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Rating: 
Summary: I Paid $165 per hour to have someone do this for me!
Review: After owning a jewelry store for 20 years with 16 employees I had a consulting company come into my store. 30% of what they did is exactly what this book shows you what to do. I have since sold my store and am a consultant in the jewelry industry helping people run a better buisness. I MAKE the stores I visit get two books: How to make a business run without you by Susan Carter and
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. Both books are about why small businesses fail and what to do about it. The E-Myth is the phsychology of how to run a business so it runs without you but Susan Carters book is a step by stpe on how to actually do it. In a snapshot, it's this: If you can't leave your business because you're "the only one who can do it", think again. Take bank depsoits. Write down exactly how to make the depsoit, where to get the forms, which bank to take it to, where to enter the data. If you did this on your job, coulsn't soemone else take over? After doing this, for the last few years of owning my store, I didn't have a job. The employees ran the store. The best part of this book is the center section, Susan lays out exactly what each chapter of your store operations manual should look like. Did you know that MOSt McDonals franchises do 100% of their potential after only being open 30 days? Why? because of the operations manual for that franchise. $[money] for a lifetime of knowledge? Worth it? Buy it and let it sit on a shelf and it's worthless. Buy it and use it and you get ONLY 5 hours more with your family per week (that's 250 hours per year), is that worth $[money]? i think so. For me I sold my store and am doing what I love, helping others have their store run without them...
Rating:
Summary: The BEST how-to business book on my bookshelf!
Review: An associate of mine recommended this book to me and it completely changed my perspective on how to successfully run my small business. It quickly gets to the point about why systemizing your business is important to future growth. It does take work to implement the "repeatable systems" Carter outlines that are used by thousands of successful franchises (I don't have a franchise), but by taking the time to do it, I now have more time to focus on building my business (and a LOT more time to spend with my family!) instead of getting bogged down in doing all the work. This book gave me the "common sense" approach for growth that I SHOULD have had when I first started my own business. Maybe it's elementary stuff for some people, but not for me. I became a Carter fan and signed up for the e-zine she offers, too... I like that this book is short and easy to get through -- a book with more pages doesn't mean it will have more value! I also used one of the employee motivator exercises in the addendum -- it's really made a difference in my small staff's performance. I would recommend it without hesitation to any small business owner.
Rating: 
Summary: A handy guide for running a business
Review: I found the book to be concise, with excellent examples and exercises that stretched my thinking. After being in business for 15 years, there were still excellent ideas on employee motivation, and niche marketing. A worthwhile book, and one I refer to often.
Rating: 
Summary: I wasted my money on this one :(
Review: I hate to leave such a negative review, but it seems all this author did was take the information presented in "The E-Myth" by Michael Gerber, and make it her own (and in an amateurish way to boot!).
If you are a business owner who really wants to learn how to create systems so your company runs without you, then get the latest edition of "The E-Myth Revisited" and let a true pro show you the way.
Rating:
Summary: Best Jump Start for Business Building!
Review: If you want to actually apply concepts of operations development to your own business, especially if you have 0-20 employees, you'll do well with Carter's book. You'll find short chapters, with simply stated to-do items and an understandable how to guide for setting up business operations. For my money, it's a steal at the price. If you can't glean one, single idea for bettering your business that's worth the 38 bucks, you're not paying attention. I've shaved thousands of dollars off my overhead expenses thanks to Chapter 15 alone. It's a lot of common sense stuff, but it was obviously common sense stuff I wasn't doing very well.
Books can only jump start your thinking and action - you're still the one who has to be willing to do the work. This is the best jump-start I've ever had for building my business.
Rating:
Summary: No other comment but...GREAT!!
Review: The best business book I've ever read!!
Susan discussed the subjects thoroughly but also spesifically. She explained it so clearly, even an idiot may become a millionaire.
It's really applicable in every field of business.
Susan...four thumbs up!!
Rating:
Summary: Buy E-myth Revised instead
Review: The book E-myth Revised covers more information and is 1/3 the price of this book. Maybe buy this book if you don't understand E-myth and just need it explained to you in different words. Very dissappointed and thought this was a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money
Review: The first half of this book is totally worthless and the "doggy shop" analogies are condescending and "stupid." The second half as some useful outlines to writing a business operation manual...this book is DEFINITELY NOT worth the price. It is only about 130, paperback. I was expecting a textbook FULL of "how to" suggestions. Save your money for something else.
Rating:
Summary: How To Make Your Business Run Without You
Review: This book is a must for any business owner. Why pay big consultant fees when you can walk through the process as described in this book. This is truly the best How To book I have ever seen. And the author writes in such a way, it is as though you are conversing as she teaches you how to run your business instead of letting it run you. I'm in my third year of business and I owe a great deal of credit to Carter. It's like having my own personal consultant. Kudos! Five stars!
Rating:
Summary: Dont waste your money
Review: This book is an expensive beginners guide to business operations. I expected more details on the how to write an operations manual, this is not what I found. Most of the topics covered are the same covered by the E-Myth series, a better written book for the money.
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