Business You! Learn How to Start Your Own Business.

Course Objectives: 
1.	Basics of Business – Producers, Consumers, and Profits
2.	Introduction to Product Development
3.	Understanding Business Marketing – Branding and Marketing Techniques (Online and Offline)
4.	Making a Business Plan and Marketing Strategy

Week 1: Basics of Business – Producers, Consumers, and Profits

This week, students will learn the basics of business and entrepreneurship. To understand the business, they should understand business concepts and terminology applicable to all types of businesses. In this introductory class, students learn about the different participants in the marketing system, such as producers, consumers, entrepreneurs, etc. and basic business terminology such as product, service, marketing plan, revenue, expenses, profit, loss, pricing, cost, and selling price, discount, etc. This class also introduces the basic principles of business marketing, practices, and application of these practices. 
The students move on to learning activities.

Discussion Activity – Students discuss basic terms related to business and marketing and their relationship to real-life scenarios, for instance, a pizza restaurant. Students analyze and identify participants and concepts using an example.

Week 2: Introduction to Product Development

This week, students will learn about Product Development.  Students understand how every business begins with an idea through several examples. Students learn the difference between offering a product and a service.  Students will learn how about different business ideas. 
Using the pro/con strategy the students must finalize their business idea.  Students also learn about business finances and concepts such as business funding, startup costs, cost per unit, pricing profit, and loss. Students also learn about financial goals.
The students move on to learning activities.
Discussion Activity – Students discuss a business idea they have with the following details: 
1)	My Business Idea
2)	Is it a product or a service
3)	Why is this idea unique, and why people will buy this product or service?
4)	How much will it cost to start the business (Startup Cost)? 
5)	How will the startup costs be arranged?
6)	What is the cost of making the product or running the service? What will be the per-unit cost?
7)	What will the product/service pricing be? What will the profit be?
8)	How will you handle losses?
9)	What are your financial goals?


Week 3: Understanding Business Marketing – Branding and Marketing Techniques (Online and Offline)

This week, students will learn about business marketing and branding. Students will understand why marketing is important for any business. Students will learn the 5 P’s of marketing – People, Product, Price, Promotion, and Place. Further, students learn to easily develop their product/service brand identity and its necessary components to identify the product in the market easily. Students learn about marketing techniques – online or offline, that will best promote their brand.
The students move on to learning activities.
Brand Identity Activity – Students create a brand identity for their product or service
1)	What is the Name of the product/service?
2)	Design a Logo for your product/service.
3)	What are the Colors that you will choose that best identify your product/service? Why have you chosen these? 
4)	Think of a Tagline that tells people about your product.

Marketing Strategy Activity – Students describe a marketing strategy they will use to market their product/service.

Week 4: Making a Business Plan and Marketing Strategy

This week, students will learn to create a business plan and marketing strategy. They will learn why it is important to have a detailed business plan covering all aspects of business and marketing activities and how it will help in the smooth running of the business. Students also learn, in brief, the tools and techniques to make and present business plans confidently. This will help them boost their communication and presentation skills, which are very important for the future. The business plan will include all concepts and components learned in the previous sections. Students will present their Project Report at the end of the course. 
Business Plan Project Presentation – Students develop and present a detailed business plan and marketing strategy that includes Business Name, Idea, Finances in terms of start-up cost, per unit expenses and per-unit price, profit per unit owner/team contact details. The project will include details about Target Customers. Students will create branding with a logo, tagline, and brand colors. Students will also include a Marketing Plan for offline as well as online promotion. This detailed Business Plan should be in the form of a report document and include a PowerPoint presentation.