Small Business in Paradise. Working for Yourself in a Place You Love.

Ready to go into business in a place you love? Take the first step -- get Small Business in Paradise! We've all daydreamed of working and living where our hearts belong. Often, these thoughts remain fantasies - after all, how do you get started, and how do you succeed? Find answers to these questions and more in Small Business in Paradise . It's inspirational: Read in-depth profiles of and interviews with entrepreneurs who took the leap and built successful businesses in the places they dreamed of calling home. It's practical: Find step-by-step guidance on how to... • launch a new business •research your market •build a seasonal business •hire the right people •advertise and promote your business •comply with local regulations •get involved in your community Plus, Small Business in Paradise provides a CD packed with checklists and resources that will help you stay on track while pursuing your ambitions. Table of Contents......Page 9 1. The Dream’s Not Always the Same......Page 13 A Road Map to Turning Your Dream Into Reality......Page 16 2. The Bed and Breakfast Biz......Page 19 Is a B&B Suited to You?......Page 21 Love, Work, and a B&B......Page 22 Buy It, Build It, Flip It......Page 30 Tips for Opening a B&B......Page 34 3. A Tale of Three Wineries......Page 39 David Coffaro: Start by Growing the Best Grapes......Page 42 Talty Vineyards: Make the Best Wine......Page 49 Dutcher Crossing: Buy the Best of Everything......Page 54 Tips for Opening Your Winery......Page 57 4. When Paradise Calls......Page 63 Someone Else’s Dream ... Your Paradise......Page 64 Social Marketing as a Career......Page 68 Part-Time Paradise......Page 73 Tips for Would-Be Entrepreneurs......Page 76 5. Taking Passion to Paradise......Page 79 Ginger and Her Garden of Eden......Page 80 A Board, a Wave, a Surf Shop......Page 85 Japanese Art—In a California Fishing Village?......Page 87 A Photographer’s Passion......Page 90 Passion Into Paradise: Key Points......Page 96 6. Turn Your Dream Into Reality: Ten Steps for Getting Started......Page 99 Make Sure the Business Fits You, and You Fit the Business......Page 101 Check With Those Closest to You......Page 104 Scout the Territory......Page 107 Gauge Market Demand and Check Out the Competition......Page 108 Estimate Your Start-Up Costs......Page 110 Do a Break-Even Analysis......Page 113 Write a Business Plan—Really......Page 114 Consider Your Financing......Page 117 Have a “Plan B”......Page 119 Get Your Current House in Order......Page 120 7. Finding the Right Spot in Paradise......Page 123 Pick Your Paradise......Page 124 Should You Own or Lease?......Page 129 Creating a Priorities Checklist......Page 131 Starting the Search......Page 132 Negotiating a Lease......Page 133 8. A Business for All (or Most) Seasons......Page 139 Knowing Your Seasons......Page 140 Creating Your Plan......Page 142 Product and Service Planning......Page 144 Seasonal Promotions......Page 145 Managing Inventory......Page 146 Create an Off-Season Business......Page 147 Make Use of the Off Season......Page 148 9. Staffing Paradise......Page 151 The Seasonal Workforce......Page 154 Hiring and Keeping a Year-Round Staff......Page 159 10. Marketing and Promoting Your Business in Paradise......Page 165 About Marketing and Sales......Page 166 Crafting Your Marketing Plan......Page 167 Building Public Relations......Page 173 Generating Referrals......Page 178 11. Get Involved With the Community......Page 181 From Ski Shop Owner to Community Leader......Page 184 Get Involved With Charities......Page 186 Build Relationships With Local Companies and Their Employees......Page 187 Get Involved in Government and Politics......Page 188 Join Social and Business Clubs......Page 189 Host and Sponsor Events and Seminars......Page 191 Don’t Just Join ... Lead!......Page 194 12. Even in Paradise—An Overview of Legal and Tax Issues......Page 197 The Right Attitude......Page 201 Buying a Business Versus Starting From Scratch......Page 202 Decide on Your Business Structure......Page 205 Registrations, Licenses, and Permits......Page 210 Tax Reporting Basics......Page 212 Workplace Laws and Regulations......Page 216 Contracts and Legal Disputes......Page 217 Hiring Professional Help......Page 219 13. A Life Plan, a Financial Plan, and a Small Business in Paradise......Page 221 Your Piece of the Pie......Page 222 Your Financial Plan......Page 224 Managing Risk in Your Overall Financial Plan......Page 225 Managing Specific Business Risks......Page 227 Retirement Planning......Page 232 Boost Your Chance at Happiness......Page 234 14. All Hail Jimmy Buffett......Page 235 Index......Page 239