COURSE INFORMATION

MODULE 1: PRINCIPLES OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Introduction to Entrepreneurship

This course looks at some of the fundamental principles of being an entrepreneur—what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the mindset required for entrepreneurial success. Look beyond the popular conception of “entrepreneur” to get at the reality of what it means.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
7 Business Maxims	Fran Tarkenton
Entrepreneurial Aptitude	Lara Hodgson

MODULE 2: PLANNING YOUR VENTURE

Developing a Concept for a New Business

This course examines the process of finding an idea for a business and then developing and validating that idea. The more an idea is studied and researched beforehand, the better chance of success once it’s put into action.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Finding Your Idea	David Sutherland, Christopher Hanks, Everett Darby
Developing Your Idea	David Sutherland
Validating Your Idea	David Sutherland, Christopher Hanks

Beginnings of a Good Plan

This course covers the basics of business planning, starting with the reasons that entrepreneurs need a plan before they start the business. But having a plan is not enough; it needs to be a well-constructed plan that avoids the red flags of business failure.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Why Plan?	Christopher Hanks
What Makes a Good Plan?	Christopher Hanks, David Sutherland

Lecture Time: 53 minutes Estimated Course Time: 3 hours

The Business Plan: Narrative

This course covers how an entrepreneur presents a business plan, with a focus on generating a positive response from investors. The content is important, but how that information is framed and presented might make an even bigger difference.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Writing Your Pitch for Funding	Everett Darby, David Sutherland
Communication to Get a Positive Response	Everett Darby

Lecture Time: 64 minutes Estimated Course Time: 4 hours

Planning for Predictable Revenue

This course discusses how to find a stream of predictable revenue, the Holy Grail for a new business. Reaching that milestone requires a complete understanding of the business’s value proposition and differentiating from competitors in the marketplace.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Understanding Your Industry	Christopher Hanks
Compelling and Provocative Difference	Christopher Hanks
Refining the Value Proposition	Christopher Hanks
Predictable Revenue	Christopher Hanks
Turning the Plan into Sales	Christopher Hanks

Lecture Time: 138 minutes Estimated Course Time: 9 hours

Management

This course looks at how to build an effective team. The best small business teams look at more than just years of experience. A credible team of motivated people with diverse skills will help the business succeed and give confidence to investors.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Getting Beyond the “One Man Band”	Christopher Hanks
Building a Credible Team	Christopher Hanks
Filling the Gaps	Christopher Hanks

Lecture Time: 38 minutes Estimated Course Time: 2 hours

Leadership

This course covers the principles of organizational leadership, including company culture and motivational tactics. A strong culture and meaningful work creates the best environment for fully engaged employees.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Building a Culture	Christopher Hanks
How to Motivate People	Christopher Hanks

MODULE 3: FUNDING YOUR VENTURE

The Business Plan: Financials

This course looks at one of the most important steps for a new business, financial forecasting. A comprehensive financial forecast helps business owners measure their progress and gives investors a better picture of the business.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Financial Forecasting	Rick Gossett

Lecture Time: 25 minutes Estimated Course Time: 2 hours

Finding the Funds

This course examines the different funding options available to entrepreneurs, and how to match a business with the appropriate funding source. Businesses at different stages, with different needs, and with different goals will approach funding differently.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Overview of Funding Options	Kevin Sasser
Funding the Startup Phase	James Flannery
Funding a High Growth Business	James Flannery
Working with a Bank to Secure Financing	Daniel Milbrandt
Think Outside the Bank	Lara Hodgson

MODULE 4: CUSTOMER ACQUISITION

Website Basics

This course looks at how businesses approach a building block of their digital strategy, their website. An effective website requires thorough planning, with compelling content and an appealing design to pull it all together.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Research and Planning	Scarlett Rosier
Content and Layout	Scarlett Rosier
Site Design and Launch	Scarlett Rosier

