computer classes business plan

How to Start a Computer Training Business

A computer training business helps clients improve their computer skills. Classes are offered at different skill levels, from basics all the way up to advanced applications. Their clients range from corporations to private individuals, each sharing one common goal — to be more computer literate.

Learn how to start your own Computer Training Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Start a computer training business by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Computer Training Business
• Form your Computer Training Business into a Legal Entity
• Register your Computer Training Business for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Computer Training Business
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Computer Training Business
• Get Computer Training Business Insurance
• Define your Computer Training Business Brand
• Create your Computer Training Business Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your computer training business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business . We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.

Want some help naming your computer training business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a computer training business.

Startup costs to launch this type of business vary depending on the business model. Many computer educators work from home, traveling to their clients or teaching classes online. Others go big from the start, opening an educational facility complete with state-of-the-art equipment.

Launching a home-based computer education program requires little more than computers, software, training materials, insurance, and an advertising budget. This can be done for $2,000 or less.

Opening a training facility, however, requires a significantly higher startup budget. An 850 square foot facility, equipped with multiple computers, furniture, fixtures, and staff, costs $55,000 to $80,000. Exact costs vary based on your region, the number of team members you employ, and how much equipment you plan to start with.

If you have the necessary computer knowledge but aren’t sure where to start, consider one of the many franchise opportunities. While most franchises have specific rules regarding how much startup capital you must have, many new business owners find that they save money in the long run. Aligning yourself with the right franchise gives you access to a proven business model, marketing support, and brand recognition.3

What are the ongoing expenses for a computer training business?

A home-based computer training business faces few ongoing expenses. Your budget should include office supplies, equipment maintenance, travel expenses, marketing, business insurance, payroll, and printing costs for educational materials.

If you elect to open a training facility, you will need to budget for additional expenses. These include rent, utilities, building maintenance, and additional business insurance.

Whichever route you take, your annual budget should also include ongoing education and certification for you and your staff. Consider this an investment in your business’s future growth and stability.

Who is the target market?

When creating your detailed business plan, spend ample time researching what computer skills are in high demand. Identify what parts of the market are oversaturated and avoid those. Focus on niches that lack quality training. This will help you clearly identify your target market and develop a targeted marketing plan.

Examples of target niches include:

• Individuals who have just purchased their first computer
• Fortune 500 companies who require Microsoft training for their workforce
• Real estate agents who lack desktop publishing skills
• Human resources software training
• Patient management software training for physicians and medical staff

How does a computer training business make money?

Your computer training business will make money by charging a fee for your educational services. Most computer trainers charge a flat hourly rate or a flat fee per class session.

Pricing will vary depending on the course and educational setting. A basic online computer class might cost $49, while more advanced training might cost $175 per person. The average cost for a private training course is $40-$60, depending on the material taught.

How much profit can a computer training business make?

The estimated profit for the 850 square foot facility we mentioned earlier is almost $49,000 in the first year. The second and third year’s estimated profits are just over $77,000.

Now, let’s look at a home-based training business that teaches three hour-long classes six days/week at $175/person. If each class has seven students in it, this comes to $3,675 per week. While the revenue looks significantly lower, your overhead expenses are minimal. If you have $1,000 in monthly overhead expenses, your annual profits will reach almost $165,000.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Diversity is key in this profession. Offer a wide range of classes and attendance options. Offering access to your training materials for a small fee is a great way to boost your business’s annual profits.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your computer training business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a computer training business

Once you’ve identified your target niches, you can develop a marketing strategy that reaches them. For example, patient management software training includes doctors and medical staff. Approach doctors offices, medical facilities, and hospitals to let them know how you can help them. Place ads in medical journals, online publications, and forums. Create targeted social media ads for the medical community. Be particular about how you go about targeting a niche audience.

In this competitive industry, it’s important that you establish your business as an industry authority. This means crafting quality content that addresses your target niche’s pain points. Your website should add value and showcase client success stories.

How to keep customers coming back

While this is a competitive industry, it’s also recession-proof and is in no danger of becoming obsolete. In fact, business owners who are committed to expanding their own knowledge and keeping up with emerging technology trends can find themselves busier than their business plan predicted. Your commitment to your clients and their pain points will create a dependency that ensures your clients keep coming back for more.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Do you have a firm understanding of computers and software? Are computers your passion, and do you enjoy passing your knowledge on to others? Are you ready to be your own boss and take charge of your own future? If so, launching a computer training business could be the ideal business venture.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a computer training business?

As a computer trainer, you will spend your days educating clients on all things related to computers. From computer basics to advanced software applications, it’s your job to ensure every student leaves with newfound computer confidence.

When you aren’t teaching, you will spend your time honing your own skills and learning about new and emerging industry trends. Your clients will look to you as an authority figure on the subject. Gaining and maintaining their trust means you should know about technological advancements and changes as soon as they’re announced.

While your computer knowledge is what will generate revenue, this knowledge is wasted if you don’t have any customers. Therefore, it’s important that you dedicate part of your time to a marketing strategy and other business-related tasks.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful computer training business?

Success in computer training requires advanced computer knowledge and the ability to effectively share that knowledge with others. You must be able to communicate with students from all backgrounds and skill levels.

Depending on your business model, you may work in a group setting or provide one-on-one training. Education sessions should be organized and detailed. It’s also important that you remain flexible and patient. Keep in mind, most of your students are intimidated by the very idea of learning about computers. Therefore, it’s important that your passion for computers shines through and that you create a safe and engaging learning environment.

While not a requirement, having computer certifications is strongly recommended. Your certifications will show customers that you possess the skills you claim to have and that you value your own education. Since there are a number of specialized certifications, this will also help in targeting specific niches.

What is the growth potential for a computer training business?

While the computer training sector is competitive, there is significant room for growth. Business owners with long-term growth goals are encouraged to write a well thought out business plan with defined goals and a growth strategy.

The annual average companies spend on general staff training is $3,000, with $8,200 spent on information systems training. Before launching your business, conduct research on where the greatest opportunities lie and focus your energies there. Play on your strengths and offer training programs that set you apart from the competition.

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Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a computer training business?

Having extensive computer knowledge doesn’t automatically make you a great teacher. Successful computer trainers recommend practicing over and over before putting yourself in front of a class. In addition to practicing, they also recommend attending a few courses for yourself. Pay attention to how the instructor communicates and interacts, which subjects are difficult for students to grasp, and what teaching methods work best.

When determining what classes you’ll offer, consider what computer and software knowledge is in high demand. If a professional stands to land a better job with certain skills, they are more apt to pay for your training course. Examples of software skills that are in high demand are Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Visual Basics.

Consider joining one of the many industry-related associations . This will serve as a networking tool and help with your business’s professional development.

How and when to build a team

When you build your team depends on your business model. If you open a facility, you’ll need staff to manage the day-to-day operations and educators to teach the classes you offer.

Everyone, from the front office employee to your teachers, should have a firm understanding of computer basics. When selecting teachers, consider your strengths and weaknesses. Hire educators that play on your strengths and fill in the gaps where your skills are lacking. This ensures a well-rounded educational center and positions you for future growth.

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Start a Computer Training Business

Coding the Future: Transforming Your Passion into a Computer Training Empire

COMPUTER TRAINING BUSINESS

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How to Start a Profitable Computer Training Institute

• June 24, 2023
• by Editorial Team

The demand for a professional computer training center is on the rise. If you are looking to start a computer training institute, you are in the right place. Here in this article, find a stepwise business plan guide for beginners to start a computer training school.

The computer is now part and parcel of our daily life. One can’t imagine a day without sitting in front of a computer. However, surprisingly it seems to hear, still, there are millions who are not aware of computers and their utilities. Also, there are people who are always looking for getting trained in various new computer skills and languages.

As a result, the scope of making money from a computer training center is big. If you are looking forward to starting a business in the education industry , starting a computer training center is worth considering.

10 Steps to Start a Computer Training Institute

1. understand the local market.

As with any other business, the first step before starting a computer training institute is to collect information regarding the demand, trends, and competition in the local population. Conduct detailed market research and find out the scope and gaps. Check what kind of courses people are looking for. Is any existing computer training institute offering those and at what price? Are the customers satisfied with the education provided?

As you collect more information, it would be easier for you to plan out in the best possible manner in imparting the best training for candidates.

2. Choose the Type of Computer Training Center

The second most important thing to consider is to decide on what kind of training institute you are going to establish. It can be basic computer skills, programming, graphic design, or software applications.

You can start your own from scratch or can buy a franchise from a reputed computer training brand.

If you are starting your own, based on your resources and expertise, you can for an online, home-based, or computer training school in a retail location.

3. Create a Business Plan

A business plan is a critical document if you are seriously planning to start a profitable and sustainable computer training center. Write in brief about business aspects like objectives, operational plans, financials, and a marketing strategy plan.

If you are looking for funding, it is advised to take help from professional business plan writers as it becomes the most important tool to convince investors about the viability of your business. Some of the basic topics that must be included in your computer institute business plan document are the following:

• Fixed and recurring costs
• Target customers
• Pricing strategy
• How do you plan to get students for your computer institute?

4. Name Your Computer Training School

Select a business name that correctly manifests your computer training institute. The name should be relatable and catchy so that students can easily relate to the courses and certification programs you are offering. Check this guide to know more about naming a business.

5. Register Your Business

Registering your computer training center is a must if you want to run a hassle-free business. Every state and country offers different company structures for company registration. Talk to an attorney and choose the best-suited business structure as per your scale of the training center.

In addition, check with competent authorities about the need for licenses and permits to run a training institute at the chosen location. Business insurance is another aspect you must opt for in case of any unfortunate incidents that happen while running the business.

6. Choose a Location

The location will play a very important role in making your computer training institute successful. Choose a location where students can see your institute from a considerable distance. The Signage of your computer training center must be visible from the roadside.

7. Buy Equipment

To run a computer training center, there is not much money you need to invest other than computers. Since computers are the most critical equipment to buy, it is wise to procure the latest and updated computers. Apart from computers, you will need an internet connection, chairs, tables, computer desks, relevant software needed to run selected courses, etc.

8. Hire Manpower

To run a computer training institute, there will be a requirement of broadly two kinds of staff. One is the teaching staff and the other is the non-teaching staff. Based on the courses offered, hire expert teachers in that field. Initially, you can hire on a class basis and when students start coming in large numbers, think of having permanent teachers.

In addition, you need to hire student counselors, accountants, and salespeople for day to day operation of running a training center.

Suggested Read:   How To Hire The Right Employee

9. Fix the Curriculum

Depending on the courses offered, schedule, and fix the course curriculum. For example, the duration can be a one-month crash course, a 3-month certificate course, a 1-year diploma course, etc. Ensure, that your institute is eligible to provide certificates after successfully finishing a specified course. It is extremely difficult nowadays to build a successful computer training school without providing certificates.

10. Market Your Computer Center

All said and done unless you craft an effective marketing strategy of pulling students to your training center, the business will never get a lift. Prepare a grand launch informing potential students before starting your computer training center.

Distribute brochures, pamphlets, and business cards, as much as possible so as to reach as many people as you can in your locality. Advertise in local newspapers, and magazines if you can afford it. Create a website and explore social media platforms to reach your target audience.

Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.

How to Start a Computer Training Center Business

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Education Industry

Do you want to start a computer training center? If YES, here’s a complete guide to starting a computer training center with NO money and no experience .

A computer training center is a place where individuals come to learn how to access the various benefits of a computer. The lessons offered can range from the very basic to the utterly advanced. We can say that a computer training center is a very lucrative business opportunity.

Starting and operating this business is not a daunting task once you know what to prepare. The requirements for starting a computer training center are not much, but you have to keep in mind that this business thrives on quality control.

After each training session, you should be able to ask students to fill out a survey grading the quality of the course. Always encourage students to give feedback on the structure of the course, the quality of the learning materials and the instructor’s command of the subject.

This is not a business you jump into half baked; it needs a teacher that is able to bridge the gap between technology and its practical applications. By paying attention to the feedback from your students, you can make the necessary changes to your course offering and the structure of your classes to increase the quality of your service.

We all can agree that computers are crucial in our everyday activities. The advent of technology has made things easy as we can now organize our home finances or run our business but only if we know how to use the software. This is why opening and operating a computer training center can be very lucrative.

Steps to Starting a Computer Training Center

1. understand the industry.

You need to understand that majority of the revenue in this industry comes from tuition or program fees. Gross profits tend to range from 60-90% depending on geographical location and subject matter, and net profit averages out to between 2 and 10%.

Also as businesses within the industry have grown, they have realized some benefits to scale – lower fixed costs and greater operational efficiency; but with that growth has often come a difficulty finding qualified instructors.

Industry reports have it that the growing adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) is one of the key factors that will have a positive impact on the growth of this industry in the coming years. Experts believe that increased adoption of BYOD policy by industry businesses across the globe will slowly lead to the acceptance of corporate-owned personally enabled (COPE) policy.

We believe that this will  help businesses avoid the need to manage a wide range of devices while delivering information and will enable computer training centres to cater to a wide customer base by offering advanced mobile-compliant features such as learning management systems (LMS) that induce social learning.

Industry reports have also stated that the growing acceptance of wearable technology will be one of the major trends that will gain traction in this market in the coming years.

But then the application of wearable technology are in its initial stages, businesses in the industry will soon start adopting wearable technology to enhance the quality and outcome of their training programs which will compel e-learning service providers to start offering solutions based on wearable technology to cater to their end-user requirements.

Experts believe that online training resources, programs and even mobile apps have traditionally been a challenge to the industry; but in recent years, successful industry service providers have found ways to make use of this technology to their great advantage.

Not only are these tools helping students learn in new and exciting ways, but they are helping providers manage students, administrative functions and source material distributions more efficiently.

2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies

• Demographics and Psychographics

Computers and all it has to offer are among the most wonderful tools available, but that’s if you know how to use them effectively. If you don’t, you quickly learn the true meaning of frustration.

Computer training is a hot field and the worldwide market for technical computer training is nearing the $28 billion mark, with an annual average of $8,200 spent for information systems staff training and $3,000 per person spent on general staff training.

This is why you can specialize in the software program or programs you know best; in a field you’re familiar with like law or medicine; or, if you’ve got a broad base of software smarts, you can be a computer G.P., training clients in a wide variety of programs and packages.

Also if you have the relevant knowledge, you can also work one-on-one with individual clients or train a roomful of employees at a time for corporations.

One of the key benefits of this business is that you will be working with lots of different people, helping people overcome computer-phobia and because you have to keep up with the ever-changing technology and software updates, you’ve got the best excuse in the world for buying new computer goodies on regular basis.

Note that you ideal clients can be private individuals or corporate types who want to make their employees computer-literate.

But then to get the business from private parties, know that you will have to create relationships with computer retailers and ask them to refer customers to you. Individual students, job seekers and also employees of businesses who want development can be your potential consumers

3. Decide What Niche to Concentrate On

This business is indeed an ideal business for a computer-savvy entrepreneur. Starting and running a computer training centre with some other value added services can be a profitable and self-rewarding business, but the only criteria needed is that you have to be knowledgeable enough about computers and internet.

You need to know that the demand is growing for computer literate professionals. Before you start getting documents or analyzing strategies, you have to create a detailed business plan.

In your business plan you have to reason out your business ownership pattern, calculate total startup capital needed including establishment, resources and marketing expenses. What are the training and value added services you are going to offer?

Design curriculum professionally for your computer training centre, fix the pricing, plan about your staffing, create a marketing plan with advertising and marketing policy, identify your business demographic and target niche. The niches you might consider in this business will depend on how you intend to train individuals or people.

• You can train clients in their homes, through local classes, or virtually via the Internet.
• You can target personal computer users, home-based business owners and even larger companies.
• You can work one-on-one with clients, or teach computer classes to groups.
• Your business can provide a broad range of training services or focus on specific software.
• You can sell training materials to bolster your services and increase your income.
• You get to use all of the latest computer equipment and software every day in your business.

