Business planning course outline and schedule


Week One, Class One: Course introduction and expectations
Summary: Syllabus and resource overview. Expectations. Initial introduction to Entrepreneurship. Slides 1-6.
Readings: None
Web Stuff: Get onto the web. Find the course web site and review the syllabus. Also find the Hurdle Book Online, the business plan resource at www.bplans.com, and the Ask the Experts resource.
Work Due: Eager to start? Would you like us to know who you are? Then go ahead and do the self assessment on the web.
Questions: Why are you interested in this course? What business experience (if any) have you had? What kind of a business would you like to start?
Week One, Class Two: Concept Kick Start
Summary: SWOT Analysis. About Entrepreneurs. Start-up companies. Slides 7-14.
Readings: None
Web Stuff:
Work Due: Self Assessment. You can also get started on the Jones Soda case due the next class.
Questions: What good is a SWOT analysis? Who uses it, and why? What factors do you think make a start-up company successful?
Week Two, Class One: Success Factors; Jones Soda
Summary: Ideas vs. opportunities.
Readings: Coulter book: Chapter 3, Researching the Venture's Feasibility
Web Stuff: Question: do you have to be first to start a business?. Hint: keyword search for "unique" on the Ask the Experts facility at www.bplans.com.

Work Due: Case 1 Due: Click here for the case and Click here for specific case assignment.
Questions: What makes a business idea valuable? What's the difference between an idea and an opportunity? How can you protect your idea?
Week Two, Class Two: Coulter Chap. 4
Summary: Discussion of Coulter book Chapter 4, Planning the Venture
Readings: Coulter book: Chapter 4, Planning the Venture
Web Stuff: None
Work Due: None
Questions: None
Week Three, Class One: Marketing your business
Summary: Developing an initial assessment: mission statement, keys to success, break-even, and initial view of the market.
Readings: Coulter book, Chapter 5, Organizing the Venture
Web Stuff: The MiniPlan, the initial assessment.
Work Due: None
Questions: What is the underlying goal of the initial assessment?
Week Three, Class Two: Marketing your business
Summary: Fundamentals of Gathering Information
Readings: None
Web Stuff:
Work Due: Phase 1 Business Plan Due: mission statement, business objectives, keys to success, break-even analysis, and potential market analysis. Click here for more information.
Questions: Web browsing: visit www.census.gov, find county business indicators to tell you how many of each type of business.
Week Four, Class One: Getting the numbers
Summary: Basic Business Numbers: sales forecast and the three main statements
Readings: None
Web Stuff: The web, the web. Think about your business plan, the information you need, and do some good web searches. Be creative. Remember the crossword puzzle method of information gathering.
Work Due: Entrepreneur Interview due. Click here for detailed assignment.
Questions: None
Week Four, Class Two: Cash is King
Summary:Cash Flow
Readings:None
Web Stuff:Hurdle Book, Section 5: Financial Analysis, Cash is King.
Work Due:None
Questions:What's the difference between cash and profits? Why is there this difference? Can you be profitable and broke at the same time?
Week Five, Class One: Interview discussion; guest speaker
Summary:Interview with entrepreneurs. What makes an entrepreneur, and why? Think about it: are you going to be an entrepreneur? ("No" is an acceptable answer).
Readings:None
Web Stuff:Entrepreneuring self tests web site.
Work Due: Case 2 Due: Click here for the case and click here for the assignment
Questions:Are you cut out to be an entrepreneur? Why do you think so?
Week Five, Class Two: Case 2 Analysis
Summary:Case 2 Discussions.
Readings:None
Web Stuff:None
Work Due:None
Questions:Why are start-ups usually not profitable in the beginning? Is a loss in the first year a bad sign? Does your business show a loss at the beginning?
Week Six, Class One: Developing the Plan
Summary:Developing the Plan
Readings:None
Web Stuff:
Work Due:None
Questions:None
Week Six, Class Two: Developing the Plan
Summary:More details on actual logistics and working of a plan document
Readings:None
Web Stuff:None
Work Due:Phase 2 Business Plan Due: List of start-up costs, personnel, sales forecast, profit or loss. Click here for details.
Questions:None
Week Seven, Class One: Sales and Marketing Part 1
Summary:Planning your Sales and Marketing, Part 1
Readings:None
Web Stuff:
Work Due:None
Questions:None
Week Seven, Class Two: Sales and Marketing Part 2
Summary:Planning Sales and Marketing, Part 2
Readings:Coulter book, Chapter 8: Managing People
Web Stuff:Hurdle Section 6: Strategy and Tactics, chapter "Strategy is Focus."
Work Due: Case 3 Due: Click here for the case and click here for the assignment.
Questions: None
Week Eight, Class One: Building a Business
Summary:Structuring a business, building a business
Readings:None
Web Stuff:
Work Due:None
Questions:None
Week Eight, Class Two: Finishing, presenting a plan
Summary:Details about how to print, publish, and present a plan
Readings:Coulter book, Chapter 9: Managing Growth and Other Entrepreneurial Challenges
Web Stuff:Hurdle Book, Section 8, Print and Publish
Work Due:None
Questions:None
Week Nine, Class One: Business Plan Presentations
Summary:Students from the class present their business plan to the class, taking 10-15 minutes each, making sure to emphasize highlights.
Readings:None
Web Stuff:None
Work Due:None
Questions:None
Week Nine, Class Two: Business Plan Presentations
Summary:Students from the class present their business plan to the class, taking 10-15 minutes each, making sure to emphasize highlights.
Readings:None
Web Stuff:None
Work Due:None
Questions:None
Week Ten, Class One: Business Plan Presentations
Summary:Students from the class present their business plan to the class, taking 10-15 minutes each, making sure to emphasize highlights.
Readings:None
Web Stuff:None
Work Due:None
Questions:None