Start Your Own Business

Profesiones sin Barreras™ Start Your Own Business has been created for individuals who have a limited proficiency in English, and interests in starting a small independent or home-based business, developing entrepreneurial skills. It is also for those who already have a small business and would like to learn how to manage their business.

The Profesiones sin Barreras™ Start Your Own Business program will enable students to gain knowledge and develop skills required in creating, organizing, and managing a new business enterprise. The program provides information on funding an enterprise, ways to approach business, and basic business planning. Just as a small business owner must be aware of virtually every facet of his or her business, each unit reinforces the other units to create an interdependent and comprehensive program. The program will include authentic examples from a variety of business owners (daycare, landscape company, restaurant) whose experiences will be highlighted to bring the business development process to life. The Profesiones sin Barreras™ Start Your Own Business program will culminate with several testimonials of successful business developers and a step-by-step guide to developing a simple business plan and using it to manage a business. The program consists of seven interdependent learning units. Together, the units contain the information required for building a strong foundation for those interested in the successful operation of a new business.

Features

Unit One: Welcome and Overview

This unit welcomes students and congratulates them on their decision to seek training to start and grow a small business. The program will cover topics related to understanding small businesses, and the process for starting and operating one. The objective of this unit is also to provide a clear map of the program’s goals and objectives, so that the student will be motivated to stay with and complete the program.

Unit Two: Identification of Business Opportunities

The goal of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the initial steps involved in creating a new business. This includes the development of a product or service, the identification of potential customers and probable competitors, as well as finding a suitable location.

Unit Three: Business Organization

The goal of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the formation of a small business, including determination of the business’ form and the development of a business plan.

Unit Four: Developing Skills and Abilities

In this unit, students will be introduced to the basics of business management through lessons on money management, basic bookkeeping, and computer programs. These topics are the financial backbone of any business. Understanding them is one of the keys to success.

Unit Five: Funding for a New Enterprise

This unit will focus on the necessity for sufficient start-up capital and how to research the sources of capital that are available to new businesses. The first lesson of the unit will help the student identify the initial capital requirements associated with a small business enterprise. The second lesson will then lead the student through a discussion of the sources for financing a small business. The final lesson will review the concept of cash-flow management introduced in the fourth unit, and reinforce the importance of maintaining sufficient cash flow.

Unit Six: The Right Approach

In this unit, participants are exposed to the concepts of marketing, advertising, customer service, and employee relations.

Unit Seven: Putting It All Together

In the concluding unit, the program will provide testimonials and personal accounts from business owners in a variety of fields and offer students the opportunity to complete a simple business plan.