Starting and owning a small business has often been referred to as the “Third Pillar of Wealth,” right behind investments and owning real estate. Essentially, all businesses start off as “small businesses.” Small businesses, however, require a large amount of preparation in order to successfully launch and grow. Starting a business requires the owners and managers to address a host of issues, including an understanding of applicable laws, appropriate financing, staffing requirements, marketing, liability protection, and many more. This course provides a broad overview of the critical issues business owners, as well as their professional advisors, must consider when starting and growing a small business. There is extensive research regarding best practices in this area, and this webinar is intended to distill down such information and focus on what is critical to get a small business up and running as seamlessly as possible.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how to successfully start and grow a small business or advise clients who are starting a small business
- Understand basic legal issues that need to be addressed when forming a business
- Explore marketing and financing plans to launch and develop a business
- Recognize ways to protect business assets and owners from different forms of liability
Major Topics
- Understanding the time commitment required to start and run a business
- Selecting a corporate structure to protect your personal assets
- Building your product or service
- Sales and marketing in your business
- Establishing your owners, investors, managers, and employees
- Accounting, recording-keeping, and other software programs
- Leases, contracts, and employee agreements
- Protecting intellectual property
- Insurance
- Business plans
- Financing
- Market position
