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Prepare. Grow. Transform.

Small Business   

 

 

  • Growing Plants for Fun and Profit
  • Fee: $140.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164820-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    This course will teach you everything you need to prosper in the backyard nursery business.


    Turn your love of plants into an enjoyable and profitable home business. Learn how to grow and market plants on a small scale without major capital investment. In an area as small as 1000 sq. ft., you can generate thousands of dollars' worth of plant material in a single growing season.

    This course is your practical guide to licensing, site preparation, equipment, how and where to find supplies, how to select and produce plants appropriate to your climate zone, how to produce quality material and, most importantly, how to market your product.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Making the Transition From Gardener to Nurseryman

    In the first lesson, you'll meet other gardeners who've successfully made the transition to nurserymen. You may be surprised to discover that, within the small space of a backyard, you can produce significant income by growing plants. You'll also learn what permits and licenses you may need as you get started.

    Your Climate Considerations

    In this lesson, you'll take a close look at climate zone maps to help you figure out what plants will grow best in your region. Then you'll learn some easy ways to prepare your growing grounds. Finally, the lesson will show you ways to create inexpensive microclimates that will help you start your plants and expand the varieties you can grow.

    Necessary Supplies and Where to Find Them

    In this lesson, you'll learn what production supplies you'll need and how to find wholesale sources for them. The lesson will discuss cover containers, soil, fertilizer, and labels and then talk about why it's important to keep track of your expenses for tax purposes.

    Plant Propagation Methods

    Starting new plants is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences for gardeners and nurseryman alike. The process of starting new plants is called propagation. In this lesson, you'll focus on the three major methods used in nursery production: propagation by seed, cuttings, and division.

    Reduce Your Growing Time: Buy Plants From Other Growers

    This lesson will teach you one of the most valuable lessons in this business: How to reduce the waiting time involved in growing plant material. You'll learn what types of starter plants are available and how to find wholesale sources. You'll also be given some valuable guidelines to help you decide what to grow. Afterwards, the lesson will talk about how to find additional sources of information and business networking opportunities through nurserymen associations and trade shows.

    Growing Annuals (Including Vegetables, Herbs, and Bulbs)

    In this lesson, you'll focus on growing annual flowers and bulbs, paying special attention to market timing. You'll learn how to create high-value items such as color bowls and hanging baskets. The lesson will then discuss vegetable starter plants and herbs. Specializing in organic growing will help you tap into a lucrative area of the nursery trade, so the lesson will fill you in on all you need to know about organic growing and certification.

    Growing Perennials

    In this lesson, you'll focus on one of the hottest topics in gardening: The particular group of non-woody plants that nurseries call "perennials". You'll become familiar not only with the favorites, but with the wide variety of perennials available. The lesson will then go over some detailed information about specific perennials, including how to grow them and how to time them for market.

    Growing Shrubs, Roses, and Vines

    This lesson covers woody plants—such as shrubs and vines—that form the more permanent plantings in a landscape. You'll pay particular attention to roses because they're among the most beautiful and profitable shrubs. In addition, you'll learn how to grow small fruiting shrubs and vines for specialty markets.

    Growing Various Trees in Sizes From #1s to #15s

    Trees may be the largest members of the plant kingdom, but they're also among the easiest and most profitable to grow. In this lesson, you'll not only learn how to propagate landscape trees, but how to greatly shorten their growing time by buying bare-root seedlings and finished bare-roots. The lesson will conclude with a discussion on fruiting and flowering trees.

    Producing a Quality Plant

    Whether you're growing plants for fun or profit, you'll want to produce quality plant material. This lesson will provide guidelines for quality standards. You'll learn about pruning, staking, and training plants into special shapes and forms. It will also talk about methods you can use to ward off diseases and pests.

    Wholesale Marketing

    If you're like most gardeners, growing plants is the easy part—marketing is the real challenge! This lesson will begin with a discussion on wholesale marketing. You'll learn all you need to know to do business with discount chain stores, local retailers, and landscapers, and then explore consignment selling, contract growing, and business-to-business Internet options.

    Retail Marketing

    The final lesson covers retail marketing, or taking your product directly to the public. You'll learn how to advertise inexpensively and effectively so you're not just growing plants, you're growing your business! The lesson will explain what you'll need to know to sell your plants from your home or garage sales, certified farmers markets, and flea markets. It will also discuss selling your plants to government or public agencies.


    What you will learn

    • Learn how to make the transition from gardener to nurseryman
    • Understand climate zones and how to set up suitable growing grounds
    • Learn the three major propagation methods used in nursery production
    • Examine starter plants and obtain guidelines on what you should grow
    • Learn about annuals, bulbs, vegetables and herbs and discusses organic production
    • Understand how to grow and market perennials, shrubs, roses, vines and small fruits
    • Learn the methods for producing and maintaining quality plant material
    • Gain strategies for succeeding in the wholesale market and directly to the public

    How you will benefit

    • Turn your love of plants into a profitable home-based business
    • Learn how to begin your nursery business with only a small capital investment
    • Gain additional gardening skills that will benefit you both personally and professionally

    Wendy Troger

    Wendy Troger holds a bachelor's degree in fine art, with an earlier career focused on graphic design, which led to a 30-year career in educational publishing. However, her true passion has always been gardening. Wendy's love for gardening began in her youth when she assisted in tending her family's lawn and garden. As an avid gardener, she and her husband built and landscaped their home in upstate New York, and she has spent years designing, planting, and growing a variety of gardens in her community and beyond. Upon retirement from publishing, Wendy decided to follow her passion and become a master gardener. She is now in her second year as a master gardener and has worked with several local nurseries, community gardens, and landscape businesses to help others beautify their garden spaces. Wendy currently works as a site lead at a nursery in upstate New York, where she continues to share her knowledge and love of gardening with others.


    This course will teach you everything you need to prosper in the backyard nursery business.
 

 

 

 

  • Learn to Buy and Sell on eBay
  • Fee: $140.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164842-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Auction pros teach you how to work from home or earn extra income by buying and selling goods online.


    Online auctions match buyers with sellers in a global marketplace for almost any item. If you've ever dreamed of working from home or just earning extra income by buying and selling goods online, this course will guide you every step of the way!

