FREE INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS

Find out what you will learn in our LEADING EDGE program! Whether you’ve already started your business, or are in the planning stage, this 1.5 hour informational session is FREE, and allows you to ask questions of the instructor.

REGISTER FOR FREE INFORMATIONAL SESSION:

LEADING EDGE™ For Entrepreneurs

START DATE

February 28 2023

WHEN

Tuesdays, 5-8 pm

LOCATION

Virtual (Online)

LENGTH

9 Weeks

COST

$399

The free info session will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, February 14th from 12:00 – 12:30. A recorded option will be available.

LOCAL PARTNER SCHOLARSHIPS

Your county or city may be offering partial or full scholarships for this course. We are proud to work with our partners to offer this course at a substantial discount (50% off!) for a total of only $199 tuition. This is an incredible benefit, and we are grateful for the sponsorships listed below:

Who Is It For?

LEADING EDGE is for business owners and future business owners who desire focused education, accountability, networking, and the tools to build a strategic business plan.

What To Expect:

Nine 3-hour class sessions, including interactive group work, guest speakers, and discussions with subject matter experts
Confidential one-on-one consulting with certified SBDC consultants
Direct connections with local and statewide lenders, key business leaders, and industry experts
Continuous feedback on your business plan and strategy during the course, including a personalized review at the course conclusion
Graduate with a completed business plan, multiple mentors, and a key network of resources, champions, and friends!

Course Outline:

Session 1

Introductions
Purpose
What is a Business Plan?
Telling Your Story

Session 2

Determining the Need
SWOT Analysis
Company Description
Mission Statement

Session 3

Competition
Customer Acquisition
Market Research & Planning

Session 4

Operations
Intro to Financial Fundamentals

Session 5

Financial Planning
ProfitCents Projections

Session 6

Working Session
Financial Planning
SMART Goals

Session 7

Lending/Funding Options Panel
Business Plan Compilation & Review

Session 8

Local Partner Session

Session 9

Pitch Night
Graduation

We find the best results when our participants commit to attending all nine sessions
Extra reading and homework assignments will be provided each week
We strongly encourage participants to use our free, confidential, one-on-one consulting throughout the course

Cost:

Tuition for this program is $399.

Subsidized tuition offered by our partners is $199 (50% discount!)

(Please see the Local Scholarship Programs links above to find out if your city/zip qualifies. Address verification and local business license requirements may apply. Payment is required upon registration.)

Email us a question about LEADING EDGE For Entrepreneurs

The free info session will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, February 14th from 12:00 – 12:30. A recorded option will be available.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Meet Your Instructor:

Nancy Barnett

Nancy has 25 years of experience in corporate training, human resources, and vocational business training. Nancy’s passion is helping business owners start or improve their businesses by understanding all the components to build a strong business foundation. She takes great pleasure in helping owners with strategic planning and business plan development. She spent ten years at national Education College in California, as a teacher, Business Department Chairperson and Director of Education, as well as 14 years with AAA Colorado as Director of Corporate Training before joining Suzy to create Apis Business Solutions.

Besides working side-by-side with Suzy to build Apis Business Solutions, she is a trainer and consultant at the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Metro Denver focusing on small business development as start-ups. She also designs and manages business training delivered through Apis. She and her husband, David have four grown children and eight grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys genealogy, bead embroidery and collecting antiques.

Nancy’s areas of expertise are:

Business Plans
Start-up questions-how to file documents to get your business up and running
Defining Overall Marketing Strategy
Using Quick Books data in your business

Leading Edge is a comprehensive business program designed to give you the training and resources you need to Start & Grow your business. Leading Edge is a blend of learning and building, using a three tiered approach; one-on-one consulting, the EL3 learning platform and our Leading Edge business workshop & other workshops. Our goal is to get you to your grand opening and grow your business.

LEADING EDGE START-UP PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Leading Edge Business Workshop
Ten-week workshop designed to teach you how to own and operate a business. You will participate in an interactive environment working with your business model, hearing from experts on how to market and operate your business.

Workshops
All North Metro Denver SBDC workshops free for one year.

The EL3 Learning Platform
The foundation to a successful business starts with the owner. The EL3 Learning Platform is your educational resource. A virtual classroom built on the Schoology platform, packed with the resources you will need to start your business. EL3 is a 10 unit online training covering marketing, operations and finance, the three pillars your business will be built on.

One-on-One Consulting
This is where we meet your needs on an individual basis. Our consultants will help you build your business plan, understand your business model and get you to your grand opening.

Week 10 Leading Edge Live!

Date: Tuesday, April 14th 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Each Leading Edge Business Workshop participant will be given time to “pitch” their business to a panel of judges. Leading Edge Live is a fun and interactive night to practice your business idea.