Experience a business planning course that has successfully turned entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

In this course you will learn to:

• Assess your own ability as an entrepreneur
• Evaluate the feasibility of your business idea
• Align your business vision with your personal goals
• Create strategies for organizing and marketing your business
• Explore pricing for your product or service
• Develop capital needs and sound financial statements
• Research, develop, and write a comprehensive plan for your business
  

About the Course

Participants begin the course with an exploration of the skills and characteristics needed to run a business – to be an entrepreneur.

Next, they establish a personal vision and evaluate their proposed business concept against that vision.

Finally, they evaluate their business concept for financial, product, and market feasibility before developing the actual business plan.

Participants are introduced to the course and given online access at the first class meeting. Five additional class meetings reinforce the online content through facilitated lecture, discussion, and guest speakers. Online activity outside class time is critical to the successful completion of the program and the development of the business plan. Access to the online course content will be available at all times during the course.

Who can benefit from PEV?

• PEV can benefit anyone who is interested in starting a new business or building an existing business.
• Since a business plan is not just for start-up ventures, this course is also valuable for managers of established companies or departments who want to expand their products, services, operations, or markets.

What’s unique about PEV?

• It is applicable to any business.
• It is the only course that combines Internet-based e-learning with occasional classroom instruction, allowing participants to work outside the classroom at their own pace. (Online access is available for six months after the course begins. Templates can be downloaded and saved.)
• It is available in Wake County only through Wake Tech.
• Its outcome is a comprehensive business plan!

Why do you need a business plan?

• A business plan helps guide and test the feasibility of a start-up business idea.
• It’s something that most lenders and investors insist on seeing.
• It’s good for existing businesses that want to take their operations to the next level.
• It serves as a roadmap for operating a business.

• Funds needed for starting and operating a business
• Management team and infrastructure
• Product and service offerings
• Customer profiles and marketing communication strategies and tactics
• Sales forecasts
• Cash flow and break-even levels

According to the Kauffman foundation:
Firms with a written business plan have 50% greater sales growth and 12% higher gross profit margins than firms without written plans.

About the Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America. At $2 billion in size, it is the only large American foundation that focuses on entrepreneurship.
(www.kauffman.org)

Current courses are full. To be notified when registration opens for new course offerings, call: 919-532-5525 or email: entrepreneurship@waketech.edu.

The course was awesome! The wealth of knowledge provided on the web site is outstanding. The site allows you to create a business plan and along the way question your motives, your skills, and your choice of business. I have learned so much by participating in the class, most importantly how much I didn’t know!
Karen Diebolt
Softedz

PEV far exceeded my expectations. I HIGHLY recommend this class to anyone starting a business, considering starting a business or currently in business and want to take their business to the next level. The material was very substantial, informative and in depth. At the time I started the class, I only had an idea of what I wanted to do; no business name, slogan or plan. Through PEV, I was able to methodically move through the beginning phases of my business as well as create a solid long term plan. I especially appreciated learning about things I had never even considered such as 'exit strategy', in depth long term projected financials (part of the on line section that was worth its weight in gold!), and stellar tips from guest speakers.
Tracey Gritz
Advanced Business Solutions of NC

The course is an absolute must if you are serious about starting a business. If you are not serious, it's also a must it will probably save you from making a big mistake. I was serious and expected to pick up a few good pointers that would help me. Instead of just a few pointers, I got the foundation I needed to write a solid business plan with strong financials that is paving the way to my future. The supporting online materials are excellent and provide essential tools to the new entrepreneur. Classes were engaging and featured both a helpful and knowledgeable instructor, and also guest speakers that provided additional insight on specific topics.
Paul Nowicki
World Food Trace, Inc.

This course can also be offered as a joint venture with any Wake County organization that trains and develops entrepreneurs and small businesses.