The Complete Canadian Small Business Guide

by Douglas A. Gray

Every small business owner or manager faces a multitude of questions each day. The Complete Canadian Small Business Guide, a comprehensive and easy-to-read guide, has been the "must have" answer book for thousands of Canadian entrepreneurs since first published in 1988. Now in its third, fully revised edition, you will find every topic updated to reflect changes in technology, in the law, in resources and in the common practices of today's small businesses. You will also find two new chapters covering doing business on the Internet and managing your insurance needs.
Douglas Gray and Diana Gray provide a complete reference for every question - from the day you open your doors to when you make the decision to sell, and all the challenges you may face in between. They also offer street smart tips that can give your small business a competitive advantage.
They answer all your questions about starting, operating and expanding your business,
-How do I use the Internet to enhance my business? Do I need a web site? Should I sell online?
-Should I buy a business, a franchise or start from scratch?
-How do I hire the best employees - and keep them?
-How do I maximize the value of my lawyer, accountant, banker and insurance broker?
-Where do I get financing, how much do I need and how do I pay it back?
-How do I get credit from my suppliers and when should I extend it to my customers?
The Complete Canadian Small Business Guide is your first-stop reference when problems arise or key business decisions must be made. You will refer to it often.
Douglas Gray, LL B, is Canada's foremost authority on small business. Formerly a practicing lawyer, he is the author of 17 bestselling business and personal finance books.
Diana Gray is an experienced business owner and consultant. Her company provides centralized business services to small and medium-sized companies as well as home-based businesses.
Doug and Diana live in Vancouver.

Genres: Business

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[A.V. Dalcourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview to all of the moving parts of running a business. I found a handful of sections laughable - as in I get the impression that the author barely understands how certain components of technology (the internet) works, but tries their hardest to impress upon the reader the virtues of this new fangled technology and how it could benefit your business. I found it funny only because I worked in web development, ecommerce, and graphic design. It's not the information in those chapters are bad (far from it), it's just very... I want to say on the cusp of being out of date. I felt this way particularly when they brought up the virtues of a fax machine and pager.

Some content sort of grated me, but in keeping in mind who this was written for, asking an aspiring entrepreneur to be accountable for poor training, communication, and then some - while also leaving out that stats are indicating that a large portion of workplace distraction stems from 'meaningless work' and poor management and leadership. Those chapters felt very much like: blame the employee; it's always their fault.

The chapter on time and stress management is iffy, as I take a personal issue with working yourself into an early grave. There's more to life than work. But that said, running your own business is a ton of work! You will be expected to wear a lot of hats especially initially when you're not generating the capital needed to meet monthly expenses or pay for qualified skill. If time and stress management is an issue - and it always is - I recommend Getting Things Done and Deep Work, maybe the 4-hour Work Week - as if teaches you how to delegate work and free up your time. Granted neither one of my recommendations addresses work/life balance or mindfulness practices that help reduce stress. Personally I didn't start my businesses to work 180hrs a week - but I planned my business accordingly and reduced my multi-million dollar business to focus on what I needed to sustain myself and keep my business out of the red.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really cover a wide range if topics that can effect a small Canadian business. It found relevant sections useful and I have earmarked for my reference when the time come for me to use it.

I really enjoyed learning about all the different kinds if lease agreements that are out there, the ratio section that determines how how well your business is performing. The formula for pricing products, how to receive addition funding either by loan or grant and the scary stuff like bankruptcy procedures. I don’t think anybody wants to read this part and I cringed several times but it still was brief enough, specific enough to understand the process. I hope to never experience this.

[L M Wannetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for business owners who are starting out as well as current business owners

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intuitive. I loved it

[Cory Marchildon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is no more comprehensive then what you you can find online.