Southern NJ SCORE
856-457-8372
score254.org
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business
TM
Is Starting a Business Right for You?
Attend this comprehensive workshop series to help you test your new business idea and get started on the right
path. Join us for five three-hour sessions that help you understand the basics of:
 The concepts involved with assessing a business idea
 Marketing your product or service,
 Understanding business financials and how they work
 How to fund and finance your business
Free, one-on-one mentoring is also a part of the series process. Sign up now for these workshops:
Session 1: Start-up Basics (Free)
This introductory workshop focuses on the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors
that influence start-up success. Start-up Basics provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need
when deciding to start a business. In this session, you learn about: the advantages and disadvantages of owning
a business, the most profitable form for your business, and the fundamentals of formation, organization,
marketing, cash flow and funding sources.
Session 2: Business Concept
The second workshop focuses on your business concept and step-by-step guidance in researching your idea,
your market, and your competition. At the end of the Business Concept workshop, you are able to: identify your
target markets, describe your products and services, and collect key competitive information to support your
feasibility plan.
Session 3: Marketing Plan
The third workshop provides you with an introduction to marketing communication methods and tools to
maximize your customer reach. The discussion in the Marketing Plan workshop covers pricing strategies,
positioning, the difference between features and benefits, and different marketing strategies. At the end of this
session, you will know how to: outline your marketing strategy, test your marketing message, choose the right
sales channel, and exercise your marketing strategy.
Session 4: Financial Projections
The fourth workshop uses exercises to help you better understand financial concepts. This session reviews sales
and prices, financial risks and rewards, true start-up costs, ongoing operating expenses, setting benchmarks for
tracking progress and the organization of all your financial information. Using a hands-on approach, you learn
how to use our financial model to forecast sales revenue and build solid pro-forma financial forecasts.
Session 5: Funding Sources
The final workshop offers information on how to finance your small business. In this session, discussions include
sources of funds, accounting the six C's of credit, banking relations, ratio analysis, and monthly preparation and
review of financial statements. A bank loan officer will give an inside view of how a banker assesses the merits of
business plans and loan application. At the end of the series, you have all of the tools necessary to decide
whether or not to launch your small business.
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business
TM
The Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Workshop Series offers many features and benefits
that make it an ideal way for aspiring entrepreneurs to make a smart start by working with
experts to test the feasibility of their ideas and to make a go/ no-go decision on starting a
business.
FEATURE:
BENEFIT:
Interconnected Series
of Workshops
 Systematic
 Structured
 Feasible business planning
Increase Your Chances of Success
Startups test feasibility for the business concept by defining the
business idea, testing it against the market and identifying
sources of capital, profit and goals, increasing their odds of
success.
FEATURE:
BENEFIT:
Interactive, Participative Sessions
 Learn
 Practice
 Apply
Makes the Most of Your Time
You get interactive sessions that help you make key decisions
for a new business startup. In-class exercises and interaction
with peers makes the most of your session time, so you learn
and plan quickly and effectively.
FEATURE:
BENEFIT:
Blended Learning Process
 Exercises
 One-on-one counseling
 Tools and templates
Mentoring Helps You Plan for Success
Exercises and personalized business advice help you learn the
“how” of planning a business startup. This aids you in thinking
through opportunities and identifying the business path that’s
right for you.
FEATURE:
BENEFIT:
Facilitated format
 Guided discussion
 Tailored to group needs
 Informal and conversational
You Can Assess the Financial Feasibility of a Startup
An Excel template helps you think through financing needs and
how to get to profitability. You arrive at a decision to start a
business, based on its profit potential.
Simple Steps for Starting Your Business
TM
Locations
•
•
The first workshop will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Burlington County Library,
5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton, NJ 08060
o Download Driving Instructions
The remaining four workshops will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the High Technology
Business Incubator, Burlington County College, 100 Technology Way, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054.
o Download Driving Instructions
Workshop Schedule
•
•
•
•
•
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Session 1: Start-Up Basics
Session 2: Business Concept
Session 3: Marketing Plan
Session 4: Financial Projections
Session 5: Funding Sources and Next Steps
Cost
•
One-on-one Mentoring - FREE
•
First Workshop Session - FREE
•
Remaining Four Workshops - $125 for primary registrant, $50 each for up to two
associates.
Refund Policy
SCORE will provide refunds if cancellations are made within 48 hours prior to the event.
If cancellations are made less than 48 hours in advance, a registrant may attend the next
scheduled session for no additional charge by pre-registering with the SCORE office. Events are
subject to cancellation. Fees are fully refunded if SCORE cancels an event. To request a refund,
contact your local SCORE office during business hours.
Register for the first free workshop session
Register for the remaining 4 workshops
Request a meeting with a SCORE mentor
Information about Southern New Jersey SCORE