Level of Competition in the Industry

Reports have it that due to the presence of several international and regional corporate training companies, the market appears to be highly fragmented. We believe that the market is complex and dynamic and is not dominated by any major vendor.

In addition to existing vendors, the market’s growth potential will also attract several new players which would intensify the level of competition in the already competitive market. This is why to stay ahead of the competition, industry businesses who offer traditional computer training solutions have started providing online blended and virtual training sessions.

They also have the need to offer customized solutions that address the unique business training needs of their target customers. This industry is segmented into two, Technical and Non-technical. Reports have it that the technical segment accounted for the major market shares and dominated the industry during 2015.

The increase in number of organizations across the globe that strongly emphasize on the development of technical skills related to productivity and operations will drive the market’s growth prospects in the coming years.

Reports also had it that North America will be the major revenue contributor to the market throughout the next four years. The presence of several MNCs and large organizations in countries such as the US that increasingly invest in adopting online training methods, will ginger up the demand for computer training in this region.

4. Know the Major Competitors in the Industry

• City & Guilds Kineo
• GP Strategies
• Computer Generated Solutions
• Desire2Learn
• Global Training Solutions
• Interaction Associates
• New Horizons Computer training centres
• Tata Interactive Systems
• Wilson Learning Worldwide

Economic Analysis

The need to own and use a computer has experienced good growth over the last five years and is expected to continue its growth momentum to reach approximately US $282 billion in 2019 with a CAGR of 3.3% over the next five years.

Experts believe that increasing technological innovations such as the introduction of new ultraportable thin laptops and all-in-one PCs that save space and enable users to manage their workloads and information more efficiently are expected to drive the industry over the same period.

Reports have it that the key factors that will drive the need to own and use computers are growing Internet usage, rising incomes, growing computer education, and increasing urbanization with the evolution of consumers’ lifestyles.

The use of applications such as e-mail, social networking sites, and Internet access are increasingly happening through media tablets and smartphones, which form key industry challenges.

The business model for a computer training centre business is very straightforward: you typically charge clients a fixed hourly fee. Note that this fee should accurately represent both your education and experience in the field and should also account for the average price of your competition in the area.

Also to an extent, the size of a computer training centre business is limited by its nature. It’s very much possible for a successful tutor to eventually run this business with multiple tutors as employees, but that needs large amounts of additional time, funds, and licenses, and a lot of computer training centre owners enjoy their business specifically because it has a low overhead and they maintain schedule flexibility and business autonomy.

Also note that the success of your computer training centre is in a large proportion dependent on your hourly rate and the number of students you have at any given time.

5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch

Starting a computer training centre from the scratch can be very risky. But then there are several advantages of buying into an existing computer training franchise. A franchise computer training company will be able to give you important advice on what kind of location to look for, how to market to clients and what kind of teachers to hire.

A franchise company can also help you get the certifications you need to offer specified trainings. Also have it in mind that the years of marketing exposure and experience a franchise computer training company brings to the table can also help your company to be more recognizable to potential clients.

A franchise computer training company will help you keep your costs under control while offering you a proven name in the training industry. Other benefits or reasons to consider buying a computer training centre franchise are…

• Working with a proven business model
• Building for the Future with Fulfilling Work
• Brand recognition and marketing support
• Support for yourself while you support others

6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face

Computer training centres are always in demand. They are needed to bring people up to speed with the various functions of the computer. But as you plan to venture into this business, you need adequate planning to be able to survive.

Indeed you can typically start out on a budget and gradually expand your business over time. Here are the few challenges of starting a computer training centre;

• Renting space
• Writing a business plan
• Choosing a suitable marketing strategy
• Choosing a niche for yourself
• Developing your curriculum
• Registering your computer training centre as a company

7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity 

You should take this part of starting a computer training centre very seriously, because the legal entity you choose will go a long way to determine how big you want the business to grow. Indeed choosing a legal entity for your business can be a tiring and challenging.

But since you will be working with individual students and probably huge computer training centres, we strongly suggest that you incorporate your business as a legal body because it may be difficult for you to get their attention if they know you are running the business as a private individual, not a corporate firm. Advantages incorporating your business includes…

• Growing Your Business’ Credibility
• Perpetual Existence
• Gain anonymity
• Protecting your personal assets
• Have Easier Access to Capital

8. Choose a Catchy Business Name from the ideas Below

• Future legends
• Precision Academy
• Computer Prep
• Tertiary Education
• Simple minds
• Lecture Point
• Friday computer Group
• Detroit Learning
• Premium centre
• The Study Shack
• Learning Company
• Academic Doctor
• Education And More
• Success Approach
• Red Apple Teaching
• Lively computer training centre
• Brilliant Minds
• Click Studies
• Club Z! Centre

9. Discuss With an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You

By right before you buy insurance, you must first have a solid business plan that states your risks as a business owner and how you plan to cover those risks. You need to understand that not all of your risks as a business owner can be covered simply by purchasing a basic insurance policy.

The risks for a computer training centre business can be very huge because of the exposures involved with your business activities. But then there are a number of risk management controls you can put in place:

• Standard Agreements for Vendors
• Recall Plan
• Vendor Certification Process
• Quality Control Program
• Obtaining Customer signatures on each phase of the project
• Privacy Statement
• Information Security Policy (you can find some great templates for Information Security policies on SANS website)
• Customer Contract Revision Provisions
• Standard Customer Contracts

Insurance you will need may include;

• General Liability Insurance
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Workers compensation insurance
• Commercial Auto Liability Insurance

10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents

Filing for intellectual property protection for your computer training centre is not just about protecting your company’s logo and other documents, but also protecting your investments, patents and of course the name of your company.

If you want to file for intellectual property protection and also register your trademark in the United States , then you are expected to begin the process by filing an application with the USPTO. The final approval of your trademark is subjected to the review of attorneys as required by USPTO.

11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification

Having a computer certification gives concrete proof to your skill level with a product, platform or methodology. In this age, the more you know the more valuable you are. If you are employed, you can increase your job security by achieving professional certification.

If you are unemployed, there’s no better time to invest in yourself by updating your technical computer skills. Proving your knowledge by means of a current certification can help set you apart from the competition.

• A+ Certification
• MCITP: Server Administrator (MCSA)
• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (MCSE)
• IT Administrator Program
• IT Engineer Program
• SAP Certification – Financial Accounting
• SAP Certification – Management Accounting
• SAP Certification – HR Management etc.

12. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate

It’s very necessary that you register your business with the IRS. Note that all businesses are advised to apply for an EIN (employee identification number) on the IRS website. The process is free, and you can submit the application online.

Your EIN is needed for filing for a business license. We believe that the exact process and requirements for applying for a business license differ from state to state, which is why we suggest you contact your local business authority for details on how to register your computer training business with your state.

Note that some states may need you to have special certifications or permits; however, other states such as South Carolina, do not. These are some of the basic legal documents that you are expected to have in place if you want to legally run your own computer training centre business in the United States of America;

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Business License and Certification
• Business Plan
• Employment Agreement (offer letters)
• Insurance Policy
• Online Terms of Use
• Online Privacy Policy Document

13. Raise the Needed Startup Capital

It’s you duty to get funding for your computer training centre, which is why we suggest that you pursue funding from investors or by getting a loan from a commercial lender. Have it in mind when working with a lender that the money must be paid back at some point. If you bring on investors, your future profits must be shared.

Note that both investors and lenders need a copy of your business plan before they will think about giving you the money you need. Ways to finance your computer training centre may include…

• Applying for loan from your bank/banks
• Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from donor organizations and angel investors
• Debt Financing
• Personal savings
• Raising money from investors and business partners

14. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business

You need to understand that the size, layout, location and appearance of your business should boost your centre’s operations while respecting zoning and environmental regulations.

Indeed business locations and facilities come in a large variety of shapes, locations and prices, which is why you need to know what your needs are and how much you can afford to pay. But then if you’ve worked on a business plan, you should then know the amount you can spend on rent or a mortgage, utilities and taxes.

A cash-flow analysis should be able to help you know whether you can afford to purchase a commercial property or if renting is your only viable option. Things to consider when choosing a suitable location for your computer training centre include;

• If it’s the right location
• Does it require modification?
• Tax and infrastructure
• Allowing for future growth
• Separate your needs from your wants

15. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs

You need to understand that employing appropriately qualified individuals can be a significant challenge for your business, but you should know that quality staff is key to your centre’s success.

For you to help learners succeed and take responsibility for their learning, computer training centre staff must be able to encourage students, to provide a safe environment in which students are treated with respect, and to offer reasonable and ethical support that is mindful of students’ privacy.

The ideal staff for this business must be intrinsically motivated to help others. Indeed it can be difficult to find individuals with the necessary people and technical skills to staff computer training centres. Preference should be given to selecting staff who display above-average people skills; technical skills such as handling software and hardware may often be taught more easily.

Note that you would need at least 10 personal computer units to start a computer training centre. The number of computers actually differs according to the space you have available, as well as your budget.

Apart from computers, you need to have the necessary software to train students with. The computers should also be up to date, with the latest processors and operating systems. To stay clear of legal troubles and to protect your reputation as a businessman, ensure to use genuine and licensed software only. It would do you no good to use pirated programs even if they may be cheaper and easier to procure.

Teaching is a talent, not a skill that is learned in school. Teachers can only be called such if they get their points across to their audience, and if the students learn enough to acquire a new skill. In a computer training centre, the knowledge level of your students range from the ignorant to those with some background but wish to learn more.

Because of this, you need good teachers that have the skill to deal with different kinds of students. Anyone can become a teacher in a computer training centre, just as long as they have the necessary knowledge in what they will be teaching.

We also advice that you gain proficiency in various computer programs that are useful in the business world. Some such programs such as word processing, presentation, database and spreadsheet programs, are ubiquitous across most industries, so learning to use them in every aspect may prove beneficial to you.

We agree that such programs’ ubiquity means that a lot of professionals can use them to some degree, but most professionals do not have a deep understanding of them. But you can make yourself useful by providing training on their more advanced aspects.

The Service Delivery process of the Business

In every lucrative business, the vision drives the details, and the details shape the vision. Therefore, a good outcome depends on a good design. It requires knowledge of how people learn, and it deserves a lot of time and care. Identifying the process of learning in your computer training centre might be a very challenging task but it’s one that will become the life of your centre.

Set your sights

Understand the solution in terms of optimizing learning, the users’ expectations, the client’s business requirements, and your own constraints. This includes the following:

• Time and money constraints on design, development, testing, and dissemination
• Life expectancy of the document and maintenance requirements
• Distribution channel(s)
• Level of multimedia
• Level of interactivity
• Business goals and learning objectives
• The minimal computer configuration for target users
• Available authoring tools and multimedia editing tools

Organise the users’ experience

We suggest that you eschew the old-fashioned model of the user as an empty vessel to be filled with knowledge. Determine the following:

• Appropriate mood to support the purpose and appeal to the users (mood can be reflected in tone, graphics, colours, and fonts)
• Prerequisite knowledge you can expect from your users
• Big-picture learning goals of the project
• Specific and observable learning objectives the users must reach
• Measurements your client will use to consider whether the training is successful
• Size of the average learning module
• Whether users should go through the modules in a predetermined sequence or access individual modules as needed
• How users will navigate from one module to the next

Design and test

Don’t make the mistake of assuming to know your users’ preferences. A lot of computer learning is complex, cognitive and psychological. It’s different for everyone. A sampling of users will help to guide your decisions. The purpose of a good design is to prevent frustrating and wasteful rewrites.

• Create a storyboard for one module, proposing a “look-and-feel” for the CBT.
• Get feedback from target users and buy-in from all stakeholders.
• Make a paper or computer-generated prototype of each section, representing the navigation elements.
• Test the prototype with target users and get feedback from them as well as buy-in from stakeholders.
• Make a prototype of each section.
• Once again, get feedback from users and buy-in from stakeholders.

16. Write a Marketing Plan Packed With ideas & Strategies

Have it in mind that the presence of a computer training centre in a particular location does not mean that it will be used. That is because computer training centres, institutions, and programs must be marketed and the benefits of the centre proactively sold.

You need to understand that marketing strategies could emphasize the need for, and advantages of life-long learning or the potential impact the centre could have on members of the public once they become aware of new ideas and developments beyond their location.

We suggest you publish advertisement on newspapers and conduct free workshops on your offered services detailing the benefits of the courses. Also try to give some value addition with your courses like job assistance or career assistance. Don’t forget to establish an effective online presence for your computer training centre.

Go for some social media campaign. Regularly update your blog focusing on how computer advancement affects the workplace and how training in new applications can help students advance at work. Other things that might help you achieve marketing success include…

• Determine conditions for success
• Ascertain the amount people are willing to pay
• Establish partnerships
• Find managers
• Differentiate service

17. Develop Iron-clad Competitive Strategies to Help You Win

A computer training centre can be advertised via more traditional means such as a professional website, advertisements in local newspapers and on television, etc. But know that your ideal clients or students will likely favour online browsing and interaction, and you are likely to make just as much of an impact by creating a social media presence and allowing word of mouth to help you advertise.

We believe the word of mouth is especially important especially if your trying to reach private clients or students. You can also…

• Conduct Free Value-Driven Webinars
• Create branded pdf reports
• Refer Service to Get Services In Return
• Give 100% Commission on a Front End service

18. Brainstorm Possible Ways to Retain Clients & Customers

Note that attracting initial customers is primarily a matter of the aforementioned marketing techniques. You need to understand that your business is providing potential solutions to to the growing need of this age. So for you to retain customers, you must demonstrate that you can offer the value they are hoping for.

• Let students know what your doing for them
• Focus on becoming a dependency
• Listen to them
• Keep your eyes open for external environment changes
• Know your weakness
• Set and meet students expectations
• Nail the first impression
• Always be adding value
• Improve competitive advantage
• Build ‘sticky’ customer loyalty

19. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity

The key to becoming lucrative in this business is in your students, and the only way to gain more students is more advertising. In addition to the previously-mentioned advertising via print, television, social media, and networking with local schools and community centres, you might consider offering free workshops or seminars at local schools and colleges.

It will go a long way in helping you advertise your services and demonstrate your value to potential customers. We also suggest that you think of guest-publishing on educational blogs or blogs related to your field, it will indeed help you become more of an established name when someone is looking for more specialized instruction. Other things to bear in mind may include;

• Motivate your students
• Employ two-stage implementation process
• Develop entrepreneurial skills
• Use open educational resources

Related Posts:

• How to Start a Motivational Speaking Company
• How to Make Money Buying and Selling Used Books Online
• How to Start a Seminar Brokerage Company – Sample Business Plan Template
• How to Become a Successful Motivational Speaker
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How to Start a Computer Training Institute – Complete Guide

• January 13, 2024
• by Next What Business Research Team

In the last few years, the demand for computer education has been on the rise, making the establishment of a computer institute a promising venture in India. This SEO-optimized article provides a step-by-step guide on how to start and successfully run a computer institute, catering to the growing need for digital literacy.

You can start your computer training institute or you can buy a franchise of a reputed brand. An experienced computer training franchise brand can help you with setup, operation, certification, and marketing.

14 Steps to Start a Computer Institute Business

Step 1. analyze the market and identify niche.

Before diving into the venture, you must conduct thorough market research to identify the specific niche or focus of your computer institute. While selecting a niche, consider factors such as target audience, location, and the type of courses you plan to offer.

Step 2. Create a Business Plan

Before getting into the venture create a detailed business plan . Write your business objective and mission statement. Fix your business ownership pattern.

Calculate the total startup capital investment required. It may include establishment costs, resources, and marketing expenses.

What are the training and value-added services you will be going to offer? Design a curriculum professionally for your computer training institute.

