Ever thought about starting a business but had no clue where to begin? You’re not alone. In Starting a Business QuickStart Guide, Ken Colwell, PhD, MBA, hands you a beginner-friendly roadmap for turning your business idea into something real. This book isn’t just theory—it’s packed with practical steps to help you stop procrastinating and start building.
What sparked it? Years of watching smart people struggle—not because their ideas were bad, but because no one taught them how to actually start. That’s what pushed him to write this guide.
Here’s a fact: 1 in 5 small businesses fail within the first year. Colwell wants to change that. He shows you how to think like an entrepreneur, test your idea, find funding, and build a plan that works.
If you’ve got the ambition but feel stuck, this guide gives you clarity. If you don’t know what to build yet, it helps you figure it out.
Table of Contents
Summary of Starting a Business QuickStart Guide by Ken Colwell
“Most people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan.”
That’s the truth Ken Colwell tackles head-on in Starting a Business QuickStart Guide.
He doesn’t just tell you to “start a business.” He shows you how. From the very first chapter, he walks you through what it means to think like an entrepreneur. Not in theory. In practice. You’ll learn how to shape your raw idea into something real.
He helps you answer the big questions:
- Is your idea worth building?
- Who will buy it?
- How do you know people even want it?
You’ll learn how to test your idea with real people, how to create a unique offer, and how to stand out from the noise.
Then he breaks down the serious stuff—business models, pricing, and how to write a business plan people actually want to read. If you’re wondering how to raise money, he walks you through funding options like savings, loans, and crowdfunding.
He even gets into the boring-but-necessary legal parts: picking the right business structure and setting things up right.
But it doesn’t stop there. He shows you how to manage your business, hire a team, build systems, and grow. Not wildly. But responsibly.
If you’re starting from scratch and want a business that actually works, this guide gives you the roadmap. And if you already have a side hustle idea but feel stuck, this book helps you move forward without losing your mind.
9 Practical Lessons from Starting a Business QuickStart Guide by Ken Colwell
This book gives you what most people never get—clear direction. If you’ve got a business idea or you’re still figuring things out, this guide helps you move from stuck to making real progress.
Here are 9 lessons from the book that’ll change the way you think about starting a business:
1. Think Like an Entrepreneur, Not an Employee
He starts with mindset because that’s what shapes everything else.
You’ll learn how to shift from waiting for instructions to making bold decisions.
It’s not about motivation. It’s about thinking differently.
- Take calculated risks.
- Own your choices.
- Treat mistakes as data.
If you’re used to school or a 9-to-5, this might feel uncomfortable. But if you want to run a business, you need this shift.
2. Your Idea Isn’t Enough—Validate It
Colwell is clear: having an idea isn’t the same as having a business.
He teaches you how to stress-test your idea before investing time or money.
You’ll learn how to:
- Talk to potential customers
- Ask the right questions
- Spot false signals
- Run small tests using MVPs
That way, you stop guessing. You get real feedback and build with confidence.
3. Know Who You’re Helping and Why They’ll Care
This part is where most people fall off.
You might have a good idea, but if you don’t know your market, you’ll waste time and money.
He walks you through:
- How to define your target customer
- How to research your niche
- How to find your angle (USP)
This is how you make people say, “I need this,” instead of “this looks cool.”
If you’re building a side hustle, clarity here means you can stand out, even in a crowded market.
4. Price It Right from Day One
Pricing isn’t about guessing or copying what others charge.
He breaks down how to set your price based on the value you bring and the kind of customer you want.
You’ll learn:
- How pricing affects how people see your product
- The difference between premium, value-based, and competitive pricing
- How to avoid undercharging (which kills your energy and business)
You won’t need to keep changing your prices every few months once you understand this.
5. Build a Business Model That Works for You
He explains what a business model actually is—not in MBA-speak, but in a way you can use.
You’ll figure out:
- How your business makes money
- What key activities and tools you’ll need
- How to keep things simple at the start
If you’ve been overwhelmed by “build systems” advice on the internet, this section gives you a no-fluff framework.
It’s especially useful if you’re juggling school, work, or other commitments.
6. Learn How Money Moves
You can’t avoid money.
He shows you:
- Where startup money can come from (without hype)
- The pros and cons of loans, savings, investors, and crowdfunding
- How to talk to people who might fund your business
Most beginner entrepreneurs mess up their first money decisions. With this, you won’t.
If your biggest fear is “I don’t have enough money to start,” this section gives you real options.
7. Put It on Paper: The Business Plan
Business plans sound boring. But Colwell keeps it practical.
He doesn’t ask you to write 50 pages.
You’ll learn how to:
- Map out your goals, strategy, and numbers
- Make your plan investor-ready (if that’s your goal)
- Use the plan as a tool, not a document you forget
This helps if you’re trying to stay focused or work with a cofounder. It creates structure without killing momentum.
8. Don’t Skip the Legal Setup
He gets real about what you need to protect yourself.
You’ll understand:
- The difference between sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, and corporation
- What works best for a low-risk online business vs a local service business
- Why getting legal stuff right early saves you headaches later
You don’t need to become a lawyer. But you do need to choose the right structure for your goals.
This is one of those things you’ll regret ignoring if you get it wrong.
9. Plan for Growth (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)
He ends with something most books skip: how to grow when the time comes.
You’ll learn:
- How to know when to hire or outsource
- What to track as you scale
- How to avoid growing too fast and breaking your business
He doesn’t tell you to rush. He shows you how to grow in a way that fits your pace and your priorities.
Even if you’re just trying to make your first $500, thinking ahead helps you avoid burnout.
Conclusion
Starting a business is hard. But it gets way easier when you have a roadmap.
That’s what Starting a Business QuickStart Guide by Ken Colwell gives you. You get clarity. You stop second-guessing. You build something real.
Whether you’re just exploring ideas or already building something on the side, this book helps you move forward with clarity. If you found these lessons helpful, there’s more where that came from.
You’ll also want to check out my blog post on To Sell is Human—because no matter what business you’re in, knowing how to sell matters more than you think. It might just be the edge you need.
