“Starting My Own Small Business Portfolio Template” – By completing the Learning Connect Entrepreneurship Series, students will simultaneously be constructing their own “My Small Business Portfolio”, brick by brick. Student will receive The Title Page and initial template of sentence stems for starting examples.

“Starting My Own Small Business Portfolio Template” – By completing the Learning Connect Entrepreneurship Series, students will simultaneously be constructing their own “My Small Business Portfolio”, brick by brick. Student will receive The Title Page and initial template of sentence stems for starting examples.

“So You Want to Be a Business Owner?” – Student will complete a Small Business Traits Rating Scale to discover their strongest personal qualities for business success. Next, they will provide examples of personal experiences portraying these qualities and complete a business resume template for their small business portfolio.

Student will go through a critical thinking process to specifically determine and create their business purpose using the template provided. Next, students will create their own business model consisting of the business goals and strategies to achieve their business purpose.

“Establishing a Company Name” – Students will do some preliminary research on their prospective business name possibilities and their availability within business name databases of the Oklahoma Secretary of State as well as well as the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office.

“Establishing a Business Mission” – Student will go through a critical thinking process to specifically determine their business mission. Next, they will complete a business mission using the template provided.

“Establishing a Business Structure” – Student will learn the advantages and disadvantages of common business structures for conducting business. They will select their preferred type of business ownership based upon their business purpose and activity. Student will share rationale for legal business structure selection.

“Registering Your Business Entity” – Once a business structure is selected, student can now take ownership of their business name by registering it on the state and federal level. There will learn different ways to register your business name on both the state and national level, and with any state where business is conducted. Student will share the process and cost for registering their company name, (trade name) and online domain name.

“Obtaining Proper Licenses, Permits and Tax IDs” – After students learn how to register their own business name/trademark, they will discover how to secure a Federal Tax ID or Employer Identification Number. Last, they are directed to the Department of Commerce to explore the needed permits and professional licenses required for their small business by state industries. Student will share the process and cost for obtaining the proper permits and licenses for their business and industry.

“Determining My Business Target Market” – Student will learn about market research and learn how to identify the demographics, distinct customer characteristics and related buying behaviors of their potential customers. Student will share their proposed product line, consumer characteristics, customer’s location and business competitors.

“Establishing a Business Logo” – Student will go through a critical thinking process, with the use of online tools, to establish their own business logo. Student will provide a thumbnail sketch of their business logo and the rationale for their choices.

“Establishing a Business Slogan” – Student will go through a critical thinking process, with the use of online tools, to determine their business slogan. Student will provide their slogan and their rationale for their choices.

“Creating a Business Store Layout” – Students will create solutions-oriented and flexible business layout diagrams. The business diagram will include the size and location of each station/department as well as any permanent structures, fixtures and furniture. Student will provide the layout for their business and the rationale for their choices.

“Creating a Business Store Front Display” – Students will create a thumbnail sketch of their business front, including a front window display, if applicable. Principles for effectively displaying store product are provided in a Business Front Window Display Rating Scale. Student will provide a description, possibly sketches of their business store front, including a window display, if applicable.

“Creating a Business Layout Diorama” – Student will develop a Small Business Diorama. A Diorama is a lifelike replica or small three-dimensional scene created from layers of materials, such as shoe boxes, cardboard boxes or even foam board. Beginning with a thumbnail sketch of the store layout, the diorama will be customized to depict and showcase the store layout and store front of the planned business, down to the smallest detail. Student will provide pictures of their diorama, showing both the business layout and the front of the business for their portfolio.

“Determining a Business Location” – Using a business location rating scale process, students will determine the advantages and disadvantages of a selected business location within their own community. Student will select location within the local community and provide the rationale for the selection.

“Developing a Business Website” – Student will learn the process of how to acquire and register their own online business domain name. Next, they will design a wireframe of their prospective business website homepage layout, including an online company profile. A wireframe is first the design step before meeting with a web designer.

Student will establish their business pricing policies for their specific product lines or range of services. Next, a break-even analysis will be completed on a proposed product or service. Last, student will devise an operating plan as part of the business’s strategic plan to show the steps of creating and/or selling a product or creating and/or delivering a service.

“Creating a Grand Opening Promotional Mix” – Student will design a promotional plan for the Grand Opening of their new business using the Promotional Mix template provided. The template allows business owner to select various advertising options, including a special ribbon-cutting event for the Grand Opening of their small business. Student will share their selected promotional mix using local advertising media and their own customer and market data.

“Developing a Newspaper Ad Layout” – Student will design and assess their simple Grand Opening ad layout using the ad design criteria and rubric provided. Student will share their newspaper advertisement for their business and the rational for their choices.

“Developing a Radio Commercial” – Student will design and assess their own simple Grand Opening 15-minute or 30-minute radio commercial using the radio advertisement templates provided. Student will share their radio spot advertisement for their business and the rational for their choices.

“Developing a Promotional Aid” – Student will design a specialty advertising item for their business using the planning sheets provided. The design will include a description of their illustration and their message. Student will share their promotional specialty item prototype for their business and the rational for their choices.

“Developing a Billboard Ad”- Student will design a billboard ad for their business using the planning sheets provided. The design will include a description of their illustration, their message and a prototype of their billboard. Student will share the billboard ad for their business and the rational for their choices.

“Developing a TV or Cable Ad”- Student will design a Grand Opening TV commercial using the television planning sheet, script page and storyboard. A TV Commercial Advertising Rubric provides the quality components to evaluate the proposed TV commercial. Student will share their television commercial planning sheet, script page and storyboard.

“Developing an Online Ad Presence” – Student will create an online presence by developing a Grand Opening ad for an online entity, such as Facebook. Directions for accessing Facebook advertising options will be provided. Student will share their online advertising choices, strategies and rationale for their choices.

“Planning a Grand Opening Special Event” – Student will design a special event for their local Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting opportunity using the event planner template provided. The event task list will be adjusted to meet their business special event needs. Student will describe their special event and share their customer’s Grand Opening experience upon arrival, during their visit and their departure.

“Developing Business Publicity” – Student will develop a list of possible publicity opportunities in their community for their business. Next, they will select one event and write a publicity article for the newspaper using the template provided. Student will share their list of publicity opportunities for their small business and their publicity news article for their portfolio.

“Generating Customer Sales” – Student will generate the features and benefits of a product or service within their industry. Next, they will create a sales demonstration utilizing each step of a sale. Student will share their sales demonstration script for their selected product or service for their portfolio

“Providing Effective Customer Service” – Student will receive the components of good customer service. Templates are provided to lead students through the process of handling several customer types and conducting an actual sales presentation on a selected product or service. Students will share their script for skillfully handling a difficult customer for their business.