Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners

First a qualifier, I have only gone through the first 3 chapters, but that is because I have already read them multiple times! I have purchased the Audible version and Kindle version.The author Dawn Fotopulos breaks down the financial statements of business into recognizable everyday language of an automobile dashboard. One of the greatest strengths of The United States today is our entrepreneurial spirit. Combined with the unprecidented lower barriers of entry that allow competition, this is the Era of the Startup. Spiderman’s Uncle said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” This is very true with the leverage and capital this Startup Movement has created.As Entrepreneurs we are building jets (Launching Companies), carrying cargo (product) & passengers (customers/employees), blasting into the stratosphere for the entire world to see on Facebook, Twitter, etc. And for me personally, having just enough information and understanding to be extremely dangerous. The simple and proper perspective Dawn brings, I believe is training me for understanding to be an effective operator as a business leader. This is done without trying to turn me into a bookkeeper, accountant, or CPA.My personal story and history has been, I believe, a typical one for the entrepreneurial personalities out there. Excellent product and people person. Natural salesman. Passionate with a vision, having the ability to communicate the destination. All these qualities people would celebrate as a leader. The great danger for startups and entrepreneurs is this. We are taking this long journey into the wilderness without the knowledge of how to read our basic instruments. Fear takes over and discouragement is encountered by well meaning colleagues who are naturally “Number Guys/Gals”. Fighting to survive day to day naturally leads to focusing on activities that “Generate Money.” Selling more, Marketing better, Buidling more.I’ve read books on Quickbooks, Bookkeeping, signed up for online services, Stewardship seminars, and have even gone to counselling because of the stress and pressure I’ve placed on myself. All these activities have aspects of help and assistance, but none have communicated to me the way this book does.Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners takes the monster of Financial Statements and transforms it to the tools that they are designed to be. Spedometer, Fuel Guage and Oil Pressure. The boogeyman has no teeth and no more claws.The excitement I am beginning to feel with each chapter of this book is nothing short of a miracle for me personally. Without guilt or shame, I am facing my fears of “The Numbers” and taking my knowledge from being merely intuitional guessing to a thoughtful methodical creative process.Gone are the days of “Googling” accounting terms and figuring it out myself.I thank God for Dawn Fotopulos and the work she put into this bookLooking forward to following up with this review after I complete this book and beyond.

This book is hands down revolutionary for an aspiring Small Business owner. I picked up this book per the recommendation of my professor and immediately fell in love. Once I read the first two pages of this book I was HOOKED! Accounting for the Numberphobic is such an easy read while also giving individuals the amazing insight they need to start a business on their own. I have been pondering on the idea of opening some small businesses but felt as though I did not know enough and would fail, but this book and Professor Fotopulos have given me the courage and reassurance to pursue that dream. The way in which this book is structured allows the important information to be absorbed effortlessly because it is so greatly written. I have recommended this book to anyone and everyone I have come across even if they are not aspiring business owners. This book is essentially a book in which anyone can read regardless of if they want to own a business due to the fact that the book gives insight on how an individual should look at their finances on a personal level.Professor Fotopulos is truly an amazing woman who is very knowledgeable in her field and wants nothing but the BEST for Small Business owners. She takes the extra mile and is on a mission to educate others so that their businesses can grow and be profitable. You WILL NOT regret reading this book!

This book has CATAPULTED every single business who has implemented it's core tenants into driving their business into profitability. As a business coach and therapist, it has enabled me to communicated better to my entrepreneurs about how to run their businesses with less stress. Often times for small business owners, they started their business because of a dream and that dream became the nightmare as running a business is HARD. Now, they can't figure out how wake up from that nightmare and make their blood, sweat, and tears have something to show for it. If you are an accountant looking to figure out how to talk to your own clients about why these numbers are important, this book will do all of the heavy lifting for you and help you speak a language your clients do about this stuff.If you are a small business owner, this is the biggest tool you'll need in navigating the rough waters of entrepreneurship and making sure you make it out. It's not just a book on numbers, it's a back door to figuring out what the best strategy is for your business and giving you the tools on how to know if all of your work is making the right kind of difference. It teaches you the right kind of questions to ask so you get the answers you are really looking for. Also, especially if you are looking for outside funding, it will show you how to reduce your risk profile so that banks and other lenders will take a second look at you.I have so many stories of businesses that were turned around or saved themselves from making costly mistakes by reading this book. From all over the world - whether it was with entrepreneurs in East Africa or in the US, this book empowered them to turn around their businesses in a very short period of time without working tremendously more.My only complaint was that there weren't longer sections on how to implement strategy, but, my hope is that will be in a second book!

Thank you Dawn. You have literally changed my life with this book. So refreshing.Best wishes, Tim at Little Bird Gin in London x

Easy read, Informative and to the point. Great for those who aren't drawn to numbers

Nice one

Interesting way of explaining the things of accounts.

Amazing work. This book is a must read for anyone that needs to understand a financial statement and how to interpret what the numbers are telling you about the health of your business.