Learn to Start a Business From an Expert

I'll show you the "nuts & bolts" required to get your business started, how to research and write a business plan that will help you get financing, then show you 11 different ways to finance your business. This will include a marketing plan with six lectures on the latest social media techniques; how to identify your target "market", which might be different from your target "customer"; explain financial projections and how to determine your break even month;  and give you the basic accounting skills necessary to run your business.

Lecture 1 covers ØBasic Qualifications for starting a business Ø Buy one vs starting one; Franchise? Non-profit? Home-based? Online or store? ØIntroduction to marketing – sales – branding ØKnow your Competition ØFinancial considerations ØThe Business Plan

Lecture 1a: Nuts & Bolts of starting a business •Choose a business structure •Licenses & Permits •Create a Website

•Fictitious Business Name •Accounting System & Business Insurance

Lecture 2: •Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights

Lecture 3: The Business Plan •Why Businesses fail •Competitive Advantage •Competitors - SWOT Analysis •Marketing Plan•Financial Projections

Lecture 4: Target Mkt vs Target Customer •Competition vs Competitors

Lecture 5: Marketing Plan •Basic Marketing Questions §Create a Webpage §Search Engine Optimization §Social Media Marketing §YELP! and Google Plus •Network Marketing •Branding •Market Research

Lecture 6: SEO •What is SEO •BOTs •Rankings and how they’re determined •Links (Onsite & Offsite SEO) •Content and “RankBrain” •SEO Tools

Lecture 7 Social Media Marketing: Ø Blogging Ø Facebook For Business Ø Twitter for Business Ø Yelp! Ø Google Ø YouTube

Lecture 8 Networking: Ø Attending mixers:- Tips for maximizing your time- Creating an effective tagline Ø30 Sec Elevator Pitch Ø Locating Networking Events

Lecture 9: Linkedin

Lecture 10 Email Marketing: 1. How to build an email list of targeted customers. 2. How to optimize your emails for the highest open and click-through rates. 3.How to automate the process

Lecture 11 Accounting: Ø Debits & Credits Ø Cash vs Accrual Accounting Ø General Ledger Accounts Ø Overhead and G&A Ø Accounting Software

Lecture 12 Financials: •Startup costs •Recurring Costs •Cash Flow Forecast •Financial Forecast •Pro Forma P&L and Balance Sheet •Putting it together

Lecture 13 Financing your biz: 1.Personal Savings (including retirement accts) 2.Credit Cards 3.Family & Friends 4.Bank & Guaranteed Loans 5.Owner Financing 6.Factoring 7.“Crowdfunding” websites 8.Peer-to-Peer Lending sites 9.Angel Investors & Venture Capitalists 10. Incubators & Accelerators 11. Grants

Lecture 14 Managing your biz: ·Hiring employees ·The Employee Handbook ·Business Tax Credits ·Payroll: oTax Withholdings oPayroll Services ·Workers Comp Insurance ·Customer Service