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Structure

Building the Frame for Business Growth

Ken Szymusiak, Forrest S. Carter, and David Wheeler

Just like when building a house the foundation for your business provides the framework for success. A business built on weak structure will struggle to succeed. We'll address some of the most pressing issues that you as a business owner must face while constructing the proper framework for your business.

Specifically at the end of this course you will be able to:

- create and evaluate your company's financial documents;

-complete the documents and regulatory procedures to create a legal business entity;

- protect your intellectual property;

-develop a management team;

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Syllabus

Company Structure & The Foundation: Financial Statements and Projections

Great companies are built upon great structures. We believe this structure is comprised of four critically important components: 1.) Development of your financial statements. 2.) Creating your legal entity. 3.) Protecting your intellectual property. 4.) Building your team. In Module 1, the learner will receive an introduction to the basics of the three financial statements: Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows. By the end of this module you should be able to recognize the differences between each financial statement and understand the role they play in assessing the performance of your company. To close out the module you will be challenged to develop your first projected income statement for your business concept.

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Provides a foundational overview of key aspects for business owners, including financial management, legal structure, intellectual property protection, and team building

Taught by experienced instructors with expertise in business and entrepreneurship: Ken Szymusiak, Forrest S. Carter, and David Wheeler

May be especially suitable for those with limited business knowledge or who are in the early stages of setting up a business

Covers the basics of financial statements, legal entities, intellectual property, and team development

Provides practical guidance and tools for implementing these concepts in real-world business settings

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Reviews summary

Foundational guide to business structure

According to learners, "Structure: Building the Frame for Business Growth" provides a solid foundational understanding (positive) of the core elements required to build a successful business. Students found the modules on financial statements (positive), forming legal entities (positive), and intellectual property (positive) particularly valuable and clearly explained (positive). The course is widely considered beginner-friendly (positive) and offers practical insights (positive) and actionable steps. While some reviewers felt certain topics could benefit from more depth (warning) for those with prior experience, the consensus is that it is an excellent starting point (positive) for aspiring entrepreneurs and a useful review for others.

Insights into recruiting the right people.

"The module on team building provided practical advice on finding the right people."

"Understanding the importance of a strong team structure was a key takeaway for me."

"Gave me things to consider when developing a staffing plan."

Good overview of protecting intellectual property.

"The section on intellectual property gave me a good overview of how to protect my ideas."

"Learning about patents, trademarks, and copyrights in a business context was valuable."

"Provided enough information to make me aware of IP protection needs."

Offers steps applicable immediately.

"Everything felt very practical and applicable to starting a real business."

"I can immediately use the steps outlined for forming my legal entity."

"The course provides actionable advice I can implement right away."

Simplified understanding of financial documents.

"The introduction to financial statements was incredibly useful and easy to grasp."

"I finally understand the basics of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow."

"Simplified complex financial concepts effectively."

Helped understand and choose legal structures.

"The explanation on LLCs versus C-corps was very clear and helpful for making a decision."

"Understanding the legal structure of my business is critical, and this module explained it well."

"I now feel confident about the steps needed to legally form my business entity."

Excellent overview for new business owners.

"This course gave me a solid foundation on the structure of a business."

"Perfect for learning the basics of structuring your business correctly from the start."

"Provides a great overview of the core elements for anyone starting a business."

May be too basic for experienced learners.

"If you already have some business experience, this course might feel a bit basic."

"I was hoping for a deeper dive into some topics, but it's a solid introduction."

"Good for beginners, but more advanced entrepreneurs might find it introductory."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Structure: Building the Frame for Business Growth with these activities:

Compile a library of financial resources

Show steps

Gather and organize a collection of financial resources, such as articles, websites, and tools, to support your learning and business development.

Browse courses on Financial Tools

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Identify and research relevant financial resources
Organize the resources into folders or categories
Bookmark or save the resources for future reference

Practice financial calculations

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Strengthen your understanding of financial calculations by practicing various financial ratios and formulas covered in the course.

Browse courses on Financial Calculations

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Identify the formulas and ratios relevant to your business
Solve practice problems using these formulas and ratios
Check your answers and identify areas for improvement

Identify mentors in the business field

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Seek guidance and support from experienced business professionals to enhance your understanding and career development.

