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Starting and Running Your Own Business - The online course for the entrepreneur

A concise 6 module online learning course for the entrepreneur

Self-paced online course »

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8 Modules

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Course Overview

Be guided through the steps of setting up your own business from an expert who has made the successful transition himself.

Due to the current changes occurring within economies today, alternative career opportunities are often few and far between, and in some cases virtually non-existent. Your own business is almost always an option, and it is one that a lot of people are taking.

Starting and Running Your Own Business – The online course for the entrepreneur written by Roger Mason will guide you through the maze of setting up your own business. Over six modules, the course offers important advice and guidance which will help you reach your potential within business.

If you are considering setting up your own business, you certainly need information and some hard facts. This online course will provide you with essential guidance in areas such as funding, tax, accounts and much more!

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The Starting and Running Your Own Business - The online course for the entrepreneur course will cover:

Module 1 - Is Self-employment right for you?
- Introduction
- The advantages and disadvantages of self-employment
- Reasons for choosing self-employment
- Helpful character traits and attributes
- Can you afford to take the risk?
- The chances of success
- Editorial comment
- Self-assessment questions
Module 2 - Early decisions and sourcing information
- Part 1: Leaving your present employer
- Part 2: Some fundamental early decisions
- Part 3: Available advice and information
- Self-assessment questions
Module 3 - Planning and funding your business
- Part 1: The business plan and break-even calculation
  - Overview
  - What is a business plan?
  - Should you prepare a business plan?
  - Optimistic or pessimistic?
  - Hints for the business plan
  - The structure of your business plan
  - Example of a business plan
  - Break-even
- Part 2: Funding the business
  - Overview
  - Your own savings and assets
  - Family and friends
  - Bank
  - The Prince’s Trust
  - PRIME
  - Royal British Legion
  - Your pension fund
  - Mortgages
  - Asset financing
  - Factoring and invoice discounting
  - Grants
  - Funding Circle
  - Self-assessment questions
- Self-assessment questions
Module 4 - Finding your customers
- Overview
- Your existing contacts and old employer
- Website
- Social networking
- Leaflets, paper mailshots and electronic mailshots
- Advertising
- Networking
- Word of mouth
- Shows and exhibitions
- Shop windows
- Our personal experiences
- Self-assessment questions
Module 5 - Running the business
- Overview
- Your computer
- Dealing with customer complaints
- Effective time management
- Bank account
- Managing cashflow
- Credit control
- Our personal experiences
- Self-assessment questions
Module 6 - Finance and accounts in practice
- Part 1: Book-keeping and accounts
  - Overview
  - Hints for your book-keeping system
  - The end result
  - Cash book
  - Petty Cash Book
  - Sales day book and sales ledger
  - Purchase day book and purchase ledger
  - Relationship with your own money
  - VAT and payroll
  - Bank reconciliation
  - Accounts
  - Our personal experiences
- Part 2: Dealing with Tax
  - Overview
  - The requirement to register with HMRC
  - The taxes that must be paid
  - National insurance
  - Your self-assessment form
  - Payment dates for tax due
  - The need to have money available
  - Expenses that can legitimately be set against income for tax purposes
  - Value added tax
  - Our personal experiences
Final Assessment
Course Evaluation

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Roger Mason

Roger Mason FCCA, FCIS, ACIB is a highly experienced company director and company secretary. His early career was with Midland Bank and the Ford Motor Company before becoming finance director of ITC Entertainment Ltd. He was, for 14 years, company secretary and finance director of a leading British greetings card company. He lectures widely on finance and business matters.

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