Essentials of Entrepreneurship Course Syllabus Matt Kohler, MBA 1

Course Title Introduction to Entrepreneurship (Seminar) 897.109 Course Description Entrepreneurs require a foundation in several key areas in order to be successful. This seminar will focus on multiple topics including; benefits/drawbacks of entrepreneurship, concept to new venture, avoiding common mistakes, strategic management, forms of business ownership & franchising, pricing strategies, financing, location selection, and human capital management. Instructor Matt Kohler, MBA Welcome! I’m looking forward to working with you. I thought I'd share a brief biography with you so that you can better understand my background. I'm originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and moved out to Southern California over 5 years ago. Before relocating, I received a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University Wisconsin- Milwaukee. My initial plan was to go on to medical school, but by the time I graduated I knew I must follow my entrepreneurial spirit. I managed a health club during school and saw the opportunities business can bring. So, I decided to create and open a tanning salon right after school. It's an upscale tanning salon that offers several different levels of tanning as well as sunless tanning. The salon became a success and has been open for 7 years, www.baja-tan.com. I learned quite a lot pursuing this business venture without much of the education and knowledge I have now. My goal is to educate you with the crucial information you should know in starting a successful business. I've experienced the other side of business as well, a failed business in California when I first relocated out here. I opened a spa franchise out here, which had a weak business model and not an ideal location. The business was forced and ultimately failed. So, I can provide you with some real life experiences on this side of entrepreneurship as well. Immediately after the business closed, I acquired an outside medical sales position, which I've held for over 5 years now. I enjoy it because I work independently and it’s similar to having your own operation. I also continued studying business, earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from California State University- Channel Islands. My future goals involve additional small business start-ups or acquisitions. During my free time, I enjoy filmmaking and scene study! I look forward to helping you with your entrepreneurial goals. Email is the best way to contact me and I will return your email within 24 hrs.

Essentials of Entrepreneurship Course Syllabus Matt Kohler, MBA 2

Staff Information

Facilitator: Matt Kohler Email: instructorkohler@gmail.com Recommended Reading Collins, Jim (2001). Good to Great (1st edition). New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. Harrison, Thomas (2005). Instinct (1st edition). New York, NY: Warner Business Books. Kim, W. Chan, & Mauborgne, Renee (2005). Blue Ocean Strategy (1st edition). Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing. Lesonsky, Rieva (2007). Start Your Own Business (4th edition). Canada: Entrepreneur Media. Recommended Website Readings http://www.entrepreneur.com http://www.businessesforsale.com http://www.sba.gov http://www.youngentrepreneur.com http://www.entrepreneurship.org http://www.loopnet.com Prerequisite None. Anyone interested or planning on becoming an entrepreneur.

Essentials of Entrepreneurship Course Syllabus Matt Kohler, MBA 3

Expected Outcome This full day seminar is designed to train aspiring entrepreneurs in the basics of management and start-up business. It will establish a practical base for those seeking to execute business plans or act on business ideas. Learning Goals By the end of this seminar, a successful learner should be able to identify: 1. Challenges of entrepreneurship 2. Techniques for improving the creative process 3. Competitive advantage 4. Feasibility analysis 5. Forms of business ownership and franchising 6. Forms of business financing 7. Right location and layout for a small business 8. Importance of a business plan Seminar Topics Discussed Section 1: Introduction The Foundations of Entrepreneurship Benefits/Drawbacks of Entrepreneurship Behind the Boom: What’s Feeding the Entrepreneurial Fire How to Avoid the Pitfalls Inside the Entrepreneurial Mind: From Ideas to Reality Creativity- A Necessity for Survival Techniques for Improving the Creative Process Intellectual Property: Protecting Your Ideas Session 2: Designing a Competitive Business Model and Building a Solid Strategic Plan Building a Competitive Advantage The Strategic Management Process Conducting a Feasibility Analysis and Crafting a Winning Business Plan Conducing a Feasibility Analysis The Elements of a Business Plan What Lenders and Investors Look For in a Business Plan Session 3: Forms of Business Ownership Sole Proprietorship

Essentials of Entrepreneurship Course Syllabus Matt Kohler, MBA 4

Partnership Corporations Franchising and the Entrepreneur Types of Franchising Benefits/Drawbacks of Franchising Trends Shaping Franchising Session 4: Sources of Financing: Debt and Equity Planning for Capital Requirements Equity Capital vs. Debt Capital Small Business Administration (SBA) Choosing the Right Location and Layout Location: A Source of Competitive Advantage Layout and Design Considerations Layout: Maximizing Revenues, Increasing Efficiency, or Reducing Costs