Fix the pricing. Plan for your staffing requirements. Create a marketing plan for advertising and marketing policy. Identify your business demographics and target niche.

Step 3. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

If you are looking forward to starting and running a legally compliant computer training institute, registering your business is a must. There are various business structures available as per your resources and scale of operation. You can go for proprietorship, or partnership, or form a private limited entity.

Ensure legal compliance by registering your computer institute and obtaining the necessary licenses. Familiarize yourself with the educational regulations and standards set by relevant authorities in the region.

Step 4. Select the Location for the Computer Training Center

As an educational institute, business location is an important factor to be successful in this business. You can select a location in a high-traffic area and near other education institutes like schools, colleges, and universities.

Step 5. Infrastructure and Facilities

Create a conducive learning environment by investing in adequate infrastructure. Set up well-equipped computer labs with the latest hardware and software. Ensure comfortable seating arrangements and a positive ambience for effective learning.

Step 6. Course Curriculum Development

Develop a comprehensive course curriculum that aligns with industry standards and addresses the needs of your target audience. Consider including courses on programming languages, software applications, and emerging technologies.

Step 7. Qualified Instructors and Staff

Recruit experienced and qualified instructors with expertise in the subjects you offer. Ensure that your staff is not only knowledgeable but also skilled in effective teaching methodologies.

Read:   Best Tech Startup Business Ideas

Step 8. Technology Infrastructure

Invest in a robust technology infrastructure, including high-speed internet, multimedia projectors, and other audio-visual aids. Embrace e-learning platforms for a blended learning experience.

Step 9. Student Enrollment Process

Streamline the student enrollment process with an online registration system. Provide clear information about course details, fees, and any prerequisites. Implement an efficient student management system.

Step 10. Financial Planning and Pricing

Develop a financial plan outlining startup costs, operational expenses, and potential revenue streams. Set competitive yet sustainable pricing for your courses, considering the value you provide.

Step 11. Collaborations and Partnerships

Forge collaborations with industry professionals and businesses to enhance the credibility of your institute. Partnering with technology companies can provide access to the latest tools and resources.

Step 12. Government Affiliation for Computer Institute

You can apply for Government affiliation from AICSM ( All India Computer Shaksharta Mission). This Government agency provides affiliation for different certified courses, diploma courses, PGDCA courses, and advanced diploma courses. You can go to the site for more information https://www.aicsm.com/.

Step 13. Arrange Fund

Financial resource is the most important thing in any business. According to the plan, you will need to arrange cash for investment. If you don’t have that capital, you can apply for a loan. and you have several options here too.

First of all, you can buy computers and other equipment from a hire purchase leasing agreement with an NBFC company. These companies offer loans on movable properties.

Also, you can apply for a business loan in any local bank. In that case, you will need to provide collateral there. Also, you must have a proper IT file that ensures your credibility.

Read: Best Business Loans In India

Step 14. Have a Marketing Plan

Concentrate on giving a solution to the students in a friendly manner. Publish advertisements in newspapers that are in the field of education and jobs. Conduct seminars. Conduct free workshops on your offered services detailing the benefits of the courses.

Read: Growth Marketing Hacks For Small Businesses

Try to give some value addition with your courses like job assistance or career assistance. Develop a website and create an effective online presence for your computer training institute. Go for some social media campaign. Regularly update your blog focusing on how computer advancements affect the workplace and how training in new applications can help students advance at work.

Build a relationship with HR professionals, small business owners, and corporate executives. Ask successfully passed out students to give feedback on the site about their experience throughout the session. Arrange an online facility for students to have training at their places

Cost of Starting a Computer Institute in India

Starting a computer institute in India involves various costs, ranging from infrastructure setup to operational expenses. The following breakdown provides an overview of the key expenses you might incur when establishing your computer education venture.

1. Infrastructure Costs:

1.1 physical space:.

• Description: Leasing or purchasing space for classrooms, labs, offices, and common areas.
• Estimated Cost: Varies based on location, size, and facilities.
• Considerations: Choose a location accessible to your target audience with sufficient space for classrooms and labs.

1.2 Classroom Setup:

• Description: Furniture, whiteboards, projectors, and other classroom essentials.
• Estimated Cost: ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000 depending on the size and quality.

1.3 Computer Labs:

• Description: Computers, servers, networking equipment, and necessary software.
• Estimated Cost: ₹5,00,000 – ₹10,00,000 based on the number of computers and specifications.

1.4 Interior Decor and Amenities:

• Description: Decorative elements, lighting, air conditioning, and amenities for a conducive learning environment.
• Estimated Cost: ₹1,00,000 – ₹3,00,000 depending on the scale and quality.

2. Educational Resources:

2.1 course materials:.

• Description: Textbooks, reference materials, and educational software.
• Estimated Cost: ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000 depending on the courses offered.

2.2 Licensing Fees:

• Description: Fees for licensing educational software and tools.
• Estimated Cost: Variable, depending on the software used.

3. Technology Infrastructure:

3.1 computers and software:.

• Description: High-quality computers, servers, and licensed software.
• Estimated Cost: ₹5,00,000 – ₹10,00,000 depending on specifications.

3.2 Internet Connectivity:

• Description: High-speed internet for labs, research, and online resources.
• Estimated Cost: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000 per month.

4. Staffing and Salaries:

4.1 instructors:.

• Description: Salaries for qualified instructors and teaching staff.
• Estimated Cost: ₹2,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 per instructor per annum.

4.2 Administrative Staffing:

• Description: Salaries for administrative and support staff.
• Estimated Cost: ₹1,00,000 – ₹3,00,000 per staff member per annum.

5. Marketing and Promotion:

5.1 digital marketing:.

• Description: Website development, SEO, and online advertising.
• Estimated Cost: ₹1,00,000 – ₹3,00,000 for initial setup and ongoing campaigns.

5.2 Printed Materials:

• Description: Brochures, pamphlets, and promotional materials.
• Estimated Cost: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000 for design and printing.

6. Legal and Licensing:

6.1 registration and licensing:.

• Description: Legal fees for registering the institute and obtaining necessary licenses.
• Estimated Cost: ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000.

7. Miscellaneous Expenses:

7.1 utilities:.

• Description: Electricity, water, and other utility expenses.

7.2 Maintenance and Repairs:

• Description: Routine maintenance and repair costs for equipment and facilities.
• Estimated Cost: ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000 annually.

The Total Estimated Initial Cost of starting a computer institute in India is in the range of ₹20,00,000 to ₹50,00,000

These estimates are indicative and can vary based on factors such as location, scale, and specific requirements of your computer institute. It’s essential to conduct detailed research and planning to create a more accurate budget for your unique venture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key steps to legally establish a computer institute in india.

To establish a computer institute in India, you need to register your institute, obtain the necessary licenses, and adhere to educational regulations. Consult local authorities and educational boards for specific guidelines.

How can I determine the right niche for my computer institute?

Consider factors such as the demographics of your target audience, the local market demand, and the specific courses you are passionate about or have expertise in. Conduct thorough market research to identify gaps and opportunities.

What infrastructure is essential for a computer institute?

Essential infrastructure includes well-equipped computer labs with up-to-date hardware and software, comfortable seating, high-speed internet, multimedia projectors, and audio-visual aids for effective learning.

How do I recruit qualified instructors for my computer institute?

Recruit instructors with relevant qualifications, industry experience, and effective teaching skills. Conduct interviews and assess their ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and engagingly.

What courses should I include in the curriculum of my computer institute?

Develop a curriculum that aligns with industry standards and includes popular courses such as programming languages, software applications, and emerging technologies. Regularly update the curriculum to stay relevant.

What is the enrollment process for students in a computer institute?

Implement an online registration system to streamline the enrollment process. Provide detailed information about course offerings, fees, and any prerequisites. Ensure transparency and ease of use for prospective students.

What financial considerations should I keep in mind when starting a computer institute?

Develop a comprehensive financial plan that includes startup costs, operational expenses, and potential revenue streams. Set realistic pricing for your courses, considering the quality of education you provide.

Are internship and placement programs necessary for a computer institute?

Yes, internship and placement programs enhance the employability of your students. Establish connections with companies for potential job opportunities and provide a platform for students to gain practical experience.

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How to Start a Computer Business

Last Updated: May 3, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 192,860 times.

While your dream may be to start the next Apple or Microsoft out of your garage, it is more likely that your desire to start a computer business involves dealing with existing systems via sales, service, or support. With the rapid changes in technology that have already led some to place us in the “post-PC era,” [1] X Research source the job of a computer repair person , for instance, has changed quite a bit from ten years ago and will surely be quite different ten years from now. Beyond keeping up with changing technology and maintaining your expertise, however, starting a computer business requires many of the same skills required of any other small business field — things like a clear business plan, a smart marketing strategy , and outstanding customer service.

Aligning Your Skills and Goals With the Market

• Have you ever dissected, reassembled, or repaired a computer? Are you familiar with all major operating systems? Have you worked in the computer field before? Honestly assess your readiness to start a computer business, or ask someone else with industry knowledge help you make the assessment.
• Completing a degree in the computer field will certainly help you in starting a business, but it is unlikely that most customers will ask to see your diploma. More important is your ongoing gathering of experience, whether through education, training, or employment.
• Certification is a good way to indicate expertise, though. You may want to seek A+ certification from the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), or the related N+ network certification, or become a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE). [2] X Research source These can help give your business card an air of legitimacy.

• In this so-called “post-PC era,” you may find demand for traditional computer sales, service, and/or support to be much reduced, especially among a younger, tech-savvy population. However, especially in areas with older populations and/or small-town and rural areas, you may find a greater percentage of people in need of PC repairs and support. Remember, you need to keep up with the latest technology; many of your potential customers do not (and will not). [3] X Research source [4] X Research source

• New technology is meant to make life easier, but many consumers find it to be just another layer of confusion. General set-up and troubleshooting tasks, like setting up printers and wireless networks, data recovery and wiping, and media archiving or editing, may remain a viable component of your business, even if PC repair requests decrease.
• If you can prove yourself to be an expert on computers and related technology, and can build a positive reputation, you should be able to find a niche for your computer business.

• If you’re looking to keep your computer business as a part-time job, then keeping your focus on repairs and troubleshooting may suffice.
• Building your business into a full-time occupation, however, may require further diversification of the products and services you offer, perhaps by selling parts, accessories, or entire systems. You’ll need to draw in a loyal client base and build a positive reputation in the community.

Brandon Phipps

Your core goal is to offer benefits to your customers for a fair price. By providing such a service, you can earn a significant income while doing something you are skilled at and helping others.

Succeeding in the Computer Business

• Even if computers are your focus, expect people to seek help and guidance with all sorts of mobile technology, from phones to tablets to watches. You may or may not want to get into the mobile tech sales and/or service business — consider the increased inventory demands, for instance — but being able to provide general troubleshooting, training, and support on the latest devices may prove quite useful. [6] X Research source
• If home service calls are part of your business, the essential toolkit you take with you will continue to shift along with technology. However, you can find a good list of basic equipment you’ll need (for the time being) at https://www.technibble.com/categories/starting-computer-repair-business/ .

• You’ll deal with panicked customers who think they’ve just lost all their important files, irate customers who want immediate help at 10 p.m., and hovering customers who want to supervise (and ask about) every move you make. You need to be able to remain calm , courteous, and patient. As a small business, you’re not likely to be able to match the prices of your larger competitors — the personalized service you offer needs to offset this disadvantage.

• Put some thought to your business name, logos , signage, marketing, etc. Create a professional look that presents your business as legitimate and lasting.
• Referrals will be essential to your business. Always hand out professional-looking business cards to existing customers, and consider offering referral discounts or rewards. Throwing in some free service or equipment is a small price to pay in order to build up your customer base. [8] X Research source
• Especially if you don’t have a storefront, make your business website and/or social media presence appear professional and interconnected to your overall brand.

• Working from home, for instance, offers more flexibility and less overhead costs, but also offers less visibility and possibly more distractions. A well-placed storefront adds to your visibility and helps legitimize your business in the public’s mind, but it comes at a cost and tends to lock you into a more rigid schedule.
• If you focus on computer repairs, working in your own shop may limit distractions and save you time and travel money, but customers may be more comfortable with you working on the equipment in their homes. (Your potential liability is also likely to be reduced when you don’t take the equipment with you.)

Starting a Small Business: Some Basics

• See How to Write a Business Plan for a good primer on the process of creating this important document.

• You may want to save on taxes by having customers pay cash “under the table” and not reporting the income, but this gives your business an air of illegitimacy (as well it should) for your customers. You are better off paying the taxes and appearing (and being) legitimate. [9] X Research source
• How to Open a Small Business offers some nice information on the legal requirements of establishing a business. The U.S. Small Business Administration website is also a great resource; see, for instance, https://www.sba.gov/content/follow-these-steps-starting-business .

• Volunteer some of your time and expertise. Be a supporting sponsor at community events (with the requisite public recognition, of course). Use your advertising and branding to develop a sense of stability and permanence for your business, even in a field that changes as rapidly as computers.
• No matter the nature of your small business, you need to be visible, you need to be reliable, and you need to provide a personalized experience that builds customer loyalty.

Expert Q&A

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To start up a successful computer business, find a way to match your skills with the needs of your local computer market. Assess the training and experience that you have with computers to determine the type of computer business that is best suited to your talents. For example, if you have experience building personal computers, you can use your background to start up a business selling discounted computers that you assemble from parts that you acquire. In addition to your skills and experience, it’s important that you analyze the market around you to see if you can start a successful business. Consider the demographics in your area and think about what type of computer products or services they’re likely to purchase. For example, if you’re selling discounted computer systems, and your area has a large number of older people looking to buy a simple home computer, you may have a market for your business! For tips about how to build your brand identity when you’re starting a computer business, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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In today's digital age, computer skills are more critical than ever. That's why it's so important to have a computer training school to teach basic computer training for employees and students. While some schools may offer courses to teach the basics of how to type or effectively search online, there are still tools and skills that most people should be familiar with. If you are passionate about computer skills and take great pride in sharing your knowledge, then starting a computer training school may be a good fit.

Whether you're looking to start a new computer training school or looking for ways to improve an existing one, there are specific steps you can take. You can offer classes for children or basic computer training for employees. Knowing the importance of computer courses can inform the steps necessary to set up a computer training school, and there are free resources that you can use to get started.

What Is Basic Computer Training?

Basic computer training covers a wide range of topics related to computers. This training can include learning to type correctly, using different software programs, and understanding computer hardware. The experts at Unesco define basic computer skills as managing computer files, using word processors, and understanding the ethical implications of internet usage. Many people who are new to computers find it helpful to take a basic computer course to feel confident when using this technology. Still, people who are more seasoned in computer literacy may also find a need to hone their skills further.

While some people might be able to figure out how to use a computer independently, taking a course allows them to learn from an expert and ask any questions they may have. In addition, most computer courses offer hands-on experience so that students can get a feel for using different computer programs. Even if you teach the class virtually, students have the guidance and wisdom of a teacher there to help if they get stuck. A good instructor teaches how to develop computer skills in addition to the programs themselves.

The Importance of Computer Courses

In today's world, computer skills are becoming increasingly important. Most jobs now require at least some basic understanding of computers, and those who don't have these skills may find it challenging to be hired. Having advanced computer knowledge and skills looks great on a resume, so job applicants should include all their relevant computer expertise in the skills section of the resume. Even if a job doesn't require computer skills, having them can still be beneficial.

For example, computer skills can help a person stay organized, manage their finances and stay in touch with friends and family. Even the most basic programs can be taught at computer schools. With so many different ways to use computers, it's essential to have at least a basic understanding of how they work. Otherwise, people miss out on all the benefits they offer.

How to Set Up a Computer Training School

If you're interested in starting a computer training school, there are a few things you need to do. First, decide whether your school will be in person or online. The benefit of instructing in person is that it is easier to teach hands-on skills with your students in front of you. However, the drawback may be that you need to provide students with computers.

