Launching a business doesn’t happen overnight. As an entrepreneur, you must be dedicated to your idea, and willing to commit significant amounts of time and energy. Like everything else during your College life, if you want to be successful, you have to do your homework.

A fundamental tool in developing a venture is a solid business plan. A business plan is a comprehensive document that details your idea, operations, financial resources, marketing plan, management team and human resources, requirements, and so on. Essentially, your business plan should provide a road map of where you want to go, how you plan to get there, and what help you’ll need along the way.

If you’ve never studied or practiced business before, many of the areas covered by a complete business plan may look foreign to you. No need to worry – there are a number of places to turn for help. Most introductory business textbooks will contain a basic business plan template, and numerous government and community organizations can provide the type of assistance you may need, including:

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre
• Community Business Development Corporation
• Human Resources Development Canada
• Industry Canada (Strategis)

Call or visit the nearest office today to find out more about the services provided.
When branching out as a first-time entrepreneur, the most obvious focus for most people is to grow the business and concentrate on developing the venture. What may not be so obvious is the need that most entrepreneurs have – developing your own skill set.

Small business owners come from all disciplines, interests and backgrounds, and don’t necessarily have formal business training. While entrepreneurship is quite often a "learn as you go" experience, adding solid business knowledge to your existing skill set increases your likelihood for success, and may speed up your development process. There are a number of courses and seminars offered at the College and in the Corner Brook area that may prove useful for skill building. Check out the links below to discover some of the options available:

• Business at SWGC
• Faculty of Business, MUN
• Community Education and College Relations, SWGC
• School of Continuing Education, MUN
• Continuing Education, College of the North Atlantic