Course details

Course up to date as of September 2016

Are you about to start your new small business?

Have you started a new business in the last twelve months?

Has your business gone stale and does it need a shot in the arm?

This course will take you through all aspects of starting and running a small business, from the very beginning to selling it at the end. It is based on the tutor's 5* rated book "A Pocket Guide to Small Business Success" and is a real-world course based on 25 years' practical experience of running companies. It isn't the typical Silicon Valley "be a billionaire by Friday" course and deals with real on the ground issues faced by all normal people in normal day to day businesses.

What is included?

The course contains the following sections:

  • Before you start, including initial planning and reasons for starting the business.
  • Money, including what to do if you haven't got enough, where to raise it, grants and loans.
  • People covers how to find the right ones, how to look after them, what not to do if they want to leave and who to take with you for the long term.
  • Sales and Marketing ensures that customers know you exist, your products are profitable and that marketing cannot be ignored.
  • Running it points out that you shouldn't do all of it yourself and discusses how to let go and steer the ship.
  • Ongoing Strategy deals with reviewing and revising your plan every year to reach newer and higher goals, making sure you take time out to think and plan ahead.
  • Selling it; how the process of selling the business at the end of your journey works.

Documents and Templates are included

The course provides template business plans and projection spreadsheets and other generic documents for the student to download for their own use.

What you will get from the course

Students will get a gentle guiding hand in the overall running and progress of their business. The tutors' book has been described as a "friendly, experienced voice whispering in your ear on each stage of your journey, reminding you of what to watch out for and giving you ideas of how to make it better along the way" and this has been brought through into the course. Access to the tutor via email and discussion is available for all students with no limit to access. This course is a good way of having a non-executive director on board without having to employ one.

Updated on 27 December, 2017
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