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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/1/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
September 28, 2003 Course helps entrepreneurs make decisions By Charlie Mathews "Depending on the sector as many as four out of five new businesses
go belly-up. Our desire is to grow our own businesses with the community
and give people the best possible chance at succeeding," said Mike Zimmer.
He will be the instructor for a 10-week, 30-hour comprehensive business
course, "NxLevel for Business Start-Ups."
A free informational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lester
Public Library to present an overview.
The class is offered with the cooperation and assistance of the Green
Bay Small Business Development Center, part of UW-Green Bay.
The course normally costs students $1,000 but a Department of Commerce
grant has reduced the fee to $250 providing students submit a business
plan within three months of completing the class.
Participants don't have to actually start the business but must finish
the plan. For more information call (920) 794-1482.
"Most people thinking of starting a business have a passion for it but
do they the tools for all the ins and outs," Zimmer said, "including inventory
control, financing, budgets, cash flow, marketing and many other factors."
"This course divvies up everything you need to know into 10 easy chunks
to digest," he said.
Among the topics covered:
• Are you entrepreneurial material?
• Developing your business concept
• Market research
• Business start-up options
• Business fundamentals
• Testing the idea: market research and analysis
• Understanding budgets and financials
• Raising the money
• Getting started and managing the future
The course can be valuable for those already in business, not just those
considering beginning a venture.
"Taking the course is a good way to check if their plan makes sense,"
said Jason Krings, vice president of manufacturing for Architectural Forest
Products in Two Rivers, who took the class in 2002.
Krings is associated with a company that began nearly 20 years ago but
still found the course valuable. "For businesses that have been around
awhile they sometimes think developing a business plan is a monumental
task.
"This course presents a doable, structured approach, taking one major
element at a time," Krings said. "For us it has had an impact on our capital
purchases as well as short and long-term goal setting."
Brandon Gauthier took the course at UW-Green Bay. He had already started
his Gauthier Custom Furniture in Two Rivers. "I found it was very valuable
to develop a business plan. It helped in getting financing for some of
our larger machines," he said.
This is the second year as instructor for Zimmer, the Executive Director
of Two Rivers Main Street Program. He may offer both a daytime and evening
series, depending on interest.
For detailed business counseling Zimmer refers students to Doug Gjerde,
Small Business Specialist at the UWGB-based Small Business Development
Center.
Zimmer's instructor's three-ring binder is four inches thick with the
student's not much thinner. "Besides the three hours each session, students
should expect to put in six to nine hours of homework each week. But there
is on grading of the work," he said.
Guest speakers will include several professionals specifically addressing
challenges faced by business entrepreneurs and will include an attorney,
accountant, marketing expert, and representative of the Small Business
Administration.
"We're having trouble in Two Rivers rounding up new businesses to move
(from out of the area) into downtown. Maybe the best thing is to help
those already committed to the Lakeshore area who want to grow their business
here," Zimmer said.
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