Frequently Asked Questions

Maybe you have a business idea. Maybe you’re still looking for one. Or maybe you already sell something and want a better way to figure out what comes next. This book is for people who want to explore entrepreneurship without betting everything on a guess. Farmers markets, pop-ups, and other small, real-world tests are our proving ground, but the lessons about customers, costs, and learning from experience can take you further than a market booth. It can also help educators and community programs introduce people to a practical way of exploring self-employment.

Not at all. You don’t need a business degree, a storefront, or a polished business plan to get started. We walk through how to think about an idea, understand your costs, learn the rules and permits that apply before selling, meet potential customers, and make smaller, more informed decisions. The main book is your guide, with real stories and practical lessons. The companion workbook gives you a place to work through your own answers as you go. And if you’re already in business, you can use the same approach to test a new product or rethink what isn’t working.

We start with a simple question: What can you learn before you put a lot of money on the line? Instead of trying to predict every outcome on paper, you start small, find your customers, and build from evidence. You learn from real people, real buying decisions, and the numbers you actually see. Then, when it’s time to make a bigger plan, you have something stronger than a guess to build it on. The book also includes stories from vendors and market organizers who have lived through those decisions.

Yes. You can look inside the main book and see samples from the companion workbook before deciding. Main book sample: Preview the Main Book. Workbook sample: Preview the Workbook.

The Digital Book Package is $49.99 through Gumroad and provides the full main book in PDF and EPUB reading formats, along with access to the included companion workbook PDFs through Reader Resources. If you prefer a physical book, the paperback is $64.99 and the hardcover is $69.99 through Amazon. The main book content is the same across editions. Printed editions cost more because physical production and distribution have their own costs, and pricing must account for retailer fees and author royalties. Any applicable shipping or taxes are shown by Amazon at checkout. Start on our Book page to choose the edition that works for you.

Yes. When you purchase the main book, access to the companion workbook in printable and fillable PDF formats is included at no additional cost through Reader Resources. You don’t need to purchase the digital workbook separately. If you’d rather write in a physical copy, the printed companion workbook is sold separately through Amazon for $14.99; it is not automatically shipped with the main book. You can see its format on the Workbook page.

Access to Reader Resources comes with your main book purchase. Your purchased book includes the Reader Resources website and the password or access instructions you need. Visit the Reader Resources page, follow those instructions, and choose the printable or fillable workbook PDF that suits you. Keep the access information with your personal copy of the book.

Digital Book Package purchases through Gumroad are final and non-refundable, except where required by applicable law or where Gumroad provides a remedy under its terms. If a digital file is missing, won’t open, or has a material problem, please contact us. We’ll work to redeliver or replace the files, and if we can’t resolve the problem, arrange the appropriate refund. Printed books and printed workbooks purchased through Amazon follow Amazon’s applicable return policy. Most eligible Amazon purchases have a 30-day return window from delivery, but exclusions and other conditions can apply; Amazon shows the actual return eligibility for your order. You can also read our Terms of Use.

Start by checking the email address you used at Gumroad checkout, including your spam or junk folder, for the purchase receipt. You can also check your Gumroad purchase library using that same email. If you still can’t locate your files, use our Contact page and select the digital order or download topic. We can help you work out the next step without asking for your payment-card information or password.

Amazon handles payment, shipping, tracking, and order-specific returns for printed books and workbooks. For those questions, start with Your Orders in the Amazon account you used to buy the item. If the question is about the book’s content, a possible printing issue, or how to use Reader Resources, you can also reach us through the Contact page.

Download the fillable PDF to your device and open it in a compatible PDF application, rather than relying on a browser preview. Try saving a copy with a new filename, then reopening it to make sure your answers were saved. Some browser viewers don’t save completed form fields reliably. If it still isn’t working, the standard printable PDF is also available in Reader Resources, and you can contact us for help.

No. The companion workbook and Reader Resources access come with the main book purchase. Signing up for our newsletter is completely optional and is never required to download materials included with your book.

An individual purchase and its Reader Resources access are intended for personal use, not for copying or distributing the digital book or workbook to a group. We welcome questions from schools, workforce programs, community organizations, and other educators who want to use FPTF with participants. Please use our Contact page to tell us about your group and what you have in mind so we can discuss appropriate permissions and purchasing options.

Use the Contact page and choose the topic that best fits your question — for example, digital download, workbook or Reader Resources, print order, or general inquiry. Tell us what happened and what device you’re using if it’s a file problem. Please don’t send a password, access code, or payment-card details in your message.