Business Skills Development Program

The Business Skills Development (BSD) program provides a way to learn about starting a small business, whether it is in the tourism industry or another sector.  This program is a self-directed program that will lead you through a step-by-step process which covers all the skill areas required to be successful in business.  The program will help you develop a customized business plan to help advance your business aspirations, whether you are currently in business or just starting out. 

Summary

The topics covered by the BSD program include:

Business Planning Overview:  what a business plan helps you do; how to prepare a business plan; definition; components of a business plan; how to research your business idea; setting up a research binder

Business Profile:   business structure; business owners; business location; business strengths and weaknesses; mission of the business

Business Strategy:   industry trends; who is the competition?; opportunities and threats; business strategy; goals of the business; strategic alliances

Marketing:   segmenting the market; how to target a market; customer profile; product; place; pricing; promotion; promotion budget and strategy; the international market

Sales Forecast:   top down approach; bottom up approach

Management and Labour:   management; labour; human resource management

Operations Plan:   facility; equipment and furnishings; inventory; insurance; government relations;

Financial Management:   how financial statements work together; sales drives profits and loss; preparing a pro forma cash flow budget; the balance sheet; ratio analysis; planning for the future

Plan of Action:   schedule of events; capital requirements and resources; contingency plan

Appendix I  -  Human Resource Management

Appendix II  -  Financial Worksheets

There are three training options to choose from:

1. self-directed
2. seminar-style option
3. internet delivery option

The cost for the paper-based self-study package is $100 and for the on-line program it is $25 for one year's access to the site.  These costs are subject to change.

For additional information contact the person below or visit their Web site at http://www.stec.com

Saskatchewan Contact(s):
Ms. Carol Lumb
Director, Education & Training, STEC Division
Tourism Saskatchewan
321 - 4th Avenue North
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7K 2L9
Telephone: (306) 933-5900
Fax: (306) 933-6250