This course is the last course in this specialization before its capstone experience where you, the learner will launch your business. Consider all the activities associated with the final preparation for a NASA launch before the final countdown takes place. Those are the type of activities with respect to launching a business that will be covered in this course. The goal of the course is for you to have a document that details all the actions you need to take, and all the things that you need to think about before launching your business, with instructions on how to do those actions and how to thing about those things.
This course is part of the How to Start Your Own Business Specialization
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How to Start Your Own Business SpecializationMichigan State UniversityAbout this Course
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Course 5 of 6 in the
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Approx. 22 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 5 of 6 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Approx. 22 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Offered by
Michigan State University
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
4 hours to complete
Gearing Up Mindset: Strategy Focus
This module initiates a series of steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. The first step is to ready your mindset. To prepare yourself to take on a specific state of mind which will orientate your business startup activities in a way that will maximize its chances for success. We suggest this preparation take place in two parts: a focus on strategy, and a focus on resources. This module guides your focus on strategy. At the end of this module you will have a formalized and finalized vision, mission, objectives and goals, and a detailed documentation of these factors in a strategy statement.
4 hours to complete
5 videos (Total 32 min), 9 readings, 4 quizzes
5 videos
Revisiting Strategy7m
Directing Vision6m
Mission Remarkable5m
Gearing Up To Score9m
9 readings
Five Steps to a Strategic Plan3m
What is a Vision Statement?5m
Sample Vision Statements3m
Review What Is Strategy?7m
Invest in Your Success4m
Why Small Businesses Should Scrap Strategic Planning4m
What is a Mission Statement?6m
Understanding Goals10m
Why are Goals and Objectives Important?4m
3 practice exercises
Understanding What It Will Take To Launch6m
Review of Key Strategy Concepts14m
Understanding a Strategy Statement12m
4 hours to complete
Gearing Up Mindset: Resource Focus
This module continues the series of steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. Helping to complete the first step to ready your business for launch, 'to ready your mindset', this module guides your focus on resources. At the end of this module you will have formalized and finalized a resource inventory. This document details all resources at your immediate disposal or within your reach that can be dedicated towards your business.
4 hours to complete
5 videos (Total 43 min), 4 readings, 3 quizzes
5 videos
Effect Your Logic9m
What's Your Stake - Part 29m
What's Your Stake - Part 38m
What's Your Stake - Part 46m
4 readings
Are Entrepreneurs Born or Made?7m
Summary: The Myth of the Idea10m
The Value of Social Capital in Starting a Business10m
4 Reasons Social Capital Trumps All5m
2 practice exercises
Keys to Starting Upside Down6m
Capital Options10m
4 hours to complete
Gearing Up Business: Funding Focus
This module continues the series of steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. This module is step two in that series. Having completed the first step, 'to ready your mindset', this module guides you in gearing up you business so that it is capable of creating and delivering value at launch. This required capability is threefold: finding funding to augment available resources; finalizing business model detailing execution strategy, and finalizing the operational tasks necessary to insure the business's product or service can actually be produced and delivered. This module deals with the first of these requirements. At the end of this module you will have a greater understanding of non-traditional funding sources to augment the traditional ones, putting you in the best position possible to find any additional funding you may need to launch your business.
4 hours to complete
3 videos (Total 26 min), 9 readings, 4 quizzes
3 videos
Who Can Stake You - Part Two?7m
Who Can Stake You - Part Three12m
9 readings
35 Great Ways to Fund A Small Business7m
Find Financing, Even If You Don't Fit a 'Type'5m
Startup Business Loans3m
5 Things You Should Know About Revenue-Based Financing5m
The Basics of Crowdfunding5m
How to Finance a Business With Your 401K5m
The Search Fund Model5m
10 Tips For Bootstrapping Your Startup5m
Bootstrapping A Lean Startup10m
3 practice exercises
Money Milestones10m
Who Can You Ask?8m
Which 'Boots' Fund Best?4m
2 hours to complete
Gearing Up Business: Design Focus
This module continues step two of the five steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. Step two is gearing up business. The focus of step two is insuring that your business is capable of creating and delivering its product or service at launch. As stated earlier this required capability is threefold: finding funding to augment available resources; finalizing business model detailing execution strategy, and finalizing the operational tasks necessary to insure the business's product or service can actually be produced and delivered. This module focuses on the second of these requirements. At the end of this module you will have a a business model adjusted to fit available resources that will guide your actions in starting your business.
2 hours to complete
3 videos (Total 29 min), 6 readings, 2 quizzes
6 readings
Business Models Business Strategy10m
Reinventing Business Models Through Risk Management7m
How to Identify Your Riskiest Business Model5m
Blue Ocean Strategy: Creating Your Own Market5m
Value Innovation - The Key to Blue Ocean Strategy7m
Four types of market (market maturity): Where does your startup’s product belong?10m
2 practice exercises
What Makes Your Business Model Work?8m
Knowing Your Market10m
About the How to Start Your Own Business Specialization
This specialization is a guide to creating your own business. We will cover a progression of topics necessary for successful business creation including: mindset, ideation, planning, action and strategy. Rather than just describing what to do, the focus will be on guiding you through the process of actualy doing it. The Capstone course will bring all of the tools and lessons discussed together for you to launch your business. It may not be the business of your dreams, but it will be a functional business giving you the execution capability to start something you are passionate about.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
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Is financial aid available?
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Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.
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