Hbr guide to buying a small business free download

And at the end of the day, they walk out and feel, today, I used all of my capabilities. Are there things people should think about maybe before they decide if this path is right for them? Most of us believe we would like to set our own agendas. But most of us really like having a boss deep down inside. We like having that person that says, this is what you should be doing. That level of direction, everybody likes a boss to set broad agenda items.

And when you run your own small business, the most important part of your day is setting your own to-do list. Some people like to know that work starts at AM or AM and ends at some time.

And that really feels terrible. And so these emotional ups and downs that entrepreneurs report having are really big. And you have to be able to handle that as an entrepreneur. You have to look inside yourself and say, yeah, the great offsets the bad, and I am perfectly comfortable managing those emotional oscillations.

But here, overlooked, are thousands and thousands and thousands of businesses all over the world that have been around for 20 and 30 and 40 years and have an enduring profitability. And when you buy that company and run it, you are in every sense an entrepreneur. So what they do every day is exactly what an entrepreneur does. So having it be a secret enterprise with you and your buddies eating potato chips is perhaps a wonderful activity.

Maybe they upgrade them to French fries in the winter. And there are two broad paths. One is that you have some savings or a working spouse who can fund this activity as you proceed to source opportunities to buy. Almost everyone needs to raise money for the actual acquisition from investors. We can talk about that later. So one of the early decisions is, do I need some backing to fund my search and the advice that comes with it.

Or can I afford to actually go out on my own and look for a companies to buy. You have to put yourself in the right mindset. And the right mindset is to tell yourself, this is a full-time job.

That is, searching for a company to buy is a full-time job. So to find a company to buy, most people report that they work 12, 16 hours a day sourcing potential acquisitions. This is going to be my passion. It takes that long. Let me start with the United States. So in the United States, there are about 3, small business brokers.

So one of the first steps most searchers do is they do outreach to several of hundred of these. In addition, there are a couple of electronic databases where brokers or sellers will list their companies. And you can go to those portals and access this, too. But within a couple of months of starting your sourcing, you should be seeing at least 20 companies a week that are for sale and filtering those.

And Rick, some searchers actually supplement that by direct outreach to sellers. Two searchers who are searching together, former students whose spouses were both tied to New York City, so they knew they had to buy a business in New York City.

The HBR Guide to Managing Strategic Initiatives provides practical tips and advice to help you manage all the stages of an initiative's life cycle, from buy-in to launch to scaling up. You'll learn how to: Win--and keep--support for your new initiative Move rapidly from approval to implementation Assemble transformative, high-performing initiative teams Maintain the confidence of sponsors and stakeholders Stay on schedule and within budget Avoid initiative overload by killing projects that aren't meeting business needs Keep multiple initiatives in strategic alignment Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, from a source you trust.

Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges. Set your company up for long-term success. Every company needs a strategy. A focused strategy aligns decision making throughout the organization and helps establish a competitive edge in the marketplace.

But with so many options to consider, how do you define a unique strategy that will ensure growth? Whether you're starting a business from scratch or leading an existing company facing new threats, this book offers the direction you need. The HBR Guide to Setting Your Strategy provides practical tips and advice that break down the process of crafting strategy so you can identify the areas your company should build on to help it thrive long into the future.

You'll learn to: Understand what strategy is—and what it isn't Define where you'll play and how you'll win Conduct more-effective strategic discussions with your team Test your strategy before you implement it Communicate your strategy to key stakeholders Ensure your strategy is flexible and adaptable Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business.

Learn how to make better; faster decisions. You make decisions every day--from prioritizing your to-do list to choosing which long-term innovation projects to pursue. But most decisions don't have a clear-cut answer, and assessing the alternatives and the risks involved can be overwhelming. You need a smarter approach to making the best choice possible. The HBR Guide to Making Better Decisions provides practical tips and advice to help you generate more-creative ideas, evaluate your alternatives fairly, and make the final call with confidence.

You'll learn how to: Overcome the cognitive biases that can skew your thinking Look at problems in new ways Manage the trade-offs between options Balance data with your own judgment React appropriately when you've made a bad choice Communicate your decision--and overcome any resistance Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, from a source you trust. Are you a good boss—or a great one?

Good bosses can handle the day-to-day work of running a team. Great bosses go beyond that, finding ways to help employees become better versions of themselves as people and professionals.

But as a manager, how do you reach that next level? The HBR Guide to Being a Great Boss contains practical tips and advice to help you become a more well-rounded leader, one who sparks creativity, engagement, collaboration, and growth in your team. You'll learn how to: Magnify your people's strengths Create a welcoming, inclusive culture Communicate effectively—and regularly—with your team Challenge your people to grow beyond their current limits Recognize and reward good work Establish yourself as a trustworthy leader and colleague Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business.

Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. The firm I work for does some private equity investing in exactly the types of companies discussed in this book. This is less risky than launching a startup. Many of the entrepreneurs who go this path are highly skilled and motivated, but for whatever reason do not want to work in a large corporate environment.

This book is a guide to the process, from deciding whether to become an entrepreneur through acquisition up through raising capital and closing a deal. In fact, it works pretty well as a private equity primer. You leave work exhausted but have little to show for it. Not only will you end each day knowing you made progress—your improved productivity will also set you apart from the pack.

Video calls from your couch. Project reports in a coffee shop. Presentations at your kitchen table. Working remotely gives you more flexibility in how and where you do your job. But being part of a far-flung team can be challenging. How can you make remote work work for you?

The HBR Guide to Remote Work provides practical tips and advice to help you stay productive, avoid distractions, and collaborate with your team, despite the distance that separates you. You'll learn to: Create a regular work-from-home routine Identify the right technology for your needs Run better virtual meetings Avoid burnout and video-call fatigue Manage remote employees Conduct difficult conversations when you can't meet in person Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business.