Book Reviews Steps To Small-Business Success In Connecticut

October 3, 2009 by Josh Morgan

In 1983, Cheshire resident John Purtill set off from a world of corporate offices and endless business travel to form his own small accounting firm.
There were issues, however, as no one resource was available to him anywhere on how to create a small business and succeed. He admitted that he pieced it all together, “made it up” as he went, but all along he kept mental notes of what he did right and what could have gone smoother, had he had the right tools at the time.
All of this life knowledge led Purtill and Community Accounting Aid and Services, Inc. to publish a book about the dos and don’ts of starting a small business in Connecticut. Now in its seventh edition, Purtill said the book contains all the pertinent information someone would need to start a successful business in the state.
“When I started, there wasn’t anything out there,” Purtill said. “I had only worked at existing businesses and a start-up is so much different.”
Starting a Small Business in Connecticut — Simple Steps to a Successful Business was first published in 1992 as a handbook to assist anyone who might be looking to start a business. Purtill admitted that his knowledge of writing a book was limited, especially when it came to putting it on the shelf to sell. He “called in favors” from friends and colleagues and, together, the purple-covered first edition with the state’s outline on the cover was printed.
“It started out as an attempt to put into one place everything you’d need to start a small business,” Purtill said. “There was never one place to go.”
When someone goes to the bookstore, they look at the cover and then usually thumb through a few pages, seeing if something will catch their eye. The newest edition has its cover completely redone and Purtill explained the idea of “thumb appeal,” so the book has graphs and charts on various pages to grab the reader’s attention when they flip through. The 10-chapter book walks a reader step by step through the process of starting a business, including insurance issues, legal aspects and, most importantly, formulating a plan.
“It’s terribly important to have a business plan in place before thinking about starting up,” Purtill said. “You shouldn’t even think about starting a business if you don’t have that plan.”
Community Accounting Aid and Services, Inc. provides certified public accountants free of charge to individuals or businesses that cannot normally afford the service. Purtill, who serves on the Board of Directors with CAAS, said proceeds from the book go back to the group so it can continue to offer pro bono accounting services. CAAS Executive Director Jack Collins said the book could help those who have lost their jobs or have seen their jobs reduced as a result of the economic downturn.
“It’s a common trend during tough economic times for individuals who perhaps find themselves unemployed or underemployed to consider self-employment,” said CAAS Executive Director Jack Collins. “Our book is almost like an owner’s manual for the small business start-up, and a glance at the table of contents bears that out.”
Purtill worked for Price Waterhouse immediately after graduating from the University of Connecticut. Over the next two decades, he worked for large corporations in various facets until one day he had enough.
“I woke up one morning and didn’t know I was in Mexico City until I turned the TV on,” Purtill admitted. “I was burned out. So I left my job to start Purtill & Company and if it didn’t work out I would have gone back to the corporate ladder.”
Fortunately, Purtill said it did work out for him, and with over 25 years of self-employed small business expertise, he felt his book would assist a first-time small business owner or a veteran owner looking for a few more hints.
“Although the book is aimed at the newcomer, the edition should be of substantial value as a desktop reference even to seasoned business owners,” Purtill said. “It never crossed my mind to do a book, it really came out of a need, but it’s all there to teach people how to run a business.”
The book can be found at Borders bookstores, online at www.amazon.com, or directly though Community Accounting Aid and Services at (203) 235-2333.