"A 'must-read' book ... filled with practical information and numerous case studies on what aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners need to know to run a profitable business...the author reminds the reader not to confuse the excitement and enthusiasm of starting a business and being a business owner with the skills required to be successful and avoid becoming one of the 80% of businesses that will eventually fail. A major contribution of this book is its continuous emphasis on the importance of having a business model as a critical requirement to start and manage a profitable business." -Edgar Ortiz, CEO of Strategic Analytic Solutions and business columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ralph Blanchard, a successful entrepreneur with a background in economics, provides a detailed analysis of what it is really like to buy, start, operate, and eventually sell a small business. Topics covered include: - why most businesses fail - ten management skills found in successful small business owners - strategies to transition from self-employment to entrepreneurship - advantages that small business owners have over larger competitors - tips to develop profitable pricing strategies - innovative ideas to help develop a sound business model