    In this course, you will gain all of the knowledge necessary for success in the online marketplace. You'll learn how to create titles that get noticed, how to craft advertising copy that sells items quickly and for top dollar, and how to create and upload photos of the items you are selling. You'll also learn how to safely conduct financial transactions, how to accept credit card payments, and how to pack and ship any item hassle-free. If you're a buyer, you'll learn how to value almost any item up for auction, how to get the best possible price, how to protect yourself against fraud, and how to compete effectively against other bidders.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Learning eBay's History and How to Navigate the Site

    Entering the world of eBay can be somewhat like visiting a foreign land. It has its own community, culture, and language (so to speak). In the first lesson, you'll learn all the ins and outs of the eBay marketplace. The lesson will go over eBay's history, the motivations for buying and selling, and how to browse the categories of eBay.

    Registration and Searching

    Knowing how to search the eBay auction listings for items of interest is fundamental if you're interested in buying or selling goods in the eBay marketplace. In this lesson, you'll learn the basics, as well as some advanced search methods, allowing you to not only find what's currently up for auction, but also to gather information on items that have recently sold. You'll also go over the eBay registration process so you can truly begin your eBay experience.

    Auction Pages and the My eBay Section

    In this lesson, you'll take a tour through the eBay auction pages to help you understand the site's terminology and layout. You'll learn what specifics to look for in item descriptions to help you become an astute buyer. You'll also explore the My eBay section of eBay—an invaluable tool that you'll use to keep track of everything from your buying and selling activities to keeping lists of favorite searches, sellers, categories, and much, much more.

    Bidding and Buying After the Auction

    This lesson will guide you step-by-step through the eBay bidding and buying process. Not only will you learn all the bidding basics, but you'll discover the art of bidding, including proxy bidding, bid sniping, and other tips for winning an auction at the best possible price. It will also prepare you for what happens after the auction ends—communicating with the seller and making your payment.

    Your First Sale

    In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare for your first sale on eBay. You'll go through the first steps of the selling process, including locating items to sell, creating effective auction descriptions, and properly promoting your listings for maximum exposure.

    The World of Digital Photography

    In this lesson, you'll learn why digital photographs are so important when selling an item on eBay. The lesson will cover what type of camera you need, lighting and background techniques, picture editing, and even how to protect the images you capture.

    Basics of Pricing and Shipping

    This lesson will go over the basics of pricing your auction items and discuss setting your shipping rates. You'll learn why pricing your item lower may actually get you more money in the end. The lesson will also discuss how value plays a part in the price you ask and what a reserve price is. Then you'll go over what supplies you'll need to ship your merchandise, and where to find valuable shipping tools and resources.

    Launching Your Auction

    This lesson will guide you step-by-step through the process of launching your auction. You'll learn selling fundamentals such as registering as a seller, understanding eBay's fee schedule, and filling out the selling form for your item. You'll also go over adding pictures to your listing description, accepting online payments, and using online escrow services.

    Post-Sale Management

    In this lesson, you'll learn the steps you may need to take once you've listed your item. You'll see how to make revisions to an auction currently in progress, how to answer questions from bidders regarding an item you have up for sale, how to cancel bids from unwanted bidders, and how to end an auction early.

    Discussion Boards and Your Profile

    In this lesson, you'll truly be inducted into the eBay community! You'll discover all the different elements that make up the social world of eBay, such as the discussion forums, "About Me" pages, chat boards, and other eBay tools such as eBay radio and the eBay News Section. When you're finished with this lesson, eBay will be your online home away from home.

    eBay Stores and Other Sellers' Resources

    In this lesson, you'll take a tour through the world of eBay stores where you can take your eBay selling experience to the next level. You'll find out how to design and open an eBay store and then look at other valuable sellers' resources, such as listing tools and auction management software.

    Advanced Selling Topics

    The final lesson will go over some advanced selling topics. You'll learn which items tend to sell the best, how to find out what the hottest sellers are, and how and where to find inventory to sell. It will also discuss eBay's trading assistant program and other auction websites. You'll finish the course with some priceless parting knowledge that will help you jump-start your eBay selling success.


    What you will learn

    • Learn the fundamentals of buying and selling on eBay, and understand its advanced features
    • Discover how to buy and sell in an online auction and become confident in your ability to benefit financially
    • Learn how to create effective auction descriptions, and properly promote your listings for maximum exposure
    • Discover the art of proxy bidding, bid sniping, and other tips for winning an auction at the best possible price

    How you will benefit

    • Discover the secrets to making money from the comfort of your own home
    • Gain confidence in your ability to use online marketplaces and benefit from great deals
    • Learn how to connect with others in an online social community

    Shirley George Frazier

    Shirley George Frazier is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and popular speaker at trade shows and small business events. Her business advice has been featured on CNBC, Food Network, and LiveWell Network; and her tips have been published in CNN Money, Entrepreneur, and Costco Connection. Shirley's passion for education inspires creative people to achieve their goals.


    Auction pros teach you how to work from home or earn extra income by buying and selling goods online.
 

 

  • Professional Consulting Practice
  • Fee: $1,425.00
    Times: Self-paced Course

    From small businesses to corporations, any organization can benefit from an expert consultation. Professional consultants analyze situations and make recommendations based on their own expertise. To be a successful consultant, you must be able to understand client challenges, provide credible advice, and manage your practice.

    The Professional Consulting Practice course will teach you how to leverage your existing skills to become a consultant. You will learn how to analyze an organization, how to serve a diverse clientele, and how build a credible, solutions-driven consulting practice.
 

  • Small Business Suite
  • Fee: $392.00

    Learn how to be your own boss! This series will give you the information you need to start your own home-based or online business by developing the qualities of successful entrepreneurs. You will receive a step-by-step approach that will help you build a simplified strategy and attract customers with successful marketing techniques on a tight budget. Upon completion, you will have a deep understanding of what it takes to create, build, and maintain a profitable business!
 

  • Small Business Suite
  • Fee: $392.00

    Learn how to be your own boss! This series will give you the information you need to start your own home-based or online business by developing the qualities of successful entrepreneurs. You will receive a step-by-step approach that will help you build a simplified strategy and attract customers with successful marketing techniques on a tight budget. Upon completion, you will have a deep understanding of what it takes to create, build, and maintain a profitable business!
 

