Small Business and Techno-Entrepreneur

Program Length: 8 to 9 months (36 Semester-credits – 900 Hours) - Credential: Certificate

Program Description:

The Small Business and Technopreneurship program is designed to test and validate basic concepts and knowledge in entrepreneurship and small business management. These core concepts include entrepreneurship; recognize and evaluate opportunities; planning, starting, and operating a business; marketing and sales; and financial management. This program will prepare the student to acquire the Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) certification by Certiport®. For each core concept, the ESB exam will certify knowledge and skills in several specific objectives.

General Objectives:

Successful candidates will have the knowledge required to:

1. The Entrepreneur

2. Business Management

3. Starting a Business

4. Business Operations

5. Marketing and Sales

6. Financial Management

Specific Objectives:

The student must meet the following objectives:

1. Entrepreneurship:

1. Identify the characteristics of entrepreneurs.

2. Given a scenario that includes a self-assessment outcome, identify the strengths, weaknesses, and risk tolerance that the self-assessment identifies and how to compensate with services

3. Faced with a scenario, recognize a business opportunity

4. Identify the risks, benefits, opportunities, and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur

1. Recognition of opportunities:

1. Identify the benefits and drawbacks of different types of opportunities (for example, starting a new business, buying an existing business, and buying a franchise)

2. Given a scenario, analyze the demand for goods or services and the opportunities in an environment

3. Given a scenario, identify potential customers or customers for a business

4. Given a scenario, recognize a value proposition

1. To start a business:

1. Identify the purposes and value of a business plan.

2. Identify the appropriate legal structure, benefits, and drawbacks for the different legal structures of a company.

3. Given a scenario, identify the different types of licenses and regulations that are required

4. Identify the benefits and drawbacks of various sources of seed funding: Equity (friends/family, angels, business), debt (bank, credit cards, personal loans), and grants (government, foundation, businesses)

5. Given a scenario, identify the support available to the business at the local, state, and federal level.

6. Identify the ethical practices and social responsibilities of a company.

7. Identify possible exit strategies for a business.

1. Business operations:

1. Given a scenario, identify key positions and human capital needs (including compensation and benefits)

2. Given a scenario, determine if the owner can complete the job or if employees or service providers are needed.

3. Given a scenario, identify the taxes that are required

4. Given a scenario, identify trademark, copyright, and patent intellectual property issues

5. Given a scenario, identify standard operating procedures (eg setup, conduct, internal controls, separation of duties)

6. Given a scenario, identify the factors that led to sustainability

7. Given a scenario, identify milestones as part of a growth strategy

1. Marketing and sales:

1. Given a scenario, develop a sales strategy and identify the characteristics of a successful sale

2. Given a scenario, identify and analyze the costs/benefits of finding customers

3. Given a scenario, identify how to retain customers and develop a relationship with repeat customers.

4. Given a scenario, determine the value and methods of communication, including websites, brochures, social media, and Advertising

1. Financial management:

1. Given a scenario, interpret basic financial statements, such as income statements and balance sheets.

2. Given a scenario, identify the factors that influence credit ratings and the importance of a positive credit rating.

3. Given a list of expenses, identify which are fixed versus variable

4. Given a scenario, identify the factors that impact the price for the customer

5. Given a scenario, identify and analyze cash flow, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory and debt.

6. Given a scenario, create a cash flow budget

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