Available Courses

• Is Entrepreneurship for You?
• Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs
• Turning your Trade Skills into Competitive Advantage
            Identify some of the opportunities available to small businesses
• The Risk of Business Failure
            Name the most common causes of small business failure.
• Pros and Cons of Self Employment   
            Enumerate the advantages and disadvantages of self-employment
• Preparing Yourself for Starting Your Trade Business   
            Discuss the steps in preparing for small business ownership
• Creativity and Innovation in Small Business
            Explain the role of innovation to small business

• Building Your Business Model – Lean Canvas
• Testing the Feasibility of Your Trade Business
• Determining Your Mission, Vision, and Values
• Gaining Knowledge of Your Industry  
  How will I stay updated on industry trends and new technologies? (Continuing education, trade shows, associations.)
• Building Strategic Partnerships
• Step-by-Step Business Plan Contents
• Building a minimal viable version (MVP) of my trade business
• Making Your Pitch

• Franchising Option for Your Trade Business
• Buying an Existing Trade Business
• Starting a New Trade Business

• Determining Initial Capitalization
            Detailed equipment and tools
            startup costs? (Create a comprehensive budget for tools, vehicles, insurance, licenses, marketing, initial supplies, etc.)
            vehicle needed (Van, truck, specific shelving/racks?)
• Debt Funding
• Equity Funding
• Bootstrapping Your Business
• Small Business Accounting
• Accounting Software
• Financial Statements for Small Business
• Analyzing Financial Statements with Ratio Analysis
• Managing Cash Flow
• Invoicing and Payments (Software, manual, payment gateways)
• Funding your Startup (Savings, loan, grant, investors?)
• Projected Monthly Expenses (Rent for shop if applicable, vehicle costs, insurance, marketing, supplies, utilities, etc.)
• Projected Personal Income from the Business
• Jobs and Revenue needed to Generate Monthly to Break Even
• Managing your Business Finances and Track Income/Expenses (Accounting software, spreadsheet, bookkeeper.)
• Strategy for Managing Cash Flow
• Money set aside for Taxes

• Forming the Right Business Entity for Your Business  
            sole proprietor, LLC, or another business structure
• Protecting Your Intellectual Property
• Insurance Needed (e.g., general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, professional indemnity)
• Sourcing Materials and Supplies (Identify suppliers, consider bulk discounts, establish accounts.)
• Managing Schedules and Appointments? (Manual, software, online booking system?)
• Depending on the trade, entrepreneurs must understand:
            Licensing and certification requirements
            Local building codes and inspections
            Environmental rules
            OSHA and safety standards
            Consumer protection regulations
• Specialized “Contractor Business” Training
            Many states offer a required “contractor business law” or “contractor exam prep” course.
            These typically teach:
                          Contract law
                          Bidding and estimating
                          Scheduling
                          Risk management
                          Construction/project documentation
                          Financial controls

• Marketing Strategies for Trade Businesses
• Understanding Your Target Markets
• Choosing Your Communication Mediums
• Creating Your Marketing Message
• Choosing and Building Your Location
• Breakeven Analysis
• Setting Price Strategy
• Getting Paid
• Creating Integrated Promotion Strategy
• Reaching Potential Customers Find out about your Services (e.g., local SEO, Google My Business, social media, flyers, local advertising, word-of-mouth, referrals, local directories)
• Pricing Strategy (Hourly rate, per project, by square foot, tiered pricing? How do I ensure profitability?)
• Building trust and credibility with new clients (Testimonials, portfolio, clear communication, guarantees, professional appearance)
• Building Brand Identity (Business name, logo, colors, professional uniform/vehicle branding.)
• Generating Leads and Convert them into Paying Customers (Initial consultations, clear proposals, follow-up.)
• Handling Customer Inquiries and Provide Estimates
• Plan for Customer Follow-up and Repeat Business
              Google Business Profile setup
              Online reviews & reputation management
              Residential vs commercial marketing
              Referral systems
              Create a simple trades business website
              Write marketing copy for services offered

• Managing Your Trade Business
• Creating a Growth Strategy
• Leading Your Trade Business
• Hiring the Right Employees
• Compensating Employees
• Employee Discipline and Termination
• Operations Management for Your Trade Business
• Scheduling Operations
• Purchasing for Your Trade Business
• Managing Inventory
• Estimating, Pricing & Job Costing 
              Estimate labor, materials, overhead, and profit
              Develop competitive but profitable pricing

• Topics
              Material takeoffs
              Labor rate calculation
              Overhead allocation
              Profit margin vs markup
              Flat-rate vs time-and-materials pricing

• Activities
              Hands-on estimating project
              RSMeans or Bluebeam demo
              Create a bid for a small project

• Business Operations & Workflow
              Scheduling + dispatch
              Work orders
              Inventory, tools, and equipment purchasing
              Jobsite workflow: start-to-finish
• Activities
              Build a standard operating procedure (SOP)
              Fieldwork observation (shadow a local business)

Special Licensing Requirements by Trade

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• HVAC/Refrigeration
• General Contractors
• Carpentry Contractors
• Roofing Contractors
• Concrete & Masonry Contractors
• Painting Contractors
• Landscape ad Laun Care Business
• Paving and Asphalt contractors
• Welders and Metal Fabricators
• Elevator, Escalator and Lift Technicians
• Fire Safety and Alarm Installers
• Low Voltage/Cabling/Security Systems
• Pest Control Business
• Restaurants and Food Service
• Cosmetology Business
• Healthcare Business
• Custom for other Trades

Specific trade-related and business regulations for each U.S. state

• State Codes & Administrative Rules
• Secretary of State & State Business/Commerce Departments
• State Commerce / Economic Development
• State Business Resource Portals
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Industry-Specific Regulatory Bodies
• Uniform and Model Laws