 

 

  • Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business
  • Fee: $144.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164941-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Learn how to start your own arts and crafts business from a professional artist.


    If you have an art or a craft and you dream about starting your own home-based or small business, this is the course for you! You will learn to start your own arts and crafts business from a professional artist. You will learn to create your own unique business identity, and discover what makes marketing in the arts and crafts business different from marketing in most other enterprises and find a sales approach the fits your personality.

    You will learn how to find and get into the best craft shows, as well as design booths that really draw customers in. You will discover how to price your work effectively so you can set yourself up for success whether you are selling through craft shows, in galleries, online, or even in your own retail store.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Where to Start: Niches and Trends

    You can't look into the future. Or can you? In this first lesson, you'll explore how to find your own niche within your chosen craft. Then, you'll learn about resources for spotting future trends and making your business a success!

    Establishing Your Business Identity

    You've heard the expression "It's all in a name." But how do you determine which business name tells the public what you're all about? In this lesson, you'll get some foolproof guidelines for choosing the name that's right for your business. You'll also learn how to secure your name and design a logo your customers will remember you by.

    Choosing the Right Location for You

    Claiming your own work space is thrilling and scary at the same time. In this lesson, you'll explore your options, from the home studio to the retail space. Most important of all, you'll learn the secret to choosing the right one for you.

    Designing Your Work Space and Buying in Bulk

    In this lesson, you'll learn how to design your new work space for increased productivity and safety. The lesson will talk about setting up workstations, choosing work surfaces, lighting, organizing and storing craft supplies, and going green. Then, you'll learn how to buy your supplies in bulk to maximize your profit.

    Marketing in the Arts

    What makes marketing in the arts and crafts business different from marketing in most other enterprises? You'll know the secret when you finish this lesson. You'll also know how to create a marketing strategy to get the word out about your new business. How will you put this plan into action? With tried-and-true marketing tools you'll learn here too!

    Protecting Your Work

    Figuring out how to price your work can feel like a mystery that might even stump Sherlock Holmes! If you aim too high, your products won't sell, and if you aim too low, you'll be out of business before you know it. In this lesson, you'll discover a formula for arriving at the best price while leaving yourself enough wiggle room to be flexible. You'll also learn how to protect your work through copyrights and through insuring your business against loss or damage.

    But I Hate Sales!

    Thinking of you-the-salesperson can sometimes make you-the-artist feel like you've been dropped into the Twilight Zone! But everyone has an inner salesperson. In this lesson, you'll find out how to see sales in a new light—one that meshes with your personality and creative integrity.

    Wholesale, Consignment, and Galleries

    How do you get your craft products into the marketplace? In this lesson, you'll explore how to get your crafts into retail stores at wholesale prices, place your products on consignment, and approach galleries and develop long-term relationships with them.

    Online Selling, Craft Parties, and Your Own Retail Store

    Retail is competitive, and you have to know your stuff to succeed. Whether it's the ins-and-outs of how to sell retail through craft parties, or some of the principles of setting up your own retail store, it's in this lesson! You'll also learn how and where to sell retail to a worldwide market on the Internet.

    Craft Shows: Part 1

    There are thousands of craft shows every year, so how can you find the best (most lucrative) craft shows to be in? In this lesson, you'll learn what the insiders know: how to find the best shows and what you'll need to get into them. You'll also see how to plan the details of travel and lodging and get an idea of what to bring along to ensure a smooth craft show experience.

    Craft Shows: Part 2

    Once you're in a craft show, you'll need to pull those craft lovers out of the aisles and into your booth! In this lesson, you'll discover how to design booths and displays that draw people in and how to keep them there with compelling demonstrations, solid craft fair sales, and smart marketing techniques.

    Teaching Your Craft

    Teaching can be fulfilling both financially and emotionally, and it can also be a great marketing tool for the rest of your business! In this lesson, you'll learn how to find teaching opportunities, design your curriculum, and price and promote your class. By the end of this lesson, the final one, you'll have everything you need to approach your local craft supply store, art school, or continuing education department with a professional proposal for your class.


    What you will learn

    • Learn to design a workspace for increased productivity and safety
    • Learn what it takes to market your art or craft
    • Create a strategy using tried-and-true marketing tools
    • Learn how to get your craft products into the marketplace
    • Discover what insiders know about the best show and what you need to get into them
    • Learn ways to draw people into your booth and keep them there
    • Discover how to find teaching opportunities to share your craft with others as well as help you out financially

    How you will benefit

    • Turn your hobby craft into a profitable business
    • Find the best craft shows and what it takes to get in them
    • Design and create a craft booth that will draw people in

    Shirley George Frazier

    Shirley George Frazier is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and popular speaker at trade shows and small business events. Her business advice has been featured on CNBC, Food Network, and LiveWell Network; and her tips have been published in CNN Money, Entrepreneur, and Costco Connection. Shirley's passion for education inspires creative people to achieve their goals.


    Learn how to start your own arts and crafts business from a professional artist.
 

 

 

 

  • Start Your Own Edible Garden
  • Fee: $144.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164975-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Learn how to grow delicious, nutritious fruit and vegetables in your own backyard.


    Grow delicious, nutritious fruit and vegetables in your own backyard! In this course, you'll learn how to give your garden a healthy start and keep it growing strong all season.

    You'll begin by figuring out which type of garden is right for you. You'll explore climate considerations, learn how to read a zone hardiness map, and find out how to spot a micro-climate in your yard. You'll discover how to properly prepare a garden bed so your crops have the best opportunity to thrive. You'll even learn to understand fertilizers and make compost! Whether you want to provide your family with nutritious food, save money, get some exercise, or just be more self-sufficient, this course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be on your way to a successful harvest.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Why Grow Your Own Garden?

    This lesson will begin by discussing the many great benefits of growing your own food. You'll discover why food from your garden is likely to have more nutrients than the food you can purchase from the grocery store, and then learn about ways to keep your costs down and options for designing your garden beds. By the end of the lesson, you'll be prepped and ready to begin planning your own edible garden!

    What Should You Grow in Your Garden?

