Business Money Books

Jeffery fox gives some good ideas that will basically work with any type of business. ideas can be adapted to suit your ideas and plans

The book inspired and motivated me to do bigger things. There were lots of free space between the chapters whereon I took numerous notes that created my topics for brainstorming. I wished that all the books are published in the same manner, so that we have free space to take notes-think and create new ideas.

You will probably not find anything new in this book. However, it lists you several things that we tend to forget in our everyday activities.

Easy to read and motivational.

The book is divided into roughly 3 sections: for the budding entrepreneur, for the micro (i.e. one man) shop, and for the small (under 50 person) business.

Pages 1-25 and then 129-144 focus on what to do/understand before you actually start your business. Based on my own mistakes in the professional service field, I'd like to have seen a statement or two about don't quit your day job until you have a paying customer, but Mr. Fox gets close enough to the ideal. That said, if you are a micro-sized business (10 or under people), this is good refresher stuff and may even give you some ideas to tackle to improve your business. If you are over 10 people in your business, consider skipping these sections.

In between page 26 and page 128, the advice applies equally well to micro and small businesses, although pages 92-97 are only applicable if you have more than 10 people working for you.

Throughout are some real gems of advice ... and more importantly ... the logic behind the advice. The ones that I found most intriguing and resonating were:

1. Cash in the bank is more important than "to be collected" profit
2. Stay off committees, boards and other time-intensive activities that networking gurus often proclaim as key to building business
3. The difference between a penny-saver and a penny-pincher, and why you want one but not the other.

I've read nearly all of Mr. Fox's books, and this is certainly a good one that deserves to be read by anyone thinking about starting up their own business or anyone currently running their own business...or anyone working in a small business.

I've decided, as I've started to do some more extensive reading in the area of small business, in the hopes of shortly starting our own family business, to provide some more thorough reviews for books, whether good or bad. I started with this one, from the library I might add and I have to admit some of the recommendations and the fact that it seems more of a motivational book almost geared towards some type of stereotypical "soccer mom" or "housewife" wanting to start her own business put me off.

The book, though short (150 pages) makes for a good read I must confess. It seems centered on providing a lot of good motivational passages and some of the later chapters that I'll mention make it worthwhile in the end. He starts off early on by giving a nice little small biz priority list one should keep in mind at all times.

I'll start off with the negatives. The author makes several over the top suggestions by the author, you be the judge. In section XII, "Hire ex-paperboys", he suggests that those who were (and you can imagine the millions that were...) are "mentally tough", "independent" are better businessmen because of this. I tend to disagree seeing that any work done in teenage years can teach the importance and value of working. But what really disturbed me is that he went on to say "good child labor produces good adult employees" and last but not least "if you interview someone who washed out as a paperboy, wash your hands of that job candidate". Advice I think most business owners would be wise enough NOT to follow.

It however gets worse when the author makes the suggestion that in order to "maximize" your time and money, we hire I kid you not, a personal driver. He goes at some length to explain the benefits of this, suggesting it's not a luxury, but that driving is a "time thief", doesn't allow an owner to maximize his time and money and that there are plenty of retired people and part time works who would fit the bill. Unfortunately for me this is just a ridiculous point that I could only see happening in either Manhattan or possibly LA, if even that, especially if meeting clients or going to them is part of your job and what you enjoy.

I also disliked the following chapter on how to cope with the loss (firing or quitting) of an employee in that you should treat it as a death! The section itself is entitled "What if he had died". Not something I think needs to be brought up in such a way for a small business book especially in such a sinister comparison. He ends that section with "What if he had died? You can't care. You have customers to sell, to serve. You have a business to run. Get on with it."

As for the positives, and there are many spread throughout the book including tips such as the difficulty of truly doing productive work from a home office, and the difference between "fame" and "fortune" when stating "unless fame is part of your marketing plan, fame is for ego. You can't put ego in the bank."

What I enjoyed the most from the book, not necessarily being a numbers person but rather someone who understands its importance in day to day operations, was the chapters regarding the break point analysis. I don't believe many small business owners consider it from the get go, especially in retail, and it is definitely more applicable for those types of businesses versus "service" businesses (consulting, landscaping, painting, etc).

