ONLINE STUDY or DISTANCE EDUCATION -ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSE
Entrepreneurs from all around the world are continually starting up new businesses. Some succeed, others fail.
- Learn to initiate, manage and succeed with business initiatives
- Discover how to be more innovative in business.
- Learn how to find opportunities and develop them!
How do they decide what business to operate? How can you learn about the business opportunities available to you? What kind of goals should be set for a new business?

When considering becoming an entrepreneur, it is important to distinguish between an idea and an opportunity. A colleague once said “an opportunity is something you can do that someone else is prepared to pay for’.
When you take the plunge into entrepreneurship, you may be putting all of your worth at risk. Your life may become unbalanced, with increased working hours which take away time spent with your family and leisure time. The stress levels you may find yourself under may be much higher than when you were an employee.
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Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
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Scope & Nature of Entrepreneurship
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What is a Entrepreneur
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Types of Entrepreneurs
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Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Success
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Sources for Business Ideas
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Intrepreneurs
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Ethics
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Entrepreneurial Process
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Is Entrepreneurship Right for You
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Reasons for Becoming an Entrepreneur
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Skills Needed by Entrepreneurs
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Determining How Suited You are to Being an Entrepreneur
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Assessing opportunities
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Questions To Consider
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Assessing Opportunities
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Entrepreneurial Lifecycles (Opportunity Recognition, Opportunity Focussing, Resource Commitment, Market Entry, Full Launch and Growth, Maturity and Expansion, Liquidity Event)
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The Role of Market Research
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Obtain, Analyse, and Interpret the information necessary
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Who Will Buy Your Products and/or Services
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What Do They Want
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Market Research Steps
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Types of Market Research (Market Research, Product Research, Promotions Research, Sales Research, Company Research)
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Gathering Data (Primary Data, Secondary Data)
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What Needs Research (Physical Attributes, Behavioural Characteristics of Customers, Identifying Best Prospects)
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The Research Process
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Statistics
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Researching Competitors
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Tracking Trends
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Staying Ahead of Trends
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Questionnaires
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Intellectual Property
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Copyright
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Contract Law
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Public Domain
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Right to Privacy
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Law & the Internet
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Electronic Publishing
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Patents
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Designs
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Trademarks
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Legal & Ethical Concerns
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Types of Business (Sole Trader, Partnership, Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies)
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Terminology
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Legal Obligations
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Operating a Business
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Goals and Objectives
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Resources -Premises, Equipment, etc
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Stock & Suppliers
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Identifying Business Functions
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Thinking About Expenses & Costs
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Dealing with Fluctuations in Demand
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The Business and Financial Plan
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What is a Business Plan
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Venture Capital
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Forecasting
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Setting Goals
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Policies
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Scheduling
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Budgeting
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Developing Procedures
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What to include in a Business Plan
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Marketing
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Gathering Information
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Identifying Key Issues
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Developing Strategies and Actions
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Market Opportunity Analysis
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Determine a Target Market
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Engineer a Target Market
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Market Objectives
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Launching a Venture
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Launching
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Start Up Assistance
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Being Prepared for Change
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Prepare Contingency Plans in Advance
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Using Assets Well
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Think Laterally
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Core Business Focus
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Taking Calculated Risks
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Discuss the concept of entrepreneurship and identify the effect entrepreneurs can have on the economy.
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Identify requirements to become a successful entrepreneur.
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Clarify personal expectations, values, skills and experience.
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Identify methods of investigating business opportunities that are in line with personal and business interests and values.
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Discuss the importance of market research in order to understand potential customer requirements and market needs for a product and/or service.
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Explain the legal and ethical aspects of ownership of ideas, designs, etc.
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Explain and have the knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations affecting entrepreneurs.
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Identify and explain all factors and costs that need to be considered in starting up and managing a venture.
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Explain the essential elements of a business plan and the importance of financial planning.
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Explain the key concepts of marketing to enable the student to develop and plan marketing strategies relevant to his or her entrepreneurial venture.
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Describe various means available that can be used to launch and publicise a new venture.
QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE THINKING ABOUT BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR
Before you even start looking for business opportunities, as yourself the following questions. Use a checklist.
1. Why do you want your own business?
'Because I hate my current boss' isn't enough to become an entrepreneur. Is it because you prefer to be your own boss, because you think you can make more money working for yourself, because you want more flexibility in your working hours, because you have a great idea for a service or particular goods? You need to be really clear on your motivations for running your own business.
2. Are you prepared for the demands of owning a business?
Can you handle pressure, people, hard work, etc? Could you cope with the needs of an expanding business?
3. Do you understand the nature of business?
Don't go into business because you think it’s easy. If you think “I could do much better than that business owner”, be careful. Chances are that you might not understand what is involved, or the difficulties and demands of being an entrepreneur.
4. What are your chances for success?
Do you have relevant skills and/or knowledge, or can you easily get them? How much are you willing to learn and change? What characteristics and habits do you have that might hinder or help you as a business person? What can you offer that will improve your chances of success?
5. Can you afford to start?
Have you the capital, the proposed income, etc? Do you have a fall back option if the business does not prosper (e.g. your partner or spouse has an income)? Can you cope with short term financial losses and hold out until the situation improves?

Want to become an entrepreneur and maximise your chances of business success?
This course shows you how.
Recommended Books: check our online bookshop for relevant titles that may assist you:
http://www.acsbookshop.com/Books_ProductCategory.aspx?ID=6&SubCatID=40
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