    Not sure what you want to plant in your garden? That's good! Because there are lots of practical considerations that you should be aware of before you make that decision. Considerations such as personal taste, time, space, and the local climate will all impact your plant selection. This lesson will discuss what you need to think about before planning your garden, and you'll start to learn the basics about climate zones and the types of plants that grow well in your area.

    Preparing Your Garden

    In this lesson, you'll look at strategies to keep your garden looking as good as it tastes! You'll begin by considering layout, style, flowers, and all of the little extras that make your garden unique. Then, you'll learn how to prepare your containers, raised beds, and in-ground gardens. The lesson will walk you through the steps of placing, measuring, and building your garden to give your plants a healthy place to grow and thrive. You'll look at some time-saving tips and learn when you should begin preparation and what method might be best for your garden.

    Your Garden Soil

    A whole lesson devoted to soil! Don't worry—this is actually much more interesting than it sounds. What you learn here will prepare you to create the perfect foundation for your edible garden. You'll examine soil up front, because you'll need to have a good understanding of your garden soil before you begin planting the delicious crops that will be discussed in the upcoming lessons. This lesson will discuss your unique soil type. You'll find out about the drainage, pH, and nutrients in your soil. Finally, you'll learn about soil amendments to create healthy soil that will nourish your garden.

    Leafy Greens

    Leafy greens are easy to grow, but they can get bitter if you aren't careful. In this lesson, you'll learn how to keep your leafy greens healthy and delicious. The lesson will start with an introduction to some of the varieties you can find and the benefits of each. Then, you'll look at important topics that affect your leafy greens, like bolting and slugs. Finally, you'll learn a technique to extend your growing season that can be applied to lots of vegetables, not just greens—starting your seeds indoors!

    Root Vegetables

    In this lesson, you'll discover the vegetables that lie beneath the soil. You'll explore different types of these special veggies, including carrots, potatoes, and beets, and then learn how to grow and harvest your crops. Finally, the lesson will show you how to make the perfect seed bed for your root vegetables to flourish.

    Vine and Bush Vegetables

    In this lesson, you'll take your garden up into the air by exploring vine and bush vegetables. You'll learn about lots of great edible options for adding height to your garden, including beans, peas, and tomatoes. The lesson will discuss important information about heirlooms and hybrids, as well as pests and diseases. Then, you'll explore the many ways that you can support your vertical vines as they grow up!

    Fruits and Berries

    This lesson will satisfy your sweet tooth as you learn about growing fruits and berries. It will discuss some of your options like apples, grapes, and blueberries, and then cover the specifics of planting, pollination, and pests. You'll also learn about the importance of pruning and how to make a proper cut.

    Herbs

    This lesson is all about herbs. You'll learn some specifics about herbs, like which ones are invasive and which ones need extra-deep containers to grow well. Then, you'll explore ways to harvest your herbs and still keep them producing. Finally, the lesson will go more in depth about how to grow crops indoors so that you won't have to leave your kitchen to collect your harvest!

    Irrigation and Your Garden

    Watering has the potential to be one of the most time-consuming parts of caring for your garden. It's often the part that beginning gardeners skimp on or overdo, resulting in a less-than-desirable crop. In this lesson, you'll learn about the various irrigation methods for different types of gardens and consider the best approach for your edible garden.

    Collecting Seeds and Preserving Your Harvest

    This lesson will talk about ways to use your excess bounty so that it doesn't go to waste. You'll learn how to collect seeds from your crops, which seeds you should collect, and what to expect when you grow them next year. You'll also discover ways to preserve the rest of your harvest through freezing, drying, canning, and pickling so that you can enjoy your surplus later.

    End-of-Season Cleanup

    Congratulations! You've grown a delicious, nutritious garden, and now it's time to put the garden down for the season. This lesson will discuss how to make sure your garden is properly prepared for the winter and how to get a head start for the spring. You'll also learn how to care for your tools so that your investment will last for many years.


    What you will learn

    • Decide crops you'd like to grow in your edible garden, and learn about practical considerations such as personal taste, time, and climate
    • Discover how to grow and harvest common herbs, what pests to watch out for, and techniques for keeping herbs healthy indoors
    • Examine practical irrigation methods for different types of gardens, and determine the best choice for you and your garden
    • Learn how to collect seeds from your crops and how to preserve your surplus harvest through freezing, drying, canning, and pickling

    How you will benefit

    • Learn how to grow your own delicious, nutritious, and cost-effective food
    • Gain confidence in your ability to provide for yourself and reap the rewards of doing so
    • Become a more responsible citizen of earth as you learn how to save, recycle, and compost

    Eva Shaw

    Eva Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer and author of the new historical mysteries "The Seer" and "The Pimp" (Torchflame Publishing). She has authored thousands of articles, essays, and short stories and more than 100 books including "What to Do When a Loved Ones Dies" and "Shovel It: Nature's Health Plan." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award. She teaches other courses including: How to Make Money from Your Writing, The Craft of Magazine Writing, Travel Writing, Write Your Life Story and Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers. She's also passionate about gardening.


    Learn how to grow delicious, nutritious fruit and vegetables in your own backyard.
 

 

 

 

  • Start Your Own Gift Basket Business
  • Fee: $144.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164966-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Express your creativity in a fun and profitable way, by starting a home-based business as a gift basket designer.


    Take your first step toward a career as a gift basket designer! This course will tell you everything you need to know about starting a gift basket business and running it successfully.

    You will learn how to make gift baskets that stand out from everyone else's. You'll also discover how to set up your own design studio and where to find foods, products, and supplies to make your baskets. In addition, you'll explore the requirements and guidelines for running a home-based business. Maximize your profits by pricing your gift baskets correctly and investigate cost-effective ways to ship and deliver the gorgeous gift baskets you create. Along the way, you'll find out the sales secrets that most long-time designers won't reveal. By the end of this course, you'll be ready to start your own business as a gift basket designer and have the confidence you need to excel in this fun and profitable career!


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Getting Started

    You've made a great decision to start a gift basket business! Create a firm foundation for your soon-to-be successful enterprise with the help of this lesson. You'll learn what to expect from this course, and you'll meet a new designer, just like you, and discover how she plans her daily schedule. The lesson will cover what it takes to be successful, too, and you'll also find out how much money you'll need to start your business. You'll follow a ten-step tutorial using items around your home to make your first gift basket. By the end of this lesson, you'll be ready to set up your business!

