Small Business Foundation

Have you been wanting to start your own business for a while, however you are not sure where to start? Don’t miss a step with this IEAC Accredited Course on starting a small business.

This comprehensive course is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, hobbyists turning their passion into a small business. With practical, real-world guidance, you’ll learn how to plan effectively, attract customers, manage finances, meet legal obligations, and create sustainable long-term growth. By the end of this course, you’ll have a complete toolkit for running a successful small business, plus your own practical business plan ready to put into action.

There is a final assessment that can be undertaken at any time, day or night; and you will be awarded a coveted: IEAC (International Education Accreditation Council) Certificate, which will have your name on it, including full course details.

THE LESSONS IN THIS COURSE COVER THE FOLLOWING:

LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION – A REALITY CHECK

• Businesses don’t need to fail
• Getting a product that is saleable
• Establishing management systems
• Finding potential customers
• Selling to potential customers
• Delivering the product
• Know your strengths
• Types of Businesses

LESSON 2: THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE

• Passion is not enough
• Consider your options
• Scale of Business
• What you might sell
• Supply and demand
• Understanding change
• Developing ideas for businesses
• Primary industries
• Manufacturing
• Professional services
• Future growth areas
• Time saver services and products

LESSON 3: SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING A BUSINESS

• Cost of systems
• Compliance and procedures
• Business systems
• Total quality management (tqm)
• Innovation management
• Information technology
• Staff management
• Employee induction
• Performance management
• Financial management
• The simplest approach
• Planning in business
• Creating a strategic plan
• Risk
• Strategy formation and implementation

LESSON 4: HOW TO FIND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

• How can you become visible?
• Technology
• Media
• Trends
• How to attract attention
• Target marketing – strategies, market segmentation, etc.
• Competition
• Market research
• The marketing mix

LESSON 5: HOW TO MAKE A SALE

• What makes a good salesperson
• Who is the customer
• Making a decision
• Rational decisions
• Heuristic procedures
• Decision making processes
• Selling online

LESSON 6: DELIVERING A PRODUCT OR SERVICE

• Presentation and packaging
• Ways of delivering products and services
• Virtual consulting
• Virtual education
• Mail order retailing
• Selling downloads
• Customer satisfaction

LESSON 7: PITFALLS TO AVOID / RULES TO FOLLOW

• Managing money
• Keeping cash flowing
• Persistence
• Doing market research
• Keeping up with change
• Sales focus
• Being different
• Niche products and services
• Business coaching

FINAL EXAM

HOW OUR COURSES WORK:

•    Enrol any time of day or night.
•    Start studying immediately or later (as you wish).
•    Upon enrolment, you will receive an email containing your “Username” and “Password”
•    Help desk – Contact us via email: info@homestudy.co.uk or call: + 44 (0) 1227 789 649
•    There are automated self-assessment tests at the end of each lesson.
•    At the end of the whole course, you are presented with an automated examination.
•    Gain a 60% pass and receive an: IEAC (International Education Accreditation Council) Certificate.