Starting a Business

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Starting a Business program is designed to equip students with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to successfully launch and grow their own businesses. This dynamic, comprehensive program covers a wide range of key business areas, from foundational entrepreneurship principles to specialized topics such as retail management, international trade, and startup strategies. Students will gain a thorough understanding of business operations, finance, marketing, leadership, and global trade, while also engaging in hands-on courses that focus on the retail, service, and technology sectors.

By the end of the program, students will have developed the critical tools, strategies, and confidence to navigate the complexities of launching and scaling a business in today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving marketplace. Whether they aim to build a local enterprise or expand globally, students will leave the program prepared to tackle the challenges of entrepreneurship and drive long-term success.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this program, the student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Create and implement a comprehensive business plan by applying foundational entrepreneurship principles, including opportunity identification, business model development, and strategic growth planning.
• Analyze and apply business law concepts, including both global and Canadian legal frameworks, to ensure legal compliance in operations, contracts, intellectual property, and tax obligations for entrepreneurs.
• Effectively manage human resources, including recruitment, employee development, compensation, and performance management, ensuring a productive and legally compliant workforce.
• Utilize financial management principles, including budgeting, financial statements, and cash flow management, while applying taxation knowledge to optimize business finances within the Canadian context.
• Apply research methods to gather, analyze, and interpret market data, providing actionable insights that inform decision-making, marketing strategies, and overall business growth.
• Create and execute integrated sales and marketing campaigns, leveraging both digital and traditional marketing channels to attract and retain customers while building a strong brand presence.
• Demonstrate leadership abilities in entrepreneurship, including team management, conflict resolution, and motivating employees to achieve business objectives and foster a positive work culture.
• Apply principles of retail management and operations to streamline processes, improve customer experiences, and enhance operational efficiency, while incorporating e-commerce and CRM strategies for a competitive advantage.
• Assess the feasibility of international trade, develop market entry strategies, and manage global supply chains to enable successful expansion into international markets and optimize cross-border operations.
• Validate startup ideas effectively through customer feedback, market testing, and innovation strategies, then develop a clear pathway to scale the business from ideation to a viable, profitable venture ready for investment or exit.
• Integrate entrepreneurial knowledge and skills in a Capstone Project by designing and presenting a comprehensive business concept that addresses real-world challenges.