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Carol Roth
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The Entrepreneur Equation: Evaluating the Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Having Your Own Business Kindle Edition

by Carol Roth (Author), Michael Port (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 122 ratings
See all formats and editions
It's time to drop the rose-colored glasses and face the facts: most new businesses fail, with often devastating consequences for the would-be entrepreneur.

The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestseller The Entrepreneur Equation helps you do the math before you set down the entrepreneurial path so that you can answer more than just "Could I be an entrepreneur?" but rather "Should I be an entrepreneur?". By understanding what it takes to build a valuable business as well as how to assess the risks and rewards of business ownership based on your personal circumstances, you can learn how to stack the odds of success in your favor and ultimately decide if business ownership is the best possible path for you, now or ever.

Through illustrative examples and personalized exercises, tell-it-like-it-is Carol Roth helps you create and evaluate your own personal Entrepreneur Equation as you:

• Learn what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in today's competitive environment.
• Save money, time and effort by avoiding business ownership when the time isn't right for you.
• Identify and evaluate the risks and rewards of a new business based on your goals and circumstances.
• Evaluate whether your dreams are best served by a hobby, job or business.
• Gain the tools that you need to maximize your business success.

The Entrepreneur Equation is essential reading for the aspiring entrepreneur. Before you invest your life savings, invest in this book!
Previous page
  1. Print length
    322 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    BenBella Books
  5. Publication date
    March 23, 2011
  6. File size
    668 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One thing readers can be certain of is that Carol Roth will tell it like it is. Her no-nonsense, direct, humorous, and engaging style is part of what makes The Entrepreneur Equation one of the more enjoyable business books to read. But the author also has a serious purpose: to ensure that anyone thinking about starting a business is prepared for it.

The author's aim is to lay out the realities of starting, buying, or owning a business and help the reader make a comprehensive assessment of the risks and rewards associated with that effort. She does a thorough job of exploring every aspect of the process and ultimately guides the reader through building a personal 'Entrepreneur Equation.'

The Entrepreneur Equation is a definitive guide that will help any would-be entrepreneur objectively assess whether or not to venture into business ownership. Carol Roth's advice and wisdom will likely make that decision a lot easier."
—Barry Silverstein, ForeWord Reviews

"Carol delivers the reality check that today's entrepreneur needs to succeed."
—JJ Ramberg, Host of MSNBC's Your Business and CEO of Goodsearch.com

"In a sea of feel-good ‘yes-you-can' books that lure people into mindlessly wasting their limited time and resources on business ideas that don't stand up, The Entrepreneur Equation stands alone as a masterly, compelling reality check that every would-be entrepreneur disregards at their peril."
—Les McKeown, author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book Predictable Success and CEO of Predictable Success

"Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners alike can generate the best return on their success simply by investing their time reading The Entrepreneur Equation. Written in Carol's frank and fun style, this book gives you the key tools that you need to stack the odds of success in your favor."
—Loral Langemeier, CEO/Founder of Live Out Loud, international speaker, and bestselling author of the Millionaire Maker 3 book series and Put More Cash In Your Pocket

"The Entrepreneur Equation is a best friend's advice, risk management handbook, and an entrepreneurs' pre-qualification checklist all rolled into one. It's communicated in a heartfelt anecdotal style by someone who has been ‘in the trenches' and who truly cares about the people who aspire to be entrepreneurs."
—Paul Nizzere, Former CEO of Pelouze (Sold to Newell Rubbermaid) and CEO of Windsor Park, LLC

"I wish I'd had The Entrepreneur Equation when I started my business. It would have saved a lot of time, stress, and heartache through the growth while I made a go of it alone. If you're thinking about starting a business, already running a business that is not profitable, or you haven't been able to take your business to the next level, this book is for you."
—Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich, Inc. and author of Spin Sucks

"As an entrepreneur who's built a successful company with a bit of luck and a lot of perseverance, I know how important it is for business owners to have access to advice from someone like Carol. The Entrepreneur Equation will lead you down the right path, as you ask of yourself if you should be an entrepreneur and do a true self evaluation of your potential for success."
—Percy Newsum, President of Integrity Toys

"Carol Roth leverages her experience as both an entrepreneur and a strategist for businesses to provide valuable and unique insights on entrepreneurship in today's business landscape. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or even an existing business owner, The Entrepreneur Equation provides a roadmap to help you determine how and if owning your own business will help you achieve the American Dream."
—Adam Kaplan, Chief Portfolio Officer of Banyan Mezzanine