This is obviously a very if not overly thorough summary of this book but hopefully one that will provide the best possible insight into what you can get out of it. I would have given this book most likely a 2.5 out of 5 if not for the last few chapters that actually could benefit many small business owners as well as for some of the useful motivational tips the author often quotes, some of which can definitely be ignored and others that provide more food for thought.

I know a lot of people are wary of the advice to pay only the minimum on their bills, but it worked for me. I bought this book shortly after it was published, and so far I have paid off four credit cards and saved enough to buy a house. I bought a digital camera with coins I saved in a jar. Why does this method work? Because it enables you to have enough cash and savings so that you are not tempted to use credit to buy "fun" things, or to use plastic to get through the month.

I didn't keep a lot of separate savings accounts, just one at the bank and a jar for coins at home. The key is to pay only the minimum on your cards, and save any extra money that you can. And avoid "stealing" from your savings to pay for trivial things. Keep your goals in mind.

Do I still have debt? Yes. But it's half what I used to have and it's not growing. I can handle the bills without stress, and I do less impulse-buying because I have my goals in mind. Try this book if you have trouble making it through the month without using credit.

P.S. Occasionally I will set a savings goal to pay off the last bit of a credit account at once. If you are not comfortable paying the minimum only, you might consider having a "credit payoff" savings account--just don't deprive yourself of "fun" savings goals at the same time.

I found this book among a pile of books that I had forgotten I had. I remember when I first read it, I thought it was very good and offered some sound advice. I still do, but with reservations. It seems to me that the philosophy of "follow your dream and don't worry about what it costs" is the main reason why the US is in the fix it is today. A lot of people went out and bought "dream homes" and vacations that they knew they couldn't pay for. The author's advice that it is prudent to save cash for these things, however, makes a lot of sense. Even though it is crucial to pay off debt as quickly as possible, you still have to put some savings away. If you don't, well, you'll end up putting those items on your credit card and the viscious cycle continues. It is probably not a great idea, though, to put this savings into the stock market or other less-than-safe investments. With credit cards at anywhere from 12 to 24%, there are very few stocks that would pay returns that would offset your cc interest rates. Yes, I'd love to take a trip around the world and stoke my dream machine, but I also don't want to be paying off debt when I'm in my 60s or even 70s. You have to pay more than the minimum. What really is working for me is to pay the minimum on only the lower-interest cards, then pay as much as you can each month on the highest rate card. When you get that one paid off, you can use the extra money from not having to pay the first credit card to add toward zaping the 2nd highest interest rate card, and so forth. Far be it from me to suggest that anyone should sacrifice their dreams, but reality can be harsh. The author states that our paycheck is OUR money and we should pay ourselves first. But if we owe other people money, then that's not completely true: a percentage of that paycheck is not quite ours. Nobody twisted our arm and made us buy something we can't afford. True, sometimes people have to lean on credit because of loss of job or other hardships, but that's why you have to try really hard to put some money aside for emergencies. I'm not being judgmental; it's just that I've been there before and know what a quagmire debt can be. Still, I give the book 3 stars, because I think it is important to have respect for our dreams and there are a lot of good ideas in the book.

This book is ten years old but it still applicable and full of excellent advice. I too was pessimistic about her advice of paying only the minimum on your bills. Most financial advisors focus on getting out of debt first and having little savings but her book take a much more holistic approach becuase it helps you to make small steps to paying off your debt and huge steps to getting your spending under control and learning to save!!!! I like Suze Orman but her plan keeps you dependent on your credit cards. Put all your cash on paying down your debts and if you have an emergency use your credit card. No way! I like Carol's plan. It is a slow and steady process of debt elimination but when you are finally out of debt you also have savings and you are NOT dependent on your credit cards. Her plan is the best plan to help you get out of debt and STAY out of debt. My bet is on Carol for my best chance at financial freedom.

All my life I've been intimidated by money, finances, budgeting... I don't even balance my checkbook. I was so worried about not doing it right that I didn't do it at all.

Another thing I've been afraid to do was to develop goals and go for them. What if I made the wrong choices?

Somehow this little book drove it home for me that no one was going to make my decisions for me, and no one was going to finance them, either, if I didn't.

