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            This course is designed for the student who is interested in starting a small business.  Main
            areas of focus will include:  Business formation, ownership, capitalization, management,
            ethics, legal issues, and a variety of areas necessary to establish and maintain a business.
            The student’s major project will be to create a business plan for an enterprise of his or her
            choosing.  Students will also be given the opportunity to be a member of the Distributive
            Clubs of America (DECA).

 COURSE OBJECTIVES:
          ·   Describe the role of entrepreneurs in our country's development, trends that will shape the
              future of entrepreneurship and opportunities of interest to the student.

          ·   Illustrate the importance of entrepreneurship in the U.S. economy and the contributions of
             entrepreneurs to a free market system.

          ·   Explore the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur as well as personal
             characteristics and skills needed to be an entrepreneur.

          ·   Explain the importance of effective communication in situations ranging from telephone use
              to negotiation.

          ·   Calculate basic business measurements such as profit and loss, break-even point, stock
              turnover, markup and markdown rates.

          ·   Identify basic approaches to problem solving and decision-making, steps in formal decision
              making process, and explore techniques for formulating meaningful and effective goals.

          ·   Identify three different ways an individual can acquire a business, compare and contrast the
              various legal forms of business ownership.

          ·   Describe a business plan and its components, the process involved in researching a business
              plan, and identify several sources of business plan information.

          ·   Explore the legal environment in which the entrepreneur exists including, site selection and
              restrictions, elements of a binding contract, government regulations, and tax implications.  

          ·   Identify ways to locate and contact suppliers, and discuss factors that influence equipment,
              supply, and inventory decisions.

          ·   Determine layout considerations and typical layout plans for different types of businesses
              including interior and exterior factors.

          ·   Explore basic strategies that make up risk management.

          ·   Formulate both operating and personnel policies as well as develop an organizational chart
              and job descriptions.

          ·   Develop a promotional strategy and promotional mix for a given business.

          ·   Explain the importance of keeping accurate daily, weekly, and monthly records of business
              activities.

          ·   Explore financing options and discuss the difficulty entrepreneurs’ face in obtaining capital.