    Making Gift Baskets

    Ready to start designing? This lesson will masterfully explain how to create a professionally styled gift basket, just like the pros make. You'll learn about the essential materials you'll need, and you'll follow photographs showing each design step, from basket bottom to bow. You'll learn how efficient use of your basket-making time ensures that you make as much money as possible. Finally, the lesson will go over design and product changes that make each gift basket stand out.

    Products and Supplies

    It's time to go shopping! To create beautiful baskets, you'll need basket-making supplies, as well as products like snacks and gifts to put inside your designs. But how do you decide what and how much to buy? This lesson is full of smart shopping tips that will help you save money and make the right decisions about what to purchase and where. You'll also learn about registering your business so that companies selling merchandise can identify you as a bona fide retailer—which means you'll be able to shop and save!

    Your Workspace

    Will you set up shop in a garage, basement, or spare room? This lesson explains the advantages of a home-based workspace and provides tips to set it up. You'll also learn about the downsides of working at home and explore other options so that you can determine what will work best for your business. You'll review an equipment list to ensure you have everything you need and then learn the secrets of creatively organizing your office and design area.

    Your Customers

    Without sales, you won't have a business, so it's time to meet your customers. You'll review the top ten reasons why individuals buy gift baskets, look at five steps that convince corporations to become customers, and identify professional business owners you know right now who may become your top buyers. You'll come away with a basket full of ideas on how to approach businesses and organizations in your hometown and learn how to make sales without being pushy.

    The Competition

    Baskets full of goodies are a popular gift choice, so you expect a little competition, right? The good news is that your competitor list may be smaller than you imagine. In this lesson, you'll discover how to separate the real competition from every business in your area that sells gift baskets. You'll discover which people are not your competitors, and some of them will surprise you. Then, you'll take a look at your actual competitors and assess their strengths and weaknesses. You'll learn how you can use this information to build your own business. Believe it or not, your competitors may lead you to your next customer!

    About Pricing

    Grab your calculator, because this lesson is all about money! Success depends on knowing what to charge for each gift basket design, and you're going to learn the formulas to keep you profitable. You'll be introduced to three distinct methods to calculate your prices and then see a sample chart that will help you easily apply that method to all your future designs. You'll also go over the costs that go into each price calculation—it's much more than adding up the snacks and gifts you're putting into the basket. Knowing how much you spend is just as important as how much you charge, so you'll see a quick and easy way to keep track of your expenses. Finally, you'll learn how to increase each sale with a little-known technique that gets customers to say "yes."

    Marketing 101

    Opportunities to let customers know about your gift baskets are all around you. Which will you choose? This lesson will first cover the difference between marketing and advertising. Next, you'll look at marketing techniques, from printing business cards to creating an online marketing campaign. You can spend a lot of money to promote your business, but the good news is that you don't have to. You'll learn to create a marketing plan and advertising strategy that work for you and your budget.

    Getting Paid

    At the end of the day, you're in business to make money. This lesson unveils how to get paid. You'll discover the methods to collect payments by cash, check, and credit cards, plus how to process payments online. The lesson will also talk about the importance of creating a business account and how critical—but easy—it is to establish systems to handle different types of payment.

    Delivery Options

    Getting your completed gift baskets from point A to point B requires planning and additional supplies. Delivering each gift basket on your own may be an option for local orders, but as you get busy, you'll need other ways to get your designs to customers. You'll discover which delivery systems you can use to ship baskets across the country and around the world. You'll find out which equipment and supplies are required for proper packaging and review a tutorial in packing a ship-shape basket.

    Your Website

    This lesson reveals the steps to creating a website for your business. Understanding what you want to accomplish on the web is key, along with choosing a company to keep your site up and running 24 hours a day. You'll unlock tricks to creating a site that's attractive and user friendly—even if you don't know a thing about web design. You'll also learn the secrets of search engines to make your site easy to find. Best of all, you'll find out who's visiting your site, which of your designs are most popular, and ways to increase online sales.

    How to Keep Growing

    Now you know all the basics to start and support a gift basket business. What's next? This lesson reveals the tactics that top designers worldwide have mastered to keep their businesses going and growing. You'll learn how to recognize growth potential and begin to plan for new opportunities, looking ahead six months to ten years. Whatever your ultimate vision is for your business's future, this lesson will show you how to make it a reality.


    What you will learn

    • Learn everything you need to know about starting a gift basket business
    • Understand how to price your gift baskets and develop cost-effective ways to ship and deliver
    • Explore the requirements and guidelines for running a home-based business.
    • Learn how to make gift baskets that stand out from the competition and market your products effectively

    How you will benefit

    • Discover the sales secrets that most long-time designers won't reveal
    • Gain the confidence you need to excel in a fun and profitable career
    • Reach your creative potential and learn how to set up your own design studio

    Shirley George Frazier

    Shirley George Frazier is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and popular speaker at trade shows and small business events. Her business advice has been featured on CNBC, Food Network, and LiveWell Network; and her tips have been published in CNN Money, Entrepreneur, and Costco Connection. Shirley's passion for education inspires creative people to achieve their goals.


    Express your creativity in a fun and profitable way, by starting a home-based business as a gift basket designer.
 

  • Start Your Own Online Business
  • Fee: $144.00

    Discover how to harness the power of the Internet to build and sustain a profitable business. You will also learn the step-by-step process of creating a product, building a website, engaging a customer base, and finding new leads online.
 

  • Start Your Own Online Business
  • Fee: $144.00

    Discover how to harness the power of the Internet to build and sustain a profitable business. You will also learn the step-by-step process of creating a product, building a website, engaging a customer base, and finding new leads online.
 

  • Start Your Own Online Business
  • Fee: $144.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC165013-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Discover how to harness the power of the Internet to build and sustain a profitable business. You will also learn the step-by-step process of creating a product, building a website, engaging a customer base, and finding new leads online.


    Today, the Internet has changed everything. It is now entirely possible to create, launch, and build a profitable business from the convenience of your home with little to no upfront investment. This course will give you a solid foundation for building and growing a successful digital business.

