Entrepreneurship and Small Business

Course Learning Outcomes: Marks: 15
1. Demonstrate a solid understanding of the potential of entrepreneur in today’s competitive business world. (Lo 1.2)
2. Demonstrate ability to think independently and systematically on developing a viable business model (Lo 1.3 & 3.7)
3. Understand the place of small business in history and explore the strengths and weaknesses of small business. (Lo 1.1).
4. Utilize strong analytical skills and tools to formulate an effective Bootstrap Marketing Plan on which a small business can build a competitive edge in the marketplace. (Lo 1.8, 4.3 & 4.5).
5. Deliver and communicate marketing massages in coherent and professional manner. (Lo 4.4).
BUSINESS PLAN
Project yourself as an entrepreneur of a small-scale business in Saudi Arabia.
Assignment Objectives & Requirements:
1. Owners
a. Your Business Name, Address, E_Mail  
2. General Business Description (300 – 500 words)
A. What business will you be in? What will you do?
•Mission Statement
•Company goals and objectives
B. Business Philosophy
a. What is important to you in your business?
• To whom will you market your product?
• Describe your Industry: Is it a growth industry? What long term or Short-term changes do you foresee in the industry? How will your company take advantage of it? 
• Describe your most important company strengths and core competencies: What factors will make the company succeed? What do you think your major competitive strengths will be? What background experience, skills, and strengths do you personally bring to this new venture?
• Legal form of ownership: Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, Limited liability corporation (LLC)? Why have you selected this form?
3. Products and Services  (300 – 500 words)
a. Describe in depth your products or services. (Technical specifications)
b. What factors will give you competitive advantages or disadvantages? Examples include level of quality or unique or proprietary features.
4. Marketing Plan (300 – 500 words)
a. Market Research- Why?
b. Market Research- How? Primary or Secondary Data?
c. In your marketing plan, be as specific as possible; give statistics, numbers, and sources. The marketing plan will be the basis, later on, of the all_important sales projection.
Facts about your industry
• What is the total size of your market? 
• Current demand in target market. 
• Trends in target market—growth trends, trends in consumer preferences, and trends in product development. 
• Growth potential and opportunity for a business of your size. 
• What barriers to entry do you face in entering this market with your new company? 
• How will you overcome the barriers? 
• How could the change in technology, change in government regulations, change in the economy, change in your industry, affect your organization.
Product
• Describe the most important features. What is special about it? 
• Describe the benefits. That is, what will the product do for the customer?
Customer
• Identify your targeted customers, their demographics
Competition
• What products and companies will compete with you?
• How will your products or services compare with the competition?
Strategy
• Outline a marketing Strategy.
Promotion
• How will you promote your Product?
• What will be your promotional budget?
Method of setting prices
•Compare your prices with those of the competitors. Are they higher, lower, the same? Why? 
•How important is price as a competitive factor?
• Do your intended customers really make their purchase decisions mostly on price? 
• What will be your customer service and credit policies?
Distribution Channels
How do you sell your products or services?
Legal Environment
• Licensing and bonding requirements
• Health, workplace, or environmental regulations 
• Special regulations covering your industry or profession 
• Insurance coverage 
• Trademarks, copyrights, or patents (pending, existing, or purchased
Personnel
•Number of employees 
• Type of labor (skilled, unskilled, and professional) 
• Where and how will you find the right employees? 
• Quality of existing staff 
• Pay structure 
• Training methods and requirements
• Who does which tasks? 
• For certain functions, will you use contract workers in addition to employees?
Inventory 
• What kind of inventory will you keep: raw materials, supplies, finished goods? 
• Average value in stock (i.e., what is your inventory investment)? 
• Rate of turnover and how this compares to the industry averages? 
• Seasonal buildups? 
• Lead_time for ordering?
Suppliers:
Identify key suppliers.
• Credit and delivery policies 
5. Financial Plan (300 – 500 words)
The financial plan consists of a 12_month profit and loss projection, a cash_flow projection, a projected balance sheet, and a break_even calculation. Together they constitute a reasonable estimate of your company’s financial future.
6. Conclusion (300 – 400 words)
Assignment Submission
· There will be three submissions for this assignment as the following: 
  
Submission Week

Due   Date

Point   covered

Word
Count

Marks
 
First Submission

Week 7

1,2, &3

1. 0-50
2.300-500
3.300-500

5
 
Second Submission

Week 11

4 

4. 300-500

5
 
Third Submission

Week 13

5 & 6

5.300-500
6. 300-500

5
 
Instructor’s assessment based on the sincere   effort and participation in the followings:
· Class   
· Blackboard
· Discussion   Board
· Wiki
· Blogs

10
 
TOTAL MARKS

25