There is a tendency for people to want to be creative and try new things. The need to be innovative is essential but problems can occur if it is at the cost of attention to detail and to business basics.
Battles: Every business, and every person, has had battles, and will have battles in the future. This book is a collection of some of the more informative starting, operating and ending business battles (and accompanying financial issues) which the authors have experienced.
Potholes: The authors seek to help the reader to spot the "potholes in the road" before they hit them and, if they do hit them, be able to mitigate and manage the consequences.
Basics: After you have read this book you will probably think "I have not really learned anything new!" To this we would fully agree, because this book is all about the basics, one of the many being "cash is king", that is, no cash means no business. We almost see on a daily basis, managers who are not following the basics to their detriment and that of the business. Master the basics and you will be 80% there.
Case Studies: The case studies are divided into four parts comprising fifteen diverse Case Studies: Starting, Operating, Ending and Financially Analysing a business.
Dr Cyril Jankoff, EdD, MBA, LLB, B Business (Accountancy), Grad Dip Tax, Diploma of Contract Management, Cert IV in Training and Assessment, CPA (Fellow) and AIM (Fellow). Cyril focuses on business improvement. In his career he practiced as an accountant, solicitor, in-house counsel, business consultant and financial controller in diverse industries and still holds practising certificates as an accountant and solicitor. Included in the above is over 20 years' experience as a forensic accountant and expert witness in the litigation of many commercial contracts, commercial fraud, misleading and deceptive conduct damages cases. He has seen the devastating effects of poorly created and managed contracts on organisations and their individuals. He has worked as the Australia and Oceania manager for a division of a listed UK multinational. He is certified by the International Association for Contract and Commercial Management as an Expert Level Supplier Relationship Management Expert ("SRME"). Cyril has written two books on improving the management of commercial contracts and another one on finance for contracting and non-finance managers. He frequently facilitates business improvement seminars locally and overseas and has taught continuously at universities on a sessional basis since 1986. Cyril's doctorate was in business improvement, family business and the professional development of those who work in, and advise, these organisations.
Daniel Bendel, Bachelor of Business (Distinction), Grad Dip Tax and CPA (Fellow) Daniel commenced his career in the 1970s as a financial accountant in the corporate world, and later went to work in the accounting profession as a tax and business advisory accountant. Early in his career he was asked to join a large family owned manufacturing company and has been there since. He is now a part owner, a Director and the Company Secretary. Daniel is still involved in the accounting profession and is thus in a rare position to see business from both sides: as an owner/manager and as a consultant advisor. He is also involved in many other business-related activities and has acted for clients in a wide variety of activities including restructuring, forensic work, and business change management etc. He has been involved in the administration of a not-for-profit (NFP) organisation for over 10 years.
