Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Entrepreneurship Today
   A. Define the role of the entrepreneur in business
   B. Describe the important role small businesses play in the nation’s
economy
   C. Describe the entrepreneurial profile and evaluate your potential as
an entrepreneur
   D. Identify and explain the issues that are driving the growth of
entrepreneurship

II. How Entrepreneurs Move Ideas to Reality
   A. Describe why creativity and innovation are such an integral part of
entrepreneurship
   B. Understand how entrepreneurs enhance their own creativity and that
of their employees.
   C. Discuss the importance of continually analyzing, adapting, and
improving the entrepreneurial business
   D. Identify methods entrepreneurs utilize to continually improve their
product or service and the strategies of operating their entrepreneurial
business

III. Strategic Marketing and Management for the Entrepreneur
   A. Understand the importance of strategic marketing and management to a
small entrepreneurial business
   B. Explain why and how a small business must create a competitive
advantage in the market
  C. Explain the importance of effective financial management in
developing, growing, and sustaining an entrepreneurial business venture
   D. Recognize and understand the importance of legal skills in the
successful operation of an entrepreneurial business
   E. Identify the opportunity and impact of technology to entrepreneurial
business ventures
   F. Analyze global issues and opportunities for entrepreneurial
businesses

IV. Forms of Business Ownership
   A. Define a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, and a
franchise
   B. Identify advantages and disadvantages of each form of business
ownership
   C. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing
business

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Empowering Entrepreneurs
   A. Examine beliefs and assumptions that empower entrepreneurs.
   B. Analyze circumstances surrounding entrepreneurial successes and
failures.

II. Transforming Entrepreneurial Concepts
   A. Identify requirements of implementing an entrepreneurial concept.
   B. Identify actions necessary to move from implements the concept to
achieving sustainable success.

III. Entrepreneurial Opportunities
   A. Identify opportunities that ignite ambition and foster self-reliance
and resourcefulness, perseverance, and determination.
   B. Analyze circumstances, skills and strategies which yield
entrepreneurial success.

IV. Goal Setting
   A. Review goals set by other entrepreneurs and the impact of goal
setting on entrepreneurial success.
   B. Applying the course content, establish individual goals to develop
personal entrepreneurial skills.

V. Learning Strategies
   A. Identify the impact of knowledge applied to effort.
   B. Analyze the power of self-directed life-long learning.

VI. Creating Sustainable Wealth
   A. Demonstrate an understanding of basic financial literacy.
   B. Illustrate how entrepreneurs create sustainable wealth regardless of
circumstances.

VII. Building a Sustainable Brand
   A. Recognize the importance of reliability as a key to building a
successful and sustainable brand.
   B. Discuss the impact responsibility plays in building a successful and
sustainable brand.

VII. Networking
   A. Understand the value a community of success by learning how to
connect and collaborate with innovators, entrepreneurs, mentors and
trusted advisors who can assist in transforming entrepreneurial ideas into
sustainable successes.
   B. Discuss strategies for implementing a personal community of
success.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Financial Statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Cash Flow Statement)

A. Define financial terminology.

B. Explain the importance and use of each financial statement.

C. Prepare three-year proforma Income Statements, Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Statements.

II. Sources of Financing

A. Differentiate between debt and equity financing.

B. Identify sources of debt and equity financing.

C. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each form of financing.

D. Identify the various types of business loans.

E. Interpret the terms and conditions of a loan.

III. Cash Management

A. Prepare a cash budget including:

1. Start-up costs.

2. Revenues.

3. Expenditures.

B. List methods of improving cash flow within a business.

C. Determine the financial needs of a business.

D. Describe methods of financing cash deficits incorporating internal cash management techniques and external resources.

IV. Financial Statement Analysis

A. Define the most common ratios used to evaluate and manage a business, including:

1. Using ratio analysis, assess the financial health of a business.

2. Determine the break-even point for a business start-up.

3. Interpret financial trends within a company.

V. Credit Worthiness

A. Define the 5 C’s of credit.

B. Evaluate the creditworthiness of a business using financial ratios such as:

1. Debt ratios.

2. Equity ratios.

3. Profit ratios.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Concept Statement

A. Explain clearly and succinctly the proposed business and its products and/or services.

B. Evaluate the concept statement for clarity and completeness.

II. Entrepreneurial Characteristics and Behaviors

A. List common entrepreneurial characteristics and behaviors.

B. Identify skills and expertise necessary for business success.

C. Assess personal strengths and weaknesses.

D. Identify specific areas in which additional business or technical skills are needed.

III. Evaluation of Business Concept Against Personal Criteria

A. Identify personal preferences, interests and talents.

B. Identify at least three personal and career goals for the next 10 years.

C. Evaluate the compatibility of personal goals and talents with business concept.

IV. Evaluation of the Business Concept Against the “Ideal” or Model Business Criteria

A. Review criteria for the “ideal” or model business.

B. Evaluate business concepts against ideal business.

C. Develop strategy to address weaknesses in business concept.

V. Management Plan for Business

A. Identify positions needed and define responsibilities.

B. Prepare the organizational chart.

C. Identify outside resources for business assistance and expertise.

VI. Legal Requirements for a Business

A. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the various forms of business ownership and determine which form is best for student types of business.

B. Investigate local restrictions (licensing, zoning, permits) relevant to business.

C. Identify the types of legal agreements that are necessary to securing proprietary rights for a business.

VII. Marketing Plan Development

A. Prepare an industry study.

B. Prepare a competitive analysis and customer analysis.

C. Develop a plan for market penetration.

VIII. Product or Service Plan Development

A. Outline how the product will be made and delivered.

B. Identify sources of materials or suppliers for product or service.

IX. Financial Plan Development

A. Evaluate traditional and non-traditional sources of capital.

B. Identify, discuss and prepare pro forma income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements for three years.

C. Explain the importance of cash management to a business.

X. Business Plan Preparation

A. Summarize critical business plan information into an effective executive summary.

B. Integrate sections of the plan into an effective whole, adding an appendix and table of contents.

C. Explain the benefits of a business plan from the perspective of the entrepreneur, a lender or an investor.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Opportunities for Small Business Start-up and/or Growth
   A. Keep a written log of opportunities presented within the current
environment.
   B. Accurately evaluate and justify which business opportunities
identified have the greatest possibility of economic success.

II. Significant Changes Which Impact Small Business
   A. Identify and list the types of external information available to
assist small businesses in conducting an environmental analysis.
   B. Identify significant consumer trends affecting business today and in
the near future.

III. Analysis of Current Business Environment and Recommendations for
Small Business
   A. Differentiate between the environmental factors which should be
monitored carefully and those which may be only casually assessed.
   B. Project how positive environmental factors may be capitalized upon
by small businesses.
   C. Identify the unique qualities of small businesses which may enable
them to respond rapidly to business opportunities.
   D. Explain how factors having a negative impact on business may, given
the right environment, be minimized or turned into a business
opportunity.

IV. Environmental Analysis and Strategic Plan for a Specific Small
Business (Idea)
   A. List the four major categories of macro environmental variables.
   B. Conduct an analysis of the macro environment for small business.
   C. Identify which factors in the macro environment have the greatest
impact on small business.
   D. Evaluate how well the proposed business (idea) is supported by
consumer trends.
   E. Conduct a strategic analysis of environmental threats and
opportunities for the proposed business (idea).

V. Developments in the Local Community and Their Impact on Small Business
   A. Conduct an environmental analysis for small business in the local
community.
   B. Evaluate the  climate” for small business within the local
economy.