I love this book. Because of it, I am taking control of my money, and making decisions about my future. It doesn't have to be drudgery - it can be fun!

If you've always been "bad with money" get this book!

I gave this book an extra 2 stars over my original opinion due its motivational value. The "even if you save change in a jar you can do it" pep talk is great. It's true, some of us do get so caught up in the bills that we forget that even small amounts can add up. However, I totally disagree with the advice to pay the minimum on credit cards. At the very least make a consistent payment beyond the minimum and stay at that amount until its paid off. Then take whatever amount that was and apply it to the next bill in line and so on. The snowball effect will get you out of debt sooner than you thought.

I didn't know where to begin or the steps to take to get my idea to the supermarket shelves. I couldn't have done it without Mr. Reese's help in How to License Your Million Dollar Idea. And now, in the new book, Amazing Secrets of Millionaire Inventors, there's even more really useful, practical information about setting up my business and putting my best foot forward with great presentations. WOW!!

If you want to learn about the start and foundation of Forex, use Google! It is free and more up to date than this piece of junk. Luckily I got it from the library and did not pay for it.

I have been a Forex trader for a long time now and 80% of this book is not relevant any more.

Lots of historical perspective, but lacks specific techniques and strategies. Also pretty dated now. Lots of filler and anecdotes, too.

Of all the books I've read on Forex this has to be the least useful. There is no central theme, no "how to"....it's a collection of dis-jointed, unrelated trivia about the foreign currency market. Not worth the paper it's written on...in my view. You'll do considerably better reading nearly anything else. Don't waste your money or your time.

We recommend this book to our clients who want to learn more about global currency markets. It gives a great introductory overview and history of currency. Brief and well written.

So many editorial reviews on Amazon are so far off the mark...and this book is no exception. Poorly written, poorly edited and of course poorly priced. The author spends too much time on his personal observations, which are highly subjective of course, but devoid of the poignancy that would justify such missives. He then moves quickly from one topic to the next, explaining none in sufficient detail.

Much of what he writes isn't very important to a trader and is probably obvious to a student of financial markets. Laypeople will learn something about the world of forex, but this cursory treatment lacks focus. They are better off reading a few focused books. The few pages devoted to interviews from successful traders were informative, but I found myself disagreeing with some of the "facts" (read: opinions) offered up. If you must buy this book, take what is written here with a grain of salt. Then go buy a serious book on the stucture of the foreign exchange market, on risk management and on trading strategies.

This book will not make you a better trader and it certainly isn't worth the price.

This book and Tested Advertising Methods were my first contacts with direct marketing and copywriting and what you have to consider. I consider them both classics. A must at least for every copywriter and also everyone who has to work in this area. In my job I often get suggestion for ads which are funny and creative. But funny doesn't necessarily sell. This book - based on so-called scientific advertising - shows you what works and what to look for in an ads or a copy.

This book is full of proven methods of making cost-effective advertising. A bit outdated but still very valid and central to advertising thinking.

Simple to read and well-organized. Examples of chapter names include; "303 words and phrases that sell", "12 ways to find advertising ideas" et cetera.

An important reference book to anyone involved with selling in general and copywriting in particular.

Other related books include; Ogilvy on Avdertising and Tested Advertising Methods.

Recommended in monthly Radio Management Newsletter by Holland Cooke, consultant to News/Talk/Sports AM radio stations.

Although it's less charming than a piggy bank or sterling silver baby spoon, this book is now the gift I'll be giving to friends when they have a child. It covers every element of what new parents have to think about to plan a secure financial present and future for their family.

This book is so timely. With the incredibly high cost of living in Chicago I was scared when I got pregnant. This book helped me define my priorities - was it more important to buy that expensive dress that my daughter would destroy in one week or to save money for my retirement so she doesn't have to support me in my old age? this book encourages you to face financial reality! I read the book twice from cover to cover and still refer to it before I make big puchases.

This book includes every aspect of finance that couples face. I am expecting my first baby in June and am so glad I did this review before my baby is born- I am going to avoid some unexpected problems! Erica's writing style is really easy to understand, unlike a lot of financial books, and her own experience really comes through. The worksheets are easy to complete, and again, make the picture a lot clearer!

