A Company Named You


Book Description

This book is about YOU. It starts with knowing yourself, the real YOU, and legitimately liking yourself. Once you accomplish this, which may not be an easy task, it sets you up for your decision making for the rest of your life. It is the most important thing in developing all your relationships, and goals. It is, I hope, some interesting, and human thoughts that I felt important enough to be written down, in hopes that they would provide someone good reading. If it helped anyone to really know themselves, learn to like themselves, avoid some mistakes in life, provide a reason to hold life precious, to question intelligently, and not to forget to smell the roses, then it would be worth my time and yours.




Sticky Branding


Book Description

#1 Globe and Mail Bestseller 2016 Small Business Book Awards — Nominated, Marketing category Sticky Brands exist in almost every industry. Companies like Apple, Nike, and Starbucks have made themselves as recognizable as they are successful. But large companies are not the only ones who can stand out. Any business willing to challenge industry norms and find innovative ways to serve its customers can grow into a Sticky Brand. Based on a decade of research into what makes companies successful, Sticky Branding is your branding playbook. It provides ideas, stories, and exercises that will make your company stand out, attract customers, and grow into an incredible brand. Sticky Branding’s 12.5 guiding principles are drawn from hundreds of interviews with CEOs and business owners who have excelled within their industries.




Brand Naming


Book Description

You don’t have a brand—whether it’s for a company or a product—until you have a name. The name is one of the first, longest lasting, and most important decisions in defining the identity of a company, product, or service. But set against a tidal wave of trademark applications, mortifying mistranslations, and disappearing dot-com availability, you won’t find a good name by dumping out Scrabble tiles. Brand Naming details best-practice methodologies, tactics, and advice from the world of professional naming. You’ll learn: What makes a good (and bad) name The step-by-step process professional namers use How to generate hundreds of name ideas The secrets of whittling the list down to a finalist The most complete and detailed book about naming your brand, Brand Naming also includes insider anecdotes, tired trends, brand origin stories, and busted myths. Whether you need a great name for a new company or product or just want to learn the secrets of professional word nerds, put down the thesaurus—not to mention Scrabble—and pick up Brand Naming.




The Mom Test


Book Description

The Mom Test is a quick, practical guide that will save you time, money, and heartbreak. They say you shouldn't ask your mom whether your business is a good idea, because she loves you and will lie to you. This is technically true, but it misses the point. You shouldn't ask anyone if your business is a good idea. It's a bad question and everyone will lie to you at least a little . As a matter of fact, it's not their responsibility to tell you the truth. It's your responsibility to find it and it's worth doing right . Talking to customers is one of the foundational skills of both Customer Development and Lean Startup. We all know we're supposed to do it, but nobody seems willing to admit that it's easy to screw up and hard to do right. This book is going to show you how customer conversations go wrong and how you can do better.




Brand New Name


Book Description

Miller delivers a proven, step-by-step brand naming process to create an unforgettable name. The book explains to readers what to do every step of the way--right down to exercises to generate lots of naming ideas to techniques on how to test which names resonate the most.most.




Choosing the Right Domain Name


Book Description

A guide to choosing the right domain name for your organization, business, product or brand




Hello, My Name Is Awesome


Book Description

Every year, 6 million companies and more than 100,000 products are launched. They all need an awesome name, but many (such as Xobni, Svbtle, and Doostang) look like the results of a drunken Scrabble game. In this entertaining and engaging book, ace naming consultant Alexandra Watkins explains how anyone—even noncreative types—can create memorable and buzz-worthy brand names. No degree in linguistics required. The heart of the book is Watkins's proven SMILE and SCRATCH Test—two acronyms for what makes or breaks a name. She also provides up-to-date advice, like how to make sure that Siri spells your name correctly and how to nab an available domain name. And you'll see dozens of examples—the good, the bad, and the “so bad she gave them an award.” Alexandra Watkins is not afraid to name names.




