Introduction: -- Putting everything in writing -- How to use this book -- Starting A Business: -- Evaluating your business idea: -- Business evaluation personality quiz -- Questions to ask about a franchise -- Franchisor's disclosure document -- Checklist -- Creating your business plan: -- Elements of a business plan -- Business plan and strategic plan -- Worksheet -- Business plan checklist -- Sample business plan -- Format for business proposal -- Elevator pitch -- Startup cost: -- Estimated startup costs worksheet -- Startup expenses worksheet -- Estimated startup cost shortfall -- Sample startup expense worksheet -- Creating an operating budget worksheet -- Budgeting worksheet -- Startup expenses estimated worksheet -- Operating expenses worksheet -- Sample operating expenses worksheet -- Checklist for cutting costs -- Checklist for evaluating a business location: -- Location analysis -- Potential location checklist -- Proposed location rating -- Legal business structures: -- Business entity chart -- Ownership structure of business entities -- Checklist for choosing and registering a business name -- Articles of organization for an LLC -- Sample articles of organization for an LLC -- Guidelines for articles of incorporation: -- Sample filing for articles of incorporation -- Fictitious name (DBA) form -- Financial statement requirements for business entities -- Worksheet for a successful partnership -- How to obtain an employer identification number -- IRS forms and publications -- Creating an exit plan: -- Exit plan worksheet -- Buying Or Selling A Business: -- Checklist for putting together a search plan -- Selling memorandum: -- Elements for a selling memorandum -- Three-year financial worksheet -- Agreement for purchase and sale of a business -- Checklist for new owner of a business -- Setting Up And Running A Corporation: -- Articles of incorporation: -- Articles of incorporation worksheet -- Roles of shareholder, director, officer, and employee -- Shareholder, director, officer, and employee worksheet -- Corporate minutes: -- Form for corporate minutes -- Contract Basics: -- Getting the signature right: -- Signature boxes -- Reviewing a contract: -- Checklist for reviewing a contract -- Checklist for reviewing a contract for consulting or services -- Checklist for reviewing a contract for buying or selling goods -- Making changes to a contract: -- Amendment to a contract -- UCC: a ready-made sales contract -- What documents need to be notarized? -- Buying, Selling, And Leasing Real Estate: -- Retail and office lease agreement -- Commercial lease agreement -- Agreement to execute lease -- Americans with Disabilities Act- addendum -- Agreement to cancel lease -- Lease assignment -- Primary lease agreement -- Agreement for sale of commercial real estate -- Commercial or industrial property real estate sale contract -- Mortgage form -- Balloon mortgage note form -- Promissory note A --Buyer-broker agency agreement -- Home inspection checklist -- Financial Reports, Accounting , And Money Management: -- Banking checklists and forms -- Questions to ask when researching a bank account -- Questions to ask before setting up your merchant account -- Questions to ask before seeking outside financing -- Personal financial statement -- Financial statements: -- End-of-the-year financial assessment -- Balance sheet -- Profit and loss statement -- Income statement -- Sample startup funding financial statement -- Bookkeeping system: -- Chart of accounts -- Pricing strategy worksheet -- Accounting forms and checklists: -- Expense reimbursement form -- Expense report -- Sample delinquent account notice -- Business credit application -- Checklist of tax records -- Payroll forms and checklists: -- Payroll budget estimate -- Payroll cost report -- Daily payroll form -- Employee turnover rate worksheet -- Checklist for accounting fraud -- Checklist for payroll procedures analysis -- Checklist for bank reconciliation -- Checklist for cash receipts analysis -- Checklist for check tampering -- Personal finance: -- Budget worksheet -- Record of personal assets -- Personal business worksheet -- IRS forms and publications: -- Purchasing And Managing Supplies And Inventory: -- Purchasing: -- Supplier contact sheet -- Supplier reference sheet -- Vendor list -- Supplier order schedule -- Inventory: -- Employee order request log -- Perpetual inventory form -- Storeroom requisition log checklist for examination of purchasing process -- Checklist for red flags for bribery in the bidding business process -- Human Resources: Hiring And Managing Employees: -- Forms and contracts for interviewing and hiring: -- Checklist for the hiring process -- Questions to ask before hiring your first employee -- What not to ask prospective employees -- New hire application -- Sample employee hiring letter/ agreement -- Agreement for hiring an independent contractor -- General employment contract -- Application of Federal Law to employers -- Direct deposit Authorization Form -- Nondiscrimination notice -- Checklist for employee file -- Initial employee information sheet -- Employee contact sheet -- Acknowledgment of drug-free policy -- Technology policy -- Confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement -- Taxation forms for employees: -- Checklist for employee or independent -- Contractor determination -- Time sheet / time card -- Employee rating system -- Performance appraisal form -- Employee self-evaluation form -- Performance evaluation form -- Employee satisfaction survey -- Employee handbook: -- Sample employee handbook -- Ethics policy of code conduct -- Employee fraud prevention checklist -- Safety policy and OSHA compliance: -- Formulating a safety policy -- Checklist for employers covered by the OSH Act -- Forms, And Checklists For Consultants And Independent Contractors: -- Agreements and forms: -- Independent contractor agreement -- Hiring agreement for a company -- Invoice for independent contractor -- Networking log -- Marketing & Public Relations: -- Marketing strategy checklist -- Marketing plan worksheet -- Advertising methods analysis worksheet -- Branding worksheet -- Press release worksheet -- Sample press release -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Directory of contents on the companion CD-Rom -- Index.