Is business ownership for you?
This will be our final offering for this course to the public. Read more here.
Business Foundations 1 takes you on the small business journey from idea to ownership. You will discover what it takes to fully explore the potential of your idea and launch your enterprise.
Starting a business can be a great way to bring in extra cash or to make a living doing something you enjoy. Mercy Corps Northwest makes it easier to learn the basics of starting and operating a small business through our Business Foundations 1 class.
The six-session series provides discussion, tools, and guidance on the following topics:
- Week 1 – Introduction to Business: Learn about the different business structures, how to register your business, how to create an elevator speech for your business, and how to track your spending.
- Week 2 – Start – Up Cost and Credit: Develop your Unique Value Proposition, determine the start up cost for your business, and learn about credit.
- Week 3 – Overhead Cost and Focus Groups: Define what a focus group is, complete an overhead cost sheet for your business, and conduct an analysis of your competition.
- Week 4 – Market Analysis: Deepen your understanding of market research, your target market and competition, pricing strategy, and how to best leverage some free market research tools.
- Week 5 – Marketing and Product Pricing: Continue to understand the value of market research, your target market and competition, and pricing strategy. In this session you will begin incorporating aspects of the business plan to put into practice.
- Week 6 – Profit & Loss and Developing a Business Plan: Discuss the importance of the Profit & Loss Statement and learn how a complete business plan is developed.
By the end of week 6 students should have a better understanding of:
- How to decide if a business idea will work
- How to get the word out and attract customers
- Figuring out how much money you’ll need to start it, and to keep it going from one month to the next
- The steps for registering your business with the state
- Learning how you can best use your valuable time and resources
- Tell a clear and compelling story when people ask, “What do you do?”
Who is this for?
Business Foundations 1 is for people with limited time and money, and great ideas. No prior business experience or education is necessary, and the class is designed to help you determine if you’re ready to start a business.
Details
This course consists of six three-hour sessions. Class is held in an online classroom every Saturdays 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the following dates:
- May 6
- May 13
- May 20
- May 27
- June 3
- June 10
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact training.mcnw@mercycorps.org.
Small Business Loan program
Good news! Completion of this course qualifies you for an expedited application process for a $1,000 loan. If completed in combination with our Business Plan Workshop the amount may increase to $2,500.
Please note: This class may qualify you for the IDA grant program outside of Mercy Corps Northwest, however our organization is not enrolling new IDA members. To find an IDA provider, visit https://oregonidainitiative.org/
Registration policy
- Registration closes three (3) business days before each course begins. Once the course registration is closed, you will need to wait for the next offering in order to register. We cannot accommodate late registrations.
- Clients must complete all sections of the prompted questionnaire to successfully register for each course. If you do not complete the entire questionnaire, your spot will not be reserved. If you need assistance registering, please contact Training.
- Our classes and events are in high demand. If, after registering, you are no longer interested or able to attend, please notify us as soon as possible at Training.
For Refunds and Frequently Asked Questions, please visit Oregon Women’s Business Center Classes & Events Frequently Asked Questions
What can you expect?
People who have taken Business Foundations discover that it’s a fun, easy way to learn about business ownership and a great way to find support right here in our entrepreneurial community. Here’s what other aspiring entrepreneurs had to say after completing the class:
“Hearing others and sharing helped give me the confidence I needed to move forward.”
“I really liked having a plan–having the combination of the course book, homework, and class was perfect–it made an overwhelming prospect much more manageable. I was able to mull things over and be prepared for class—which always addressed questions that came up for me–even if I wasn’t the one asking. The whole format and instruction was incredibly valuable.”
“This class was so supportive and empowering!”
This event is proudly hosted by Oregon Women’s Business Center at Mercy Corps Northwest, funded in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Kari Morrison
She/Her/Hers
Kari Morrison has one basic philosophy to life and business is the golden rule of “treat people in the way you would want to be treated.” She is currently a consultant for Mercy Corps Northwest’s L.I.F.E. program and teaches courses as part of the Oregon Women’s Business Center.
