Start Your Own Business - SYOB

This programme is designed to be a practical workshop, aimed specifically at those considering starting their own business. The course is for those who wish to learn how to avoid common pitfalls, reduce risk and progress their ideas and maximise rewards. The course is also suitable for early stage micro businesses (<9 months).

Learning Outcome:

Knowing how to set up and run a business as well as being able to complete a business plan will be the two key deliverables from the course. Every participant will be provided with the tools to complete both deliverables

Course Content:

Module 1 – Enterprise & Self Employment

• Testing Your Business Idea - Assessing the potential of your Business Idea
• Becoming Self Employed
• Characteristics of a Successful Entrepreneur
• Buying an Existing Business
• Franchising
• Feasibility Study
• Finding the best location for your business
• Business Requirements - Equipment (Rent or Buy) - Labour – Skills levels – Costs – Where to Source Costs – Identifying all start-up costs - Premises – How to get started

Module 2 – Identifying the Best Legal Structure for Your Business 

• Business Structure – Sole Trader – Partnership – Limited Company 
• Advantages and Disadvantages of each type of Structure
• How to register each structure. Deciding on Structure best Suited to your new Business
• Laws That May Affect You - Employment Laws - Health and Safety Regulations - Preparing Health and Safety Statements for your Business - Insurance - Trademark/Patents/Copyright o GDPR –Selling Online - What the key requirements are for your business and how the new regulations can affect every day business.

Module 3 – Market Research 

• Why Do Market Research
• Research Techniques - Secondary Techniques - Primary Techniques
• Checking out the Competition - Competitor Analysis
• Industry Analysis 
• Customer Analysis – Customer Survey
• How Market Research Helps to Evaluate Business Idea
• Completing the Market Research Section of The Business Plan

Module 4 –Developing Your Marketing Strategy 

• Marketing Your Business Idea 
• Marketing Tools 
• The Marketing Mix
• Branding – Packaging - Display
• Promotion and Advertising
• Digital Media Strategy For
• SEO
• Facebook
• TikTok 
• Twitter
• LinkedIn 
• Instagram 
• Snap Chat 
• Blogging 
• Effective Marketing Strategies 
• Alternative Marketing Strategies
• The Marketing Plan - Developing Your Pricing & Sales Plan - Models of Selling
• Sales Presentations
• Elevator Pitch 

Module 5 – Finance & Taxation 

• Making the Move from PAYE Employment to Selfemployment
• Registering With Tax Office
• Book Keeping
• Book Keeping Requirements
• Company Registration CRO 
• Income Tax 
• Corporation TAX
• Making Tax Returns on Time
• ROS System •
• VAT
• Completion of the Cashflow Projections Profit & Loss Account.

Module 6 – How to Write a Good Business Plan & Finance & Funding 

• Structure of The Business Plan (Business Plan Template provided)
• Title Page 
• Executive Summary 
• The Product/Service and Industry Analysis
• Market Research 
• Marketing Plan
• Financial Plan - Completing 3 Years Financial Projections - Completing 3 Years Cashflow
• Legal Plan
• Management Plan 
• Contingency Plan
• Appendices
• Sources of Funding - Local Enterprise Office Monaghan – BTWEA Scheme - Other Grants - Micro Finance - Crowdfunding - Venture Capital - Banks/Building Society etc - Enterprise Ireland – Competitive Start Fund - Other Start-up Supports
• Managing Your Business - Recruiting for your Business - Leadership Skills - Delegation

All Classes will be run in an interactive setting to allow for questions from participants as well as practical examples of how these things can affect the businesses in the room rather than hypothetical examples.