Experience counts when it comes to business

This course has been created by people who have started and run  businesses for many years.

Way back in 2002, Julie Stanford had been running her design business for 15 years. Thinking that other business owners must have the same day-to-day challenges: employment, law, tax and marketing – all while still keeping on top of delivering her design services – she tried to find the perfect business book for help. The book should be packed with practical advice and support but it was nowhere to be found. So, she decided to publish the book that would have helped: The Essential Business Guide. 

As people started to use it, they got in touch to say, "Can you make a practical workbook too?" then "Can you make a course to go with it?."  So we did. 

Here's what you'll find in the course:

About this course

    1. A message from Julie Stanford

    2. About this course

    3. How the course is structured

    4. Finding your way around

    1. Getting the most out of this course

    2. About your course workbook

    1. What will this section cover?

    2. 1 What does success mean to you?

    3. 1 What does success mean to you – worksheet video

    4. 2 What do you want from your business?

    5. What do you want from your business? – Worksheet video

    6. 3 Your business and your personality

    7. Your business and your personality – Worksheet video

    8. 4 What skills do you need in business?

    9. You and your business skills – Worksheet video

    10. 5 How will you know how you're doing?

    11. Reviewing your skills – Worksheet video

    12. YOU – refreshing your learning

    13. Listen to Julie and her Essential Business Radio guests discuss 'Striking the balance between business and personal'

    1. What will this section cover?

    2. 1 What will your business values be?

    3. Your business values – Worksheet video

    4. 2 What is your vision for your business?

    5. Your vision for your business – Worksheet video

    6. 3 How will you communicate your vision?

    7. How will you communicate your vision – Worksheet video

    8. 4 What are you going to do?

    9. 5 Your initial business idea

    10. Your initial business idea – Worksheet video

    11. 6 How will you set up your business?

    12. What form of business? – Worksheet video

    13. YOUR BUSINESS – refreshing your learning

    14. Listen to Julie and her Essential Business Radio guests discuss 'Thinking strategically'

    1. What will this section cover?

    2. 1 What are you going to sell?

    3. My Personal Strengths – Worksheet video

    4. 2 Who are all the people you might sell to?

    5. Total and target customer groups – Worksheet video

    6. 3 Who are you really going to sell to?

    7. 4 What price should you charge?

    8. Essential Business Radio: Marketing Masterclass – Finding your target market

    9. The edge and its value – Worksheet video

    10. 5 Know your competition

    11. Competitor information – Worksheet video

    12. 6 Plan your marketing activities

    13. Marketing methods – at a glance

    14. Essential Business Radio: Thinking about your website

    15. Listen to Julie and her Essential Business Radio guests discuss 'Thinking about your website'

    16. 7 Making the deal

    17. Making the deal – Worksheet video

    18. 8 Keep your customers happy

    19. Finding and keeping customers – Worksheet video

    20. Listen to Julie and her Essential Business Radio guests discuss 'Striking the balance between business and personal'

    21. YOUR MARKET – refreshing your learning

    1. What will this section cover?

    2. 1 Work out your personal survival budget

    3. Personal survival budget – Worksheet video

    4. 2 Work out what you want to earn

    5. My target income – Worksheet video

    6. 3 Decide how to fund your business

    7. 4 Work out how not to run out of money

    8. Cashflow forecast – Worksheet video

    9. Essential Business Radio: Quick Tip – The value of financial forecasting NEW

    10. YOUR MONEY – refreshing your learning

About this course

  • £57.95
  • 75 lessons
  • Workbook and worksheets
  • Video guidance
  • Audio narration

More about the workbook

Used by thousands of UK business owners over the past 20 years, this best-selling  workbook guides you through the often overwhelming process of starting your own business. 

Planning and Starting Your Business workbook cover imageThe straightforward text and integrated worksheets will help you understand how market research and marketing activity, sales forecasting and financial planning all fit together to create your own business plan.

Planning and Starting Your Business is designed to guide you, step by step, through the sometimes overwhelming process of starting a business. The clearly-written text and integrated worksheets help you understand how market research and marketing activity, sales forecasting and financial planning all fit together to create a business plan you can understand and feel confident about putting into practice. 

The printed workbook normally retails at £32.95 and is included with your course at no extra cost, including free delivery. 

Topics covered in the workbook include:

  • business idea 
  • product idea 
  • market research 
  • marketing activity 
  • sales forecasting financial planning. 

Features: 

  • Plain English caters for all learner levels
  • The 34 worksheets build towards a business plan
  • Numbered steps make sections easy to follow
  • Boxouts contain tips and useful resources. 


Format: 156-page, full-colour wirobound workbook with 34 worksheets