Class 1:
Business Plan: Products and Services:
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of the Products and Services section of the business plan including product/service offering, client deliverables, pricing and margins, vendors, direct costs, and points of sale.
Time Management:
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of time management best practices, how to prioritize responsibilities and tasks, understanding the challenges to managing your time, finding and utilizing the best system for them, and time management tips and tricks.
Class 2
Business Plan: Operations and Logistics
In this section of the business plan, participants will be provided with an overview of the Operations and Logistics section of the business plan including business process, operating equipment, hours of operation, technology, and regulatory requirements.
Customer Service
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of customer service basics including customer service facts, stages of customer loyalty, developing a service recovery program and how to deal with challenging customers.
Class 3
Business Plan: Competition
In this section of class, participants will be provided with an overview of the Competition section of the business plan including direct competitors, competitive analysis and competitive advantage.
Developing your E-Commerce Strategy
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with a 20,000 foot view of e-commerce & its current rise during the pandemic, using third party sites versus creating your own e-commerce platform, overview of Shopify, Square, Etsy, Amazon, Walmart, eBay and Thinkific, and selecting the right platform for your business and what to consider.
Class 4
Business Plan: Location
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of the Location section of the business plan including location description, terms of lease/property acquisition, facility renovation plan, and furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Developing your Social Media Marketing Strategy
In this section of class, participants will be provided with the tools and resources to develop an effective social media strategy including: setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, identifying target audiences, choosing the proper channels, content development, creating a posting/monitoring strategy, and plan execution.
Class 5
Business Plan: Markets and Customers
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of the Markets and Customers section of the business plan including market segments and size, key customers, customer mix and buying patterns, and break-even analysis.
Market Research 101
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of the concepts of market research including how to identify market segments, understanding market share, market potential and fair share, demonstration of open source market research source, how to analyze market market data into actionable strategy.
Class 6
Business Plan: Marketing Strategy
In this section of the class, participants will be provided an overview of the marketing strategy section of the business plan including revenue model, sales forecasts, marketing plan, and marketing strategy.
Developing Your Brand
Developing your Brand
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of the concepts of branding including the types of brands, brand position, brand promise, brand personality and brand story as well as how to implement the brand components into your brand messaging.
Financing 101
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of funding options for their proposed businesses including commercial loan, SBA and USDA guarantees, lines of credit, crowd funding, crowd equity, CDFI programs, and specialty lending programs.
Class 7
Business Plan: Company Information
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of the Company Information section of the business plan including business history and structure, principals, management team, staffing model and planned hires.
Financing Basics for Small Business
Financing 101
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of funding options for their proposed businesses including commercial loan, SBA and USDA guarantees, lines of credit, crowd funding, crowd equity, CDFI programs, and specialty lending programs.
Understanding your Business Financials
In this section of the class, participants will be provided with an overview of common financial reports and a financial projection spreadsheet customized to their business model and an overview of how to utilize the spreadsheet to project revenues, cost of goods sold, operational expense, cash flow, and debt repayments.
Class 8
Business Plan: Executive Summary
In this section of the class, participants will be provided an overview Executive Summary section of the business plan including how to summarize the overall business plan, company mission, keys to success, objectives, and opportunity.
Failing Successfully
Failing Successfully
Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect, and the best think you can do is learn from it and move on. In this section of the class participants will be provided examples of actual failures and how you can turn them into a success. Presented in a story format, this presentation will help give you insight on what you can do after taking a chance and having it completely fail. Entrepreneurs, and those frustrated with making business missteps, are encouraged to attend and realize that they aren’t alone and speak with others that are failing successfully.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Kate Baker at [email protected] or 518.442.7245 to make arrangements. Services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.