A greenhouse environment for entrepreneurs to grow in.
We use practical, biblical principles to equip future business leaders to create and steward wealth, so that families and communities can thrive.

Next Class Offered: 21 FEB 2024

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Who We Are

Empowering Christ-following entrepreneurs to create thriving communities.

There are cities all across the U.S. that have potential entrepreneurs and business leaders who are just existing day by day, not knowing what to do or how to start a business.

This is why we launched Fresh Start Business Alliance, Muskegon, Michigan's first 12-week entrepreneur initiative. This greenhouse environment is designed to equip, disciple, and resource potential entrepreneurs to shift into an entrepreneurial mindset.

We envision thousands of urban entrepreneurs with creative ideas, launching and scaling successful and sustainable businesses. We believe every entrepreneur should have the opportunity to succeed, and their vision come to pass.

What we do

We Equip, Mentor, Resource, and Facilitate the building of a Community for entrepreneurs to think from an entrepreneurial perspective.

Equip: Our 12-week course is designed for those who like to identify an opportunities, and then create and implement a solutions. We equip entrepreneurs on how to be solutionaries, think creatively, and communicate effectively along with a host of other skills. We believe that entrepreneurial education changes the world.

Disciple: Although being a disciplined learner is essential to the development of successful entrepreneurs, we know that learning from others experiences is priceless. We give access to over 100 years of innovative experience from our business mentors. We believe that every entrepreneur can learn from the failures and successes of those who have gone before them. Watch the video below on the Joy of Mentoring.

Resource: OWe fully understand the importance of having access to resources. Every entrepreneurthat completes the Equipping Phase will have the opportunity to participate in the dream tank pitch event where the winners could win cash and other resources.

Facilitated Community: Each entrepreneur that completes the Equipping Phase will be invited to join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs to continue to learn and grow together. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely at time. This community provides a place to not only share our successes, but more importantly share the struggles that keep us from progressing with others who have either been there and can provide suggestions, or who are in the same situation and will also learn from the discussion.

Syllabus

Planning a Sustainable Business Course - English/Global Class.

Week 1

Introduction to Course

This course provides the entrepreneur with the required information to effectively start and grow a sustainable business. This lesson introduces the students to the concepts that will be covered.

Application of Learnings:
Identify your character trait strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Week 2

Lesson 1A: Dreaming with God

This lesson identifies important practices that strong entrepreneurs use to either launch or grow a business using Proverbs 31 as our text. Knowing and applying these key practices in an entrepreneur's business is critical to their success.
This lesson will covers the importance of seeking God’s voice, as the author of our faith, even in business planning.

Application of Learnings:
Spend time asking God these questions:
a) “Lord, what business idea would you have me launch?”
b) “Lord, when would you like me to launch this business?”
c) “Lord, what sacrifice will I need to make to launch this business?”

Week 3

Lesson 1B: Keys to a Successful Business

This lesson identifies important practices that strong entrepreneurs use to either launch or grow a business using Proverbs 31 as our text. Knowing and applying these key practices in an entrepreneur's business is critical to their success.

Application of Learnings:
What keys to a successful business do you need to apply to your business?

Week 4

Lesson 2A: Research Ideas

In this lesson we will discover the importance of talking with customers to research our business ideas and build a sales plan.

No Application of Learning assignment this week since this is the end of the Basic Course.

Week 1

Lesson 2B: Build a Sales Plan

In this lesson we will focus on unlocking the way to determine the potential sales of your new business by building a sales budget. We will identify the questions to ask 50 plus customers to get solid information to estimate sales.

Application of Learnings:
Complete the Customer Survey with 50+ potential customers for your product or service idea and summarize the key findings.

Week 2

Lesson 3A: Plan Production

In this lesson we will cover the foundation for production planning.

Application of Learnings:
Apply the production plannoing process to your business. Identify the Labor, Materials and Supplies, Equipment, Workspace, and Production Processes required.

Week 3

Lesson 3B: Plan Production

In this lesson we will identify our business production process by visiting a competitor in an different city and potential suppliers to get the costs of all the materials/supplies that will be needed to produce and sell our product.

Application of Learnings:
Complete a Competitor Survey for the product or service you are considering.

Week 4

Lesson 4A: Plan Your Costs

In this lesson we will take the information that we have gathered in our previous lessons, activities and assignments and apply them in this lesson to complete a budget. This experience will help us to know the steps we need to take in our own businesses to complete our budget.

Application of Learnings:
Complete a Supplier Survey for the product or service you are considering.

Week 5

Lesson 4B: Using a Budget to Make Business Decisions

In this lesson we will use the budget to look at various scenarios that could occur in a business. These scenarios will be used to help us learn how to use our budget to identify issues that can be addressed.
Understanding this will enable us to analyze the business using numbers and make good decisions to improve our business results. The budget is the tool strong entrepreneurs use to drive the growth and performance of their business.

Application of Learnings:
Develop a complete Budget by using the data gathered from the Customer Survey, the Competitor, and the Supplier Surveys.

Week 6

Lesson 5: Plan for the Unexpected

This lesson will explore finding help for our business and planning for unexpected events. This material will cover the following 3 objectives:

  • Recognize God as the ultimate source of help and wisdom.
  • Identify sources of help for new information and skills.
  • Plan and prepare for unexpected events.

Application of Learnings:
Plan and prepare for unexpected events.

Week 7

Lesson 6: Launch

This lesson will wrap up our entire course focused on the steps we need to take in our businesses to launch it. No theory. Just practical application.
The steps are easy to understand, but one has to be very dedicated to completing them. Shortcuts are not recommended. We know from experience that these steps will provide our businesses with a firm foundation to build upon. Skipping a step or taking shortcuts will lead to less than desirable results.

Application of Learnings:
1. Determine next steps.
2. Determine if you are ready to commit to being part of a Business Club.
3. Develop a savings plan to address unexpected emergencies.
4. Review the key money principles to determine if you are on the right path.

Week 8

Lesson 7: Your Identity in Christ and Call to Action

In this lesson we will discuss the importance of having a clear vision of the importance of standing firm on what God has called us to do as entrepreneurs and business owners.

No Application of Learning assignment since this is the final class of the Advance Course.

The Team

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