Finance

Term Sheets and Valuations: A Line by Line Look at the
Intricacies of Term Sheets and Valuations

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Editorial note: There is no substitute for an experienced venture community attorney who can guide entrepreneurs through the documentation process of securing capital from investors – especially top venture funds. This little book is surprisingly affordable when compared to other books written for the venture capital community. Buy this book if you are serious about raising money and want to get the most out of your discussions with legal counsel. You'll learn the buzz words and factors that can make for a successful negotiation with angel, venture fund and corporate investors.

The Essentials of Finance and Accounting for
Non-Financial Managers

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Editorial note: This book is perfect for ambitious entrepreneurs who believe that knowledge is power. It represents one of the best combinations of finance and accounting information. The Essentials of Finance and Accounting may seem intimidating at first because of the small type and long paragraphs, but buy it anyway. It will be a "worth it" book that you will use as a valued reference throughout your business career. The book includes smart observations about reading annual reports, explanations of key "margins" and "metrics" that are the mainstay of lender and investor decision making, and many other financial issues that will help you become a better business manager. The more you study "The Essentials," the more investors and business partners will likely view you as "sophisticated" – venture community speak for knowing what really matters in the financial marketplace. If you buy this book, don't lend it out. You might not ever get it back.

McGraw Hill 36 Hour Course: Finance for
Non-Financial Managers Second Edition

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Editorial note: This book is comparable to The Essentials of Finance and Accounting, but doesn't offer the same level of detail and guidance. Still, this is a very readable book and is especially helpful in areas such as equipment depreciation, leasing, calculating cost of sales, etc. The book includes some worthwhile case studies too.

The Great Game of Business

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Editorial note: Ok, we bite. This book really doesn't belong in Take Command's "Best Finance" book review section because of its emphasis on operating strategies that saved a troubled company from financial ruin. Yet, Take Command editors recommend this book to entrepreneurs who expect to seek funding from angel and venture fund investors. In the same way the Oakland Athletics baseball team focuses on several performance measures to make decisions, venture fund managers like it when startup entrepreneurs choose to work in the concrete world of numbers rather than in the fuzzy realm of gut-feel management. Here, the authors demonstrate the management value of focusing on a few key "operating metrics" to help companies meet key operating goals. Even better, the authors show how entrepreneurs can teach this discipline to employees of any education level. Buy this book to become a better manager of employees, projects and business results!

The Real Warren Buffet: Managing Capital, Leading People

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Editorial note: This is a fun book. Why? Because it introduces ambitious entrepreneurs to the investment thinking of one of the most successful business buyers of the 20th century. Here, readers will learn what "business fundamentals" attract business buyers like Buffett. If you accept Take Command's high reward philosophy, then one of your overriding goals is to build a business that one day can be sold for a nifty sum of money. You will make smarter decisions throughout your business building journey once you know why some businesses are more attractive to business buyers than others. This book is really a pleasure and a great airplane or vacation read.