Managing Your Own Business

Your at-home learning program includes six Instruction Sets designed to take you step- by-step through the techniques and skills you’ll employ as you manage your own business. Your first Instruction Set will be sent to you as soon as your enrolment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

In order to complete this program, you'll need to have access to an IBM®-compatible PC with the following minimum system requirements: Pentium 233 MHz, or faster (Pentium® III, or better, recommended); Windows® XP operating system, or Windows® 2000 with SP3; 128MB RAM; 260MB available hard disk space; CD-ROM or DVD drive; Super VGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor; mouse or compatible pointing device.

Here is an overview of what you’ll learn and the order in which you’ll receive your learning materials:

Instruction Set 1

• Government Requirements for Launching and Operating a SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) Enterprise
  • Registration and incorporation of the business; tax collection; payroll remittances; tax payments; local or special permits.
• Assessing Home Business Ideas: Preparing for Success
  • How to be your own boss; checklist for self-evaluation of entrepreneurial qualities; how to organize yourself, your work space, and your time; your business idea; additional possibilities.
• Supplements:
  • Legal Issues
  • SOHO Poster

Instruction Set 2

• Studying the Market and Positioning Your Enterprise
  • Your market analysis; the information you need; primary and secondary data; your product/service; your competition; a competitive edge; potential customers; ways to test the waters.
• The Business Plan
  • Purpose and use of the business plan; the business plan as a management tool; data needed to manage the business effectively; how to write a business plan; components of the business plan; how to present the business plan to a banker or investor.

Instruction Set 3

• Marketing and Promotion: Getting the Word out
  • The public relations plan; the promotional mix; brochures; advertising; references and word-of-mouth; newsletters and press releases; magazine and newspaper articles; media exposure.
• Setting Prices/Fees and Negotiating Contracts
  • How much to charge for your work; how much your work actually costs; hourly and daily rates; the profit margin and the safety margin; how to negotiate fees and prices with clients; how to negotiate deposits and payments; bill collection.

Instruction Set 4

• Making the Sale
  • Sales letters; cold calls; telemarketing; how to follow up on prospects; meeting the prospective client; making presentations; customer service and follow-up.
• Managing Financial Activities
  • Basic bookkeeping and accounting; financial statements; budgets and forecasts; the role of your accountant.

Instruction Set 5

• Self-Management
  • Setting clear and specific goals; establishing and managing priorities; keeping a balance with your personal life; time management; dealing with interruptions; dealing with procrastination; finding inspiration.
• Written Communication, Part 1
  • Parts of speech; common grammatical errors; punctuation; capitalization.
• Written Communication, Part 2
  • Qualities of effective correspondence; types of business correspondence; letter styles; common business letters; editing and proofing.
• Written Communication, Part 3
  • Writing and speaking vocabularies; common spelling errors; using a thesaurus; plural and possessive nouns; electronic spell checkers.

Instruction Set 6

• Introduction to Windows®
  • Hardware and software basics; your Windows® accessories and tools; customizing your computer with the control panel.
• Using Windows®
  • Starting Windows®; working with Windows®; window size; Windows® accessories; desktop commands; the Windows® Explorer™.
• Managing and Supporting Windows®
  • Starting programs automatically; shortcuts to programs and files; customizing your computer; computer maintenance; the Windows® Explorer™.

Online Library and Librarian
Students in ICS Canada have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with ICS Canada.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

IBM is a trademark of IBM Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.