Next, write a business plan. This plan is where all your details come together. Cover all aspects of your business, including your expected profits, anticipated student load, and marketing plan. The writers at NerdWallet suggest starting with your business goals and working the plan out from there.

After you have all of this figured out, you are ready to start advertising your computer training school online or in your community. Be sure to let people know what services you offer and why they should choose your school over others.

• Unesco Institute for Statistics: Basic Computer Skills
• NerdWallet: How to Write a Business Plan, Step by Step

Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. She has been writing on business-related topics for nearly 10 years. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing, and she works with a number of small businesses to develop B2B content for their websites, social media accounts, and marketing materials. In addition to this content, she has written business-related articles for sites like Sweet Frivolity, Alliance Worldwide Investigative Group, Bloom Co and Spent.

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How to start a training business: a comprehensive guide to success, share this article.

Imagine standing on the edge of a vast field, one that’s fertile and primed for cultivation. This field represents the training business landscape, brimming with potential and ripe for cultivation by the right entrepreneur. 

Starting a training business requires preparation, careful planning, diligent maintenance, and a touch of creativity.

There’s no better time to seize this opportunity, particularly considering the high demand for training services. From professional skill enhancement to personal development, more people than ever are looking for comprehensive, accessible training to help them reach their goals. This demand is expected to increase further in the coming years, making it a potentially lucrative venture for those who are ready to till the soil.

Skip ahead: 

Identify Your Niche

Create a business plan, legal considerations, establish your training center or online platform, develop your training programs and curriculum, marketing your training business, measure success and refine your strategy, tips for growing your training business, frequently asked questions, steps to starting a training business.

Venturing into the vast field of starting a training business might seem daunting at first glance. However, breaking it down into manageable steps can help make the task less overwhelming and more approachable. 

Each step represents a crucial part of the process, from the initial stages of identifying your niche to creating a business plan to finally measuring your success and refining your strategies. Keeping track of these steps not only ensures that no important detail is overlooked but also facilitates a smooth and organized business setup.

Choosing your niche can be intimidating, but it’s absolutely critical to the success of your business. 

This vital first step begins with an assessment of your skills and expertise. Are there certain areas of knowledge or skills you’ve amassed that could prove beneficial to others? 

Perhaps you have years of industry-specific experience or an advanced degree in a specialized field, which you can then channel into the training landscape.

In addition to understanding your expertise, it’s crucial to analyze market demand for your chosen niche and scrutinize both existing and potential competition. 

This entails conducting a rigorous research process to grasp the specific needs, interests, and preferences of potential learners. 

• Are there sufficient individuals interested in your area of expertise? 
• How can your offerings stand apart in the current competitive landscape? 

The insights gleaned from this process will enable you to maximize the yield from your entrepreneurial field.

Related: Training Ideas Generator

Your business plan serves as your entrepreneurial guide, providing essential direction and structure for your training business. 

Begin with establishing your mission and vision, which convey the core purpose of your business and the future you aim to shape through your services.

Identifying your target audience is the next crucial step. By thoroughly understanding the demographics, preferences, and learning styles of your prospective clients, you can ensure your services are finely tailored to meet their needs. 

The business plan should also include measurable goals and milestones that will mark your progress on your entrepreneurial path. Whether it’s acquiring a specific number of learners in the first year or launching a designated number of courses, these goals serve as signposts to guide and inspire your efforts.

To develop a comprehensive business plan, consider including:

• Executive Summary: An overview of your business and plans.
• Company Description: Details about what your company does and who it serves.
• Market Analysis: An examination of your industry, target market, and competitors.
• Marketing and Sales Strategy: Your plans for attracting and retaining customers.
• Service Offerings and Pricing Structure: A detailed explanation of your services and pricing.
• Management and Organizational Structure: The structure of your company and the roles of each team member.
• Financial Projections and Funding Requirements : A projection of future revenues and expenses and details of funding requirements (if applicable).

Deciding on your business structure is akin to laying the foundational bedrock upon which you’ll sow the seeds of your enterprise. There are several options available:

• Sole Proprietorship: A simple structure for a single owner who wants to control all business decisions and responsibilities.
• Partnership: Suitable for businesses with multiple owners who share in the company’s profits and losses.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC): This structure limits owners’ liability for business decisions or actions of the LLC.
• Corporation: A complex structure that involves legal protection and requires a board of directors, corporate officers, and shareholders.

Each of these options comes with its unique benefits and drawbacks. It’s advisable to consult with a legal professional or business advisor to help you select the most appropriate structure for your training business.

Just as a farmer requires an optimal plot of land to sow their seeds, you too need to establish the ideal platform for your training services. This could be a physical training center or an online platform . 

Both come with distinct advantages, and the most suitable choice depends on your target audience, budget, and the nature of your training programs.

A physical location provides a conducive environment for in-person interactions and hands-on training. Conversely, an online platform enables you to cast your net wider, potentially attracting a global audience, and offers the added benefits of flexibility and convenience. You can also deliver a mix of in-person and online training.

It’s also worthwhile considering the investment in a user-friendly Learning Management System (LMS) or an online training platform to enhance your training delivery.

As you establish your training platform, you’ll also need to determine the method of delivery for your training. 

Will it be in-person workshops and seminars, online courses and webinars, or a blended learning approach that combines the two? 

The necessary technology, equipment, and software for your chosen delivery method should also be part of your consideration.

Developing your training programs and curriculum forms the heart of your training business. Your actual training materials need to be engaging and high-value, capable of inspiring your audience and helping them to achieve their goals.

The key to crafting effective training programs and courses lies is understanding your target audience. Delving deep into their needs, preferences, challenges, goals and learning styles can inform the structure and content of your training programs. 

• Would they thrive better in self-paced environments, or do they require the structure and guidance of an instructor-led program? 
• Would they value the weight of a certificate program or the flexibility and diversity offered by a series of short courses?

When developing your curriculum, it’s crucial to consider these factors, shaping your offerings around the unique requirements and aspirations of your learners. You should commit to regular updates to your training materials. 

By aligning your content with the latest trends, research, and industry practices, you maintain the relevance and value of your courses. 

This ensures your programs are not just a static product but a dynamic learning experience that evolves with the times and keeps your training business at the forefront of the industry.

Remember, a successful curriculum is not just about knowledge transmission; it’s about creating transformative learning experiences that empower your audience, helping them grow and flourish in their respective fields.

Marketing catalyzes growth in your business. Begin by building a strong brand identity that reflects your values and mission, creating an impression in the minds of your clients about your business.

Develop a marketing strategy that effectively leverages the right channels to reach your target audience. This could encompass a blend of traditional advertising and digital marketing techniques.

Harness the power of social media, content marketing, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to augment your online visibility. These tools can boost your engagement with potential clients and expand your digital footprint.

A robust marketing strategy might also involve developing a website and optimizing it for search engines. 

Utilize social media platforms and online forums to promote your training business and network with industry professionals and potential clients. 

Offering free resources or introductory workshops can demonstrate your expertise, generate interest, and attract prospective learners to your programs.

Lastly, consider your pricing and payment options. Research competitors’ pricing structures to establish competitive rates. 

Offering various payment options such as credit cards, PayPal, and invoicing for corporate clients, along with discounts for group bookings, early registration, or loyalty programs, can provide additional appeal for prospective clients.

In your journey towards establishing a thriving training business, tracking progress and refining your strategy is not just the final step but a continuous one. 

Make a habit of regularly evaluating your business performance against your established goals and milestones. This assessment should cover various areas of your business – from customer acquisition and retention rates to course completion rates and overall financial health.

One of your richest sources of improvement ideas comes directly from your clients. Make it a practice to gather their feedback , as their perspectives can provide invaluable insights into how your services are received.

Feedback, both positive and critical, can reveal opportunities for growth, enhancement, and innovation that you might not have considered otherwise.

Finally, you must remain adaptable and ready to adjust your strategy as required. The business landscape, much like nature, is in a constant state of flux. Whether it’s a shift in market trends, advancements in training technology, or changes in your client’s needs, your readiness to evolve with these changes is crucial.

A successful training business isn’t static; it grows and adapts, continually evolving to meet the needs of its clients while maintaining its financial health. 

This continual refinement and adaptation are what will ensure your training business doesn’t just survive but thrives for the long haul.

The most successful training entrepreneurs actively seek growth strategies for their businesses. They strive for excellence, going out of their way to learn the latest and greatest strategies.

Here are a few practical tips that can help drive the growth of your training business:

• Collaborating with Industry Experts: Teaming up with industry experts can significantly boost the quality of your training content. These specialists bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and credibility to your programs, making them more attractive to potential learners. Collaborations can also lead to the expansion of your professional network and present more growth opportunities.
• Offering Certification Programs: Certification programs provide added value for learners, acting as a seal of quality assurance and competency in their chosen field. By offering certification programs, your training business can stand out from the competition, attracting more clients seeking recognition for their newly acquired skills.
• Expanding Your Services and Target Markets: Never limit your field. Consider expanding your service offerings or venturing into new target markets. With the world becoming more connected every day, there’s potential to reach diverse audiences seeking knowledge in various fields. Always be open to new opportunities and keep your finger on the pulse of market trends and demands.

Remember to keep an eye on the competition, too. Is there something extra your competitors offer? What can you do to set yourself apart?

Growth can feel like pulling teeth at first – but with a few strategies and the right approach, you’ll see numbers start to skyrocket. 

Like a good harvest, reaping the fruits of a successful training business is a rewarding experience. It’s a journey that starts with identifying your niche, creating a comprehensive business plan, and navigating the legal landscape. 

It involves setting up a conducive platform for training, developing engaging programs and curricula, and executing effective marketing strategies.

Growing your training business is a continuous endeavor, and with the right mindset and strategies, you can ensure the fertility of your professional field. Collaborations, certification programs, and the expansion of services can all play a significant role in this growth process.

Download the In-Depth Checklist: How to Start a Training Business

Equip yourself with the essential knowledge and guidance you need to launch your training business successfully. Our comprehensive In-Depth Checklist provides a step-by-step roadmap, empowering you to navigate the intricacies of starting a training venture with confidence.

Q. What are the initial costs of starting a training business?

The initial costs of starting a training business can vary widely, depending on several factors. If you’re starting an online training business, for instance, costs will generally be lower than setting up a physical location. 

Primary costs may include investing in a high-quality learning management system (LMS) or online training platform, creating course content, and marketing your services. If you opt for a physical training center, you’ll need to factor in the rent or purchase of a location, outfitting the space for learning and potentially hiring staff.

 Consultation with legal professionals, business registration, and obtaining necessary permits also add to initial expenses. It’s crucial to outline these costs in your business plan for a clear financial overview.

Q. How do I price my training services?

Pricing your training services should consider several factors: the cost of producing and delivering the training, your time and expertise, market rates, and the perceived value to your learners. 

Research your competitors’ pricing strategies to understand what your target market expects to pay. Offering various payment options and discounts for early registration, group bookings, or loyalty programs can also enhance your pricing strategy’s attractiveness.

Q. How can I differentiate my training business from competitors?

Differentiating your training business involves highlighting what makes your offering unique. It could be your unique expertise, the quality of your course content, collaboration with industry experts, or offering certification programs. 

Tailoring your programs to the specific needs of your target audience and providing an exceptional learning experience can also set you apart. Remember, your brand identity plays a crucial role in differentiating your business in the market.

Q. What are the best marketing strategies for a training business?

Effective marketing strategies for a training business include developing a strong online presence through a user-friendly, SEO-optimized website. 

Utilizing social media platforms, offering free resources or introductory workshops, and networking with industry professionals can also enhance your visibility. 

Remember to leverage content marketing to showcase your expertise and engage potential clients. Your marketing strategy should be as dynamic as the market itself, adjusting to trends, audience preferences, and business goals.

Q. How do I ensure the success of my training business in the long run?

Long-term success in the training business requires continuous evaluation and adaptation. Regularly assess your business performance and gather feedback from clients to understand what works and what needs improvement. 

Keep your training materials up-to-date and relevant to ensure they continue to meet your learners’ evolving needs. Lastly, consider growth strategies such as collaborating with industry experts, expanding your services, and venturing into new markets. 

Ensuring the success of your training business requires ongoing care, creativity, and diligence.

This article was originally published July 2023 and was updated in October 2023 to be even more useful.

Daniela Ochoa is the go-to Content Marketing Specialist here at Thinkific Plus! With years of experience in marketing and communications, she is passionate about helping businesses grow through strategic storytelling, innovative digital campaigns, and online learning at scale.On this blog, she shares her expertise in content marketing, lead generation, and more.

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• Business Plans Handbook
• Business Plans - Volume 09
• Computer Training Service Business Business Plan

Computer Training Service Business

BUSINESS PLAN       ENHANCED OCCUPATIONS CENTER

1211 Bailey Drive Seattle, Washington 98121

Computer training services have an excellent profitability level and growth rate. Our competitive edge along with new training techniques puts EOC at the forefront of training services. We are living in an age where computer knowledge is a must and the market for computer training services is booming.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Company history, market analysis summary, business strategy & implementation, management summary, financial plan.

Enhanced Occupations Center is a computer training service business located at 1505 N. Fifth Street, Seattle, Washington. This business plan was developed for the purpose of a business loan in the amount of $71,500. Our projected sales for 2000 alone are $122,448 and our projected profits are over $30,000.

Computer training services, as shown in our plan, have an excellent profitability level and growth rate. Our competitive edge along with new training techniques puts EOC at the forefront of training services. We are living in an age where computer knowledge is a must and the market for computer training services is booming. Our training center will differ from the traditional computer training services (usually offered by colleges and universities) because of our added personal touch.

The Enhanced Occupations Center (EOC) knows firsthand that computer training has to meet all of its customers' needs in order to have a tangible lasting impact. When you measure across multiple customer segments—each of which has its own priorities—you see how much more training must do to consistently and simultaneously satisfy participants, managers, and executives. Training then can move to close those gaps and deliver more real value. Closing those gaps between employer skill needs and employee skills development is the main objective of EOC.

EOC's other objectives are:

• To meet the computer training needs of computer users and area businesses by the way of Skill Assessment and Goal-Based Training.
• Retain new and current students through Step-Level Based computer training.
• Re-assess students upon completion of computer training to record skill level improvements.
• Monitor outcomes of student completions after a 30-day period to track new employment or computer-related improvements.
• Adjust the computer training program as needed and according to outcomes.
• Continue to assess our own staff's computer training skill level and effectiveness.
• Sales of $122,448 in 2000 and $200,192 by 2002.

EOC's mission is to understand what our students and businesses hope to achieve and dedicate our computer training and development to the fulfillment of those goals. The computer training we provide is contributing visibly and substantially to the fulfillment of our area business's strategies.

EOC will maintain financial balance, charge a high value for our services, and deliver an even higher value to our clients. EOC will make computer user techniques accessible to hundreds of computer users who would otherwise not have the updated knowledge to use them. EOC will make a profit and generate cash. We will provide a rewarding work environment and fair compensation to our employees, ultimately provide excellent value to our customers and a fair return to our owners.

Keys to Success

EOC's keys to success include: implementing an effective cash flow plan, achieving efficiency, running our training like a business, and maintaining a serious business discipline to everything in our training.

EOC's cash flow plan is to:

• Maintain enough money on hand each month to pay the cash obligations the following month.
• Identify and eliminate deficiencies or surpluses in cash.
• Alter business financial plans to provide more cash if deficiencies are found.
• Invest any revealed excess cash in an accessible, interest bearing, low-risk account, such as a savings account or short-term CD or T-bill.
• Eliminate credit and terms to customers.
• Clearly understand the computer training market, distributions costs and competition, and continually adjusting accordingly.
• Keep enough cash, as an added cushion for security, on hand to cover expenses.
• Reduce accountant expenses by producing our own summary statistics and projections.

