Developing a Business Plan

Learn all aspects of creating a solid first draft of your own business plan. This course begins with a comprehensive "situation analysis" of your (or your employer's) small business (or case study, if more applicable). You then learn the key components for creating an effective business plan: knowing your existing customers, targeting future customers, customer value formulation, income statement and balance sheet forecasting, revenue forecasting methodologies, competitor assessment and emerging company/product/service competitors and understanding the pitfalls of small business development. In addition, you look at building and planning an efficient business infrastructure (systems, technology, third-party software); small business finance, cash flow, debt and financing alternatives; transitioning from personal guarantees and credit lines to a self-financing business model; effectively planning, hiring and training staff with high potential; the legal aspects of organizing and managing a small business; negotiating skills; and setting day-to-day priorities with the business plan in mind. With these skills, you can build a solid first draft of your business plan.