Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur? Are you convinced your great idea will be a world-beater? Or do you simply fancy working for yourself for a change?

Hundreds of thousands of companies are started up by would-be entrepreneurs every year, but all the statistics show that over half of those will fail pretty quickly, and most will never reach their fifth birthday.

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy – as the stories in this book show. Sacking someone on their first day, going everywhere by bicycle because there’s no money for public transport, and not letting a wedding day get in the way of negotiations are just a few of the challenges our entrepreneurs have faced.

But if their stories of sacrifice don’t put you off, then the tips and advice that they share will give you a fantastic insight into the life of an entrepreneur. Read this book to find out if you’ve got what it takes, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.