Sneak Peek
The Business Start Up short course will provide you a learning experience that can help you start your own business. Based on hands on knowledge and experience, this short course takes the learner each step that is involved in starting and planning for a business. Eliminate risks and understand the functions that a new business will need in order to become successful (whether it is a small business or large organisation).
If you have an idea, put some practical steps on the ground and learn the essentials that you will need to know before you spend time and money on a business. Start equipped with all of the knowledge and skills of small business operations so that you can start on the right foot and focus on delivering your product or service.
This self-guided course allows you to work through the course at your own pace. There are no deadlines or cut off periods. There are many optional activities that will not only extend your learning experience, but will be relevant to you, the industry that you are wanting to enter and will also see you doing practical activities that can help you establish a business.
This is an ideal learning experience for anyone seeking to start a small business -on any scale, from home or away.
The Small Business Start Up Short Course covers the following lessons:
LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION - A REALITY CHECK
- Businesses don’t need to fail
- Getting a product that is saleable
- Establishing management systems
- Finding potential customers
- Selling to potential customers
- Delivering the product
- Know your strengths
- Types of Businesses
LESSON 2 THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE
- Passion is not enough
- Consider your options
- Scale of Business
- What you might sell
- Supply and demand
- Understanding change
- Developing ideas for businesses
- Primary industries
- Manufacturing
- Professional services
- Future growth areas
- Time saver services and products
LESSON 3 SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING A BUSINESS
- Cost of systems
- Compliance and procedures
- Business systems
- Total quality management (tqm)
- Innovation management
- Information technology
- Staff management
- Employee induction
- Performance management
- Financial management
- The simplest approach
- Planning in business
- Creating a strategic plan
- Risk
- Strategy formation and implementation
LESSON 4 HOW TO FIND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
- How can you become visible?
- Technology
- Media
- Trends
- How to attract attention
- Target marketing - strategies, market segmentation, etc.
- Competition
- Market research
- The marketing mix
LESSON 5 HOW TO MAKE A SALE
- What makes a good salesperson
- Who is the customer
- Making a decision
- Rational decisions
- Heuristic procedures
- Decision making processes
- Selling online
LESSON 6 DELIVERING A PRODUCT OR SERVICE
- Presentation and packaging
- Ways of delivering products and services
- Virtual consulting
- Virtual education
- Mail order retailing
- Selling downloads
- Customer satisfaction
LESSON 7 PITFALLS TO AVOID / RULES TO FOLLOW
- Managing money
- Keeping cash flowing
- Persistence
- Doing market research
- Keeping up with change
- Sales focus
- Being different
- Niche products and services
- Business coaching
FINAL EXAM
How does this course work?
You can enrol at any time.
Once you have paid for the course, you will be able to start straight away.
Study when and where you like. Work through at your own pace.
You can download your study-guide to your smart phone, tablet or laptop to read offline.
There are automated self-assessment tests you can complete at the end
of each lesson. You can attempt these as many times as you wish and
each time, upon completion, you can see your results. You will need
internet access to complete the self assessment tests.
At the end of the course, you are presented with a large assessment
which can be attempted online, anywhere, anytime. If you achieve a 60%
pass in the exam; you immediately receive a downloadable certificate of
completion with your name on it.