To achieve effectiveness EOC will:

• Link our training and development to business strategy by understanding what our customers hope to achieve and dedicating training and development to the fulfillment of those goals.
• Focus on business issues rather than training content by working tirelessly to offer training that matches new and emerging demands.
• Let our customer demand shape our training and development offerings by providing a core curriculum designed to train individuals in basic skills and core competencies. We will also conduct ongoing needs assessments across the organization aimed at making training more strategic and providing training that has more business impact.
• Clarify our training and development business mission by avoiding trying to be all things to all people. EOC will offer more than training to develop employee skills. The training EOC will provide will also contribute—visible and substantially—to fulfillment of our customers' business strategies.
• See training and development as an enterprise, not as a function by:
• 1. Maintaining intense focus on our customers, their issues, and their needs.
• 2. Being systematic in our efforts to meet those needs efficiently, consistently, and reliably.
• 3. Daring to pursue missions that are linked to the business strategy and focused on business issues; willingly tackling big challenges, even those that are difficult and risky; being ambitious, alert, confident, and pragmatic.

To achieve cost efficiency EOC will:

• Expose hidden costs for businesses by allowing them to see their "true" training costs such as lost productivity, wasted training investments, or lost opportunity. Teaching these businesses how to measure training costs, and what they are getting back from their training.
• Aggressively reduce costs by eliminating duplication.• Build and maintain reliable systems and processes by putting reliable training and development systems and processes in place.
• Operate as a variable cost, not a fixed expense, by understanding that customers spend only at their own initiative. Making training a variable cost makes especially good sense now that the pace of change in business—and the resulting demands for learning—are accelerating so dramatically. We found that there's no better stimulus to innovate, improve, and become more efficient than having to earn the right to serve customers, each and every day.
• Be flexible and opportunistic in sourcing by strategically linking and focusing on business issues, allowing customers to consistently define the value derived from the training. Clarify precisely what our customers expect from the training; negotiate a results contract; guarantee customer satisfaction.

To maintain a serious business discipline EOC will:

• Continually adapt to ongoing change in the business environment.
• Promote learning not as an ideal but as a way to fulfill specific business-driven objectives.
• Be entrepreneurial—live with risk.
• Structure training to provide exactly what is needed.
• Divide customers into segments and provide each segment appropriate forms of value.
• Document customers' expectations.
• Write results contracts specifying value to be delivered, at what price, customers' role in achieving targeted results.
• Offer service guarantees.

The Enhanced Occupations Center (EOC) is a product of a similar computer training program developed and implemented by Serena Bolton, for the University of Washington Office of Community and Business Partnerships. The program was developed for the University of Washington to provide basic computer training to the North Seattle Community area residents and Peters school's Leadership Academy.

The training was provided for four parents per session, two sessions per week for 15-20 sessions. Upon completion of the program the students will received a certificate. The sessions were made up of four core areas of Microsoft Office® training and those core areas were:

• Word Processing
• Access Database
• Publisher 98

Serena learned from the project and the community that there is a growing need for computer training that is based on the student or employer's goals and skills assessment needs. After the four-month project ended, and for a year after the program, Serena analyzed, researched, and redeveloped the program based on those needs.

The Enhanced Occupations Center differs from the University of Washington project to the following:

• Training is based on skill assessment and goals
• Outcome of the training is monitored
• Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Testing is offered
• Students are retained through Step-Level program
• Training is re-evaluated continuously
• Other occupational programs will be implemented in conjunction with the computer training, such as the Secretarial Program

During her year of research and studies, Serena developed her knowledge base of curriculum development and delivery, return on investment for Technology-Based Training (TBT), training management systems, development teams for creating TBTs, ensuring transfer of learning to the job, leveraging technology for human performance improvement and computer training statistics.

Now Serena was ready to bring all of the above components together, along with the communities' needs, and package them into a plan for the birth of her vision. Basing the program on the same centralized idea, Microsoft Office® Training, Serena created the Enhanced Occupations Center.

The computer training project developed for the Leadership Academy and AECC21, by Serena Bolton, has been maintained by the University of Washington Office of Community and Business Partnerships, and is taking place at the Maple Business Center in Seattle. After speaking with Martin Rawlins, Director of the Office, there is still a growing need for basic and advanced computer training. Martin has offered technical assistance and support to EOC and the assistance has been welcomed and accepted.

EOC has also been approved by the Microsoft Office User Specialist Program to operate as an Authorized Test Center. This approval gives EOC full authorization to use the Microsoft Office® logo on our printed and televised materials. Microsoft will also provide the security of having MicroShare, a technical support team, available to EOC 24-hours a day.

Company Ownership

EOC is a sole proprietorship and operated by Serena Bolton, a Certified Microsoft Office User Specialist. Serena has eleven years of hands-on computer use and training experience, and is also a Microsoft Certified Testing Administrator.

Start-up Summary

Total start-up expense (including professional fees, website, and related expenses) come to $79,454. Required start-up assets include $22,880 in short-term assets (office furniture, etc.) and $15,000 in initial cash to handle the first three months of training operations as sales play through the cash flow. The details are included in the following chart.

Company Location and Facilities

The Enhanced Occupations Center will be located at 1505 N. Fifth Street, Seattle, Washington. The suite is approximately 850 square feet and encompasses two offices, a receptionist area, and a 700-foot open training area. The suite is housed inside a secure building. There are restroom facilities and a drinking fountain located in the foyer area. The doors on the building automatically lock at 4:55 P.M. Anyone entering after that time must use a personal code.

The building is located between Marshall and Stanton roads and is near one of the state's largest employers, General Hospital. Other businesses located in the building are: Private Management, Temporary Placement Services, Pager Company, and a Credit Counselor business. The building is surrounded by restaurants, stores, etc.

EOC will offer the following training and assessment services. Each element of service will be implemented in overlapping phases.

Microsoft Office®-based computer training including the following:

• Word Processing Software
• PowerPoint Presentation Software
• Access Database/Customer Records Software
• Excel Spreadsheet/Invoicing Software
• Publisher Desktop Publishing/Graphics Software
• Outlook E-Mail/Calendar/Scheduling Software
• FrontPage Web Page Development (coming soon)
• Internet Online Technology

The Occupational Skills Assessments are for the following areas:

Office Skills Testing

• Receptionist
• Secretarial
• Customer Service

Call Center Testing

• Telemarketing
• Data Analysis

Office Management Testing

Computer literacy testing.

Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Certification Testing

Payment Methods

Class tuition payments must be paid to EOC in full, before the student can take a class. EOC will offer several payment options to the student such as: Visa, MasterCard, money orders, and personal checks.

Service Description

We will provide core curriculum designed to train individuals from basic computer skills to certification competencies. Students will be retained through Step-Level Based Training indicated below:

• Basic/Level 1 —consists of students who have had little or no computer training.
• Advanced/Level 2 —consists of students who have had at-home or on-the-job experience with the majority of software packages.
• Intermediate/Level 3 —consists of certification training of students in preparation for the Microsoft Office User Specialist Certification Test.
• Microsoft Office User Specialist Program—EOC is part of the MicroShare family of Authorized Test Centers (ATCs) that administer and offer assessment tests for the Microsoft Office® User Specialist (MOUS) program. About 90 percent of the Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft Office products. An ever-increasing number of individuals in these companies are looking for ways to give themselves a competitive edge to move up the career ladder.
• As an ATC, we have the opportunity to give our customers this competitive edge by helping them prove their expertise and skill in using Microsoft Office products. When passing or failing the test the student will receive a printout stating the results of the exam to take with them. If the student has passed the test, they will receive a Certification certificate in the mail 2-4 weeks later.

Microsoft Office User Specialist Certification Test

The test consists of actually taking the exam to be come a Microsoft Office User Specialist. This certification will give the student the credentials needed to prove that the student knows how to use Microsoft Office Applications efficiently and productively.

EOC believes that assessing a customer before and after a class will give us the real value of our training. EOC also will follow up 30 days after the training to see if the student actually retained what was learned and if the student was able to apply the skills in their current environment.

EOC also believes in assessing our own staff. We will conduct ongoing Skill Level Needs Assessments of our own employees across the Center, aimed at making computer training more strategic and providing computer training that has more of a business impact. We will continually seek to be effective for future student and business needs. Our key focus is to utilize our program outcomes to improve and increase our computer training effectiveness in the workplace.

EOC Company Assessment Program

EOC will provide an assessment service to local businesses as their pre-interviewing process. There will be a fee attached to this service. The assessment appointment will be by the company and they will give instructions as to our location, etc. EOC will only do business transactions with the company.

Training Schedule

The typical computer training class will run 2 hours, twice a week, for four weeks or a total of 16 hours of training. Our capacity for weekly classes, for one month, would be a total of 72 students.

Our workshops are one day, eight-hour classes. These classes are geared towards the individual wanting to brush up or learn a skill quickly without the long-term commitment.

The computer training classes will be scheduled as listed below. The specific subject of the class won't be established until we receive customer response to advertising and promotions.

Tentative Class Schedule

Competitive Comparison

EOC differs from the traditional learning environments where the classes are large and sometimes overwhelming to new students. EOC believes that by having smaller classes (no more than 8 students) the trainer can be more attentive to the majority of the students' needs. We focus on quality training, not quantity. Our fees are justified by the specialization of our personalized services.

Sales Literature

Once we learn the immediate needs of our typical customer, we can create our marketing literature to address these problems and our solutions to them, such as:

Are you being turned down for jobs because you don't know Windows, Microsoft Word, or PowerPoint? If so, call the Enhanced Occupations Center at 643-1000 for personalized hands-on training in the most popular software packages.

EOC will capitalize on the 80-20 rule and target low-maintenance customers that bring us the most revenues for the least effort. According to W.E.B. Business Consultants, 80 percent of computer training revenues come from 20 percent of our customers. We will use a program for tracking customers, sales, and our time. And then we will focus our efforts on the best 20 percent of our customers. We will target these people first and give them preferred status. EOC will then market our services to everyone else. We will "weed out" the customers that want to nickel and dime EOC, and make us rework a project over and over while they keep changing their minds about what they want.

EOC's sales literature includes:

• Business Cards
• Newsletters
• Introductory Letters
• Promotional tote bags, etc.
• CompuFax Sheet
• Web Presence

Enhanced Occupations Center will maintain the latest Windows® capabilities including:

• Complete e-mail facilities on the Internet, for working with students directly through e-mail delivery of schedules and information.
• Complete presentation facilities for preparation and delivery of multimedia presentations on Windows machines, in formats that include on-disk presentation, live presentation, or video presentation.
• Complete desktop publishing facilities for delivery of regular advertising and promotional materials.

Future Services

We will be adding these products and services in the near future:

Secretarial Training Classes —The student will learn about daily routines, telephone usage, mail services and shipping, travel arrangements, keeping accurate records, office machines, telecommunications equipment, computer systems, database management systems, computer communications, computerized spreadsheets software, data security, keyboarding skills, word processing, computer terms, writing business letters, and other written communications, forms of address, legal documents and terms, correct English usage, spelling, pronunciation, punctuation, numerals, bookkeeping and accounting, business and personal taxes, banking, special business and financial information for the small business secretary, and career advancement. Retail Self-paced Learning manuals —The student will be able to order or purchase outright, computer workbooks to use as added supplements. Senior Citizens Classes —Seniors will be picked up at their location and brought to the center for two hours to learn the basics of using a computer. These students will not be able to keep materials. This service will be at a senior discounted rate. Web Page Design Classes —The student will learn the basics of how to design a web page. This class will be a 2-8 hour class and will have a fee of $135 tuition and $20 for the book. Computer Question/Help desk —This service will only be available to current students who have computer questions related or not related to the subject they are currently studying.

The U.S. Census Bureau County Population report from 1998 states that the 14 most common purposes of the computer being used at home are word processing, calendar/scheduling, e-mail, bookkeeping, customer records, inventory control, invoicing, sales/marketing, desktop publishing, graphics and design, analysis, programming, spreadsheets and databases. The number one main purpose for computer use is word processing. The number one software used for these applications is Microsoft Word.

EOC will be focusing on new computer users and employed computer users that need to gain skills or update current skills. Our most important group of potential customers are those employed with high-technology businesses. These are entry-level employees or managers. We realize businesses do not want to waste their time or risk their money with training organizations that are fast paced with low skills retention outcomes.

Market Segmentation

The U.S. Census Bureau County Population report from 1998 states that there are approximately 436,084 people living in King County. As of the fall of 1989, nearly 1 in 3 persons age 3 and above will have used a computer. Overall about 1 in 6 adults has a home computer. More than 1 in 3 adults uses a computer at work. Women use computers 43 percent more than men. Persons in managerial and professional positions (56 percent) and technical and administrative positions (55 percent) were most likely to use computers.

Target Market Strategy

EOC will focus on the following segments. These segments are more interesting than other groups because they have the specific computer training needs EOC intends to meet.

• Microsoft Training for Fortune 500 company employees.
• Training real estate agents on realty software and basic Windows and Microsoft Office software.
• Training real estate agents on basic desktop publishing skills—scanning color photos, creating flyers for property, etc.
• Training physicians in specific specialties to use their patient management software.
• Training people on how to get the most from the Internet.
• raining business people on how to keep up with their websites, from e-mail management to web page creation.
• Training office personnel on how to use Microsoft Office or other office packages.
• Training the first-time computer owner on how to use their home PC.
• Setting up newsletter templates and teaching businesses how to keep up with the in- house or company newsletter.
• Training sales managers on how to use database software to track their sales and marketing functions.
• Training individuals who are looking for better employment on how to use the latest software packages.

These strategies are most effective when put into a formula in the following order:

• Identifying the symptoms
• Diagnosis of the problem
• Follow-up/Outcome Management

Additional Target Marketing Strategies

Our slogan "Training with a personal touch" emphasizes one of our major benefits and we will use this slogan throughout our literature, advertising, and graphics.

The following functions will be assigned to our marketing tools:

• Get name recognition
• Obtain leads
• Turn qualified prospect into a customer
• Ensure customer loyalty
• Stimulate training Center traffic
• Sell service directly
• Introduce new service
• Sell a special service package

The following are low cost/no cost marketing methods:

• Form relationships with noncompeting businesses.
• Get to know other computer professionals.
• Combine services in virtual corporations to provide turnkey solutions to clients.
• Do cooperative mailings with other noncompeting professionals.
• Volunteer to speak in clubs, associations, workshops, or seminars on our specialty.
• Periodically ask customers for referrals.
• Join a barter exchange.
• Produce a periodic newsletter.
• Write articles for local newspapers or upload them to Internet bulletin boards.
• Join Internet newsgroups and mail lists.
• Submit press releases.

The following are for fee marketing methods:

• Join associations
• Conduct seminars
• Conduct contests
• Offer freebees

EOC has two marketing formulas in place and they are:

• Get a list of companies together that we think may need our services (such as new businesses from the County Clerk's office or the Seattle Journal ).
• Call these people and find out the contact person and if they need our services.
• Mail a letter, brochure, and card to the interested companies.
• Follow-up with another call to the contact person.
• Continue to call these people periodically.
• Keep good records of companies and contact logs.
• Ask them if they would like a FREE subscription to our computer newsletter that we will fax them periodically.
• Fax the newsletter to those who are interested, and include mail enrollment information as well. Mail information to those people who don't want newsletters but are still interested in our services.
• Follow-up in a week to see what they thought and if we can help them with anything.
• Continue to send our fax newsletter regularly.
• Keep good records of contacts and logs.

Other Strategies:

• Join America's Learning Exchange resource database that will promote our training to employers, workers, and life-long learners via the Internet.
• Create alliances with grassroots organizations and staffing organizations.
• Assist in job placement upon completion of Certification testing.
• Create website for schedule information, applications, and book purchasing.
• Register with government programs for SBA certification and other government procurement opportunities.
• Network amongst family and friends for "word of mouth" opportunities to gather referrals.
• Contact students from previous classes.

