Entrepreneurship in Practice

*If you prefer to attend this session from your own computer, then we will make a Skype for Business streaming link available to you. Smart phones, tablets, Chromebooks, and iPads are not compatible for usage. The virtual class will run at the same time as the regular class on campus but please login 45 minutes prior to the course start time. Register for virtual option above.

Note for Mac users: Skype for Business must be downloaded to Mac computers prior to course. Mac computers may experience glitches while streaming.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course provides students with key practices and knowledge that will help budding entrepreneurs understand the challenges faced when creating and managing a small business start-up. Course material features lessons in business idea creation, business financing and managing business operations through the first year. Students also will hear from various professionals who will impart practical lessons for company start-ups.

PREREQUISITE
High level knowledge of certain business topics, such as marketing, accounting, and management helpful but not necessary. If you have a business idea, bring it to class. We’ll use them as a focus to create the beginning of a business plan for you. If you don’t have one, no worries. We’ll provide samples or help you generate one.

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of this course is to initiate an opportunity for students to participate in entrepreneur-led instruction to help them learn and navigate the challenges inherent in building start-up companies and developing a business plan.

LEARNING OUTCOMES / COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, students will have been introduced to the following topics:

How to develop a business plan
Where to obtain financing for a company start-up
How to leverage skills across various talents and build teams for common objectives
Understand basic accounting to enable you to administer payroll, pay vendors and invoice customers
How to network and establish business alliances to expand your enterprise

COURSE COST
$2,130

INSTRUCTOR
Eric Marin | Bio (PDF)
Phone Number: (713) 705-7442
Email: eemarin@att.net

GRADING
This course offers a certificate based on attendance and participation.

COURSE SCHEDULE

DAY	TOPIC	KEY TAKEAWAYS	COMMENTS
1	Course Introduction, Business Idea, Business Plan, Legal, Sales & Marketing, Management	What is this course about? What are the key takeaways? How to develop teams and assign roles? What business do you start: What do you know and what are sources for business ideas? How do you make money from the business? Who will buy from you? What’s a Business Plan and why do you need one? What material do you include in a Business Plan? What should be the company structure? What is Intellectual Property and what key legal hurdles exist? Who are your competitors? What are your differentiators? Who is your customer target base? Who are your suppliers? How do you network? Do you enter alliances? How do you price your product? Do you advertise? What is your management structure? What is company culture? How do you build a culture that aligns with your vision? How do you manage your operations? How do you manage your clients? How do you manage your suppliers? How do you motivate your people?	Considerations of Business Idea: Thoughts on how to make money and on who will be key customers, suppliers, competitors, risks, challenges, mission statement, vision, purpose, business environment Components of Business Plan: Mission Statement, Goals, Economics/Finance, Management, Sales & Marketing, Key Financial Ratios, Pro-Formas, Executive Summary Considerations of Legal Entity: LLC vs. LP vs. S-Corp; Holding Company (GP and LP) Considerations for Managing Company: How do you organize the company to best manage your operations, clients, and suppliers? What motivators do you need to get people aligned with your vision? How do you build a culture that gets peoples to want to work for you?
2	Basic Accounting, Financial Pro Formas, Financing, Managing your Financials, Wrap-Up	What basic accounting is useful to run a business? How do you invoice customers? How do you make payroll? How do you pay vendors? What’s a Financial Pro Forma? Why do I need Financial Pro Formas? What financial data do you include? What can financial ratios tell you about your business? How do you finance your business? What are the sources of finance? Debt vs. Equity? How do you manage cash flows? How do you manage profitability?

DAY

TOPIC

KEY TAKEAWAYS

COMMENTS

Course Introduction, Business Idea, Business Plan, Legal, Sales & Marketing, Management

What is this course about?
What are the key takeaways?
How to develop teams and assign roles?
What business do you start: What do you know and what are sources for business ideas?
How do you make money from the business?
Who will buy from you?
What’s a Business Plan and why do you need one?
What material do you include in a Business Plan?
What should be the company structure?
What is Intellectual Property and what key legal hurdles exist?
Who are your competitors?
What are your differentiators?
Who is your customer target base?
Who are your suppliers?
How do you network?
Do you enter alliances?
How do you price your product?
Do you advertise?
What is your management structure?
What is company culture?
How do you build a culture that aligns with your vision?
How do you manage your operations?
How do you manage your clients?
How do you manage your suppliers?
How do you motivate your people?

Considerations of Business Idea: Thoughts on how to make money and on who will be key customers, suppliers, competitors, risks, challenges, mission statement, vision, purpose, business environment

Components of Business Plan: Mission Statement, Goals, Economics/Finance, Management, Sales & Marketing, Key Financial Ratios, Pro-Formas, Executive Summary

Considerations of Legal Entity: LLC vs. LP vs. S-Corp; Holding Company (GP and LP)

Considerations for Managing Company: How do you organize the company to best manage your operations, clients, and suppliers? What motivators do you need to get people aligned with your vision? How do you build a culture that gets peoples to want to work for you?

Basic Accounting, Financial Pro Formas, Financing, Managing your Financials, Wrap-Up

What basic accounting is useful to run a business?
How do you invoice customers?
How do you make payroll?
How do you pay vendors?
What’s a Financial Pro Forma?
Why do I need Financial Pro Formas?
What financial data do you include?
What can financial ratios tell you about your business?
How do you finance your business?
What are the sources of finance?
Debt vs. Equity?
How do you manage cash flows?
How do you manage profitability?

Office of Executive Development

Knowledge for the Real World

Entrepreneurship in Practice

Office of Executive Development

Knowledge for the Real World

Entrepreneurship in Practice

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