DREAM BIG! Do you dream about starting a business? You’re not alone—millions of Americans share that dream, and yet, not everyone has the courage to get started. But if you’re reading this, you have already taken the first step toward turning your dream into reality. Think about Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, Sam Walton, Walt Disney, Mary Kay Ash. What do they have in common? They all started with nothing but a dream and built multimillion-dollar businesses. Obviously, dreaming alone isn’t enough. You have to do your homework, create a plan and take action. SCORE’s Simple Steps for Starting Your Business series is more than just a guide to business ownership. It’s a blueprint for helping make your dreams a reality. SCORE volunteers are experienced business professionals that have helped thousands of businesses start up and succeed. The knowledge you will gain through this workshop series will help you pursue your business dreams and put them into action.

 

Session 1: START-UP BASICS
March 7 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm In this first session we will guide you through the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors that influence start-up success. Business Basics provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need when deciding to start a business. Session 2: BUSINESS CONCEPTS
March 14 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm In this second session of the Simple Steps for Starting Your Business, we focus on your business concept with step-by-step guidance in researching your idea, your market, and your competition. At the end of the session, you will be able to identify your target markets, describe your products and services, and collect key competitive information to support your feasibility plan. Session 3: MARKETING PLAN
March 21 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm This session provides you with an introduction to marketing communication methods and tools to maximize your customer reach. The discussion covers pricing strategies, positioning, the difference between features and benefits, and different marketing strategies. At the end of this session, you will know how to outline your marketing strategy, test your marketing message, choose the right sales channel, and exercise your marketing strategy. Session 4: FINANCIAL BASICS
March 28 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm This session reviews sales and prices, financial risks and rewards, true start-up costs, ongoing operating expenses, setting benchmarks for tracking progress and the organization of all your financial information. We use exercises to help you better understand financial concepts. Using a hands-on approach, you will learn how to use our financial model to forecast sales revenue and build solid pro-forma financial forecasts. Session 5: FUNDING SOURCES
April 4 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm The final session offers information on how to finance your small business. Discussions include sources of funds, accounting, the six C's of credit, banking relations, ratio analysis, and monthly preparation and review of financial statements. A bank loan officer will give an inside view of how a banker assesses the merits of a business plan and loan application.

Our Instructors:

Tim Bartholomew will be leading March 7 Sesion 1 Start-up Basics. Areas of expertise:

Business Strategy & Planning

Business Operations

Human Resources & Internal Communications

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Dr. Dianna Parker will be leading March 21 Session 3 Marketing Plan. Business Instructor
PhD, University of Missouri
MBA, Missouri State University
BS, Drury University Courses taught:
BUS 110 Principles of Business
BUS 115 Personal Financial Planning
BUS 130 Principles of Marketing
BUS 150 Principles of Management and CSC Keys to College Success
ECO 270 Macroeconomics
ECO 275 Microeconomics

Professional Experience:
Director of Economic Analysis Ledbetter, Toth and Associates
Partner/Marketing Manager, LTA Software Solutions
Director of Research, Assessment and Planning, OTC
Director of Student Life, OTC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital management, cash, accounts receivable/payable and inventories

Credit and collections

Small business planning

Small business marketing

Acquisitions and mergers

Franchising

Operations management

Cost accounting

Warehousing and transportation

Business start-ups

Accounting and reporting systems