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1. Preliminaries
Before you begin this Start Your Own Business Programme, we suggest that you take time to read through each of the following items so that you can familiarise yourself with the programme and how it operates. Some of these preliminaries may require your consent before progressing to the next item.
- Let’s get started
- PortfolioTest
- Terms and Conditions
- How this programme can help you
- How the programme works
- What resources do I need to participate in this training programme?
- How we will support your learning
- A contract of learning
- Self learning tips
- Non Disclosure arrangements
- What happens if I change my business idea mid programme?
- Could you be an entrepreneur?
- How do I get help if I’m stuck?
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2. Getting Started
- Ideas generation and assessment
- Risk/benefit assessment
- Personal motivation
- Motivation, self discipline, conditioning
- Self Sufficiency
- Coping with business cultures, vocabulary, ethics, business models
- Resilience and self belief
- Professional competencies and business skills audit
- Rotating your head 180 degrees
- Playing to your strengths – Getting your own attitude right
- The importance of the Business Planning process
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3. Researching Your Market
However good your product or service is, the simple truth is that no-one will buy it if they don't want it or believe they don't need it. And you won't persuade anyone that they want or need to buy what you're offering unless you clearly understand what it is your customers really want. Knowing and understanding customer needs is at the centre of every successful business, whether it sells directly to individuals or other businesses. Once you have this knowledge, you can use it to persuade potential and existing customers that buying from you is in their best interests.
- What is Market Research ? An Introduction
- Why conduct Market Research?
- What to research e.g. competitors, customers, market size etc
- Research Types – Primary, Secondary, Qualitative & Quantitative
- Practical approach to Market Research
- Most common Research Methods
- Where to find Market Research information?
- Carrying out a PEST analysis and SWOT analysis
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4. Cash flow forecasting
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5. Sales Forecasting
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6. Practical Marketing for the business start-up
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7. Selling
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8. What do I need to operate the business?
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9. Building the Business Plan
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10. Legal Entities
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11. Locating the Business
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12. Sources of Support
A contract of learning
What you can expect from the Training Provider
On-line learning allows for co-operative working which may not only overcome the isolation of distance learners but also enhances the learning process. To ensure this co-operation the training provider undertakes the following:
1. To deliver an online training course entitled Start Your Own Business.
2. To provide a response to e-mail or Web site enquiries within 24 hours. This may from time-to-time involve sending a holding reply or acknowledgement, and the query will be dealt with as soon as possible.
3. To provide adequate support for each module and sub-module of the course. This will be in the form of responding to e-mail and Web site enquiries. Telephone support will not be available.
4. To provide all learning resources required for this e-Work training course.
5. To correct all assignments submitted by the required deadline, and provide prompt individual feedback on assignments/tests.
6. To ensure confidentiality when dealing with any issues that might arise with the learner.
What we expect of you as a particpant on this course
The success of this course will depend on the extent to which YOU (the learner) is prepared to be involved in the course. To ensure this, you (the learner) must undertake the following:
1. To have access to a PC including Internet access and permission to these resources throughout the duration of the course.
2. To complete all modules of the course.
3. To ensure course materials are used only by the learner and for the purposes of completing the course.
4. To check e-mails at least once every 24-hour period (weekdays) and reply to e-mails from the course tutor when requested within 24 hours.
5. To inform the course tutors immediately of any change of e-mail address, home address or telephone number.
6. To respect confidentiality, but also recognise that because the Internet is not a wholly secure medium, your e-mails may be read by people other than their recipients.
Participation in this training programme implies compliance with this Contract of Learning.