Lecture Time: 43 minutes Estimated Course Time: 4 hours

Digital Marketing

This course takes a deeper look at digital strategy, with a focus on digital marketing. Social media marketing offers new opportunities to today’s businesses, but still requires a thoughtful plan to effectively generate results.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Defining Your Social Media Strategy	Jennifer Osbon
Developing Your Ideal Customer Persona	Jennifer Osbon
Content Marketing	Jennifer Osbon
Social Media Platforms	Jennifer Osbon
Data and Analytics	Jennifer Osbon

Lecture Time: 151 minutes Estimated Course Time: 10 hours

Sales Activities

This course covers the key steps in the sales process, starting with a customer-centric focus and looking at how the business can help the customer solve a problem. Further discussion will look at how preparation can overcome obstacles in the sales process.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Control the Sales Interview	Nick Serba
Sell Without Selling	Nick Serba
Overcoming Objections	Nick Serba

Lecture Time: 42 minutes Estimated Course Time: 3 hours

Customer Focus

This course focuses on the customer experience and creating customer loyalty. Businesses can generate loyalty by offering a great customer experience. But even after a negative experience, the right approach can salvage a bad situation and turn it into a positive.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Turn Satisfied Customers into Loyal Customers	Shep Hyken
Creating a Moment of Magic	Shep Hyken
Dealing with a Moment of Misery	Shep Hyken

Lecture Time: 43 minutes Estimated Course Time: 3 hours

MODULE 5: FINANCIAL AND LEGAL

Banking Services

This course covers the primary services that banks or credit unions provide to businesses. Entrepreneurs should know their own needs to find the right place to create a banking relationship.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Banking Services	Daniel Milbrandt, Tracy Williams

Lecture Time: 28 minutes Estimated Course Time: 1.5 hours

Keeping the Books

This course looks at how to accurately manage a business’s finances with accurate books and records. With proper financial controls in place, business owners will be able to understand and use their financial reports to make important strategic decisions for the business.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Basic Accounting	Rick Gossett
Financial Controls	Rick Gossett

Lecture Time: 48 minutes Estimated Course Time: 3 hours

Dealing with Legal Counsel

This course covers the major legal areas where business owners will encounter questions and problems. A strong working relationship with the right legal help will assist the business owner in navigating the complicated worlds of contracts, intellectual property, business entities, and more.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Working with Lawyers	Jason White
Contracts and Agreements	Jason White
Intellectual Property	Jason White
Entity Choice	Jason White

Lecture Time: 73 minutes Estimated Course Time: 5 hours

MODULE 6: OPERATIONS

Human Resources

This course discusses essential HR functions for small businesses, which in small companies often fall on the owner of the business. Topics include hiring, employee relationships, policies and procedures, and regulatory compliance.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Employee Administration and Hiring	Gray Johnson
Recruiting and Hiring	Gray Johnson

Lecture Time: 65 minutes Estimated Course Time: 4 hours

Insurance and Risk Management

This course covers the fundamentals of risk management for small business entrepreneurs, including how to implement risk control techniques and look for necessary business insurance. A business needs a plan in place to avoid or control potential losses.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Principles of Risk Management	Matt Tarkenton

Lecture Time: 40 minutes Estimated Course Time: 3 hours

Government Regulation

This course discusses the regulatory environment for small business entrepreneurs, including the most important regulations commonly affecting small businesses. Further discussion looks at the different government regulations in play at the state and local levels.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
State and Local Requirements	Rick Gossett

Lecture Time: 13 minutes Estimated Course Time: 1 hour

Information Technology

This course covers how different elements of information technology impact both the business’s internal operations and external image. Specific topics include hardware, software, security, documentation, and connectivity.

LECTURES

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Title	Instructor
Your External Business Presence	Jess Coburn
The Internet and Your Team	Jess Coburn
Leveraging the Cloud	Jess Coburn
Devices	Jess Coburn
Applications	Jess Coburn
Planning, Documentation and Preparation	Jess Coburn

Lecture Time: 141 minutes Estimated Course Time: 6 hours