    You will be given a step-by-step approach that is easy to follow—from building a simplified strategy to branding your business. You will learn to create a product and how to build and launch your own website. You will learn to engage prospective customers, and implement a process that will drive fresh leads to your business. You simply need to know what to do and how to do it. So whether you are looking to generate a nice side income or even to replace your current income and ditch your full-time job, this course is for you.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Build a Foundation for Your Online Business

    In this lesson, we will build the foundation you need to start and grow a successful online business. You will understand what an online business is, the key components that make it work, and the steps for building your own. You will also learn about the three most popular online business models. Finally, you will be introduced to the concept of a Visual Business Strategy (VBS) diagram, which you will use to summarize your Internet business plan.

    Create a Digital-Ready Business Brand

    Learn how to build a business brand that's ready to be launched online. First, you will discover some secrets about developing an influential and recognizable name for your business. Next, you will learn how you can quickly and easily stake a claim to that business name throughout the Internet. After that, we'll examine ways to get a logo to support your business branding. Finally, you will gain an understanding of the importance of keywords and learn how to craft an effective keyword strategy for your business.

    Build and Optimize a Product

    See how to create products and services that you can sell as part of your online business. First, we'll explore the various types of products and services and how to build them. Next, you will consider what makes a "good" product and zero in on the right product for you. Finally, we'll look at how to tackle building your product, from creating your product development plan to leveraging your past efforts to develop your product more quickly and efficiently.

    Develop and Launch an Engaging Website

    Tackle the task of creating and launching a business website. You will understand what type of website you should build and learn how to align it with your business strategy. Then you will see how to develop an outline for your website, wireframe individual pages, and create or find the content you will need to make your web pages come alive. After that, we'll explore ways to build and launch your website without having to know anything about website design or coding. Finally, you will learn what it means to "host" your website.

    Set up Your Online Selling Process

    Gain an understanding of the basics of selling products on the Internet and learn how to design and document a sales process that aligns with your business strategy. Next, you will learn how to implement your newly created sales process by selecting the right mix of third-party tools and accounts that work with your website to conduct business transactions online. Finally, we'll examine how you can monitor, track, and measure the effectiveness of your sales process and use that information to increase your sales over time.

    Install a Digital Communication Network

    Learn what a digital communication network is and why you need to develop one for your business. Next, you will gain an understanding of the different types of digital communication methods and how you can use each to engage and develop relationships with your followers. Finally, we'll examine some advanced strategies that you can use to optimize and automate your communication with your prospects and customers consistently.

    Your Email Management System

    First, learn about the importance of utilizing an email management system to communicate with your prospects and customers. Next, we'll examine how you can set up your system, write engaging content, and deliver emails in a timely and automated manner. Finally, we'll explore some advanced email marketing strategies that you can use to help grow your email list and increase engagement.

    Socialize Your Online Business

    Build a foundation for using social media to grow your business. You will understand the definition of social media and explore critical principles to make sure that you're using social media in the right way. Next, you will learn about a process you can follow to consistently and effectively engage with prospects and customers. Finally, you will learn about different ways to generate and publish content quickly and easily.

    Build Multiple Online Lead Streams

    Examine the importance of generating leads to maintain a healthy and vibrant online business. First, we'll explore the concept of a lead generation process and review the types that exist. Next, we will work together to outline a lead generation strategy that is customized for your business. Finally, we'll outline the steps necessary to implement and systematize the lead generation processes you have selected to drive targeted prospects to your website.

    Using Video to Grow Your Online Business

    Why should you consider using video as one of your main lead generation processes to grow your online business? In this lesson, you will find out why, and we'll walk through the steps you can take to create compelling videos without being a video expert. Next, we'll take a peek at basic and advanced methods to create and distribute videos to gain exposure for your online business. Finally, you will learn how to host, record, and automate the delivery of videos through webinars.

    Create an Online Partnership Program

    Gain an understanding of how you can build a partnership program to introduce more people to your online business. First, you will learn what a partner program is and how it can help grow your business. Next, you will explore the critical aspects of any partnership program and how to integrate it into your website. Finally, we'll examine some crucial strategies for introducing your partnership program to prospects as well as new and future customers to generate an ongoing stream of fresh leads.

    Implement an Online Support Center

    See how to implement an online support center for your business. First, you will learn about what types of expectations online customers have for customer service and support and examine the essential pieces of any online support center. Next, we'll explore both basic and advanced ways that you can provide customer service support over the Internet and investigate various support solutions that you can use. Finally, we'll examine some key strategies for engaging with new and legacy customers to maximize customer satisfaction and minimize refunds.


    What you will learn

    • Build a business brand that is ready to be launched online
    • Create products and services that you can sell as part of your online business
    • Create and launch a business website
    • Set up an email management system, write engaging content, and deliver emails in a timely manner
    • Generate leads to keep your business growing
    • Implement an online support center for your business

    How you will benefit

    • Discover the techniques, tools, and strategies necessary to create a successful online business
    • Create a healthy and vibrant online business by generating leads to continually grow your business
    • Be able to supply your online customers with online support to increase customer satisfaction and minimize refunds

    Brad Semp

    Brad Semp, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at a global corporation, a life-long entrepreneur, and a former professor of Bachelors and Masters of Science courses in Internet Marketing. Dr. Brad is active on social media platforms to engage with prospects and customers, expand relationships, and to grow businesses. He routinely coaches other entrepreneurs and business owners and consults with Fortune 500 organizations on how to design and implement effective social media systems, strategies, and tactics.


    Discover how to harness the power of the Internet to build and sustain a profitable business. You will also learn the step-by-step process of creating a product, building a website, engaging a customer base, and finding new leads online.
 

  • Start Your Own Online Business (Self-Guided)
  • Fee: $144.00
    Times: Self-Paced

    Discover how to harness the power of the Internet to build and sustain a profitable business. You will also learn the step-by-step process of creating a product, building a website, engaging a customer base, and finding new leads online.
 

 

 

  • Start Your Own Small Business
  • Fee: $146.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164933-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Stop dreaming and learn how to start your own successful small business.


