PR pundits and business owners Friedman and Yorio tackle the fear factor of women who want to quit their day job and build a business. They ask, "Are you the girl to run the show?" They answer with a sassy list of pros and cons ("You will be able to get to your child's school play, but you will think about money all the time.") and with tough questions ("Could you negotiate a reasonable rent with an unreasonable landlord?)

Every chapter is packed with interviews, charts, quizzes and witty directives about self-employment. Among their greatest hits: what's in a name, choosing logos, ten inspiring business chick flicks, legal eagles, business speak and visibility in professional associations. Friedman and Yorio sweat the small stuff. They explain, for example, why you shouldn't eat spaghetti at a business lunch and how to ask revealing questions of a potential employee or computer consultant. The authors' premise, "let women be women" is most compelling when they explore the unique challenges women face--from finding female role models to being a boss "without being a bitch."

They are on shakier ground with the arguable assumption that all women share distinct gender styles and strengths. This type casting and the "girl friend" tone can sometimes belittle the book's smart and strategic ideas for becoming the boss. Still, it is hard to imagine a more readable, practical book about the challenges of being in charge. --Barbara Mackoff


From Publishers Weekly
Friedman and Yorio take girl power corporate in their friendly guide for women who want to start their own business. The two media mavens (they started their own PR agency in 2000, after working as publicists at Broadway Books and Artisan, as well as other media companies) offer a lighthearted alternative to books that teach readers "how to sound like a man and think like a man." Clearly experienced, Friedman and Yorio know launching a business is no walk in the park. They warn readers of all the bad stuff that comes with being the boss: feeling out of sync with the rest of the world, having to manage employees, being forced to rely on customers and clients and being responsible for knowing about taxes. But they also exalt the pleasures of being in charge. Their book covers virtually every aspect of running the show in language that isn't industry-specific, so it doesn't matter what kind of business readers want to start. Friedman and Yorio move from assessing finances and writing business plans to hiring employees and advertising. Their advice is always sound, if at times obvious (e.g., eat breakfast before business meetings, so your stomach doesn't grumble). And they give readers a break from their relentless cheerleading with sidebars featuring interviews with other successful female business owners, lists of inspirational "chick flicks" (like Baby Boom and Sliding Doors) and worksheets for calculating budgets. Their savoir faire and enthusiasm are infectious.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist
The authors, founders of a public relations and marketing firm, claim that when they formed their company they were unable to find an encouraging guidebook for women entrepreneurs. Having written their own, they offer women help both in determining the ideal business for their talents and in taking steps to develop it. They recommend becoming a "mensch," taking the high road in business dealings even if doing so costs a few extra dollars. Quizzes, checklists, and tips cover the challenges of being the boss, preparing a business plan, dealing with legal issues, recognizing the importance of marketing, and balancing family and work. Friedman and Yorio term their style "breezy in tone yet substantial in content"; it's not clear if this lighthearted approach to such a serious topic will appeal to women, but the content is thought provoking and important. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Barbara Corcoran, author of If You Don't Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails
"This fun and informative book shows aspiring young women how to build their own businesses from the ground up . . ."


Ella Brennan, owner, Commander's Palace
"This book will do for business what Joy of Cooking did for the culinary world . . ."


Book Description

Tired of doing all the work for your boss but reaping none of the financial benefits? Fed up with working 60 hours a week for someone else? Want to start your own business but afraid to take the leap?

Packed with practical advice on every aspect of self-employment, along with useful Web sites, checklists, and quizzes, The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business is the book that Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio each searched for when they left the corporate world behind to start their own public relations companies. When they merged their businesses into one company, Friedman and Yorio vowed to record the process and create a truly useful guide for other women entrepreneurs.

The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business streamlines the vast information needed to launch your business. From starting with the big question: Are you the girl to run the show? to writing a business plan to understanding your legal obligations and getting your name out there in the marketplace. So, here's the lowdown on how to take your business idea and run with it!

But don't just take Friedman and Yorio's word for it -- women business owners from a wide range of industries offer their own start-up stories, advice, and opinions.

The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business speaks to women in a way no business book has -- relating frank, useful, and professional advice with all the energy, enthusiasm, and fun of a girl's night out.


