Class Size Is Limited
Call 891-5523 to Register
Or E-mail jmurphy@aedconline.com for More Info
(Tentative Schedule, Subject to Change)
Session One – Keys to Your Business Success (Open Session)
· Understanding the course curriculum and expectations
· Understanding the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
· The importance of professionalism
· Self-assessment: communication skills, time management and other business skills
· The value of networking
· Preparing an action plan for your microbusiness
Session Two – Assessing Your Business Idea
· What kind of business is right for you?
· What is your business niche?
· Who are your customers?
· Contingency planning
Session Three – Business Planning
· Why planning is essential
· Setting realistic business goals and objectives
· The NxLeveL Micro-Entrepreneur Business Plan
· Develop goals, objectives and a mission statement
Session Four – The Marketing Plan
· Elements of a marketing plan
· The basics of market research
· Useful types of market data
· Understanding your place in your industry
· Develop a customer profile and analyzed the competition
· Learn how to use customer and competition profiles to analyze market potential
· Understand the relationship between the Four Ps
Session Five – Government Regulations
· Laws and regulations that affect microbusiness
· Getting help with regulations
· Understanding contracts and leases
· Understand business tax responsibilities and reporting requirements
Session Six - Organizational Matters: Management and Legal Structure
· Understand how to select the right legal structure
· Become aware of legal issues facing small businesses and where to find help
· Understanding business insurance continuity planning and other risk-management needs
· Identify internal and external management-team members
Session Seven – Management
· Managing your microbusiness
· The challenges of running a home-based business
· Hiring and managing employees
· Business insurance and other expenses
Session Eight – Market Analysis
· How to describe the features and benefits of your products
· How to find out who and where your customers are
· How to research your competitors
· How to estimate your market potential
Session Nine – Product and Price
· Effective microbusiness marketing strategies
· How packaging affects success
· Creating a brand identity
· Learn what elements influence price
· Pricing and your break-even point
Session 10 – Placement and Promotion
· Delivering your product or service
· How location and distribution affect price and profitability
· Promoting your microbusiness
· Developing a marketing budget
Session 11 – Selling Success
· Basic selling concepts
· What customers need and expect from your business
· Developing a customer service philosophy
Session 12 – E-Commerce
· The basics of online promotion
· Online sales and order fulfillment
· E-commerce options for microbusiness
Session 13 – Financial Tips and Tools
· Understanding cash flow projections and budgeting
· Developing realistic sales and expense forecasts
· Preparing a cash flow projection for Year 1
· The purpose of Income Statements and Balance Sheets
· Calculating start-up costs for your microbusiness
Session 14 – Managing The Money
· Understand budgeting and the role of assumptions
· Explain how budgets provide performance feedback
· Gain an understanding of managerial uses of financial statements
· Making ethical business decisions
· How and when to use common business forms
Session 15 – Where’s The Cash?
· Financing your microbusiness
· Choosing between debt and equity financing
· Unconventional financing options
· What lenders expect from a start-up
· How ratios measure the financial health of a microbusiness
· Credit and collection basics
Session 16 – Bringing It all Together
· Negotiating with partners, employees, customers and vendors
· Preparing for growth
· Next steps: Using your NxLeveL Action Plan to get your microbusiness up and running
Session 17 – Graduation and Business Plan Pitches
AEDC will be holding its 60-hour Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (EAP) Small Business Institute in Plattsburgh beginning Wednesday, November 5. This comprehensive hands-on training course is specifically designed for new and existing business owners to learn what it takes to give their business ideas the best chance to succeed.
The NxLeveL training program is supported by the statewide Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP) network, of which AEDC is an affiliate organization. The cost of instruction and assistance is covered by the EAP network; participants will be asked to pay $149 to cover the costs of books and materials – but participants will receive a $50 refund if they attend 90% of the classes (14 of 16), complete 10 hours of free one-on-one technical assistance and turn in a completed business plan by the end of the program.
Classes are tentatively slated for 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings at the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce office, 7061 Route 9. To sign up, or for more information, contact Jim Murphy at (518) 891-5523, ext. 101, or via email at: jmurphy@aedconline.com