That's a key message from a great new book for aspiring entrepreneurs entitled The Accidental Startup, Business Basics for the Chance Entrepreneur.

In the introduction to her book, author Danielle Babb, Ph.D., MBA, takes a look at why some of us end up being entrepreneurs. In many cases, in this economy, she writes, there are a number of accidental entrepreneurs.

Those are folks who are unemployed or underemployed due to the tough economy. Whether they have been laid off, downsized, are experiencing an unstable work environment, or have seen their job be outsourced, the road ahead is tough.

With few options before them, many will contemplate self-employment.

To be sure, this down economy will yield a bumper crop of new entrepreneurs.

But, if you are on the verge of becoming a new entrepreneur, how do you know if self-employment is right for you? And, if you do decide to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, what steps should you take to help ensure that you will be successful?

This is where this book excels. For new entrepreneurs, the book offers straightforward advice on how to start and grow a business.

Dr. Dani, as she is known, taps into her own experiences as a small business owner, as well as the experiences of the many entrepreneurs she has worked with, to create a simple roadmap for becoming an entrepreneur.

The book covers many topics, starting with a sound approach for determining whether owning a business is the right move for you at this stage of your life. From there, the book transitions to practical matters. How should I evaluate a business idea? How do I write a business plan? How do I raise money for my business? What do customers want? What can a new entrepreneur expect in the first year? How should a new business owner develop a strategy for solid business growth?

That's just a small sampling of all the great advice for entrepreneurs that is contained in this book. Other books cover similar ground, but this book does a great job of covering all of the most important topics in a single book. More importantly, it's a delight to read. As you read the book, you almost get the sense that Dr. Dani is working with you one-on-one. She has an engaging writing style with a friendly, informal tone that balances practical how-to advice with interesting anecdotes garnered from the many entrepreneurs she surveyed while doing the research for this book.

All in all, this is a great new book for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to become their own boss and tap into the rewards that accompany the pride of business ownership – independence, flexibility and financial security.

If you want to own a business and you only have time to read one book, this is the book to buy.

We do many business book reviews each year, and this is one of our favorites. It's a must-read for new entrepreneurs.

The book will be available in May 2009. It's published by Alpha Books, and the ISBN for the book is 9781592578863.

At $18.95, it's a bargain – given that it contains priceless advice on how to start a company and have the best possible chance of success.