Course outline for
Entrepreneurship 101

How to Use This Guide

Session One: Course Overview

Session Two: What It Takes to Make It

Pre-Assignment Review

Traits of an Entrepreneur

Session Three: Resources to Consider

Session Four: Laying the Groundwork

Finding Business Ideas

Considering the Options, Part One

Outlining Your Ideas

Considering the Options, Part Two

Assessing Your Ideas

Considering the Options, Part Three

Evaluating Your Capacity for Risk

Session Five: Building On Your Business Idea

Developing Your Product Idea

Making Connections

Identifying Your Target Market and Customers

Developing Your Value Proposition

Creating Financial Projections

Session Six: Business Ownership Options

Types of Business Ownership

Purchasing a Franchise

Purchasing an Existing Business

Session Seven: Key Documents to Prepare

Business Plan

Executive Summary

Pitch Deck

30-Second Pitch

Practicing the Pitch

White Papers

Session Eight: Gathering Funding

The Basics of Financial Statements

Brainstorming Solutions

Funding Options

Session Nine: Developing Your Product

The Steps of Product Development

Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Session Ten: Creating a Sales and Marketing Strategy

Introduction to Marketing

Stage One: Consumer and Market Analysis

Stage Two: Analyzing the Competition and Yourself

Stage Three: Analyzing Distribution Channels

Stage Four: Creating a Marketing Plan

Making Connections

Stages Five and Six: Implement, Evaluate, Review, and Revise

Leveraging Social Media

Building Your Sales Force

Session Eleven: Branding 101

What Branding Is All About

Developing Your Brand Name

Developing a Slogan

Types of Logos

Getting Creative

Session Twelve: Setting Up Your Office

Choosing a Location

The Pros and Cons of Home-Based Businesses

Session Thirteen: Launching the Business

Getting Off the Ground

Setting Up Your Organizational Chart

Recruiting and Engaging the Right People

Session Fourteen: Keeping the Business Moving

Keeping Track of Your Business

Growing Your Business

Don’t Give Up!

Session Fifteen: Being an Entrepreneurial Leader

Michael Gerber’s Three Perspectives

Case Study

Session Sixteen: Bringing It All Together

Recommended Reading List

Post-Course Assessment

Pre- and Post-Assessment Answer Keys

Personal Action Plan