    Learn how to take your dream of starting a business and put it into action. In this class, you will learn everything you need to know about starting a business. You will begin by discovering the tricks to picking the right opportunity for you. Next, you will learn how to develop proven marketing techniques to easily build sales. Since every business needs money, this course discusses traditional and nontraditional financing options. Finally, you will learn easy-to-implement employee-management procedures and how to write business policies that help you build your business.

    You, as a business owner, need to manage all your limited resources. One resource that often gets overlooked is your time. Throughout the course, you will learn time management techniques especially for entrepreneurs. While taking this course, you will discover the secrets that separate the successful entrepreneurs from the struggling ones.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Starting Your Dream

    If you've ever dreamed about starting a small business but didn't know where to start, then you have come to the right place. In this first lesson, you will learn why you should start a business, why now might be the perfect time to do it, and what separates successful business owners from those who remain dreamers.

    Find Your Perfect Business Opportunity

    In this lesson, you'll learn about the three different ways to start a business. You'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of buying a franchise, buying a business, and starting a business from scratch.

    Creating a Truly Unique Business

    No matter what business option you're leaning toward, you must find and exploit your unique selling proposition (USP). Your USP is the reason a customer would do business with you instead of someone else. In this lesson, you will develop your USP. Then you will discover the single most valuable asset in your business and how it can create all the wealth you will ever want.

    Developing Your Business Plan

    Alan Lakein, a leading expert on time management, says, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." In this lesson, you will learn all the advantages of having a written business plan. You will see how it helps you take advantage of more opportunities and keeps you focused on achieving your goals. If you need to find financing for your business, having a business plan becomes twice as important.

    How to Legally Set Up Your Company

    Once you have chosen the business opportunity you're going to pursue, you will need to legally set up your company. To do that, you will have to choose whether to be an S-corporation, a corporation, or a limited liability company. Each of these structures has advantages and disadvantages. In this lesson, you will find out how to decide which one would work best for you.

    Power Marketing for Business Owners

    Unless you have your own vault of money for marketing, you will need to know the best way to spend limited resources to create the most sales. As a future business owner, you need to understand the importance of direct-response marketing along with tracking and testing. You will learn about those things in this lesson as you discover how to expand marketing efforts that work and cut or improve those that are ineffective.

    Advertising and Publicity to Skyrocket Your Business

    This lesson continues the discussion on marketing and explores the pros and cons of two main forms of it: advertising and publicity. You learn about at free publicity, because it's one of the most cost-effective ways to market your business.

    The Report Card for Your Business

    No one can run a business effectively without proper accounting and financial statements. But few business owners take the time to understand the basics of bookkeeping. In this lesson, you will walk hand-in-hand with an actual business owner as she sets up her accounting records. By the end of this lesson, you will know the basics of accounting and be able to analyze and develop your own financial statements.

    Finding Money for Your Business

    Most new business owners need to find money to start their business. In this lesson, you will find out the most common, traditional ways to fund a business and a few nontraditional ways as well. Whichever method you choose, your desire to get your company going is what will make the difference. Many people give up too soon or don't use the feedback from a funding source to improve their plan. You don't have to be one of them.

    Hiring, Motivating, and Parting With Employees

    Employees can make or break a business. Just think about the businesses you wouldn't use again because of the poor service their employees provided. Bad employees can cost a company thousands of dollars, and you, as an owner, won't have the luxury of hiring and training employees on an ongoing basis. Hiring, training, motivating, and parting with employees are all complex processes. In this lesson, you will learn tips that make them easier.

    Business Policies

    Having effective business policies in place helps your business run efficiently. It also gives your employees a framework for knowing what's expected of them. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to develop your own business policies, including sexual harassment and ethics policies.

    Managing You

    To ensure success, business owners need to be able to use limited resources efficiently. In this final lesson, you will learn how best to manage your time, relationships, and personal financial position. You will leave this course knowing you have done all the preliminary groundwork to get your business off to a good start.


    What you will learn

    • Learn the best ways to choose the right business opportunity
    • Develop proven marketing techniques that will help you build sales
    • Gain an understanding of traditional and non-traditional financing options
    • Learn effective employee-management procedures
    • Discover time management techniques designed to help entrepreneurs succeed

    How you will benefit

    • Gain a complete understanding of what separates a successful business and how to avoid failure
    • Discover the single most valuable asset in your business and how it can help you create wealth
    • Develop the skills you need to effectively manage your time, relationships and personal financial position
    • Pursue your dream of owning a successful business by starting on the right track with proper structures and policies in place

    Kris Solie-Johnson

    Kris Solie-Johnson, chancellor and president of the American Institute of Small Business, best-selling author, educator, speaker, and mother of three, is an energetic and passionate entrepreneur. Her books are in public libraries, high schools, colleges, and military bases both nationally and internationally. Solie-Johnson has an MBA in Venture Management from the University of St. Thomas and over 19 years of experience helping entrepreneurs reach their goals quickly through joint venture partnerships, creative marketing programs, and innovative financial options. She's dedicated to motivating and inspiring owners to achieve beyond their dreams.


    Stop dreaming and learn how to start your own successful small business.
 

 

 

 

  • Starting a Consulting Practice
  • Fee: $144.00
    Item Number: 25FAILC164810-03
    Dates: 10/15/2025 - 12/6/2025
    Times: 7:00 AM - 7:00 AM
    Days:
    Sessions: 0
    Building:
    Room:
    Instructor:
    REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.

    Find out how you can earn income by sharing your training or knowledge with others.


    Do you have training or knowledge that could be useful to others? Have you ever considered providing consulting services based upon your background? This course is designed to help you set up a consulting practice. You will learn the complete process of starting and operating a consulting practice. The course will begin with surveys and assessments designed to help you pinpoint the best consulting services to offer.

    The course then progresses into the business start-up process, including issues such as licensing and legalities. You will then develop a complete business plan for their consulting firm that details finances, pricing policies, contracting, and marketing. The course concludes with a discussion of record-keeping and tax concerns. The course will keep you updated by citing resources such as books, periodicals, and organizations designed to help small businesses.


    Requirements:

    Hardware Requirements:

    • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

    Software Requirements:

    • PC: Windows 8 or later.
    • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
    • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

    Other:

    • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

    Instructional Material Requirements:

    The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.