"Finally! Someone asks the million-dollar question—and then answers it. It isn't about CAN you be an entrepreneur? It is really about SHOULD you be an entrepreneur? You can spend thousands of dollars and years of your valuable life figuring it out. Or, you can read this book."
—Shama Kabani, author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing and President of the Marketing Zen Group

"By reading The Entrepreneur Equation, you'll not only think differently about what entrepreneurship means for you, but also create an opportunity to get the best, most successful return on your investment."
—Harry Schulman, Past CEO of Applica, Non Executive Chairman of New Vitality and Director of Amoena, Hancock Fabrics, and Backyard Leisure

"The book perfectly mirrors [Roth's] no-holds-barred style and conveys her genuine empathy and desire to see every entrepreneur succeed."
—Laura Provenzale, Head of Consumer & Retail Investment Banking Group, Raymond James

"In an era where ideas are heralded as the be-all-end all of business, the importance lies in execution. Carol gives readers a roadmap to transform their dreams into viable businesses, allowing both aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners the BEST chance to build successful, profitable businesses."
—Cameron Herold, Former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and CEO of BackPocketCOO.com

"Carol delivers innovative, rock-solid thinking that has the power to fix what is broken in business. The Entrepreneur Equation is a fresh new approach to what entrepreneurship really means today."
—Liz Strauss, Business Strategist and online "real-ebrity" of LizStrauss.com and Successful-Blog.com

"In The Entrepreneur Equation, Carol will help you confront what it really takes to be an entrepreneur and run a business for success (because there are no guarantees)."
—Martin Chimes, serial entrepreneur, Former CEO of Corporate Express Australia, and Chairman of Unistraw International LTD

About the Author

Carol Roth helps businesses grow and make more money. An investment banker, deal maker and business strategist, she has helped her clients, ranging from solopreneurs to multinational corporations, raise more than $1 billion in capital, complete hundreds of millions of dollars in M&A transactions, secure high-profile licensing and partnership deals, create brand enthusiast programs and more.

Roth is a frequent radio, television and print media contributor on the topics of business and entrepreneurship, having appeared on Fox News, MSNBC, Fox Business, WGN TV Chicago and more. Her Unsolicited Business Advice blog at CarolRoth.com was recently named as one of the Top 10 small business blogs online.

Roth holds a B.S. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She resides in the Chicagoland area with her husband Kurt, who is also an investment banker (and her former business partner). They have no children, pets or plants and are avid sports fans (particularly of NFL football). Roth is also a recovering toy collector, recently trading in a portion of her collection for a more sophisticated toy (a "Simpsons" pinball machine).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004LWZ026
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BenBella Books; 1st edition (March 23, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 23, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 668 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 122 ratings

About the author

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Carol Roth

Carol Roth
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SHORT BIO ON CAROL ROTH:

Carol Roth is a "recovering" investment banker, TV pundit and host, and New York Times bestselling author of The Entrepreneur Equation. She has worked in a variety of capacities across industries, including currently as an outsourced CCO, as a director on public and private company boards, and as a strategic advisor. She advocates for small business, small government, and big hair.

Carol has spent more than a dozen years in front of the camera and has developed more than 1,000 pieces of content across a variety of media.

Carol has an action figure/fashion doll made in her likeness and splits her time between Chicago and both coasts with her husband, Kurt.

She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Twitter: @CarolJSRoth

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
122 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

S. Wallace
5.0 out of 5 stars Full Of Truth, Probably Ignored by Those Who Need It Most
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
Speaking as someone who has been in business for myself for 12 years, I can confirm that all of the pragmatic realities that are laid out in this book are absolutely true. It is a book full of true wisdom that can only be obtained after struggling in the small business trenches for a long time.

Unfortunately, the people who need these lessons are probably the ones who will ignore them. New and aspiring business owners will probably shrug off these lessons as "not applying to them" or believe they "will be different". It's a lot like a 40-year old parent trying to impart his wisdom on a teenager. The teenager isn't going to listen, and is going to have learn all of those things himself the hard way. Oh well.