Market Needs

Our target market is very dependent on reliable information technology. They use the computers for a complete range of functions, beginning with core administration information such as accounting, shipping, and inventory. They also use computers for communications within the business and outside the business, and for personal productivity. The businesses are not, however, large enough to have dedicated computer training personnel such as the MIS departments in large businesses. Ideally, they come to us for a long-term alliance, looking for reliable training service and support to substitute for the lack of their in-house trainer. These are not businesses that want to shop for rock-bottom prices. They want to have reliable providers of training expertise.

Market Trends

One important trend is that we live in an age where one-stop shopping is the preferred purchasing method. All you need to do is head down to your local Wal-Mart Supercenter for a 31-inch television, diapers, and a gallon of milk, while you simultaneously let them rotate your tires and have your hair done.

Now the technical professional has a similar resource. With the growing popularity of the Microsoft Office User Specialist Certification and use of Microsoft Office products, EOC is offering students the "one-stop-shop computer training and certification" approach. A student will no longer have to go from one seminar to another, or from one instructor's methods to another. At EOC students can begin at the basic level of instruction and follow through all the way to certification, without going through the added stress of familiarizing themselves all over again.

Market Growth and Industry

According to the America's Career Infonet Report, the top three fastest growing occupations in Washington are:

• Computer Engineers—102 percent increase forecast between 1994 and 2005.
• Systems analysts, electronic data processing—98 percent increase between 1994 and 2005.
• Electronic pagination system operators—80 percent increase between 1994 and 2005.

Listed below are the occupations with the largest number of projected openings in Washington during the 1994-2005 time period.

• General Office Clerks
• Clerical and administrative support workers
• Receptionists and information clerks
• Systems analysts, electronic data processing

All of the above occupations will require computer knowledge or computer training from their candidates.

By the year 2002, almost every household will have a computer and almost all businesses will be utilizing a computer for one reason or another. Computer training will no longer be a choice—it will be a requirement. EOC will be in place and established, already serving the training needs of employment candidates and businesses.

Among industries, computer use was most common in finance, insurance, and real estate, where 2 in 3 workers used them. According to Training Magazine 's 1999 Industry Report in 1999, training budgets crept up to $62.5 billion. Of that sum, $15 billion will go to outside providers of training products and services. Of all formal training 33 percent will be devoted to teaching computer skills. Of all computer-skills training, 74 percent of the training will be delivered in a classroom by a live instructor.

Competition and Buying Patterns

EOC's main competitors could be considered local colleges, universities, and continuing education providers, but in reality they are not.

In a sense, these "competitors" actually welcome computer training companies who cater to the smaller class sizes and novice computer users. It gives them the opportunity to cut back on waiting lists and also expedite their schedules, increasing the quantity and decreasing the quality. Computer Training companies rank second in selected training sources organizations choose to utilize.

EOC has heard time and time again, from students who have withdrawn from educational institutions because the classes are "too large and move too quickly through the materials." These students want and need computer training classes that are small and Skill Level Based oriented. The students also want improved teaching methods outside the traditional lecture learning style. They seek retention of skills learned. They want hands-on learning and they want to be able to go home or to work and begin using their new skills right away. Here are some other reasons that people will want to come to EOC for training:

• They have specific projects they want to create and their training will be learning- specific.
• They only need to learn a few things about a program and do not need a full course.
• Their schedule varies and they need a flexible training schedule.
• They are in a hurry. They do not have time to fit in a class at the local university or college. They want to be trained now!
• They are nervous in large groups or formal education facilities and want a more relaxed learning environment such as our Center.
• They feel like they are slow learners and would be more comfortable in a Center environment.

According to the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), "leading edge companies are responding to the need of skilled employees by providing more training (usually outsourced) because it makes sense from both a business standpoint and from a recruitment standpoint," said Laurie Bassi, ASTD Vice President of Research.

The huge need for skilled employees is being driven by technology and companies are scrambling to meet the technological requirements of their business.

The 1999 State of Industry report found that most firms increased the amount of money they spent on employees by about $150 per employee from 1996 to 1997, but that the leading edge firms surveyed doubled that with an average increase of $300 per employee. Typical total expenditures for training grew from $1.4 million in 1996 to $2 million in 1997 for average firms, and leading edge firms increased spending from $3.4 million to $4.1 million in the same period. Projected expenditures for 1998 show that the gap between the average firm and leading edge firms will continue to widen, with industry average increasing to $2.1 million while leading edge firms are projected to spend $4.7 million on training.

ASTD has found that companies that invest the most in workplace learning find higher net sales per employee, higher gross profits per employee, and a higher ratio in market-to-book values, compared with companies who invest less in workplace learning.

The information technology and transportation/public utility sectors spent the most on training ($3.9 million and $3.8 million respectively) and these sectors also led in terms of money spent per employee on training ($1,004 per employee and $943 per employee respectively).

Outsourcing of training grew by 20 percent, from $461,000 per firm in 1996 to $513,000 in 1997, and was predicted to grow to $522,000 in 1998.

In 1998 job-specific technical skills (including the use of technology) were the most frequent kinds of training delivered (17%), followed by management and supervisor training (12%), computer literacy and applications training (12%). Bringing up the rear was executive development (4%) and basic skills (2%), all which were up from 1996.

The use of learning technologies in training was on the rise—with an increase of 50 percent— but was still relatively low overall.

After carefully researching the computer training market, it has been discovered that some students are more concerned with how you train than with what you are training, even though the two concepts are equally important. EOC focuses on customer care.

The nearest Microsoft Office User Specialist testing center is in Redmond. EOC will be the first in MOUS Training Center to make its presence in Seattle. This groundbreaking opportunity gives EOC time to establish and maintain ongoing relationships with area businesses and students to gain their loyalty should another center open in Seattle. The key element in purchase decisions made at the EOC client level is trust in the professional reputation and reliability of the training center.

We develop marketing materials based on the symptoms of our customers and then we coordinate those materials to focus on solving the typical customer's symptoms. We will then obtain lists of people that fit our typical customer's characteristics.

Our business strategy is to develop a list of people that would most likely exhibit the "symptoms" we have determined our typical customer would have. Once we have our list we will consistently approach them about our services.

One way of approaching our prospects would be the Letter-Series Method. The Letter-Series Method consists of sending our prospects a series of four different professionally written letters (1 per week) before we ever call them. The letters would be personal, meaning the letter would state "Dear Mr. Smith" instead of "Dear Prospective Customer." By sending customers four letters we will establish EOC in their minds as a professional, persistent business entity.

The letters will be written in advance. They will cover a different topic each time. They will contain computer hints or a copy of our newsletter. We won't try to push or sell in these letters. By the fourth letter, they will know that we intend to call them. We will make sure we do call them when we say we will.

Here is the possible structure for our four letters:

Introduce ourselves and our philosophy. Build trust. Don't try to sell in this letter. Go over our attitudes, specialty, history, qualifications, and philosophy. It will be like a resume to introduce EOC.

Introduce our company.

Letter three

Cover a topic we feel may interest the prospect based on our knowledge of their "symptoms" and characteristics.

Letter four

Cover another topic we feel may interest them and let them know we will be calling on a specific day/time.

We will then create reminder and follow-up letters as well. These letters will include:

• Appointment reminder
• Thank you for the appointment
• Broken appointment/no show—will call back later
• Thank you for your business
• Thank you for your referral

EOC will make it a point to sign and hand-address our envelopes. We believe this will significantly increase the probability of our letters being opened. And an individually signed letter is much more personal.

On the fifth week, we will call to make an appointment to come in and talk with the prospect. We will have a written telephone script before we start calling.

A Harvard Business School study indicates that it "takes five contacts from an unknown company to an individual before he or she will feel comfortable enough to do business with the company." We will start with 350 or more prospects. We won't mail them all at once. We will stagger the mailing so that we will be able to contact them personally after they have received their fourth letter. This will be our initial implementation of the business, along with our current waiting list of students.

That list includes:

Once our students respond to our advertisements or referrals, they will enter into our pre- registration process. Once they have submitted their registration form/agreement letter and payment, they will be invited to the orientation and skill assessment. After they have been assessed they will be placed in a basic beginner's, advanced, or intermediate class— whichever meets their training needs.

After students complete their level they will be assessed and an outcome report will be written. Each student will be evaluated after each level they pass. The student will then again be placed. Once the student has completed all of the levels, or does not want to go any further, they will have a closing assessment. Each student will receive technical support for 30 days after which they will be contacted and a follow-up report will be done on the skills they have learned and the skills they use.

Competitive Edge

We will start with a critical competitive edge: there is no local competitor we know of that offers the MOUS Certification testing, small retention based classes, or individual student attention. Most of the local training facilities are not flexible to students' needs. Our positioning on this point is very hard to match, but only if we maintain this focus in our strategy, marketing, business development, and fulfillment. We should be aware that the tendency to dilute this personal touch, with larger classes that require longer student commitment, could weaken the importance of our competitive edge.

Marketing Strategy

Marketing in a high-end computer training business depends on recognition for expertise. It starts with our known contacts in positions to recommend us, and continues with long-term efforts to develop recognition in professional forums.

We will develop and maintain a database of people in the right positions. It starts with contacts we bring in as we start the business. From there we add enquiries and participants in forums and seminars, and newsletter subscribers. We use the database to make regular contact with mailings for additional forums and seminars.

Pricing Strategy

Seattle Community College's Continuing Education offers similar courses to EOC. Seattle prices its computer classes at $119 for 5-8 hours of training and $20 for the book. We will follow suit but market our classes at $125 for the class and $20 for the book. We can ask for more because our classes are smaller and we are able to give more individualized attention to our students. We also are able to give discounts on some of our manuals because we manufacture them ourselves.

The going rate for private training is between $25-$60 per hour depending on what is being taught. For businesses the rate is between $40-45 per hour for on-site training of 1-2 students, with a minimum of a two-hour visit. If people are going to have a large group trained at their location, we would charge a per person rate instead of an hourly one. For an 8-hour course, we would charge $300 for the first two students, and $110 for each additional student. Our fees will be set to cover a reference book, training, and 60 days of follow-up phone support.

For the periodic Computer Upgrading workshops, a two-hour class, the fee will be $49 per person, and includes a copy of "How to buy the right computer."

For the periodic Basic Four workshops, a one-day or eight-hour class, the fee will be $179 per person, and includes a workbook, copies of "How to buy the right computer" and "The Beginner's Inspirational Guide to Computer Tips and Shortcuts," and a light lunch.

Promotion Strategy

The biggest mistake that computer-based business owners make is using a shotgun versus a laser beam approach to their business. Most of us in the computer industry have a tendency to be good at many different computer tasks. We might be good at desktop publishing, recommending software, customizing software, and doing basic PC repair. We might think that because we are good at all of these things we should do them all. We will have a broader customer base. We can service more people and thus should make more money.

This seems like the logical conclusion, but in reality it does not work. We spread ourselves to thin. At EOC we believe the more specific you get about what you do and who you do it for, the easier our service is to sell. We are working with a laser beam approach when we focus in this way. A laser beam is concentrated and works in a powerful way. We believe in focusing on one aspect of the computer industry for a specific type of client. In doing this we become three things: 1) a specialist, 2) known as an expert in our field, 3) all our marketing efforts fall into place, 4) we minimize, if not eliminate, much of our competition.

Because we do not want to grow too fast, our main form of promotional strategy in the beginning will be word of mouth and referrals.

Distribution Strategy

EOC's delivery method will have a large bearing on how we develop our program, so we have given this process up-front consideration. We have chosen to use the learning center method to deliver our training.

The training distribution will begin with first completing a needs assessment on the customer. Once the customer has been assessed they will be placed in a class that meets their assessment needs. Once the customer completes the class, they will again be assessed and go through an outcome procedure. The customer then has the choice of going up to the next level. If a customer chooses to dropout, they can return and be tested and placed again.

The following distribution tools will be used to aid in our classroom delivery:

• Printed material
• Instructor-led classroom presentation
• Professional Speakers
• Tours/Field Trips

Our goal, in the near future, is to implement a Distributed Learning Framework (DLF). A webenabled DLF can be accessed by users in a consistent and convenient manner from any location on the Internet. The DLF would manage other application data such as:

• Registration
• Learners Profiles
• Progress and Performance data
• Discussion Forums

The benefits of this approach would be:

• Accessibility
• Flexibility
• Extensibility
• Reusability
• Interoperability

In the future, learning frameworks will evolve to embrace new technologies such as electronic commerce and knowledge management best practices to solve business issues such as skill gaps, corporate virtual campuses, career development, and help desks. Distributed learning frameworks also will link to enterprise resource planning, human resources, and financial systems.

Training Strategy

EOC will use the accelerated-learning theory called the multiple intelligences theory. This theory was developed by the Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner and his team of researchers at the Graduate School of Education. What Gardner and his team put forth is the fact that there is no single way in which everyone thinks and learns. Instead, there are many forms of intelligence, many ways by which people learn, understand, think, problem-solve, and relate to the world. Gardner proposed a system of eight distinct intelligences. EOC will incorporate activities into our computer training program that exercises all eight of these intelligences.

In brief, here are Gardner's eight multiple intelligences:

• Verbal-linguistic—(speaking, reading, writing). This intelligence shows up in writers, storytellers, lawyers, politicians, and television talk-show hosts. EOC training incorporation will include: group discussions.
• Logical-mathematical—(scientific reasoning). Obvious possessors are scientists, statisticians, and computer programmers. EOC training incorporation will include: calculations and other math operations.
• Visual-spatial—(visualizing through lines, shape, volume, etc.). Think of architects, graphic designers, painters, decorators, film directors, chess players, engineers, and sculptors are examples of this type of brilliance. EOC training incorporation will include: charts, graphs, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Bodily-kinesthetic—(control and interpretation of muscular or physical sensations). Geniuses here may be actors, athletes, dancers, physical therapists, mechanics, carpenters, jewelers, and craftspeople. EOC training incorporation will include: Hands-on learning and stretching breaks.
• Musical-rhythmic—(recognize and use rhythmic and tonal patterns). Musicians, disc jockeys, and studio engineers and those who learn best when music is playing. EOC training incorporation will include: Using soft music in the background.
• Interpersonal—(ability to work cooperatively with others). This form of intelligence is highly developed in teachers, therapists, managers, salespeople, public relations, and religious leaders. EOC training incorporation will include: paired sharing, interactive games and exercises, group and peer teaching.
• Intrapersonal—(self-smart). This intelligence shows up in theologians, entrepreneurs, philosophers, and therapists. EOC training incorporation will include: self-esteem activities, self-paced learning, and individualized instruction.
• Naturalistic—(nature-smart). This intelligence likes animals and organic systems better than people. EOC training incorporation will include: Field trips and time outdoors.

Instruction Method

All training programs have four major ingredients: information, performance outcomes, instructional methods, and instructional media. EOC will carefully account for and include each of these ingredients in our instructional methods.

All courses will include information to be trained. Course information can be classified as one of five types: facts, concepts, processes, procedures, and principles. The information will be decided by both looking at the knowledge and skill requirements of the job and the knowledge and skill level of the intended audience. Subtracting the knowledge and skills of the intended audience from those of the job, EOC will be able to derive final course content.

EOC's performance outcome will be a clearly defined statement of what the learners will be doing when they have achieved the purpose of the course or lesson. The performance outcomes will be mirrored with what must be done on the job. They are then written in the form of learning objectives. For each of our lessons we have at least one major learning objective and many will include supporting objectives as well.

Instructional methods are two types: informational displays and practice exercises with feedback. EOC will mainly use the practice exercise with feedback method.

Our instructional methods will be delivered through a mix of media that include: instructor, computer, workbook, overhead transparencies, flipchart, and perhaps a video.

