An excerpt from Find The Numbers For Your Business Plan ...

JOE ENTERS THE KITCHEN and hangs his keys on the hook by the back door. “The boss called everyone into the conference room today. He’s merging the company with MegaAdvertising. I was Mac’s first employee, and now after fifteen years, he’s selling out. Just like that. It’s effective in ninety days.”

Kathy glances at him from behind stacks of boxes of Girl Scout Cookies® that she and nine-year-old Susan are sorting to deliver to the neighbors.

“The new company will offer us all jobs, but the closest office is the next town over. I know Jack and Anne who work there, and they put in a lot of hours. I don’t like the sound of that, plus adding twenty minutes to my drive each way. They haven’t talked to us yet about money either—I don’t know.”

Kathy pulls the sleeve of cookies from a box of Thin Mints, and offers it to Joe. “What else did he say? Do you think your clients will be happy with this news?”

“That’s the other thing. MegaAdvertising works only with big companies. I guess we’ll finish the projects we have and then they’ll cut my clients loose.”

Joe savored the minty chocolate cookie—a once-a-year reward for having an entrepreneurial daughter. Again this year, Susan sold more cookies than any other girl in her troop, and won a trip for the family to a local theme park.

 “Daddy, that doesn’t sound fair. Why aren’t your clients important to that big company?” Susan frowned. “I know they are important to you because you get so excited when they like the things you draw for them. Remember the poster you did for the animal hospital when it opened? You know…the one with dog and cat noses? They looked like they were sniffing the camera! That was cool!”

“She’s right, Joe. You do care. You’re proud of the work you do for them.”

“I know, Daddy. Why don’t you just keep making them happy? Let’s start our own business! If I can sell 300 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies®, I can help you sell, too!”

“And, Dad, I can help with the websites! I bet I know as much about that as you do,” yells Sam from the mudroom, where he’s been listening as he took off his cleats from seventh-grade soccer practice.
Kathy and Joe look at their children and then at each other. Joe shrugs his shoulders, raises his left eyebrow, then cocks his head. “You know ... you might have a good idea here.”

Kathy takes a cookie, too. “Let’s all agree to do our homework and see if we can make enough money to keep the two of you in knee pads and scout uniforms.”

“Ugh. . .homework,” the children whine in chorus.

Product Description  The economy is tough, so isn’t this the best time to be in charge of your destiny? Find the Numbers For Your Business Plan (Full Court Press, 2010) helps you understand your own personal financial situation and allows you to start your business knowing you can make a living while you build your dream!

Use this book if you:
a) want to start a service business;
b) will operate from your home or a small office;
c) estimate that start-up costs are modest

Follow the case study of the Workman family as they make decisions about starting a small graphics design company. Use the colorful worksheets and straight talk in the book’s 96 pages to help you make good decisions right from the beginning.

Find the Numbers For Your Business Plan is available now in paperback online at Amazon.com and other channels. You can find the book sold in print and eBook format with its companion electronic worksheets at: www.thearcadiangroupcpa.com.