• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Events Calendar
  • News & Features
WomenVenture

WomenVenture

Empower women to achieve their economic goals

  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Staff & Board
    • Annual Reports & Financials
    • Partners
    • Accessibility
  • Services
    • Training
    • Lending
    • Child Care Business Services
    • Scholarships
  • Resources
    • Resources for Clients
    • Client Directory
  • Volunteer
  • DONATE
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Staff & Board
    • Annual Reports & Financials
    • Partners
    • Accessibility
  • Services
    • Training
    • Lending
    • Child Care Business Services
    • Scholarships
  • Resources
    • Resources for Clients
    • Client Directory
  • Volunteer
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Events Calendar
  • News & Features
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Small Business Essentials

Small Business Essentials is an in-depth, 20-session course that covers the critical components of creating and fine-tuning a business plan. Upon graduation from the course, you will have a robust business plan to guide you through starting and growing your business. Classes are offered in person and online.

Course Overview

  • Learn key components to launching a successful business including creating an executive summary, marketing, finance, operations, and sales
  • Connect with your classmates and create a community of fellow entrepreneurs
  • Attend bonus lab nights and get support from classmates and business experts
  • Present your completed business plan at the course graduation celebration
  • Gain access to subject matter expert volunteers
  • Receive one-on-one support from a business mentor

Course Outline

Small Business Essentials Modules

Session 1 – Orientation
Meet your mentor, receive class materials and tools, and learn about the structure of the course.

Session 2 – Business Development
Define your business description. Clarify your mission statement, value proposition, and owner qualifications.

Session 3 – Understanding Your Target Market
Learn to identify the who, what, where, and how of your target market.

Session 4 – Analyzing Your Competition
Learn to do market research and assess the competitive landscape.

Session 5 – Marketing
Learn about the basic tools and techniques for creating awareness and interest in your business.

Session 6 – E-Marketing
Learn about the e-marketing tools and techniques for creating awareness and interest in your business online.

Session 7 – Sales
Learn how to guide people through the sales process, overcome objections, and ask for their business.

Session 8 – Checkpoint #1 – Meet with your Mentor

Session 9 – Company Formation
Step-by-step instructions for forming a legal business entity.

Session 10 – Management Structure
De-mystify business registration and management essentials, capacity, and risk.

Session 11 – Business Plan Working Lab
A working “lab” session provides an opportunity to be hands-on with technical support in the room while working on your business plan.

Session 12 – Managing Risk
Learn about the risks to your business and what to do to mitigate those risks.

Session 13 – Operations
Define your operations and assess management and personnel assets and needs.

Session 14 – Checkpoint #2 – Meet with your Mentor

Session 15 – Finance: Introduction to Business Finance
Learn the essentials of business accounting and introduction to financial statements.

Session 16 – Finance: Estimating Sales & Cost
Learn how to project your sales revenue and calculate your startup costs.

Session 17 – Working Lab: Planning for Profit
Working session to complete the financial template and prepare for review with your mentor.

Session 18 – Checkpoint #3 – Meet with your Mentor

Session 19 – Final Practice Pitch
Practice and present your “pitch” to your fellow entrepreneurs, trainers, and mentors.

Session 20 – Graduation

Ready to sign up?

Our next Small Business Essentials course is from April 18 – June 22, 2023.
Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (CST). This course will be held virtually.

Please contact us at training@womenventure.org for application information.

Cost: $600

WomenVenture has a broad range of scholarship levels to serve a greater number of emerging entrepreneurs. Visit our scholarship page for more information.

165 Western Avenue North

Suite 8, Office #100

St Paul, MN 55102

Phone: (612) 224-9540

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Join our mailing list

Copyright © 2023 WomenVenture. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy

Website design by Flying Orange.