EOC is obliged to offer training that works in today's society. While the modern employees are the best-educated in history, they are still required to absorb tremendous amounts of information and apply vast amounts of knowledge. EOC will use every theory, tool, and technique that will help employees learn while unleashing every available type of intelligence, gift, and aspect of humanity at their disposal.

Marketing Programs

The letters, brochures, business cards, flyers, and other literature will act as our representative. Here are some of our marketing programs and strategies:

Using sales letter strategies such as:

• Knowing our target audience—Know our objective or specific purpose of our letter.
• Being objective—Thinking like the reader.
• Using catchy salutation—Like "Here's some timely information for Ms. Wilson."
• Get to the point—Try and keep the letter short. One or two paragraphs.
• Vary the length of our paragraphs—A couple of 3-4 line paragraphs followed by a oneliner ads impact.
• Tell the reader what we want them to do next—Such as "I will call you on Thursday morning to iron out the details."
• Provide the facts—Give enough facts to our customer for them to make a decision.
• Address the reader's primary concern—"What is in it for me?"
• Add a P.S.—This is the second most read part of the letter. The first is the first paragraph or headline.
• Keep it short—No longer than one page.
• Talk to them friendly one-on-one—Use the word "you."
• Avoid jargon—Be clear and concise.
• Hand sign all of our letters.

Designing good ad copy to reach our customers:

• Choose the proper publication
• Have a goal for our advertisement
• Involve the audience
• Inform the buyer
• Headline and illustrations grab attention
• Give them something
• Always be specific
• Make our offer a good one
• Be creative in our media choices such as unusual avenues like fax newsletters, mall kiosks, fax-on-demand, publicity stunts, online marketing, anything unusual to reach our target market
• Small, classified ads
• Track our results
• Keep all our customers/prospects in a database and stay in touch with them regularly
• Gradually increase the size of our ad and track the results
• Advertise regularly and consistently
• Evaluate our efforts

Customer loyalty is much more important to EOC than customer satisfaction. We will serve our customers so well they will brag about EOC to others. This will keep them loyal and also provides a continual flow of customers.

Self-Evaluation Program

We will maintain our customers' happiness by utilizing our Self-Evaluation Program in which we will continually ask ourselves these following questions:

• Is EOC's service the best it can be?
• Is the appearance of our trainers, business surroundings, and product packaging professional?
• Can we clearly describe our business in 25 words or less? Can our customers describe our business in 25 words or less?
• Do our customers know about all of our products and services?
• Do we have a well-developed marketing plan that we follow on a consistent basis?
• What if our marketing plans work? Will we be able to handle the increased volume of sales without harming our customers or the quality of our work product?
• Do we treat others with honesty and respect at all times?

EOC will continue to listen to ours customers and stay in regular contact with our customers by offering:

• Workshops and seminars.
• Private sales or classes.
• Giving them informative newsletters, articles, or tip sheets that can help them in their businesses, such as a computer tips and tricks newsletter.

EOC also will have a program in place for dropping customers who meet the following criteria:

• They complain about our prices and are always trying to get us to cut our rates.
• They complain about our competitors.
• Clients who miss appointments.
• Clients who can't make up their mind.
• Clients who hover over us while we work.
• Clients who owe us money or keep saying they'll pay us "when their funding comes in."

Sales Strategy

EOC's sales strategy is to get people to talk about themselves—their wants, desires, needs, and fears. Then use the information to help make a sale. Our sales goal is to remember why people buy.

The majority of people buy on emotion and justify their decision with facts and reason. They may buy for power, prestige, security, happiness, or freedom. EOC's service will appeal to these basic emotional needs first. After the prospect decides to buy our service for an emotional reason, they will be given facts by EOC to back up their decision.

EOC will establish trust and rapport with all of our prospective customers. We also will be prepared or anticipate objections. With those objections, we will make a list, learn from them and then come up with the answers to them. EOC will review the list of objections and possible solutions frequently.

EOC will have quantitative, reasonable sales goals by asking ourselves the following questions:

• What is our net profits per sale?
• What was our business activity over the last 12 months?
• How did last year's activity compare to the year before? Did you show an increase or decrease in sales? By what percent?
• What is the lifetime value of a customer? How much will our average customer buy over the months or years that they stay with us?
• How much of this is profit? What is the net profit/customer over the life of the customer?

We will also research our past and decide what is working and what is not. Based on our past performance we will decide on a goal that is attainable. We will then work backwards from our goal to decide what we will have to do to reach it.

EOC sales concentration will also be focused on reversing the risk from our customers to our Center by offering guaranteed learning. If at the end of a course students don't feel like they have learned what was covered in class, we will work with them at no additional charge until they are comfortable with the material.

EOC believes that being in the right place at the right time is 50 percent of obtaining a successful sale. Product knowledge is 25 percent and the last 25 percent is our human relations skills. Being very knowledgeable and extremely helpful are the ingredients to a successful sale.

Listed are some valuable secrets we have learned:

• Be out there—Be in as many places as possible. Look as big as we possibly can.
• Be free with our knowledge—Give prospects a "taste" of what we know without expectations of reimbursement.
• Look for long-term alliances in every situation—Don't be satisfied with just one sale. Learn from experiences and successes of others. Continually look for ways we can ride the coattails of others' successes.
• Be helpful and friendly—Being free with our knowledge, without an invoice, gets people "hooked" on our organization.
• People do business with people, not with companies.
• Ask customers why they choose EOC—Learn what we did right and repeat it.

Sometimes having too many customers can be bad for business. Raising rates through a letter can serve three purposes:

• It helps to get rid of deadwood customers. They don't call anymore because they can't afford the rates.
• The trainer can work less and earn more.
• It is a great opportunity to reiterate all of our services.

Finally, it is our goal to deliver more than what we promise and never build up hopes.

Sales Forecast

The peaks and valleys for this business in the U.S. are from about September 6 through November 22. For some reason people think "school" in the fall, and they take more classes. Two of our worst times are from November 22 through January 7 and the month of March. Obviously, the holidays are getting in the way from November 22 through January 7. People are too busy with taxes in March, but it will pick up in April and May as people file their tax returns.

It's during our "valley" periods that we will concentrate on a saturation of workshops and seminars, where no long-term commitment is required of the customer. We will also do holiday specials. For everyone who has inquired about our classes during the year, we will do a mailing around November 5 and offer them a really good deal on training during our "valley" period.

Strategic Alliances

Living and volunteering in the Seattle community for the past 34 years has given computer trainer Serena Bolton an opportunity to build many business alliances within the King County area. Those alliances include:

University of Washington—Office of Business and Community Partnerships Stephens Capital Development Seattle Board of Education Seattle Police Department Employment Opportunities Unlimited Jason's Staffing General Hospital Generation Learning Solutions TechTool Publishers Microsoft /MicroShare Testing Senior Citizens Centers Webber Real Estate Dr. Waylon Nestle, D.S.S. UAW 451

Ballinger Center Career Pathways

Other alliances will be created through public relations programs.

Turning Points

Seattle, Washington is at a business industry turning point. With Boeing being phased out as the number one employer, people are scrambling to adjust their skills. Those employees that have been laid off or bought out are finding the world outside is not what it used to be before they entered Boeing. Those employees are now finding their skills to be outdated or unusable in the workforce today.

They lack the computer skills needed to become employable once again. They are also finding that more and more certifications are now being required criteria for employment.

EOC is strategically positioning itself to be in place for these workers and others that are in need of basic computer training. EOC is also positioning itself to meet the needs of employers who are requesting advanced training and certifications. EOC will be the gap filler between the employer and the employee.

EOC knows that no business is without frustrations and disappointments. Yet, we strive to know what to expect in advance, so we are better prepared to deal with the built-in frustrations of this business. We expect a certain amount of "no shows." This is why we require payment up front as a guarantee of attendance. We know that about 1 out of every 5 people who sign up could possibly back out due to sickness, emergencies, and sometimes people just change their mind. In this case we make sure we do not spend our money before it has cleared.

Personnel Plan

EOC will consist of three employees. Serena Bolton will participate full-time in the business as Director and Computer Instructor. The other three positions are currently vacant and will be filled as needed. Listed below are the job descriptions.

• Director and Computer Instructor, Serena Bolton, will maintain credentials needed to provide the most efficient and thorough computer training statewide. She will also be in charge of upgrading the skills of her staff.
• Receptionist/Secretary, Vacant, will handle all incoming calls and walk-ins, mail, correspondence, data entry, filing, ordering of supplies, scheduling, and play a supportive role to the Director. Candidate will also be required to take EOC classes and become certified.
• Assistant Trainer, Vacant, will be in charge of helping in the computer lab during class sessions, assist with development of computer training manuals, provide training in absence of Director, maintain maintenance of computer equipment, and play a supportive role to the Director. Candidate will be required to become MOUS certified within 60 days.
• Van Driver, Vacant, will be in charge of picking up seniors and dropping them off in a safe and courteous manner. Will be required to take EOC classes.

The projected salaries for each of these positions is hourly at $8.00 with no benefits at this time.

We want to finance growth mainly through cash flow. We recognize that this means we will have to grow more slowly.

The most important factor in our case is sales. We will develop a permanent system with ongoing marketing and sales development.

We are also assuming an initial short-term loan of $71,500 which includes start-up capital of $15,000.

Important Assumptions

Our financial plan depends on important assumptions, most of which are shown in the following table as annual assumptions.

Some of the more important underlying assumptions are:

• We assume a strong economy, without major recession.
• We assume, of course, that there are no unforseen changes in technology to make the use of computers and the need of computer training obsolete.

Break-even Analysis

Our monthly units break-even is 72 students. The monthly sales break-even is $10,403. Our average per-unit revenue is $145 per class and our estimated average fixed cost is $10,396 per month.

Projected Profit and Loss

Our projected profit and loss is shown on the following table, with sales increasing more than 30 percent. We show a break-even profit the first year. We prefer to project conservatively so that we make sure we have enough cash.

The detailed monthly projections are included in appendices.

Projected Cash Flow

The following cash flow projections show the annual amounts only. Cash flow projections are critical to our success. Reflected in this chart are the only remaining months of 2000. The annual cash flow figures are included here and the more important detailed monthly numbers are included in the appendices.

Projected Balance Sheet

The balance sheet in the following table shows sufficient growth of net worth, and a sufficiently healthy financial position. The monthly estimates are included in the appendices.

Business Ratios

The following table shows the projected ratios. We expect to maintain healthy ratios for profitability, risk, and return.

This page left intentionally blank to accommodate tabular matter following.

General Assumptions

Profit and Loss (Income Statement)

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:.

Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Computer science and business administration, bs.

The computer science and business combined major delivers a technical degree with a strong grounding in business. Students will complete most of the requirements of a business major, including macroeconomics and microeconomics, while also focusing on technical skills like program design, software development, computer organization, systems and networks, theories of computation, principles of languages, and advanced algorithms and data.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the  Universitywide Requirements .

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the  NUpath Requirements .

Computer Science Courses

Business courses, business concentration.

Complete a four-course business concentration from the following list.

• Accounting and Advisory Services
• Brand Management 
• Corporate Innovation
• Entrepreneurial Startups
• Family Business
• Healthcare Management and Consulting
• International Business (available only as a second concentration)
• Marketing Analytics
• Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Supply Chain Management

Integrative Course

Supporting courses, computer science writing requirement, required general electives, business cooperative education .

Complete one cooperative education experience.

Khoury College GPA Requirement

Minimum 2.000 GPA required in all CS, CY, DS, and IS courses

Business GPA Requirement

Minimum 2.000 GPA required in business courses

NUpath Requirements Satisfied

• Engaging with the Natural and Designed World
• Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning
• Analyzing and Using Data
• Understanding Societies and Institutions
• Writing in the First Year
• Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
• Writing-Intensive in the Major
• Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone

Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience is satisfied through co-op.

Program Requirement

133 total semester hours required

Sample Plan of Study: Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Sample plan of study: four years, two co-ops in spring/summer 1, print options.

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ZenBusinessPlans

Home » Sample Business Plans » Technology

How to Write a Computer Sales & Service Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a computer sales & services business? If YES, here is a complete sample computer sales & services business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE . According to a recent report, computer sales and related services are expected to exceed $47 billion this year in the U.S. alone, with computer servicing leading the way.

This goes to show that any entrepreneur who properly positions himself or herself in computer sales and servicing industry would definitely enjoy good business turnover. As a matter of fact, almost all businesses and homes have computers, and these people may not have the skills, time or the desire to do their own computer servicing, repairs and upgrades, and that puts a computer physician right in the middle of one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.

A Sample Computer Sales & Services Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The computer sales and servicing industry includes operators that mainly sell and service all forms of computers such as desktops, laptops, notebooks, palmtops and software, as well as accessories like printers, scanners and keyboards. These goods are generally purchased from domestic and international manufacturers and wholesalers and then sold to end consumers, including households and businesses.

Computers have exploded throughout America and the world over the past 30 years – from 2,000 units shipped in 1960 to 900,000 in 1980 to 7 million in 1990 to over 15 million per year by 2003 to over 65 million per quarter in 2015. With this rapid growth, there has been a corresponding increase in the need for computer services.

If you are conversant with happenings in the Computer Sales and Services industry, you will notice that computers are rapidly becoming indispensable household and personal products. In spite of the growing ubiquity of these products, retailers of computers, peripherals and consumer electronics have experienced some time-consuming challenges over the past five years.

Swift technological change, increased production efficiency and a highly globalized supply chain have lowered computer retail prices, hampering the industry’s revenue potential.

In addition, the increasing adoption of e-commerce has reduced customer traffic in computer stores, further limiting revenue. More consumers are now taking advantage of online shopping, which facilitates product and price comparisons. Going forward, industry revenue is expected to decrease.

The Computer Sales and Services industry is indeed a large industry and pretty much active in most countries of the world. Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 18,173 registered and licensed (big, medium scale and small) computer manufacturing companies scattered all across the United States responsible for employing about 94,791 people and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $29 billion annually.

The industry is projected to enjoy -0.4 percent annual growth within 2012 and 2017. It is important to state that Apple Inc., Best Buy Co. Inc. and Fry’s have lion shares of the available market in this industry.

Computer sales account for an estimated 44.0 percent of industry revenue in 2017. Products in this segment include desktops and laptops, with laptop sales outpacing that of desktops. While desktops were historically the most commonly purchased computer product, the falling price of computers and computer components over the past five years reduced the premium that laptops once commanded over desktops.

A majority of consumers’ favor laptops for their portability, augmented by the increasingly wireless data infrastructure. However, desktops still maintain advantages in niche market, particularly with gaming enthusiasts and computer power users who prefer a desktop computer’s superior upgrade potential, ease of repair and customizability.

No doubt everybody will quite agree that the computer sales and services industry has come to stay and of course it is one industry that plays key roles not only in the business world, but also in almost all aspects of what goes around in our world today as long as computers are involved.

Over and above, the Computer Sales and Services industry is an open industry hence a low level of market share concentration. Even though large multiservice agencies operate in the industry, revenue is also spread among thousands of small computer stores and repair centers.

2. Executive Summary

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is a U.S based computer sales and services company. We have been able to secure a standard store facility in a central business district in Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls – South Dakota. We are set to compete in the highly competitive computer sales and services industry not only in Sioux Falls – South Dakota, but also throughout the United States market.

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC will engage in the sales and servicing of all forms of computers such as desktops, laptops, palmtops and software, as well as accessories like printers, scanners and keyboards. Our business goal is to become one of the top brands in the computer sales and services industry in the United States and we will make sure that we do all we can to compete favorably with leaders in the industry.

Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of certified and highly experienced computer sales and services engineers in and around Sioux Falls – South Dakota and also from any part of the United States of America as the business grows. We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required training that will position them to meet the expectations of the company.

At Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC, our client’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is a joint partnership business that is owned by Engr. Harry Jordan a computer engineer par excellence who graduated with from Illinois Institute of Technology (B.Engr. Computer Engineering), and his friend and business partner Barry Martins (B.Sc. Business Management).

