Understanding your company's books -- Setting up the transactions -- Accounting terms and what they mean to your business -- Off-the-shelf accounting software and customized versions -- Profit and loss (income) statement -- Balance sheet -- Cash flow statemeents and the pro-forma -- Break-even analysis -- Pricing for profit -- Understanding ratios -- Mastering the cash cycle -- Financing growth -- Business valuation -- Start-up budget -- Operating budget -- Controlling other overhead expense -- High cost of insurance -- Signs of trouble: seven problems that threaten a business -- Seven signs of highly successful entrepreneurs -- When to sell nonessential asssets -- Turnaround strategies -- Buying the competition: consolidating the industry -- Restructuring debt -- Personal considerations for the entrepreneur -- Exit strategy planning.