Entrepreneur Training
Our program of choice for entrepreneurial training is FastTrac®. FastTrac® is a practical, hands-on business development program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage, and grow a successful business. FastTrac® participants don’t just learn about business, they live it. They work on their own business ideas or ventures throughout the program—moving their ventures to reality or new levels of growth. FastTrac® is one of America’s leading entrepreneurial training programs and remains on the cutting edge by providing programs that are written by entrepreneurs, facilitated by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs.
Training is held at Nicholls State University and at community sites throughout the Bayou Region. Sessions are held one week night per week for 10 weeks. Each session is approximatly 2 1/2 hours long. The cost is $700 per person but tuition assistance is typically available through the Louisiana Small and Emerging Business Development program.
1 Exploring Entrepreneurship
• How do my entrepreneurial traits compare with characteristics of successful entrepreneurs?
• How well does my business concept match my personal vision?2 Identifying andMeeting Marketing Needs
• Does my business concept represent an opportunity in the marketplace?
• What is market research and why is it important for my business concept?
• What information do I collect for my market research?3 Setting Financial Goals
• How do I set financial goals for my business?
• What types of costs do I need to identify and plan for?
• What sources of funding are realistically available for my start-up and ongoing operations?
2 Identifying andMeeting Marketing Needs
• Does my business concept represent an opportunity in the marketplace?
• What is market research and why is it important for my business concept?
• What information do I collect for my market research?3 Setting Financial Goals
• How do I set financial goals for my business?
• What types of costs do I need to identify and plan for?
• What sources of funding are realistically available for my start-up and ongoing operations?
3 Setting Financial Goals
• How do I set financial goals for my business?
• What types of costs do I need to identify and plan for?
• What sources of funding are realistically available for my start-up and ongoing operations?
4 Planning the Product/Service
• What are the unique features and benefits of my product/service?
• What is my business model?
• What intellectual property does my business have and how do I protect it?5 Researching and Analyzing the Market
• Why is a competitive advantage important to my business?
• Who is the ideal target market for my product/service?
• Which pricing strategies allow me to compete and be profitable?6 Reaching the Market
• How do I define my company’s brand?
• What marketing strategies and activities will I use to market my product/service?
• What is the most effective way to sell my product/service?7 Building the Organization and Team
• What is the best legal form of doing business for my concept?
• How will I manage business functions and develop an organizational culture?
• Where and how will I find the right people for my organization?
8 Planning for a Profitable Business
• What are the steps to profitability?
• What components affect profitability?
• How do I accurately project sales, cost of goods, and operating expenses?
• How do I use financial concepts to assess and monitor profitability?9 Monitoring Cash Flow and Seeking Funds
• How do I project expected cash flows for my business?
• What kind of funding will I need for operations and growth?
• Who are my potential funding sources?
• What are some ways to strengthen the cash flow of my business?10 Implementing Next Steps
• What are some pitfalls to avoid as I implement my business?
• What are my next steps?
• What resources are available in my community for ongoing business planning?