The Business Plan

Location Online - Self-paced

Term Fall, Summer

Cost $195.00

The Business Plan Overview

Course Overview

Whether starting a business or growing the one you have, a business plan serves as a roadmap and can help secure needed funding. In this course, participants evaluate the many aspects and potential hurdles of the business and build the Business Plan, one step at a time.

This practical, hands-on approach encourages participants to immerse themselves in the vision and planning aspects of their business. Focusing on the most critical components of the Business Plan enables them to uncover hidden risks and assess the business from a marketing, management and financial vantage point.

Course Dates

May 4th-26th, 2026

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, participants will:

Possess a clear description of their proposed business
Have the basic components of a business plan
Possess a detailed checklist for next steps to research and launch their business
Analyze the feasibility of their business

Course Objectives

Write a clear, succinct business concept statement
Conduct research on a business and its relation to the industry, competition and marketplace
Project funding requirements, sales and expenses for a business
Research, develop and write core elements of a business plan, which can continue to expand and be researched after the conclusion of the course
Evaluate a business for feasibility

Note: This program qualifies as one of the three core programs required to earn the Entrepreneurship Certificate.

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Agenda

Unit One – Getting Started—Refine your concept and begin your plan

Prepare concept statement—What, Who, Why, When and How
Identify product/service features and benefits
Identify limitation, liabilities and regulations
Write a Business Description and evaluate it against a Business Description checklist

Unit Two – Prepare the Marketing Plan

Conduct an industry and competitive analysis
Perform a market analysis and identify target markets and a market penetration strategy
Identify pricing strategy
Write a Marketing Plan and evaluate it against a Marketing Plan checklist

Unit Three – Prepare the Management and Financial Plans

Identify key people and positions, duties and responsibilities
Determine funding needs and sources
Create sales and expense estimates
Write Management and Financial Plans and evaluate them against checklists

Unit Four – Complete the Business Plan and Assess Business Feasibility

Polish the plan and add final elements—Cover Page, Executive Summary, Table of Contents
Evaluate business plan against checklist and identify items in need of additional work
Assess business against feasibility checklist
Identify next steps

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What's Next

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