Building the Strong Bones of Your Business-Turning Your IDEA into a VIABLE Business: The Power of a GREAT Business Plan

The human skeletal system serves many important functions; it provides the shape and form for our bodies in addition to supporting, protecting, allowing bodily movement, producing blood for the body, and storing minerals. A solid business model also has a strong skeletal framework. A well-written, comprehensive business plan can provide that structure. Often the preparation of a business plan is skipped in the process of starting a business. However, investors do not loan money on just great ideas. They don't make money on business ideas; they make money on businesses that can implement ideas.

A business plan provides a "road map" not only to possible lending partners, but to you, your partners and employees.

Some of the topics discussed:
1. In the Beginning…Does your business name convey the message you want to send?

2. Vision…What will the business look like in 5 years?

3. Mission Statement…Defining your business uniqueness.

4. Goals and Objectives…Clearly define goals, make them quantifiable and set to specific time lines.

5. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT)…"Talking about the Gorilla in the Room". Taking a hard look at the challenges facing your business and developing an action plan is critical to both initial and ongoing business success.

Completing this SWOT analysis helps you:
* build on your strengths
* resolve your weaknesses
* exploit opportunities
* avoid threats

6. Strategic Action Plan…Planning is essential but without action, it has no value.

Two key components of the action plan are Marketing and Sales Strategies. If no one knows about your business, no one buys. If no sales are made, you have no business.

7. Financial Plan…Budgets allow the business owner to make more-reasoned decisions and monitor the cash flow. Knowledge of the Cash Flow Cycle will help the Small Business Owner predict when you receive funds and when you are required to make payments.

8. Inspect What You Expect…Breaking down the goals into performance measurements. A plan must be measurable and monitored.

Training Session Time:
This is a six half-day class series because of the subject complexity. The six training classes are scheduled one week apart and homework is assigned between sessions to help you create your own business plan.

Morning Classes 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. once a week for 6 weeks

Cost
$399.00* (includes all 6 Training Sessions)

Dates of Training:
Check out the ERMA Training Calendar for Upcoming Dates

*This class not eligible for the FREE class coupon. NOTE: ERMA Institute™, LLC also works one-on-one with an individual to either create a business plan or improve on a current one. (Price is set by the work required)