Updated 2025 Fall Semester
Throughout this semester we will work to develop a business idea into a business plan.
This is a major assignment for this course. 

You have an idea for a business you would lke to create a plan for in this course:

I would ask that you reach out to me so we can chat about it before you put a ton of work into it. I want to make sure your idea can be supported through the work we will do in our course and also gauge what kind of resources I can support you with. 

You don’t have an idea for a business right now. 

If you are not coming to our learning with a business idea already we will work with the idea of a side hustle. Something you can do to make extra money. To keep the idea within these parameters you should follow the basic guidelines for your side hustle:

– The business cannot cost more than $30,000 upfront. 

– You must reasonably believe you can break even by the end of year 3 and have at least $6000 net profit in year 4 of your business operating. 

– It must be able to be done within current conditions, so within the regulations that exist. For instance, if you are thinking of operating a food business you must be able to show how your location will be planned for a commercial, licensed food premises. 

– It must be something you have the skills or ability to do. For example, if this is a business that will develop apps for clients but you don’t have software development skills you will not be able to pursue this. There may be businesses that require some type of certification you don’t currently have but is a one or two day course (first aid, level 4 driving, food safe are examples) and this is possible to choose as you can build it into your plan. 

Next week we will consider how entrepreneurs get inspiration for their business ventures and engage in some activities to get your ideas flowing but for this week…..

          • Review your syllabus (you were given a copy in class and you can find this in brightspace)
          • Access and check your CMTN email. This email was provided to you upon registration and is required to open the website you will work with throughout our course. If you have never used it now is the time to make sure you can access it and have it forwarding to your main email account.
             
          • Read:
            Swanson, L (2017) Chapter 2 – Opportunity Recognition and Design Thinking. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Toolkit.https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/entrepreneurship/chapter/chapter-2-opportunity-recognition-and-design-thinking/
            • Read the first few quotes in the chapter and then skip down to the short reading about Vesper’s theories about how entrepreneurs find ideas.

          Once you have read this:
        • Complete Activity 1 Reading Reflection (details about how to submit are in brightspace under Activity 1- Reflection on Vesper’s Theories) This is due September 9th. .