About the Author
Caitlin Friedman started her own business in 1999 and hasn't looked back. A native of Amherst, Massachusetts, she has been a public relations and marketing expert for more than ten years. Currently, she divides her time between New York City and Chatham, New York. Kimberly Yorio went out on her own in 1998 after eight years working for other companies, big and small. Her expertise publicizing cookbooks, food television shows, and culinary personalities led to the successful partnership with Caitlin Friedman and the creation of YC Media in 2000. She lives with her husband and son in Weehawken, New Jersey.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Tired of doing all the work for your boss but reaping none of the financial benefits? Fed up with working 60 hours a week for someone else? Want to start your own business but afraid to take the leap?

Packed with practical advice on every aspect of self-employment, along with useful Web sites, checklists, and quizzes, The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business is the book that Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio each searched for when they left the corporate world behind to start their own public relations companies. When they merged their businesses into one company, Friedman and Yorio vowed to record the process and create a truly useful guide for other women entrepreneurs.

The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business streamlines the vast information needed to launch your business. From starting with the big question: Are you the girl to run the show? to writing a business plan to understanding your legal obligations and getting your name out there in the marketplace. So, here's the lowdown on how to take your business idea and run with it!

But don't just take Friedman and Yorio's word for it -- women business owners from a wide range of industries offer their own start-up stories, advice, and opinions.

The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business speaks to women in a way no business book has -- relating frank, useful, and professional advice with all the energy, enthusiasm, and fun of a girl's night out.

Caitlin Friedman started her own business in 1999 and hasn't looked back. A native of Amherst, Massachusetts, she has been a public relations and marketing expert for more than ten years. Currently, she divides her time between New York City and Chatham, New York.

Kimberly Yorio went out on her own in 1998 after eight years working for other companies, big and small. Her expertise publicizing cookbooks, food television shows, and culinary personalities led to the successful partnership with Caitlin Friedman and the creation of YC Media in 2000. She lives with her husband and son in Weehawken, New Jersey.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Friedman and Yorio take girl power corporate in their friendly guide for women who want to start their own business. The two media mavens (they started their own PR agency in 2000, after working as publicists at Broadway Books and Artisan, as well as other media companies) offer a lighthearted alternative to books that teach readers "how to sound like a man and think like a man." Clearly experienced, Friedman and Yorio know launching a business is no walk in the park. They warn readers of all the bad stuff that comes with being the boss: feeling out of sync with the rest of the world, having to manage employees, being forced to rely on customers and clients and being responsible for knowing about taxes. But they also exalt the pleasures of being in charge. Their book covers virtually every aspect of running the show in language that isn't industry-specific, so it doesn't matter what kind of business readers want to start. Friedman and Yorio move from assessing finances and writing business plans to hiring employees and advertising. Their advice is always sound, if at times obvious (e.g., eat breakfast before business meetings, so your stomach doesn't grumble). And they give readers a break from their relentless cheerleading with sidebars featuring interviews with other successful female business owners, lists of inspirational "chick flicks" (like Baby Boom and Sliding Doors) and worksheets for calculating budgets. Their savoir faire and enthusiasm are infectious. Agent, Angela Miller. (Jan.) Forecast: A Today Show appearance on January 9 will get things moving for this sassy guide, and it's been selected as a spring alternate of the Country Homes and Gardens Book Club. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Despite the cutesy title, this book is full of useful information for those starting their own business, whether they are male or female. The authors left the publishing industry to start their own public relations firm and could not find information on starting a business that was geared toward women. Hence this book, which opens with a chapter on evaluating whether one should start a business and then moves into what type of venture should be started and the legal and financial aspects of ownership. The authors stress the importance of a business plan and give advice on how to choose a name and a logo and how to promote your business. Other chapters include information on hiring personnel, being a boss, acting like a professional, and using technology. Interspersed throughout are helpful questions as well as interviews with successful businesswomen. This book joins Sharon Whiteley & others' The Old Girls Network: Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man's World as a useful guide for women entrepreneurs. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Stacey Marien, American Univ., Washington, DC Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Ella Brennan, owner, Commander's PalaceThis book will do for business what Joy of Cooking did for the culinary world . . ." — Ella Brennan