LEADING EDGE™ Series: Start-Up Essentials (4 sessions)

We encourage start-ups to take this LEADING EDGE series of four webinars. Entrepreneurs with a completed flexible business plan are more likely to succeed past the start-up phase.

Four Consecutive Sessions (Thursdays, 6PM-9PM)

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Entrepreneurs with a solid business idea
• Businesses under two years in operation.
• Entrepreneurs who started a business but need to get new clients and make money
• Ideal webinar if you plan to start a business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Session 1: Launching Essentials -- Thursday, January 21, 6PM - 9PM
Understanding Your Business Model
The Business Model Canvas is a visual tool to help you define your business idea in a simple and concrete way. It will jump-start your road map to success. Objectives:
* Understand the Business Model Canvas
* Determine how to run a successful business
* Understand the next steps to launch your business

Session 2: Marketing Essentials -- Thursday, January 28, 6PM - 9PM
Planning Your Marketing Tactics
You will understand the basics of marketing based on the Business Model Canvas and develop the foundational tactics for a workable marketing plan for your business. Objectives:
* Understand why a marketing plan is important to your company's success
* Help you focus and create a marketing road map
* Start to implement your marketing plan

Session 3: Cash Flow Essentials -- Thursday, February 4, 6PM - 9PM
Understanding Your Numbers
Understanding your numbers is the #1 way to establish a successful, growing business. You will work with the Business Model Canvas to understanding how cash flows through your business. It is one thing to have a dream, it is another to have a financial plan that will support that dream. Your business success depends on making sure the cash is there to support the business. Objectives:
* Understand and Create a Cash Flow Projection
* Understand Pricing
* Identify Start-Up Costs

Session 4: Business Plan Essentials -- Thursday, February 11, 6PM - 9PM
Putting the Pieces Together
Bring everything you've learned in the LEADING EDGE Series together into a flexible business plan to help you launch during the pandemic. Objectives:
* Convert your Business Model Canvas into a business plan
* Create Milestones to launch your business
* Incorporate pandemic requirements into your business plan.

Recommendations:

• Take ALL four LEADING EDGE™ sessions to complete your business plan.
• Attend two one-on-one virtual consulting sessions during the course.
• Complete workshop assignments prior to consulting sessions.

Certificate Program: If you complete all four sessions, one-on-one consulting sessions and submit a business plan or business model canvas to the instructor for review.

Cost for all four sessions: $150 | Cost for each individual session: $45
Future cost for the next series: $200 | $65/session Thank you to the Aurora-South Metro SBDC's host and supporting sponsors: