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Start Your Business: The 3-Day Bootcamp

Our flagship start-up bootcamp. Everything you need to go from idea to trading — structure, operations, finance, people, product, brand, marketing and sales — in one complete course.

22 sessions153 lessons13 hours of study Written lessonsWorkbook includedCertificate

What you'll learn

  • Wrap-Up
  • Who Are You and What Are You About?
  • Designing Your Organizational Structure
  • Introduction to Operations Management
  • Understanding Financial Terms
  • Getting the Right People in Place
  • Building a Corporate Brand
  • Getting Your Product Together
  • Marketing Your Product
  • Selling Your Product

Course content

22 sessions · 153 lessons · ~13 hours · first 2 lessons free

▶Part 11 lesson
  • ▶Acronyms and inside jokesFree2 min
▶Session One: Course Overview9 lessons
  • ▶OverviewFree7 min
  • ▶Course Overview2 min
  • ▶At the end of this workshop, you will be able to2 min
  • ▶Apply financial and accounting terms correctly2 min
  • ▶Partnership2 min
  • ▶Pre-Course Assessment2 min
  • ▶Operational structure2 min
  • ▶The CEO is governed by2 min
  • ▶Manufacturing, transportation, supplies, service2 min
▶Day One Wrap-Up2 lessons
  • ▶Activity2 min
  • ▶Reflect on the exercise85 min
▶Session Two: Who Are You and What Are You About?8 lessons
  • ▶What is Our Business?15 min
  • ▶Looking back at your preparation15 min
  • ▶Sole Proprietorship2 min
  • ▶Joint Venture2 min
  • ▶The Owner’s Role15 min
  • ▶Differentiation3 min
  • ▶Words of Wisdom2 min
  • ▶Keeping Things Moving15 min
▶Session Three: Designing Your Organizational Structure10 lessons
  • ▶Bringing the Idea to Life15 min
  • ▶The new organization chart might look like this2 min
  • ▶Looking at the Options15 min
  • ▶Differences for Corporations2 min
  • ▶Choosing Board Members2 min
  • ▶Board Issues2 min
  • ▶Ensuring that the company meets the bylaws of the organization2 min
  • ▶The Big Picture2 min
  • ▶Current Thinking2 min
  • ▶Purpose2 min
▶Session Four: Introduction to Operations Management1 lesson
  • ▶Types of Operations15 min
▶Session Five: Understanding Financial Terms24 lessons
  • ▶Finance2 min
  • ▶Government agencies, who collect taxes from the business15 min
  • ▶Reliability of information2 min
  • ▶The Income Statement2 min
  • ▶The income statement equation typically looks like this2 min
  • ▶Sample Income Statement2 min
  • ▶Widget Sales2 min
  • ▶Widget Installation2 min
  • ▶Interest Income2 min
  • ▶Total Revenue2 min
  • ▶Rent2 min
  • ▶Utilities2 min
  • ▶Advertising2 min
  • ▶Wages2 min
  • ▶Total Expenses2 min
  • ▶The Balance Sheet2 min
  • ▶Balance Sheet Equation2 min
  • ▶Cash2 min
  • ▶Unearned revenue2 min
  • ▶Cash Flow Statement2 min
  • ▶Add net income for the period2 min
  • ▶Total Retained Earnings2 min
  • ▶Minus dividends paid2 min
  • ▶Retained earnings2 min
▶Session Six: Getting the Right People in Place2 lessons
  • ▶Step 6: Orientation and Onboarding2 min
  • ▶Making Connections60 min
▶Session Eight: Building a Corporate Brand6 lessons
  • ▶Unique2 min
  • ▶What Do We Do?2 min
  • ▶A good brand name and slogan have the following characteristics2 min
  • ▶Developing a Slogan15 min
  • ▶Choosing a Color2 min
  • ▶Fonts2 min
▶Day Two Wrap-Up1 lesson
  • ▶Getting ready2 min
▶Session Seven: Getting Your Product Together4 lessons
  • ▶Inventory Management15 min
  • ▶Reasons to hold inventory might include2 min
  • ▶Understanding the Value Chain15 min
  • ▶Quality Control15 min
▶Session Nine: Marketing Your Product17 lessons
  • ▶About the Marketing Process2 min
  • ▶What is the buying process?2 min
  • ▶Access: Can you reach the segment through advertising and then distribution?2 min
  • ▶Defend: Can you defend yourself and stand out from the competition?2 min
  • ▶Childless households2 min
  • ▶SWOT Analysis2 min
  • ▶Next Steps2 min
  • ▶Stage Three: Analyzing Distribution Channels15 min
  • ▶Price2 min
  • ▶Promotion2 min
  • ▶The Final Stages: Implement, Evaluate, Review, and Revise15 min
  • ▶Leveraging Social Media15 min
  • ▶Build a Community2 min
  • ▶Watch Out for Social Media Experts2 min