Working for Yourself


Book Description

Ready to be your own boss? Tired of doing endless web searches for legal and tax information? Want one easy-to-use and authoritative resource for everything you need to set up and run your business? This book is for you. Whether you’re starting a full-scale consulting business or booking work on the side, Working for Yourself provides all the legal and tax information you need in one place. This excellent, well-organized reference will show you how to: decide the best form for your business (sole proprietor, LLC, or other) make sure you’re paid in full and on time pay estimated taxes (and avoid trouble with the IRS) take advantage of all available tax deductions available under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the latest tax changes designed to help the self-employed during the COVID-19 pandemic choose health, property, and other kinds of insurance keep accurate records in case you get audited, and write legally binding contracts and letter agreements. Learn everything you need to know about successfully starting and running your operation—get paid what you’re worth and don’t spend it all on taxes.




Birth to Buyout


Book Description

LIKE CARRYING AROUND YOUR OWN BUSINESS LAWYER, BUT WITHOUT ALL THE TALKING AND BILLS. Birth to Buyout gives you a straightforward, easy-to-grasp understanding of the business law questions and answers you need to run your business and prosper. Packed with refreshingly candid information, Birth to Buyout tackles business law topics in terms you can understand. Organized to guide you through all stages of your business - from Birth to Buyout - you learn: SET UP A COMPANY * The difference between Corporations, S-Corporations and Limited Liability Companies * How to pick the right entity for you * Where you should set up your company * How to pick a company name * What to take to the bank when you set up your company bank account * What to put in your business plan YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS * The big conversation you and your partners need to have at the beginning of your venture * Picking officers, officer titles and salaries * How to make sure you can get out when you want * How to kick out another owner * Setting up your Board of Directors * Dangers of serving on the Board * How to be a great Board member GETTING FUNDED * The difference between debt and equity * What investors expect from you * The parts of an investment deal * How to divide control between founders and investors * Securities laws * Sources of debt financing * Parts of a loan * Building business credit INTERNET CONTRACTS * What you need to put in your website privacy policy and Terms of Use * Avoiding liability from user generated content * Kids information under COPPA OFFICE LEASE * Negotiating the rent * Difference among net leases, double net and triple net leases EMPLOYEES & INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS * What goes in an employment contract * Noncompetes * Union contracts and collective bargaining * Nondiscrimination laws * Screening candidates, including immigration forms * How to follow rules about minimum wage and overtime and payroll INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY * Trademark * Copyright * Patent * How to get the rights through licensing or buying the IP MANUFACTURING * How to plan your whole manufacturing and fulfillment process * How to get a prototype made * How to discover the regulations you have to know about and follow * How to hire a manufacturer SALES AND MARKETING * How to get your product sold * Distribution channel options * Advertising and promotions * How to comply with advertising laws * What goes into your contract with distributors or sales agents * CanSpam and telemarketing rules GETTING PROTECTION AGAINST LIABILITY * Contracts * Insurance and Bonds * Vigilant Due Diligence GETTING RICH * Valuing a business * Valuing stock * Process of selling your company * Term Sheets * Representations and Warranties * Closing * Post closing * Tips to make for a peaceful sale AND, THERE'S A STORY - MEET HAP, HAZARD AND A LAWYER NAMED GRAVITY. Birth to Buyout is not just a business law almanac. Birth to Buyout spins forward on the story of two cubicle workers who make a run for entrepreneurship just as big corporate culture is closing in, all with the help of their corporate lawyer (if you just want the law, you can skip the story pages). Birth to Buyout was written to be an easy-to-follow guide to business law. That's why: * All explanations are in plain English * Charts and diagrams are used to make the law clear * The book celebrates American entrepreneurship and how it can truly set you free




The Complete Limited Liability Company Kit


Book Description

One of the most popular forms of business ownership, a limited liability company offers all the protection of a corporation with all the favorable tax treatment of a partnership. With it, you can keep your home and other personal assets safe from creditors while not being doubly taxed by the IRS. It is truly the best choice for many new small businesses. Double Asset Protection: Discover how an LLC can provide not one, but two layers of protection against liability and credit issues. Advantages and Disadvantages: Make sure that you are fully informed so that the way you establish your business best fits your needs. Quick Guides: Verify that you are meeting your goals, saving time and maximizing your profits with tools such as a checklist for forming an LLC and tips for running your LLC. State-Specific Information: Complete the process and make any necessary adjustments based on your state's laws with hand state-by-state statutes and securities offices resource guides. Ready-to-Use Forms: Find everything your need to form, operate and succeed with your LLC, including all forms on CD-ROM (with step-by-step instructions and samples in the text) for professional-looking documents that you can modify for your particular needs.