The Red Book: Expanding Your Business Safely

“Up to ninety per cent of businesses fail in their first five years of operation”. The first time I heard this was many years ago during an accounting seminar. At that time, it sounded rather unbelievable; however, I now believe those statistics are true and probably higher or occur within shorter time spans, especially during times of global economic stress.

Of course, many people have now heard of these facts, but what most unsuccessful business managers do not know, or fail to pay attention to, is why their businesses fail. The statisticians say that the reasons are quite simple: inappropriate or lack of necessary marketing programs, and/or inappropriate or lack of necessary accounting systems. That’s it! "The Red Book: Expanding Your Business Safely" is a user-friendly guide for owners, accountants and senior management of businesses – large, medium or small - on how to create financial reports to assist them in solving their cashflow and expansion concerns.

“The Red Book” was the name given to the Jardine Matheson Group’s internal financial and management reporting system, which was implemented as part of Jardine’s rescue plan in 1986 that ultimately turned their worldwide operations around in only a few short years. The Red Book system uses cash control as its main focus and allows owners and planners to map out their financial goals for the organization. By combining the data from all three standard financial reports and projecting them into the future, companies can assess the best times to expand, contract or re-finance their operational requirements.

"The Red Book: Expanding You Business Safely" includes practical examples and instructions on how to produce the same trustworthy financial reports that successful multi-conglomerates use to drive their businesses.

About the Author:
Ann Marosy has a Bachelor of Business from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and developed a successful career in company accounting, culminating as Financial Controller of an Australian subsidiary of the famous “Noble House”, Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson. Ann also taught accounting at Melbourne University and the University of South Australia; established her own accountancy recruitment agency and was a finalist in the South Australian Executive Woman of the Year 1991 award.

In recent years, Ann has worked as a senior consultant for an accounting software support firm; established her own company contracting to government agencies on the implementation of new accounting systems; and provided consultation to private clients on money management practices. Using her financial background and personal experiences, Ann designed the Money Program to assist her clients to understand and manage the natural stages of wealth development.