Start Up is a semester long course that guides prospective and existing business owners through the necessary steps to write a completed business plan, while testing the financial and market feasibility of their business.

The Start Up curriculum includes:

Financials

• Preparing a net worth statement and personal budget
• Financial needs assessment
• Performa statements
• Financial packaging
• Breakeven analysis
• Cash flow analysis
• Taxes and bookkeeping
• Excel

Marketing

• Five P’s of marketing: product, people, price, place, promotion
• Product description
• Customer profile
• Competition analysis
• Market research and analysis
• Marketing plan
• Pricing
• Promotion and advertising
• Using the internet as a research and marketing tool

Business Management

• Visioning and defining success
• Support documents
• Goal setting and action planning
• Time management
• Stress management
• Assertive communication
• Presentation
• Barriers to success and how to overcome them
• Plan of operation

Other

• Panel of lenders
• Panel of WSBP graduates
• Insurance and legal issues
• Mock lending interview
• Professional review of completed business plan

Start Up is held every fall from September – December and spring from February – May.

An application and interview is required to take the course. Call WSBP at 802-846-7338 for more information.

Getting Serious Class
June 21, 2008