approach is likely to benefit most readers in a short timeframe. Soon after implementing Shepherd’s ideas, readers might be able to relate to attorney William A. Agnew, Jr.’s Case Study. When Shepherd asked Agnew to pinpoint when he knew he was a success as an entrepreneur, Agnew replied, “I was in Wal-Mart with my soon-to-be wife, and I realized how much money I had made that month and I had quite a bit more coming in. It was much more than I had dreamed of making at that point in my life. I realized I no longer had to shop at Wal-mart. I have hardly been there since.” A portion of the profits from your purchase of this book will be donated to the Humane Society of the United States.
Comment by Theresa McCuaig — February 12, 2008 @ 11:11 am
“Anyone who has devotion and drive, a passion for success, and an understanding of business concepts can run a business,” according to Heather Shepherd, author of 101 Businesses You Can Start With Less Than One Thousand Dollars – for Students. Then why do so many fail? Inadequate or lack of a well-thought out business plan. But where to begin?
Ms. Shepherd demonstrates in her book that the first steps to creating a sound business plan are evaluating your own strengths and weaknesses. She has created check lists where you ascertain what you know and what what you need to learn. She teaches you to create your budget and how to get outside help in evaluating your business ideas. Intermittent case studies allow you to see the information put to work and clarify your understanding. Then the real fun begins.
The book contains hundreds of websites that you may contact to start working today. It lists 101 specific businesses you can initiate, their earning potential, level of ease of breaking into the business, and some of the equipment needed to get started. Once you have decided what you want to do, Ms. Shepherd literally leads you step by step through the process of writing your business plan. She lists what may be needed for your home office, for advertising and for getting your storefront up and running. You receive tips and pointers on where and how to get financing. She concludes the book with an entrepreneur’s success story, leaving you with everything you need to write one of your very own.
Rating: 4 of 5
Comment by Alyson — February 15, 2008 @ 3:52 pm