  • ▶Find Your Customers2 min
  • ▶Be a Person2 min
  • ▶Follow Others2 min
▶Session Ten: Selling Your Product5 lessons
  • ▶Building Your Sales Force15 min
  • ▶Initiate2 min
  • ▶Build2 min
  • ▶Manage2 min
  • ▶Optimize2 min
▶Session Eighteen: Leadership Essentials40 lessons
  • ▶Leading and Managing15 min
  • ▶Understanding Your Comfort Zone15 min
  • ▶Managing Performance15 min
  • ▶In closing2 min
  • ▶Boot camp workbook2 min
  • ▶Boot Camp for Business Owners2 min
  • ▶Who will sell the product(s)?2 min
  • ▶Where does the money comes from?2 min
  • ▶Possible answers can include2 min
  • ▶Answers will vary, but here are a few examples2 min
  • ▶How would you overcome them?2 min
  • ▶What is your current business structure?3 min
  • ▶What are they missing?2 min
  • ▶Only have to pay for what you use, which limits costs2 min
  • ▶Risk of them not meeting your requirements, despite the service agreement2 min
  • ▶Do your employees have a way to suggest improvements?2 min
  • ▶Can you identify the companies or products associated with these taglines?2 min
  • ▶Milton Glaser2 min
  • ▶Where does their involvement end?3 min
  • ▶How do you feel about these parts of the sales cycle?2 min
  • ▶Exchanging jobs for a few days, or job shadowing2 min
  • ▶To confirm, the essential aspects of succession planning generally include2 min
  • ▶What other benefits can you think of?2 min
  • ▶How would these codes change your organization’s way of doing business?2 min
  • ▶How could this code help you make decisions?2 min
  • ▶Golden Rule2 min
  • ▶Stephen Covey2 min
  • ▶How do you see this applying successfully in your workplace?2 min
  • ▶Here is a way to look at learning to drive2 min
  • ▶On a project they are currently a part of2 min
  • ▶What kind of performance manager are you?2 min
  • ▶I have these resources to help me2 min
  • ▶Recommended Reading List2 min
  • ▶Course Length2 min
  • ▶Post-Course Assessment2 min
  • ▶Seven2 min
  • ▶Supply chain management and value chain principles2 min
  • ▶Contingency2 min
  • ▶Battle cry2 min
  • ▶Personal Action Plan2 min
▶Session Eleven: Planning for the Future2 lessons
  • ▶Introduction to Strategic Planning15 min
  • ▶The Strategic Plan Pyramid15 min
▶Session Twelve: Goal Setting and Goal Getting4 lessons
  • ▶Identifying Outcomes2 min
  • ▶Employee Learning and Growth2 min
  • ▶Customizing the Perspectives2 min
  • ▶Timeline for Your Plan2 min
▶Session Thirteen: Succession Planning 1012 lessons
  • ▶What is Succession Planning?10 min
  • ▶Uses input from multiple perspectives and resources2 min
▶Session Fourteen: Managing Your Money2 lessons
  • ▶About Budgets2 min
  • ▶Know Your Accruals2 min
▶Session Fifteen: Ethics 1015 lessons
  • ▶Are You Ready?10 min
  • ▶The Ten Commandments2 min
  • ▶Minnesota Principles2 min
  • ▶Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics2 min
  • ▶Your Code of Ethics10 min
▶Session Sixteen: Building a Strong Customer Care Team6 lessons
  • ▶What is Customer Service?2 min
  • ▶Critical Element Two: Defined in Your Organization2 min
  • ▶Critical Element Four: Be a Problem Solver2 min
  • ▶Critical Element Five: Measure It2 min
  • ▶Critical Element Six: Reinforce It2 min
  • ▶Likeability Works2 min
▶Session Seventeen: Training Employees for Success1 lesson
  • ▶Translating learning into productivity involves several steps2 min
▶Exercises & tools1 lesson
  • ▶Basic Business Management: Boot Camp for Business Owners2 min

About this course

Our flagship start-up bootcamp. Everything you need to go from idea to trading — structure, operations, finance, people, product, brand, marketing and sales — in one complete course.

Every lesson is written out in full — this is the complete course, not a summary. You read it, watch the narrated video, and do the exercise against your own business. The workbook is yours to download, print and keep. Finish the lessons and you earn a Business Nous certificate.

Who it's for

Small business owners, managers and ambitious employees who want practical know-how rather than academic theory. No prior study is needed — start where you are and work at your own pace.