ULTIMATE PROFIT MANAGEMENT [electronic resource] : maximizing profitability as you grow your business.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- About the Author -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Note -- Chapter 1: Growth Philosophy -- Bootstrapping on Your Own vs. Finding Investors -- Two Separate Business Models -- Investors Look for Super-High-Growth Potential and Controlling Interest -- Controlling the Pace of Growth -- In Light of the Above, We'll Focus on the Bootstrapping Method -- Chapter 2: Staffing: Before, During, or After -- If You Build It, They Might Not Come! -- Hire Slowly and Maintain Focus on Profitability

The Full Cost of a Hire Is Like an Iceberg: Most Is Below the Surface -- How to Get Five Hats on One Head -- Notes -- Chapter 3: Avoiding the Eight Growth Mistakes -- Setting Unreasonable Growth Goals -- Shiny New Toy Syndrome Impedes Your Focus -- Not Pausing Monthly to Review Progress Toward Goals -- Hiring (and Keeping) the Wrong People for the Job -- Excessive Overhead Will Doom You -- Not Enough Working Capital (Cash and/or Financing) to Fund Your Growth -- Not Talking to Your Customers About What Their Needs Are (Testing the Market) -- Underpricing Your Products or Services -- Notes

Chapter 4: The Three Aspects to Profitable Growth Sales -- More "Active" Customers (Actually Buying Your Goods and Services) -- Active Customers Buying More Frequently -- Active Customers Spending More in Each Transaction -- Key Takeaways -- Notes -- Chapter 5: Managing Risk -- What Is an Appropriate Rate of Growth for My Business? -- Grow with Less Debt -- Not More Debt -- Sometimes Building a Better Mousetrap Can Be More Successful with Less Risk -- The Insurance You Need and Don't Need -- Chapter 6: Managing Your Business's Cash Cycle -- Calculating Your Cash Cycle

Payroll and Overhead Must Be Paid in Cash -- A Combined 12-Month Budget and Cash Flow Forecast Gives You Plenty of Future Visibility -- Your Ability to Retain a Portion of Your Earnings in Your Business Will Help You Reduce Your Cash Cycle -- A Word to the Wise: If You're Fortunate Enough to Qualify for a Business Line of Credit, Be Careful How You Use It-It Can Be a Gift or a Curse -- Note -- Chapter 7: The Five Methods to Enhance Your Value While You Grow Your Business -- Do You Know What Your Value Is to Your Client?

Don't Underprice Your Products/Services Because You Don't Have the Confidence to Ask for Your Value -- As You Make Sales to Similar Size Companies, Start Building Your Confidence and Then Dedicate a Portion of Your Sales and Marketing Efforts to Larger Companies -- Develop Ways to Increase the Value of Your Existing Products/Services to Your Customers -- Create New, Higher-Value Products and Services -- The Six Secrets to Successful Price Increases -- Notes -- Chapter 8: Using Technology to Reduce Costs and Boost Your Productivity -- Web Conferencing -- Accounting Software -- Email Software

Use this book as a guide. In it, the author covers the most important aspects of reasonable, prudent growth that will avoid debt and allow you, your partners, and business associates a productive and non-stressful existence with a business that grows and profits correctly.