I enjoyed the book because it confirmed for me that all of the small business lessons I've learned over the years apply to others. I'm not the only one who struggles with these things. WooHoo, I'm not crazy!
10 people found this helpful
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Rob Kirk
5.0 out of 5 stars Back to reality
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2012
Verified Purchase
Ok, this book won't make you "feel" great about starting your own business but Carol Roth slaps you in the face with reality. This book will save millions of dollars for people if they don't start a business and that fact is sad to me. It's sad that they will lose money and it's sad that she is correct. There wasn't much I didn't disagree with but I did find her comment about all ideas worth having have already been done to be pathetic. I know she really doesn't mean that and it does remind me about the quote of the head of the US patent office over 100 years ago saying that same fact. I hope she's wrong but she also said that we have so many and too many choices with products/services, and the only difference is going to be who can cut costs and make delivery more efficient. I think she might be right there too. This book really does separate the "men from the boys" though and if you really can pass all of her tests in the Entrepreneur Equation, you actually might succeed. In summary, this is a well written book from a very experienced person.
7 people found this helpful
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Peter A. Pappas
4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Reality Check
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great for anyone who has always daydreamed about escaping their day job by running their own business. Read this before you spend any money on your "dream." The section on customers made me chuckle. As someone who spent years working in customer service related jobs, I found it completely spot on.
One person found this helpful
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KD
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for ALL Current & Future Entrepreneurs
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2011
Verified Purchase
The Entrepreneur Equation is the best business book I have read this year. Carol's direction and evaluations are 'right on'. As a couple that started two businesses (one started in 2004 while the other started in 2007), we 'lived' some similar situations described in the book. Thank goodness one of us kept our 'day job' as a hedge while the other was full-time building these businesses! A friend lived the 'honeymoon' described in Carol's book followed by a major change in the market that left him holding significant debt during a tough job market....having capital, skills and the ability to 'hedge' the risk is critical to being an entrepreneur. Knowing when to say `no' to an idea or when to stop an investment in a business is just as important as the actual venture. This book linked with other books that encourage entrepreneurship provides the appropriate balance on starting a business or company. Too many of the books written provide the reader the perception that achieving success is more common and easy than it actually is. Thanks to Carol for a great book. I recommend every person whom is either thinking about a business venture or has a business, read this book.
2 people found this helpful
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Sheila
5.0 out of 5 stars Pursuit of business ownership
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book should be required reading for anyone who is poised to take on the responsibilities and challenges of entrepreneurship! Carol Roth reveals the stark reality of having sole ownership of a business and why having a great idea just isn't enough. Some of the possible scenarios that Carol points out may lead to thinking you are on the right path, but that should actually tell you are not, are as follows:

* You have an idea that you want to sell.
* You have an idea that you want someone else to execute without you being centrally involved in making it happen.
* You think your idea is going to allow you to get rich quickly.
* The more work you do to implement your business idea, the more value you will receive, because the value is all in the implementation.

This is just a sample of some of the thought processes that many follow in their pursuit of business ownership that actually lead them the wrong way and can result in failure and often bankruptcy. Hats off to Carol Roth for providing the information that will enable so many to see the error of their ways!
2 people found this helpful
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Fraulein Gretel
3.0 out of 5 stars A Bucket of Cold Water
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2011
If you are thinking about starting a business and want to be talked out of it, this is the book for you. Carol lays out all the downsides, risks, and pitfalls of entrepreneurship. This book is a cold splash of water for starry-eyed dreamers. But it doesn't offer solutions. Successful businesses are started every day in America, and somehow companies make profits. I'd rather hear about how obstacles are overcome and problems solved. Why the negativity?
36 people found this helpful
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Matt Mansfield
5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book Before You Become an Entrepreneur!
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2011
Verified Purchase
I have to start out by saying that if you are considering becoming an entrepreneur, this is one of the most useful books that you will ever read.

It's also the scariest.

That's because Carol holds nothing back. She portrays the work and sacrifice, as well as the rewards, in a clear and forthright manner that may send you scrambling back to your cubicle.

And that's the point. Being an entrepreneur is not glamorous; it's hard work. It's not for everyone; smarts do not always trump the ability to schmooze and create relationships. Doing what you love can quickly lead to hating that very thing.

The best part of this book are all the numerous assessments and exercises appearing throughout. Thanks to those tools, and Carol's no-nonsense approach, the question of whether or not the entrepreneur's path is right for you will be answered by the time you reach the end.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Newty1977
4.0 out of 5 stars There are some excellent tips in here for potential entrepreneurs
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
There are some excellent tips in here for potential entrepreneurs, with some challenging questions on whether you are ready for the entrepreneurial life, or - beyond ready - have the appetite for the long-hard slog that startup life demands.
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