Developing a Business Plan BTBM_BPL
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:
- Starting a Small Business, or Family Business
- Developing, Franchising, or Buying an Existing Business
Evaluation:
- Determining the value of a business
- Exploring Business Opportunities on the Internet
- Evaluating a Business Opportunity
Planning:
- Organizing a Business Plan
- Excel™ in Business Plan Preparation
- Presentation of the Business Plan
Starting a Small Business, or Family Business
- Introduction + Starting a Small Business
- Evaluate your entrepreneurial profile
- Family Business Issues
Developing, Franchising, or Buying an Existing Business
- Developing
- Franchising
- Advantages of Franchising
- Disadvantages of Franchising
- Evaluating a Franchise Opportunity
- Industry Associations & Government Agencies
- Professional advisors
- Interview other Franchisees
- Becoming a Franchisor
Buying an Existing Business
- Advantages of purchasing an existing business
- Disadvantages of purchasing an existing business
- Sources of businesses for sale
- Evaluating a business for sale
Determining the value of a business
- Refer back to the Finance course for details on how to do a financial analysis
- Refer back to the Accounting course for details on how to use financial statements
Exploring Business Opportunities on the Internet
- Objectives
- Internet searches
Evaluating a Business Opportunity
- Idea Generation
- How to gain entry to the market
- Strategic Competitive Advantage
- Quantitative Assessment of Business Opportunities
- Calculate Market Potential
- Calculate Market Share
- Calculate Net Income and Cash Flow
Organizing a Business Plan
- Business Plan Format
- Business Plan Effort required
Excel™ in Business Plan Preparation
- Establish the narrative portion of the plan to match the core elements of the marketing plan
- Define working capital management with a detailed financial budgeting model
- Describe the impact asset growth has on working capital positions
- Identify working capital management considerations for:
- - permanent components
- - The impact of sales/production schedules
- - Liquidity versus risk (use the financial budgeting model for “What If” analyses)
- Identify the cash flow cycle of the firm
- - Establish the monthly budget with short-term “bridge” financing
- Explain financing of assets in terms of hedging
- - Describe the term structure of interest rates
- - Identify how it can be of use to a financial manager
- - Incorporate your understanding in the financing segment of your plan
- Identify risk and profitability in determining the financing plan for current assets
Presentation of the Business Plan
- Make sure that you are fully versed with the plan in order to explain its contents
Learning Formats BTBM_BPL
This course is currently available in a classroom setting (public or company private) with approximately 30 contact hours.
PDF – Certificate Of Completion
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.
PDF – Course Notebook
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.
PDF – Program Overview
An overview of this study program can be downloaded from the website by right-clicking on the program link on the enquiry page.
PDF – Current Training Schedule
A list of upcoming training sessions can be downloaded from the website by right-clicking on the schedule link on the enquiry page.
Registration – Service Providers
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.
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