This manual takes the reader step by step through the entire process of starting a new business, from evaluating his or her credentials as an entrepreneur, to identifying and evaluating the best new business opportunities, to obtaining the most favourable funding possible. It seeks to speak directly to the needs and questions of the first-timer, explaining what works and what doesn't work - and why. It is also designed to show that while starting a business can be a mentally stimulating and financially rewarding endeavour, it can also be a time-consuming, demanding and risky undertaking. The author encourages readers to take an objective look at what is involved in starting a business as well as themselves to be sure they have what it takes to succeed. This second edition covers the Internet and alternative sources of funding that have developed since the first edition was published. The examples given are updated, legal issues are revised and financial statements reflect 21st-century figures.