Duration: 64 hrs 

Recommended Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required for this course.

Course Overview

This course is designed for business owners and entrepreneurs who are ready to create a business plan. All the essential steps are covered, including drafting the original document; identifying the audience; gathering information; researching; describing product plans; and marketing, sales, and accounting terms. Students will come away from the course energized and prepared to write their business plan.

Learning Objectives

• Research and analyze the individual components needed for a business plan
• Apply skills to create a business plan for different audiences, including investors, banks, and other stakeholders
• Explain the purpose and future of your business in easy to understand terms
• Use accounting terms to describe the future for your business
• Describe your marketing, sales, and planning strategies

Course Outline

1. Course Overview
2. What is a Business Plan For?
3. A General Business Plan Framework

• Creating a Framework
• Pre-Assignment Review

4. Identifying Your Audience

• Who Are You Writing For?
• The Rules of Writing

5. Gathering and Analyzing Information

• GO-PARSE
• PARSE in Action

6. Defining Your Company

• Identifying Your USP
• Writing Your Company Description
• Describing Your Products and Services
• Performing a Market Analysis
• Developing an Operations Plan
• Types of Operations

7. Getting to Work
8. Creating a Marketing Strategy

• Introduction to Marketing
• Analyzing the Competition and Yourself
• Analyzing Distribution Channels
• Creating a Marketing Plan
• Sketching Out the Plan
• Evaluate, Review, and Revise
• Leveraging Social Media

9. Creating the Sales Plan

• Building Your Sales Force
• The Sales Cycle

10. Developing Financial Projections

• Accounting Terminology
• General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Key Reports
• Financial Projections

11. Putting It All Together

• Writing the Executive Summary
• Making a Strong Presentation
• The Finishing Touches
• Reviewing and Revising

12. Personal Action Plan
13. Recommended Reading List
14. Post-Course Assessment