    Why Start Your Own Business?

    In the first lesson, you'll learn about all of the characteristics of running your own consulting business. In the process, you'll have the opportunity to take an entrepreneurial career test that will help you determine if owning a consulting company is a good decision for you. As you study independent consulting, you'll also learn about alternatives that will allow you to offer your consulting services without the issues associated with self-employment. Finally, you'll see how to lay the foundation for success as a consultant.

    What Is a Consultant?

    In this lesson, you'll turn your attention to the profession of consulting. You'll learn to recognize the prospects of independent consulting and explore 20 of the most common consulting fields. Your goal is to identify the kind of consulting practice you may want to run. Finally, you'll meet some successful consultants in various industries so you can see how they started and grew their businesses.

    Assessing Your Skills

    In this lesson, you'll work through a series of exercises designed to help you pinpoint your area of expertise. You'll use a tool that will help you interpret your skill set and help you choose the type of consulting practice to run. After you go through the exercises, you'll read two case studies about consultants who, after thoroughly assessing their skills and backgrounds, started practices quite different from what they originally envisioned—both financially and personally.

    Setting Goals

    In this lesson, you'll begin taking steps toward actually creating your consulting firm. You'll learn how to set concrete goals, both short-term and long-term. Once you know how to set goals, you'll learn how to use them in your strategies for attracting clients to your new business. You'll apply a simple goal-based analogy of seed planting to get you well on your way to understanding what it takes to get customers.

    Business Planning: Your Firm's Concept

    In this lesson, you'll take the first steps toward opening your doors. First, you'll learn how to craft a fundamental business plan, then you'll see how to use a basic planning template to develop the business plan for your individual company. You'll begin by creating the conceptual basis and mission of your consulting practice. Then, you'll learn how to research the marketplace to both uncover your clients' needs and discern how other consulting practices operate. Finally, you'll work on establishing your pricing structure and determining what specific services you'll offer.

    Business Planning: Eight Steps to Start-Up

    You're just about ready for your grand opening! In this lesson, you'll learn about the eight physical steps you'll need to follow to start off right. Each of these steps, completed in sequence, will move you toward opening day. Among these eight steps, you'll examine issues related to licensing, legal construction, naming your business, and even choosing a business card style that will get you noticed.

    Business Planning: Financial Planning

    In this lesson, you'll explore the financial aspects of your company. You'll begin by developing a series of budgets for various stages of your company's growth. You'll create a complete start-up budget, and then forecast your ongoing expenses for one year. Next, you'll estimate your gross income and use the income and expense figures to estimate your potential profit. After developing those financial sheets, you'll learn why you'll need to use contracts and letters of agreement. Finally, you'll learn all about billing, including several options that can help your cash flow.

    Marketing: Market Analysis

    Now it's time to go after your first client! This is the first part of a two-part lesson in which you'll learn how to obtain customers. In this lesson, find out how to correctly identify the kinds of customers who want or need your services. You'll learn how to recognize them using two market analysis tools: demographics and psychographics. You'll also learn why you should target your customer base first, and then create advertisements aimed toward those customers.

    Marketing: Your Marketing Plan

    In this second marketing installment, you'll learn how to select advertising forms that will best reach your customers. You'll explore the four major categories of advertising as well as their subcategories. You'll use a marketing plan worksheet to detail which forms of advertising you'll use to reach each type of client. Then, you'll learn about the major difference in strategy between marketing to a consumer clientele and marketing to a commercial clientele. Finally, the lesson will explain the concepts of frequency and response rates and how each will increase your chances of success in securing paying clients.

    Record Keeping

    Now it's time to learn about the administration of your business, namely record keeping. In this lesson, you'll learn about the seven basic components that comprise your record keeping system. The lesson will discuss which kinds of records you should keep for management and tax purposes. After you learn which items to record and track, you'll learn about the calculations you'll need to perform and how to read the financial condition of your company. Finally, you'll practice these computations using real-world scenarios.

    Taxes

    In this lesson, you'll learn the basics of business tax deductions and how to estimate your business taxes. You'll find out how to identify tax deductions for your business, as well as how to unearth potential tax deductions from your personal affairs that could be related to the business. You'll also learn how to work with your accountant to properly plan for tax time and help minimize your tax obligations. The lesson will conclude with two case studies that will help you practice estimating taxes owed.

    Resources for Assistance

    In this final lesson, you'll learn about dozens of resources that can provide you with assistance as you build your business. You'll get information about government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as local organizations that exist to serve entrepreneurs like you.


    What you will learn

    • Learn to recognize the prospects of independent consulting by exploring 20 of the most common consulting fields
    • Learn to use a tool that will help you interpret your skill set and choose the type of practice to run
    • Learn to set concrete goals and discover strategies for attracting clients
    • Discover the physical steps you will need to start the practice
    • Establish a pricing structure and determine what services you will offer
    • Learn to craft a business plan
    • Learn to develop a budget for each stage of your company's growth
    • Explore issues related to licensing, legal construction, naming your business, choosing a business card, and more
    • Learn to identify the kinds of customers who want or need your services
    • Discover a marketing plan and learn about billing
    • Learn about record keeping for management and tax purposes
    • Discover the basics of business tax deductions
    • Learn about dozens of resources that can provide you assistance

    How you will benefit

    • Learn the characteristics of running your own consulting business
    • Determine if owing a consulting company is a good decision for you
    • Explore the different consulting fields to identify the kind of consulting practice you may want to run
    • Pinpoint your area of expertise and expand it further
    • Take steps toward actually creating your consulting firm

    William Flood

    William Flood is a small business consultant, speaker, and the owner of Horizon Business Services, a small-business training firm. He has conducted training seminars for over 15 years, reaching over 35,000 students. Mr. Flood has extensive experience working with home-based businesses in such diverse areas as mail order, consulting, import/export, e-commerce, and real estate investing. A dedicated entrepreneur, he regularly works as a volunteer counselor for the Maryland Small Business Development Center, and was nominated in 1991 for the Small Business Administration's Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mr. Flood holds a master's degree from the University of Delaware.


    Find out how you can earn income by sharing your training or knowledge with others.
 

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