Thank god I found this book! It really helped me and my husband sort out all the must dos, have tos, and should haves when planning for the birth of our baby. There's so much baby marketing thrown at you when you're pregnant, it's very confusing and over-whelming and I was already confused and over-whelmed just being pregnant. This book was easy to read and a big help in guiding what to buy, what not to buy and what we should be doing with our finances. I found it invaluable.

Reviewed by Sandie Kirkland for RebeccasReads (6/08)

Michael K. Farr is a professional financial advisor who manages his clients' portfolios and gives them advice on how to grow their savings so that they can enjoy a stress-free retirement. In A Million In Not Enough, he gives the reader the advantage of his advice and expertise. Farr divides investors into three groups: The "Core Boomers" are those in their early to mid-fifties; "End Boomers" are those in their early to mid forties, and are representatives of the last of the official Boomer generation; while those in their early to mid-thirties are the "Neo-Boomers," and could even be referred to as the older "Generation X". Each group needs a different strategy to be successful in the goal of accumulating enough capital to fund retirement. "End Boomers" tend to have more assets, while "Neo-Boomers" tend to have more time. Each is important, but needs differing strategies.

A concept Farr uses throughout the book is the theory of "Abundance Guilt." That is the conflict over material success that many in the Boomer generation have, due to unprecedented success, incredible work ethics and the hard-driving pace this generation tends to set for themselves. Farr insists that rather than feeling guilt at the success and material goods an individual has been able to attain, they should be proud of their accomplishments and the ability to fund retirement and leave a legacy to their heirs.

This book is full of excellent investment advice, guiding the reader through calculating their net worth, deciding how much risk they can handle, setting a budget, determining ways to save more, and ways to avoid taxes. There are multiple charts and tables, showing various scenarios. There are two specific concepts Farr advocates. The first is the magic of compounding, and the other is the superiority of the stock market as an investment vehicle; over time, it has proven to outperform any other. Farr gives a detailed explanation of how the market works, different ways of investing depending on the individual's desire to be in control, and how to research stocks. He even gives specific recommendation on which stocks might be good to own, and which mutual funds tend to be top performers.

This book is recommended for anyone who doesn't have a good grasp on basic financial concepts, and shows how to apply these concepts to make sure that investments and retirement are successful. The book has a forward by P.J. O'Rourke that I found jarring as it attempted to discuss the topic humorously, but outside of that, I found this book well worth reading.

Reading Mr. Farr's book has helped me understand the steps I need to prepare for my retirement. Using clear syntax and giving a cogent framework has made me feel that I, myself, have the power to control how I save money to fulfill my goals for my golden years, and that I can simultaneously provide for my children's college tuitions. Thanks, Mr. Farr for helping me feel better.

A. Danford
Noank, Conn.

I am in my late '50s and I thought this book was instrumental in helping you prioritize the different elements of financial planning. It was simple and effective in outlining steps one needs to take as you get closer to retirement. Of course, the stage you're in life determines how aggressive you should be. But overall, I found it very informative.

Michael Farr has written a great book for retirement investment while making none of the usual assumptions about the financial situation of the reader. His advice and outlook is geared to anyone interested in securing their finances with a solid base and whether you start at 20 or 65 or you have or have not already made your first million he encourages you with the idea that it's not too late(or early)to start. If you analyze your own money routine using the charts and schedules in the book you do see where you can take yourself financially by paying attention and using available resources. He even offers his own email address in case you aren't quite sure of the appropriate direction. It's an appealing method he offers to capture your own financial interest. Using humor and examples from his own life as well as clients he uses budget and cash situations familiar to the reader. This presentation allows the reader to identify and understand the point he's making. I would recommend it just on the merit of it not making you scared of investing. The discussions are serious but clear and the usual glazing over of the brain when reading financial material did not occur. I hope you enjoy the book.

This book spends a lot of time helping you explore things like your current budget, how you can save more, and how much you will need in retirement. I'm sure there are some people who need this basic information, but you may be better off with the on-line retirement calculators and there are certainly better books available. My biggest concern is that he rocommends portfolios that are extremely focused on actively managed U.S. Large Cap Growth stock mutual funds, but does little to justify this approach. Choose a different book (like Bogleheads Guide to Investing)and invest in a diversified asset class portfolio of index funds and ETF's.