0104 - Ignite Small Business Academy
Course Description
Business owners will learn strategies, best practices and different perspectives on how strengthen your business for future growth opportunities and stretch your capacity for long-term success. Additionally, each attendee will have the opportunity to work 1-on-1 with an UGA SBDC Business Consultant to assist them with implementing the best practices learned in the sessions.
Classes are scheduled for four sessions, over 4 weeks. Business owners will learn to analyze and manage their business like a seasoned CEO. The program consists of 20 hours of class time.
Course Outline
MODULE 1: STRATEGIC GROWTH PLANNING
Sustainable and effective growth doesn’t happen by accident. Business owners have to make strategic and intentional decisions that require careful considerations of internal and external factors. The module will examine your operating environment, document company vision and goals, and develop growth strategies based on a thorough assessment of your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
MODULE 2: MARKETING STRATEGIES
Understanding how procurement buyers in large organizations make decisions is essential to successfully positioning your company. Learn to identify the right opportunities, connect with the right contacts, and secure valuable contracts using the effective marketing, sales and business development tactics.
MODULE 3: FINANCIAL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT
It is possible to be overwhelmed by your own success, especially if your financial structure is not prepared for business at this level. Learn how to analyze your company’s financial condition and develop strategies to improve profits and cash flow. Create a financial plan to ensure your contracts will be profitable and sustainable.
MODULE 4: PROCUREMENT BEST PRACTICES
Providing products and services to complex government agencies is a major endeavor that requires intentional strategic positioning and planning. You will explore what it means to be a supplier to a government agency and what is required for you to succeed in that environment.
Learner Outcomes
- How to identify the right opportunities, connect with the right contacts, and secure valuable contracts using effective marketing, sales and business development tactics.
- How to understand what it means to be a supplier to a government agency and what is required for you to succeed in that market segment.
- How to analyze your company’s financial condition and develop strategies to improve profits and cash flow.
- How to examine your operating environment so you can develop growth strategies.