Our key aim for this course is: To inspire you to offer sustainable competitive advantage in your startup
Competitive advantage is your lasting ability to outperform all competition who are offering a similar product or service to what you intend to/will offer. This is done by implementing value-added strategies, not simultaneously being implemented by any current competitor. Your value-added strategies could include:
 The extensive knowledge and abilities of you and your team (if you have one). This is the greatest source of competitive advantage.
 A unique product or service. This uniqueness can be achieved by a specific enhancement.
 Offering a similar product/service that your competitors offer but they cannot match the value for money you offer: higher quality at a more competitive price.
 High quality customer service that competitors can’t match. This is customer service that adheres every second of the day and night to the adage: The customer is King/Queen. This can be achieved by building a company culture where everyone is inspired to serve the customers to the utmost.
 A company culture where everyone is inspired and motivated to innovate, and change swiftly and seamlessly, for the benefit of the customers.
 Superb processes and technology that result in a product being produced faster, cheaper and better, or a service being delivered faster, cheaper and better.
Career Development
Starting your Own Business can be the most satisfying achievement on an individual’s life as they see their ideas become reality. Starting your own business offers you the change to set your own salary!
Course Review
Starting your Own Business is an essential toolkit for anyone with an idea they’d like to implement. It clearly outlines some of the most important areas to consider balanced, with a healthy pursuit of risk and reward.
Course Outline
Introduction
Welcome to Enjoy Online Courses and our course on Start Your Own Business.
Critical learning factors underpinning this high quality accredited course
Cognitive Processes
Metacognitive Processes
Mindfulness
Module 1: Key Reflections on Business Startups
Module Objective
First things first: self-analysis
To ensure you succeed, be aware of how you can fail
Ten common reasons for business failure
Owners’ mistakes
Poor research and planning
Not building their Essential Toolkit for Success before starting up
Lack of financial acumen and financial planning
Not bringing in an accountant, financial adviser, business adviser, mentor and supporters from the beginning
Reaching for the sky? No
Taking the eye of the ball: not focussing on profit at all times
Disregarding the competition
Hiring the wrong people
Poor controls
Module 2: Your Essential Toolkit for Success
Module Objective
Essential Financial Skills and Attributes
Know and understand key business terminology
Know how to carry out an effective strategic analysis of your situation
Know how to write an effective business plan
Know, understand and apply benchmarking
Understand and use strategies to improve profit
Understand the need to prioritise your strategies
Understand and utilise the Pareto Principle
Essential Non-Financial Skills and Attributes
Change your mindset
Create your business vision, identify values that will underpin it, and define your goals
You must always take a wider perspective/see the bigger picture
Become Mindful
Nurture resilience
Become reflective
Be realistic
Be resonant
Network and network and network
Enhance your management skills
Ensure you communicate effectively – at all times
Be empathic/empathetic at all times
Market and sell your product/service
Module 3: Your SWOT Analysis
Module objective
Part 1 of your SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Part 2 of your SWOT analysis
Evaluation and Action
Module 4: Your Business Plan
Module Objective
Constructing your business plan
Executive summary
The business opportunity
Markets and competitors in these markets
Sales and marketing strategy
Management and personnel
Operations
Financial forecasts
Risk assessment and intended strategies
Your financial requirements
Appendices
Presenting your plan
Module 5: 25 Top Tips for Success
Module Objective
25 Top Tips for Success
End of Course Assessment
Take the End of Course Assessment and get rewarded with your Accredited Certificate