Bestselling author Matthew Lesko has designed a practical, comprehensive roadmap for those who want to start or expand a business. He's doing Uncle Sam's job, showing taxpayers where to tap into 9,000 sources of free help, information and even money. More than 300 programs offer money for start-ups, buy-outs, inventions, real estate investments, and more.

Two out of every three businesses are started by women and the Federal, State and Local Governments offer thousands of programs that give money, help and information for women who are starting or expanding their own business.

No business operates in America today under purely market forces.Myriad rules and regulations govern every area of business conduct: from establishing the firm to ensuring protection of the environment to hiring and firing policies. More than half of all startups that fail in the first year do so not because they produce inferior products or neglect to analyze the competition, but because they do not understand the regulatory environment in which they operate. In What Entrepreneurs Need to Know about Government, Wesley Truitt presents the most comprehensive overview of government regulation and its impact on business management to date. Covering all levels of regulation (federal, state, and local/municipal) and all stages in a firm's growth cycle (establishment, expansion, and liquidation), Truitt shows entrepreneurs and managers of established business alike how to navigate the minefield of rules and policies that oversee business activity. Drawing from a wide variety of primary data sources and his own extensive experience in the public and private sectors, Truitt clearly explains how government regulation of business has evolved and analyzes its positive and negative implications for management. Featuring descriptions of all the key agencies and summaries of major laws, Truitt offers practical guidance through a huge array of issues, including: intellectual property protection, legal incorporation, product safety and liability, taxes, mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit programs, divestiture, and much more. He identifies common pitfalls to avoid, ways to benefit through government assistance programs, and methods for influencing the policymaking process. Including practical checklists and extensive listings of informational resources, What Entrepreneurs Need to Know about Government is an essential guide for any business competing in the not-so-free market.

Step-by-Step Advice on Making Your Home-Business Dreams a Reality From Priscilla Y. Huff, the leading expert on home businesses for women, The Self-Employed Woman's Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business is your step-by-step resource to getting the business of your dreams up and started in no time. Packed with expert advice and nitty-gritty details about what it takes to run a successful home-based business, this book will show you how to: ·Prepare—physically and mentally—for a new career from home ·Balance work and family time for maximum enjoyment—and minimum stress ·Find and fill out the proper tax, license, and insurance forms ·Handle customers and bring in new business ·Implement creative and effective marketing plans ·Manage your finances and accounting with ease ·And much, much more! Filled with valuable resources and profiles of successful home-based entrepreneurs, this book answers all your questions about starting an enjoyable and profitable venture.