Why go into business for yourself? -- Setting your money goal and attaining it -- What kind of business is best for you?: What type of business structure should you choose? ; Federal requirements and regulations you should know about ; Provincial government requirements and regulations you should know about ; Municipal government requirements and regulations you should know about -- Financial forecasting for a new business: What forecasts do you need and how do you prepare them? -- How to get money: What financing alternatives do you have? ; Plan your financial requirements ; Where do you go to rent money? ; Using your home to raise money ; Other sources of money ; More tips on approaching your lender ; Government help ; Employment incentives -- What about franchising?: What is franchising? ; Advantages and disadvantages ; Beware the hard sell ; Where do you start ; Check out the franchisor ; The franchise contract -- What about buying a business?: Advantages of buying ; Locating and purchasing a business ; Financing the transaction -- Location : home or office?: Rented premises ; Operating at home ; Taxes and your home ; Your personal life versus your business life -- Sales and marketing: Product or service : what do you sell? ; Marketing techniques ; Satisfying your customers through services ; How to attract customers ; The importance of your sales staff ; Using persuasive pricing ; The giant customer ; You needn't be best ; How to select new products -- Winning the war on paper: What records should you keep ; Use technology that will help you -- Keeping the books: Finding an accountant ; Tips on keeping your books (and staying out of trouble) -- What about computers?: Plan ; Hardware and software ; Networking ; The Internet ; Security ; Ergonomics and your environment ; Choosing a supplier ; Training ; Administration ; Rules -- Using tax laws to your advantage: Income and taxes in Canada ; Maximize deductible expenses ; Where does the money at the bottom line go? -- Insuring your business (and yourself): Watch those loopholes ; What coverage does your firm need? -- What to do when you are short of cash -- How to find and keep good employees: Hire or contract out? ; How to find employees ; How to keep employees ; How to evaluate employees ; Handling creative people -- More success tips -- Appendix. Preparing a business plan.

CD-ROM includes tips for creating business plans, templates for income and expense statements, self-assessment exercises and web resources.

for CD-ROM: Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, NT4 or 7; Word and excel or compatible software; CD-ROM drive; IE version 7 or similar.