In the hard-fought business world, only one new business in 20 lives to see its fifth anniversary. Typical management books do not address the unique nuances of early stage companies. Most entrepreneurial books often profile successful entrepreneurs or companies who are better known, which usually includes only the small percentage that achieve stratospheric success. Starting Your Own Business shares the secrets of long-term survival and success, detailing practical guidelines and relevant “tales from the trenches” to help entrepreneurs tackle common concerns and obstacles. A welcome combination of first-person how-to advice and peer mentoring support, this comprehensive, essential resource book provides sound, battle-proven advice for determining early structural decisions, uncovering innovative funding resources, and developing a business plan and budget. This resource is designed to work as independent resource or integrate into business curriculums.