Topics for business studies

What is enterprise / what is an entrepreneur?

Motives for starting a business

Risks, rewards and opportunity cost

Government support for new businesses

Sources of business ideas

Protecting a business idea (patents, trademark, copyright)

Franchises – how they work; benefits & drawbacks

Adding value in the production process

Business plans – purpose, typical contents & limitations

Sources of help preparing a business plan (e.g. advisers, bank)

How market research can help produce a good business plan

Primary & secondary research – cost-effective methods for start-ups

Qualitative v quantitative research - examples

Sampling in market research - methods & limitations

Types of market (local, national, geographic etc)

Market analysis – size, segments, growth, market shares

Market segmentation – demographic & geographic

Factors affecting demand for a start-up’s product

Choosing the legal structure for a start-up

Social enterprise – reasons / objectives

Limited liability

Internal and external sources of finance

Bank loans and bank overdraft – key features / benefits / drawbacks

Personal sources of finance of an entrepreneur

Factors that affect the choice of finance

Choosing the location for a start-up (market, technology etc)

Employing full-time / part-time & temporary staff – options / issues

Consultants & advisers – benefits & drawbacks

Flexible working – how it can help a start-up

Meaning & importance of profit

Estimating & measuring revenues, costs & profit (calculations)

Contribution & break-even output – meaning & calculations

Limitations of break-even analysis for a start-up

Basic structure & calculations of a cash flow forecast

Sources of information for a cash flow forecast (link - market research)

Limitations of cash flow forecasting – what can go wrong

Why businesses use budgets

Main types of budget for a start-up (sales, expenditure, profit)

Limitations of budgeting for an entrepreneur

Main objectives of a start-up – different types of business

Risks of business failure

Why business plans often prove unrealistic

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topics that you need to know for BUSS 1