This programme will run on Tuesdays & Thursdays over 3 weeks on the following dates:-

• Tuesday 24 & Thursday 26 September
• Tuesday 1st October & Thursday 3 October
• Tuesday 8 October & Thursday 10 October

Programme content:

Night 1

Personal Assessment / Start Your Own Business / Developing Your Idea

Module aim is to introduce participants to the concept of entrepreneurship and what it means to be a business owner. The downs and ups and how to deal with both.

Introduction to Taxation for micro enterprises 

Module aim is to dispel the notion that taxation is a major barrier to being in business, the module introduces the relevant taxes to the participants and asks them to reflect on the size of their business and for which taxes they will have to account for. This part of the session introduces the self-assessment taxation system and the responsibilities to the revenue of the self-employed.

Night 2

Introduction to Legal Formalities to Start Your Business 

Module aim is to show participants the formal vehicles to use to conduct business, particularly the new companies acts and legislation.

Preparing a Business Plan 

This Module aims to introduce the reasons for and benefits of planning, as well as the methods of creating a realistic plan and how to use it as a tool for creating and managing success.

Night 3

Market Research

This Module prepares the ground for the marketing plan module and demonstrates how to research a market to ensure the success of the prospect, create a value proposition (USP) as well as a profitable price.

Night 4

Effective Marketing for Your Business

The aim of this module is to give a solid professional grounding in the principles of marketing leading up to developing a marketing plan, it includes topics such as introduction to social media marketing and routes to creating brand awareness.

Night 5

Income tax & VAT for the Micro Business

This module ties back to the introduction module and reinforces the information given and reminds of the obligations for income taxes as well as describing the factors effecting decisions regarding VAT and accounting for both.

Night 6

Funding Sources for Your Business and Business Planning

This module explores the various funding options available to micro businesses considering their stage of development and the pros and cons of the various sources of funding. It focuses on the available sources of equity and debt funding for Irish SMEs and outlines the necessary steps to ensure that an SME is successful in raising third party funding.  It introduces best practice for small business to ensure compliance in relation to data protection, the module discusses apps, programmes and features now available to make businesses work more smoothly. The session continues with an overview of the finance and supports available to small businesses that exist along with an overview of the non-financial supports that exist.