The Startup Business Workshop is built around a simple plan: five courses that give prospective entrepreneurs everything they need when starting their first business, along with a supportive and engaged community to provide encouragement, guidance, and comaraderie along the way.
If you decide to continue with our Second Step through Fifth Step programs, all currently offered in a hybrid format that combines in-class learning with extensive online self-study resources and an active and engaged online community of peers and instructors, you can sign up for those programs when you’re ready, at any time after completing the First Step. Each program is priced very affordably at just $199 and, by the end of the Fifth Step program, you’ll have the following deliverables in hand:
- You’ll have a clear understanding of your own strengths, how your personal situation must be managed while starting your business, and what kind of help you’ll need along the way to compensate for any weaknesses you might have.
- You’ll have an extensively detailed Target Customer Profile to guide your all of your business planning.
- You’ll have a clear idea of which products and services are of most value to your target market and what they’re willing to pay.
- You’ll have confirmed that your business name is available for registration in your state.
- You’ll learn how to handle the registration of your business with your state as a corporation, LLC, or non-profit.
- You’ll have your EIN from the IRS – your Federal Identification Number, like a Social Security number for your business.
- You’ll have all the documentation you need to open your business banking account.
- You’ll have your logo and your business cards designed.
- You’ll have your basic website up and running (minimal external fees apply).
- You’ll have your business email account up and running (minimal external fees apply).
- You’ll have your social media accounts set up.
- You’ll have a full business plan with five year financial projections and a projected cash flow statement.
- You’ll have a complete funding strategy, and all the materials needed to apply for an SBA loan.
- You’ll have a list of state and federal grants that you might qualify for and guidance on how to apply.
- You’ll have a full set of tools and resources for your business, including forms, procedures, and analytical approaches.
- You’ll have the basic tools and documents for hiring and compliance with human resources best practices.
- You’ll have the basic tools to help you analyze, compare, and negotiate any commercial leases your business might consider.
- You’ll have a complete process for finding, screening, and negotiating with professional services providers like accountants or attorneys.
- You’ll have a complete process for choosing and managing your 3rd-party marketing partners, including your own performance evaluation process.
- You’ll have a full process for running the financial side of your business, including accounts payable, trade credit, billing and collections, payroll, and tax management.
- You’ll have access to our carefully screened and vetted professional services partners, including HR & benefits firms, commercial real estate agents, accounting firms, legal firms, marketing agencies, equipment retailers, technology and IT infrastructure partners, software development partners, and staffing agencies.
- You’ll have a detailed timeline with all of the critical milestones you need to hit for your business, tied to both financial and operational metrics.
- You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve out-thought and out-prepared your competition and done everything possible to set yourself up for success in your new venture!
Starting a business isn’t easy – it’s not something that most people have done before, and learning by trial and error takes a toll on both your enthusiasm and your wallet. But our approach gives you the knowledge and the tools that make everything understandable, logical, and doable no matter what your experience level is. Try our First Step program for free and see for yourself if our approach is right for you.