The Woman Entrepreneur by Robert D. Hisrich & Candida G. Brush

The Woman Entrepreneur: Starting, Financing and Managing a Successful New Business by Robert D. Hisrich & Candida G. Brush

"Basically, I am in business because it gives me a good feeling about myself. You learn a lot about your capabilities by putting yourself on the line.... I get a lot of satisfaction from having dared it-done it-and been successful."

Starting a new business is risky, and being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated arena complicates matters further. Even so, lured by the enormous challenges and rewards that independence offers, women are creating and running their own businesses at three times the rate of men. And they are succeeding.

Who are these women? How do they do it?

Here women entrepreneurs-and women thinking about going out on their own-will find a guide to success and a close look at the special problems and opportunities they face. What does it take to go out and make it on your own? What personality types, skills, education, and support networks are common to successful women?

And, how will you run your company once it's established?

The authors answer these questions, and then lay out, step by step, what is involved in starting a business, from tapping sources of capital and advice, to developing marketing, financial, and organizational plans, to hiring, test marketing, promotion, taxes, networking, and more.

And for those already running their own businesses, the authors show how to keep them operating successfully, exploring such topics as negotiation, expansion, time management and control, and continuing education.

Whether just thinking about starting a business or already on the road to success, women will find this book valuable and inspiring, and will refer to it again and again.

Robert D. Hisrich is the Bovaird Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Tulsa College of Business Administration.

Candida G. Brush teaches marketing at Boston College and consults for small-business owners.