This Brian Dolan delivered Start Your Own Business Course is delivered in a collaborative style, actively encouraging interaction, discussion and opinion throughout.

Date & Time:

• Tuesday 14th Feb | 6:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. 
• Thursday 16th Feb | 6:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. 
• Tuesday 21st Feb | 6:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. 
• Thursday 23rd Feb | 6:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. 
• Tuesday 28th Feb | 6:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. 
• Thursday 2nd March | 6:30p.m.- 9:30p.m. 
• Participants can choose to attend this hybrid course either online or in person in The Hive Enterprise Centre, Carrick On Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 FD83. Note if you wish to attend in person please e-mail sheena.cannon@leitrimcoco.ie so we can make sure we have enough space for everyone.

Course Overview

• Self-Assessment; Introducing participants to Entrepreneurship and self- employment. Examine motives and benefits to move into self-employment, identifying steps towards starting a business. Budgeting & Financial Goal Setting Y1 - Y2 - Y3. Getting started on your Business Plan.
• Legal issues for start-ups; How to set up. Awareness of the relevant legal and tax implications of owning and operating your own business. Insurance- Licenses- Planning- Identify suitable Business Structure for your start up. Where to find useful information.
• Preparing a business Plan; Devise and develop a sound business plan for your start-up company. Including your realistic and relevant personal and business goals. How to complete To Funding Application standard or as required. Business Writing- Tips and Tricks to get your point across.
• Thinking Clearly- Exercises : Developing your business mindset through some simple practical exercises. Video Examples. The Numbers Game.
• Bord Bia Business Case Study: Review & discussion. How to analyse business information effectively. Learn the essential questions to ask to evaluate any business- including your own.
• Personality Types: Identify different personality types in business- Strategies to do business effectively with each type- Helps in employee selection too – Self awareness.
• Tax & Keeping Records: How to diagram your business cashflow- How to handle incoming paperwork – Where and how to keep records quickly and easily. Why this is important for you. How to stay out of trouble with Revenue. Learn how to avoid the tax traps that hurt your business.
• Business Owner Versus Self Employment: A Business Case Study on two Plumbers- Use this study through Q&A and discussion to uncover the purpose and long term potential of your own new business.
• Value Proposition Canvas: Tools to build your business identity- resources- Identifying your Unique Selling Point- Understand your business proposition and operations more clearly.
• Elevator Pitch: Tell your memorable business story quickly and easily- in seconds- integrate your Value Proposition- Get attention- Keep attention.
• Business Model Canvas: Build on your Value Proposition Canvas to develop and sketch out your Business Model using proven tools to get this important job done.
• The Voice of The Customer: How to listen to the voice of your customer to your benefit. Quality- Price – Service – The three vital components of your relationship with your customer-
• Sales & Prospecting: How to sell honestly and authentically to your customer – Closing Strategies – Where to find useful sales information – Discover the sales style that works for you.
• Organisation & Time Management: Getting Things Done- Use proven principles to get the right thing done, at the right time- De-clutter your mind and workspace together- Simple effective tools for organisation.
• Finance: Basic financial management for the small business. Determine current personal & Business financial commitments and needs. Evaluate your business idea, taking account of its inherent profitability & breakeven point. Funding supports and criteria for new businesses.
• Characteristics of successful Entrepreneurs: Discover what makes the business owner tick – What one can do another can do- How to ask for business advice (And know when it is truthful and accurate)
• Live Cashflow Projections: Tutor creates Cashflow Projections live on the big screen- You see exactly how to start- Common problems – Use your projections to figure out extra things you might have missed- Plan your income- Measure profitability- Pricing & Costing- Units required for breakeven and more.
• Researching the market; Research Target Market establishing viability of the business. Primary and secondary research. Where to find useful information- How to apply it to your own situation.
• Marketing for the small business; Evaluate market size and potential, developing a specific practical marketing plan and strategy for start-up.
• Market Strategy for your business: This is a practical to-do list for you to carry out clearly identified tasks to bring money into your business. Working through this process with each participant as required. This the rubber-meets-the-road proven tool that will open up your business possibilities and make you more money straight away.
• Recap & Review: Bringing back to your attention the important points covered in the workshop- Purpose of your business - Remembering the simple numbers in your business- Breakeven- Yearly financial targets imprinted on your brain- Number of customers you need- Your first tasks- And perhaps most importantly: When and how to ask for help.

Brian Dolan’s Profile

• Brian Dolan's Military and Technical training with the Irish Defence forces allowed him to experience first-hand the discipline and attitudes that make the difference between average and excellent. On overseas duty with the United Nations, Brian discovered that excellence at what you do may not be enough to keep you alive; you also need to be excellent at observing and understanding other people, as their attitudes and response to threat can adversely impact your life experience.
• Brian moved rapidly to a management position with the largest engine replacement centre in Europe by age 22
• He started his own businesses in UK, Canada, & Ireland
• He has experience in fleet management and maintenance in Canada translated into staff training and fleet management consulting in Ireland.

This training is open to everyone but if over-subscribed priority will be given to Leitrim based companies.