Learn Practical Skills at Home
Your comprehensive lessons are clear and well-organized; easy to follow, yet challenging and engaging at the same time. Each lesson begins with an introductory note from your instructor, plus a preview outlining the subject matter and study objectives.
Next comes the reading assignment from your textbook, lesson book or supplemental references. Practice exercises help you check and review the key concepts you've learned. Then, turn in your open-book exam (available online) for the lesson, whenever YOU are ready.
Enroll online or call 1-800-535-1613 to speak with an Admission Advisor!
 Meet Your Instructor
John Graves, a CPA with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, is chief instructor of The Professional Small Business Management Program. He will make sure you progress smoothly through your studies. If you need help or have questions along the way, just write, call, fax or e-mail us 24 hours a day. Our staff of ourteous, knowledgeable career tutors will give you prompt, personal guidance.
What You’ll Learn Lesson By Lesson in this Course
- Lesson 1, Introduction
- Small businesses in today’s economy; strengths and weaknesses of small businesses; what the future holds for small businesses.
- Lesson 2, What Makes An Entrepreneur
- Defining entrepreneurship; the rewards and drawbacks; traits of successful entrepreneurs; women and minorities as entrepreneurs.
- Lesson 3, Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
- Developing a business code of ethics; living up to social responsibilities; abiding by equal opportunity laws; the impact of federal legislation on small businesses; Federal Trade commission regulations and consumerism.
Supplement: Time Management Guide
Working at top efficiency—as a student and later on.
- Lesson 4, New Ventures & The Business Plan
- The planning process; our 16-step formula for preparing a business plan; the secrets of market research: a vital first step; operating plans; financial plans; the vitality of home-based businesses.
- Lesson 5, Buying An Existing Business
- Choosing a product or service; how to evaluate an existing business; new ventures versus buyouts; intellectual property; patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
- Lesson 6, Franchises
- The evolution of franchising; advantages and disadvantages of franchising; franchising arrangements; finding the right franchise for you; franchise contracts.
- Lesson 7, Legal Aspects of a Business
- The need for legal advice; finding a lawyer; legal forms of organization; government regulations; political issues in small business; understanding contract and tort law.
- Lesson 8, Locating a Business
- Market research in site selection; ideal sites for retail, service, and manufacturing companies; best cities for a small business.
- Lesson 9, Financing Your Business
- Estimating your money needs; strategies for preparing a workable budget; sources of money: equity capital and debt capital, short-term and long-term government loans.
Supplement: Today’s Hottest Small Business Opportunities
Find out which small businesses offer the highest potential for success now.
- Lesson 10, Organizational Planning & Total Quality Management
- Finding the right accountant, lawyer, banker, insurance agent, and computer consultant; building a staff; the organization chart; the essence of TQM; sources of outside help.
- Lesson 11, Business Accounting
- Five keys to a good accounting system; limitations of accounting; income statements; balance sheets; cash budgets and cash flow.
- Lesson 12, Planning & Control
- The four stages of growth; setting goals; action plans; management by objectives; control and budgeting; the
profitgraph ; reporting your performance.
- Lesson 13, Analyzing Financial Statements
- How financial analysis fits into planning and control; tests of profitability and financial health; earning a satisfactory return; evaluating investment opportunities; deciding when to extend credit; setting credit and collection policies.
- Lesson 14, Marketing Products & Services
- The basic steps of marketing research; key marketing channels for products and services; segmenting your market; using intuition to solve marketing problems.
- Lesson 15, How To Get & Keep Customers
- Methods of setting prices; using advertising, publicity, personal selling, and sales promotion to build your business; the marketing mix; entering the global marketplace.
- Lesson 16, Using Information Technology
- How to select the right computer hardware for your business; useful software programs and their applications; installing a computer system; using the Internet.
Supplement: How To Buy a PC
The what, how, and where of buying the right computer for your business.
- Lesson 17, Human Relations
- Putting employees first; motivating employees;
musts for managers; setting wage, salary, and benefits policies.
- Lesson 18, Purchasing/Inventory Control
- Purchasing and inventory management; the purchasing cycle; measuring inventory-control performance.
- Lesson 19, Business Taxes
- Tax avoidance versus tax evasion; how to postpone or reduce tax liability; keeping tax records; filing returns.
- Lesson 20, Risk Management & Insurance
- Developing a risk management program; risk transfer; kinds of insurance coverage; selecting an insurance agent.
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