Workshop: Making a Business Plan

Are you thinking of starting your own business??
There are two crucial steps to take when thinking about starting your own business.  The first focuses on helping you determine whether you have a viable idea, the tools and resources to get started, and an understanding of your personal measures for success.  The second step takes you through the detailed preparation of the plan that you will develop and execute that gets your business off on the right foot.
This workshop will lead you through the key elements of both steps:

• You will understand the five questions that prospective entrepreneurs need to answer before they decide to start a business.
• You will learn about the key elements of a business plan
  • Your products, services and target market
  • Your value proposition – what will make you win?
  • Who are your competitors?
  • Your Marketing Plan - how will you find and communicate with your customers?
  • Legal structures for your business
• You will get a brief exposure to operations and financial planning

Presenters Biography: 
The presenter is Tom Drouin.  Tom is a Certified Business Mentor with SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) and former senior executive in the paper industry with a career built on  product and market innovation, business leadership, and excellence in human development. He retired in 2010. His last twelve years were as Director of New Business Development at Boise Cascade, where he identified, evaluated and launched new businesses in new or adjacent markets within the paper industry. He has extensive experience in business leadership, business development, product and marketing management, sales and sales management, and manufacturing. He currently operates a small consulting business and works as a volunteer with small and mid-sized organizations in the development and execution of their business plan as a coach, mentor and workshop presenter.