This program is a 5-week virtual evening series! Registration is for ALL 5 WEEKS.
Sessions run Thursdays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm virtually from January 9th, 2025 to February 6th, 2025.

Starting and managing a business takes motivation, desire and talent. It also takes research and planning and at times can seem overwhelming. There is so much to do, so many things to think about, and so much to remember. Our 5 week workshop series is meant to examine, in more detail, all the components that you need to consider and help you figure a way to organize, simplify and streamline the process. Participants completing all 5 workshops will be able to complete a business plan and effectively launch their business.

Week 1 - Make your Case: In this session we will give you an overview of what a business case is, from the purpose to development. This overview will introduce you to all the components within a business case, or business plan, that will be further developed over the rest of the 5 week program.

Week 2 - Finding your customers: The goal of any market research is to find out more about your customers, the trends, and the competition. The more you know about these, the better you will be prepared to meet the demands of your marketplace

Week 3 - ABCs of marketing: There are many characteristics to establish your business identity: your product or service, logo, and advertisements are the most used tools to tell your potential customer who you are. Developing a marketing strategy is vital for any business. Without one, your efforts to attract customers are likely to be inefficient.

Week 4 - Operations - Creating a positive business image: Having a business vision provides a sense of destination and a customer-centred vision builds success on long-term customer relationships. What do customers expect, factors that influence choices of selecting a location, when is time to hire and who to hire. All these are questions small business owners have to find answers as business is an arena of intensified competition, greater public awareness and demands for outstanding quality.

Week 5 - Managing your cash flow: Realistic cash flow management and projections are the key to your business ‘s success and the cash flow forecast is an integral part of a realistic business plan. For start-up situations, in particular, the cash flow forecast is crucial since early profit levels will probably not be adequate to finance operating cash requirements. Learn how to manage your cash flow!