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Attend industry events and network with professionals
Research and identify potential mentors
Reach out to mentors and request guidance

Five other activities

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Join a study group

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Connect with peers to discuss course concepts, share insights, and support each other's learning journey.

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Find or create a study group with other students
Set up regular meeting times
Prepare discussion topics and materials

Review book: Financial Statements, Analysis & Valuation

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Review the fundamentals of financial statements and analysis to strengthen your understanding of the financial concepts covered in the course.

View Abeloff's Clinical Oncology Review E-Book on Amazon

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Read the book's introduction and chapter 1
Summarize the key points of each section
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises

Attend a workshop on financial management

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Gain practical insights and skills in financial management by attending a workshop led by industry experts.

Browse courses on Financial Management

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Research and identify relevant financial management workshops
Register and attend the workshop
Participate actively and take notes
Apply the knowledge gained to your business

Create a financial plan for your business

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Develop a financial plan that outlines your business's financial goals, strategies, and projections, which will help you apply the financial concepts learned in the course.

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Define your business's financial goals
Identify your sources of revenue and expenses
Create a projected income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement
Analyze and interpret your financial projections
Write an executive summary of your financial plan

Start a business simulation

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Participate in a business simulation to apply the principles of business management, decision-making, and financial planning covered in the course.

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Choose a business simulation platform
Set up your business and develop a strategy
Make decisions and manage your business's operations
Analyze your performance and make adjustments
Write a report on your experience

Career center

Learners who complete Structure: Building the Frame for Business Growth will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs need a deep understanding of business fundamentals. This course covers all aspects of business fundamentals: from legal structure to staffing, to intellectual property, and more. All of these elements are critical to the success of any business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help companies to improve the efficiency of their operations and processes. This course, and particularly the module on organizational structure, would be helpful for Business Analysts as they seek to build a framework for operational excellence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts often help companies build and evaluate their financial statements. This course can help someone in this role strengthen the foundation for making informed decisions around these statements. Also of benefit would be the modules about financial projections and projections, which can help an analyst evaluate the company's structure and development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Management Consultant

Many Management Consultants must understand how businesses make best use of their resources. This course would help someone in this role, particularly in the area of developing and implementing effective strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Product Manager

Product Managers must have a deep understanding of business needs and objectives. This course can help build such an understanding through its case studies and exercises on developing products and services that meet customer needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers assist companies with planning and implementing strategies for growth. This course can help managers develop a deep understanding of business fundamentals and legal structures that help companies pursue business development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Private Equity Associate

Private Equity Associates assist in evaluating and investing in companies, This course can help equip an associate with skills to evaluate a company's financial strength, legal structure, intellectual property, and management team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Associate

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers guide their clients on making sound financial decisions. This course can help in valuing businesses and assessing their financial performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Venture Capitalist

Venture Capitalists evaluate and invest in early-stage companies with high growth potential. This course can help equip a Venture Capitalist with skills to evaluate all aspects of a business, including financial statements, legal structure, and management team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capitalist

Corporate Lawyer

Corporate Lawyers advise companies on legal matters. This course can provide the context around financial statements, organizational structure, and other issues that corporate lawyers need to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Lawyer

Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants specialize in matters surrounding taxes. This course provides insight into understanding financial statements and tax implications, which could be useful for someone in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Accountant

Auditor

Auditors examine a company's financial statements to ensure accuracy. This course may provide useful context for understanding financial statements and their role in a company's overall financial health.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns. This course may be useful in providing a foundational understanding of business fundamentals and how marketing fits into the overall business strategy.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers develop and execute sales strategies. This course may be useful in understanding business fundamentals and how sales contributes to the overall success of a company.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a business. This course can help in developing a comprehensive understanding of business fundamentals and how operations contribute to the overall success of a company.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Structure: Building the Frame for Business Growth.

Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Save

Would be particularly useful for students who are interested in learning more about the lean startup methodology.

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Hardcover

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use...

Kindle Edition

A Leadership Paradigm Shift to ‘Eclectic Leadership’

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Would be particularly useful for students who are interested in learning more about the challenges and rewards of starting and running a small business.

A Leadership Paradigm Shift to ‘Eclectic...

Kindle Edition

$$$

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

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Would be particularly useful for students who are interested in learning more about the challenges that established businesses face when they are disrupted by new technologies.

Structure

Building the Frame for Business Growth

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Foundational guide to business structure

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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