New Ventures Entrepreneurship Certificate
SBX 7352-01
Course Hours:  40

Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

  - Evaluate a business idea against their personal vision,
    lifestyle, professional, and financial goals.

  - Examine their willingness and desire to be a successful
    entrepreneur

  - Determine the feasibility of their business concept as 
    compared to a model business.

  - Choose an appropriate legal structure and management
    infrastructure for their business concept.

  - Conduct research on their chosen product/service and its
    relation to the industry, competition, and other market
    considerations.

  - Project the financial situation of their business concept
     including needed start-up funds, pricing strategies, and
     sources of financing using break-even analysis, basic  
     cash accounting systems, and financial ratios.

  - Research, develop, and write a business plan,
    incorporating all the elements needed for a start-up venture.

Content:
    1.  Identifying Entrepreneurship
            - What does it take to be as successful entrepreneur?
            - How can you develop the skills, knowledge, and
              abilities to be a successful entrepreneur? 
            - What are your goals - lifestyle, professional, and
               financial - for starting a business?
 

    2.  Recognizing Opportunities
            - Where do ideas for successful ventures come from?
            - What business opportunities match your own
              personal vision?

    3.  Defining a Business Concept
            - What research and information is needed to write a
              business concept statement?
            - How can you identify and avoid flaws in the business
              concept?
            - How can you create a sustainable competitive
              advantage?

    4.  Testing for Feasibility
            - What factors determine the feasibility of a
              business?
            - What research, information, and analysis are
              required to determine whether you should proceed
              with the business concept or evaluate the feasibility of
              another idea?

    5.  Developing a Business Plan
            - What are the key components of the start-up
               Business Plan and what information is needed in
               each component of the plan? 
             - What decisions about management, product/service,
               marketing, and finances will create the greatest  
               potential for success?
             - How should the Business Plan be written and
               presented