Resources to Help You Start Your Business
First Steps to Starting a Business
In this free, self-paced online course, you will explore the entrepreneurial mindset; self-assess your personal characteristics, financial readiness, and business idea; and understand your next steps.
SBDC Entrepreneurial How-To-Video Series
SBDC Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series, including topics on funding your small business, accounting, and common law questions from startup entrepreneurs.
First Steps to Starting a Business
In this free, self-paced online course, you will explore the entrepreneurial mindset; self-assess your personal characteristics, financial readiness, and business idea; and understand your next steps.
Courses to Kickstart Your Business Planning
Biz Smart Sprint
Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP)
A shorter, no-obligation course that helps you learn business concepts and explore your business idea in a fully online class setting.
Biz Smart Sprint is your introduction into the world of entrepreneurship. In this live, virtual 6-week course, you will learn the building blocks you need to become a successful entrepreneur. Each week, you’ll discover the key components you need to start a business, including the Business Model Canvas business planning tool, understanding your customers and market, developing a marketing strategy, legal and operational considerations, and financial basics.
Designed for serious entrepreneurs who are looking to dive in. Participants are required to complete a comprehensive workbook for this largely grant- and sponsorship-funded course.
ETP is an intensive business-planning training program. The focus of the program is to help you complete a comprehensive “rough draft” of your business plan in the form of a written workbook. Class includes virtual sessions, plus a full-day, in-person session where participants can ask questions of professional business partners in the areas of law, market research, lending, risk management, and more.
Which business planning course is right for you?
For a deeper explanation of Biz Smart Sprint and ETP – and the differences between them – view our comparison chart to help you decide which program is right for you.
Beginners Guide to Financial Projections
After you’ve started to put together your business plan, the next question often becomes “can I afford to start this business?”
When seeking funding and/or determining the feasibility of your business idea, you will likely need financial projections. Yet developing these projections can be a complex and sometimes-overwhelming process.
This free, interactive online class is designed to help you understand what inputs you need to create projections. We recommend taking this course after you have completed ETP or Biz Smart Sprint.