The capstone of the business program is completing a business plan – this can be an imaginary business or ideally a business you would like to start if you could find the startup capital. In this course you will draw on all the business knowledge you have gained that you then put at work to establish a business (or find if you can afford to start a business). This is designed from an entrepreneurial paradigm and it includes the tools you need to thoroughly investigate a business opportunity and to seek funding if required.
Of course, you are not required to start a business to successfully complete this course – you simply put in the effort to learn from experience while you apply theory you have learned earlier in the program. The scope of this course is to teach the basics of creating a new business venture starting with the planning process in order to obtain financing and/or investment capital. We examine the process of analyzing every aspect of a business proposal with strategies to minimize risks inherent in any new business venture
To start a new company (as an owner or to help a prospective owner) you must evaluate many decisions that can have a long-term impact on how that company will succeed. This course consolidates many aspects of business management and operations using a solid understanding of accounting and finance skills. Knowledge and understanding of business operations is also critical to making informed business decisions - you gain that understanding and follow-up with training in any specific area of specialization that can open doors to a variety of career paths in which accounting and finance knowledge is a recognized skills set. To enhance the relevancy of this course we will be using Excel™ financial modeling and an Excel™-based business plan template where the opportunity exists.
The goal of this course is the opportunity to create your business plan and to receive feedback on how well it is perceived. This is useful, even if this is a hypothetical plan – students have shared a plan with employers and found that it can open doors to management training opportunities based on a demonstrated understanding of what a business venture requires. Between the Marketing Plan and the Business Plan you have two key documents that should be part of a personal skills portfolio. In the course of preparing the Business Plan you will employ Accounting and Finance training while you produce “Pro Forma” financial statements for the proposed business venture, so Essential Business Skills are recommended as a prerequisite to this program. The course outline is broken into:
Introduction:
Evaluation:
Planning:
Starting a Small Business, or Family Business
Developing, Franchising, or Buying an Existing Business
Buying an Existing Business
Determining the value of a business
Exploring Business Opportunities on the Internet
Evaluating a Business Opportunity
Organizing a Business Plan
Excel™ in Business Plan Preparation
Presentation of the Business Plan
This course is currently available in a classroom setting (public or company private) with approximately 30 contact hours.
This course offers a certificate of completion that identifies the course, the student, and a brief description of the course. To receive a certificate the student must have attended at least 80% of the course sessions. This personalized certificate is forwarded to the student by Email.
This course includes a notebook in PDF format that provides the minimum knowledge the student must master in order to obtain the certificate. In the notebook you will find references to other study materials. Students receive the notebook by Email when their registration is confirmed.
An overview of this study program can be downloaded from the website by right-clicking on the program link on the enquiry page.
A list of upcoming training sessions can be downloaded from the website by right-clicking on the schedule link on the enquiry page.
To register for any training course please look on the enquiry link page of your service provider (from where you accessed this website). On the page you will find a registration request form where you can order the course that you are interested in. The availability dates will be provided to you, along with payment instructions if you decide to go ahead.