They have a combined experience that can help them build Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC to favorably compete with other leading computer sales and services businesses in the United States of America.

3. Our Products and Services

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the computer sales and services industry. We want to compete favorably with companies in the United States which is why we have put in place a competent quality assurance team that will ensure that every service rendered meets and even surpasses our customers’ expectations.

We will work hard to ensure that Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is not just accepted in Sioux Falls – South Dakota but also in other cities in the United States of America. Our products and services are listed below;

• Sales and servicing of all sort of computers
• Sales and servicing of computer peripherals (e.g. printers, monitors, keyboards, mouse and speakers)
• Sale of computer software
• Computer installation
• Computer Cloning/upgrade
• Offering other computer repair and installation related services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to establish a one stop computer sales and service center whose services and brand will not only be accepted in Sioux Falls – South Dakota but also in other cities in the United States of America.
• Our mission is to retail computers and related products and also to provide professional computer services that will assist businesses and individuals in ensuring that their computers are always in good shape to help them carry out their business.
• We want to build a computer sales and services company that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the computer sales and services industry.

Our Business Structure

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC, is a computer sales and services company that intend starting small in Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, but hopes to grow big in order to compete with leading computer sales and services companies in the United States.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer
• Store Manager
• Head, Technical Services
• Human Resources and Admin Manager
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Computer Repair and Maintenance Engineers and Technicians (10)
• Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by employing, choosing, orientating, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Reports to the board

Admin and HR Manager

• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities.

Store Manager:

• Responsible for managing the daily activities in the store
• Ensures that proper records of computers and computer parts are kept and warehouse does not run out of products
• Ensures that the store facility is in tip top shape and goods are properly arranged and easy to locate
• Controls distribution and supply chain inventory
• Supervises the workforce in the sales floor
• Helps to ensure consistent quality of computers and computer parts are purchased and retailed in good price that will ensure we make good profit

Head, Technical Services:

• Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Makes certain that the technical department performs efficiently, coordinates employee efforts, facilitates communication between management and computer repairs and maintenance engineers and technicians
• Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices.

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops executes and evaluate new plans for expanding sales
• Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empower and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant/Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization.

Computer Repair and Maintenance Engineers (2) and Technicians (8)

• Responsible for general computer repairs and maintenance services
• Carry out computer installation services for clients
• Responsible for carrying out computer cloning and upgrade
• Responsible for handling Networking of computer system
• Responsible for handling virus removal Data recovery
• Handles computer and accessories sales and supply for the organization

Help Desk Officers

• Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level.
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services.
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the creative director in an effective and timely manner.
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information are supplied to clients when they make enquiries.
• Find out the customer’s needs, recommend, select and help locate the right merchandise, describe a product’s features and benefits.
• Bag, package or gift-wrap merchandise as requested by customers.

6. SWOT Analysis

Because of our quest for excellence, Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured computer sales and services business that can favorably compete in the industry in the United States.

Part of what the business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a comprehensive SWOT analysis for Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC;

Our core strength lies in the power of our workforce. We have a team of trained and certified computer repair engineers and technicians, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the industry. Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected workforce, our services will be guided by best practices in the industry and we will ensure that we have all brands and types of computers in our store per time.

As a new computer sales and services center in Sioux Falls – South Dakota, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the already highly competitive computer sales and services industry; that is perhaps our major weakness. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to pump into promoting our business the way we would want to.

• Opportunities:

No doubt, the opportunities in the computer sales and services industry is massive considering the number of individuals and businesses that own computers. So also, the launch of new tablets will likely drive consumers into stores to test and compare products. As a computer sales and services company, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

The increasing adoption of e-commerce has reduced customer traffic in computer stores, further limiting revenue and also, the domestic PC market has shrunk due to market saturation and greater competition from tablets, are some of the threats that will confront us.

So also, one major threat that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new computer sales and services center in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The extent at which the internet and computer has taken over our world is a pure sign that every computer literate needs the services of a computer repairer when his/her computer malfunctions – be it hardware or software.

The very nature of the Computer Sales and Services industry, with its extraordinary rate of technological development, creates a constant need for businesses skilled in updating and advising customers on computer-related issues.

With every individual armed with a computer and with almost all valuable information in our daily lives being stored in the computer, the computer selling business is booming and with this booming comes a need for repair.

Everybody with a computer knows that moment of panic when the hard drive crashes–and for business people, it usually happens when they are staring into the eye of a deadline. The need for computer physicians is growing every day and more people are venturing into this field, making it a competitive and goal oriented industry.

Lastly, the computer sales and services industry will continue to evolve due to the advancement of computer technology and software designs et al.

8. Our Target Market

Before starting our computer sales and services business in Sioux Falls – South Dakota, we conducted a market survey and feasibility studies and we are certain that there is a wide range of both corporate and individual clients who cannot successfully run their businesses without computers.

In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various corporate organizations and individual who we know can’t afford to do without our products and services. Below is a list of people we will specifically market our products and services to;

• Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
• Blue Chips Companies
• Corporate Organizations
• Real Estate Owners, Developers, and Contractors
• Research and Development Companies
• The Government (Public Sector)
• Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
• Celebrities, Politicians, Public Figures and Public Speakers
• Sport Organizations
• Religious Organizations
• Television Stations
• Printing Press (Publishing Houses) and Authors
• Branding and Advertising agencies
• Individuals and households who own computers

Our Competitive Advantage

Surviving in the business world as a computer sales and services company requires more than your expertise, knowing how to deliver standard repairs and maintenance but also how to network with key people that matter.

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the computer sales and services industry means that you are not only expected to deliver reliable computer supply, installation, repair, networking and maintenance jobs, but you must be able to meet set targets.

No one would want to continue to hire your services if don’t always meet up with the target date of completion of projects. Our competitive advantage lies in our ability to control stock at hand, our experienced work force and proximity to key markets.

We equally have a team of certified, highly trained and experienced computer repair engineers and technicians, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the computer sales and service industry. Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected workforce, our services will be guided by best practices in the industry.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the computer sales and services industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of all our clients.

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC will generate income by;

• Computer Cloning and upgrade

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organizations and individuals who would need to purchase computers and accessories. We are well positioned to take on the available market in Sioux Falls –  South Dakota and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough profits from our first six months of operation.

We have been able to critically examine the computer sales and services market, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Sioux Falls – South Dakota.

• First Year: $350,000
• Second Year: $750,000
• Third Year: $1.2 million

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same products and services as we do within the same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiff competitions in the computer sales and services industry, hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC.

Our corporate goal is to grow Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC to become one of the top 10 computer sales and services brands in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Sioux Falls – South Dakota but also in other cities in the United States of America.

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our computer sales and services center by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to individuals, corporate organizations and key stake holders in and around Sioux Falls – South Dakota.
• Promptness in bidding for computer supply, installation, repair, networking and maintenance contract from the government and other cooperate organizations
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations.
• List our business in yellow pages’ ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver excellent services
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our in-house brand and publicity consultant to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for both corporate and individual clients in the whole of the Sioux Falls and beyond which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our computer sales and services company.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events/programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services.
• Install our billboards in strategic locations all around Sioux Falls – South Dakota.
• Engage in roadshows from time to time in targeted neighborhoods.
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas.
• List our computer sales and services company in local directories/yellow pages
• Advertise our computer sales and services company in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company logo.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC we will keep the prices of our products and services below the average market rate by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from corporate organizations who would purchase our products or hire our services. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals.

We are aware that there are some one – off jobs or government contracts like computer supply, installation, repair, networking and maintenance which are always lucrative, we will ensure that we abide by the pricing model that is expected from contractors or organizations that bid for such contracts.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards/Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payments for the purchase of our products or our services without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials for this purpose.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

From our market survey and feasibility studies, we have been able to come up with a detailed budget on achieving our aim of establishing a standard and highly competitive computer sales and services company in Sioux Falls – South Dakota and here are the key areas where we will spend our startup capital;

• The total fee for registering the business in the Unites States of America – $750 .
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• The cost for hiring business consultant – $2,500.
• Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• The cost for payment of rent for 12 months at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
• The cost for shop remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ( $500 ) and phone and utility deposits ( $2,500 ).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000.
• The cost for start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of computers such as desktops, notebook computers and software, as well as accessories like printers, scanners and keyboards. et al from different manufacturing brands) – $200,000
• The cost for counter area equipment – $9,500.
• The cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
• The cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs: $10,000 .
• The cost for the purchase of office furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $4,000.
• The cost of launching a website: $600 .
• The cost for our opening party: $7,000 .
• Miscellaneous: $10,000.

We would need an estimate of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ( $350,000 ) to successfully set up our computer sales and services store in Sioux Falls – South Dakota.

Generating Startup Capital for Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is a business that will be owned and managed by Engr. Harry Jordan and his friend and business partner Barry Martins. They are the financiers of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our startup capital;

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks.
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members.
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank.

N.B: We have been able to generate about $150,000 ( Personal savings $120,000 and soft loan from family members $30,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $200,000 from our bank. All papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to sell or computers and accessories and offer our computer repair and maintenance services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Harry & Barry® Computer Sales & Services Center, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Securing a standard office facility for our studio: Completed
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founders: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of Logo for the business: Completed
• Secure trademark for our products: In Progress
• Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating official website for the business: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Opening party planning: In Progress
• Compilation of the list of products that will be available in our store: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – manufacturers and suppliers of computers, computer parts and accessories: In Progress

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Management Information Systems

Career information is not specific to degree level. Some career options may require an advanced degree.

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Practicing cybersecurity in virtual labs lets you refine methods used to neutralize threats in the real world. You will use the skills developed in these simulated labs during competitions. Participating students will enroll in MIS 456: Cybersecurity Competitions, and can receive certificates to certify their cybersecurity skills.

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Interning with industry leaders lets you apply classroom knowledge to live, MIS settings. Internships in aerospace, software and hardware development, sportswear and global automated power systems will help you develop the skills employers are looking for in top management information systems talent. Ask our MIS faculty about internship opportunities today.

Explore other hands-on learning opportunities in CBE .

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Where Technology Meets Business

Management Information Systems (MIS) is a continually changing field, and the College of Business and Economics’ MIS program is always evolving to meet those changes. Information systems are used by every company and increasingly connect to all areas of business. MIS professionals:

• capture HR analytics on employee satisfaction and work-life balance
• plan and implement wireless networks
• upgrade trading hardware, banking systems and robo-advising software
• analyze and design smartphone apps
• process large amounts of accounting data and report it in meaningful ways
• analyze advertising, sales and consumer data to inform marketing decisions

Your MIS degree program begins with essential programming and systems analysis, quickly followed by building apps and databases. You'll also explore Big Data, learning to organize complicated, messy information and tell a story. The emerging field of Data Visualization, the graphic representation of data, will help you tell these stories, complete your degree and become the MIS professional industry leaders are seeking.

Answers to MIS problems aren’t always available because each one’s different. CBE taught me to think through MIS problems and find answers on my own and with a team. They taught me how to learn. Michael Vanderpool '21, B.S. MIS

Graduate Voices

"CBE taught me the communication, teamwork and technical information systems skills essential to my everyday work."

Bridger Putnam '18, Software Engineer, Clearwater Analytics

"When faculty showed me information systems from an HR perspective, MIS classes became my favorite. I learned that everything in business has connections to MIS." Madison Liquin '20, Associate Recruiter, Lamb Weston

"I learned how to improve day-to-day business operations with technology and critical thinking skills from CBE."

Brad White '11, Marketing Technology Team Lead, Vacasa

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More From Forbes

Nine mistakes organizations make with security awareness training.

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Perry Carpenter is Chief Evangelist for KnowBe4 Inc. , provider of the popular Security Awareness Training & Simulated Phishing platform.

Multiple recent studies conclude that nine out of ten cyberattacks and data breaches originate from human error. To mitigate this, organizations are increasingly turning to security awareness training (SAT) to improve incident response around phishing and social engineering scams, credential hygiene, safe browsing and online behavior. Sadly, most security training initiatives are not working as expected. Despite years of training, nearly half of employees ( 46% ) still struggle with phishing emails. Why are training programs failing? Here are nine possible reasons.

1. Focusing On Just Awareness Rather Than Behavior

Security awareness and behavior are not one and the same. We all know speeding kills, and yet we choose to break those rules. It’s the same with cybersecurity. If your program is only aimed at awareness and does not target employee behavior (and bad habits), then in all probability, your program will fail.

2. Not Using A Metrics-Based Approach

If you don’t know where you are, then it’s likely you won’t know where you’re going. Similarly, if organizations do not measure the overall state of security awareness among employees, their current behaviors, attitudes, norms and perceptions, the number of phishing emails being clicked and reported to security teams, the volume of security threats the organization faces, the frequency of current training programs and related communications, then it will be difficult to understand the strategies and approaches required to target desired behaviors.

3. Not Having A Clear Communication Plan

Any culture or behavior change program needs proper planning and communication for execution. Try to assume the mindset of a marketer. This involves thinking creatively about how to capture their attention and encourage them to pay heed to your message and follow instructions. Careful planning and timing of communications also matter, along with finding innovative ways to remind and reinforce messages to ensure they resonate with your audience.

Ghost Of Tsushima Is Already Flooded With Negative Reviews On Steam

Wwe smackdown results, winners and grades with stratton vs. belair, biden trump debates what to know as trump pushes for 2 more faceoffs, 4. not understanding the root cause of employee resistance.

If employees continue to fail phishing tests despite regular training or if the participation rate is low, then you need to uncover the root causes behind those issues.

Is the current format or approach not working? Is the training not being delivered at the right pace or at the right time? Is the content not relevant? Is the training too extensive or too lengthy? Is the training schedule not flexible? Is it too technical? Is the employee experience lacking? If you’re not asking such questions, then it’s likely your program is not delivering the desired outcomes.

5. Not Incorporating Feedback From Your Audience

When rolling out training programs, security teams should consistently integrate a feedback cycle and remain receptive to implementing changes based on the feedback. After incorporating suggested changes, assess its impact and gather feedback once more from the audience.

Addressing employees' needs and feedback generally leads to increased engagement levels and fosters a stronger sense of ownership among participants in the program. With this continuous cycle of training, feedback and adjustment, your training program is poised to meet or exceed employee expectations.

6. Not Involving Leadership Enough

Participation and commitment from leadership are essential for SAT success. Without it, employees may not take cybersecurity policies and training initiatives seriously. Leadership involvement signals its importance, promoting a culture of security and learning across the organization. Keep leadership engaged and updated to help ensure sufficient resources are being allocated for ongoing efforts.

7. Not Personalizing The Program

Employees have different personalities, skills and levels of security maturity. The security needs of someone working with sensitive or confidential information will be critically different from those of another employee with limited access to systems and information.

Certain job roles might require more training or customized training. When organizations roll out standardized SATs without adapting training content to employee job roles and security proficiency, then it’s possible that the content will not resonate well with the target audience.

8. Not Using Simulated Phishing Tools

Old-school classroom training and slides do not cut it anymore. Only about 10% of the workforce retain their cybersecurity training. Remember, the focus should be on changing the security behavior and mindset of employees, not just making them aware of the threats.

To achieve this, organizations can deploy phishing simulation tools to test employees regularly on their ability to detect and block real-world threats. Such tools help identify who needs more personalized training and which types of phishing threats employees are most vulnerable to.

9. Punishing, Not Educating

A punitive approach to security training is known to create a toxic environment. If security teams fail to practice empathy and patience when training people, then it can lead to negative outcomes ; employees may feel demotivated, they might ignore advice or worse, act against it. Instead, practice empathy and patience, adopt an optimistic approach and create an environment where users feel motivated and empowered, not punished.

Final Thoughts

To summarize, to succeed with security awareness training, organizations must move beyond ordinary training methods and focus on the real work of understanding the skills, behaviors and expectations of their audience. Doing so can not only help organizations deliver a more captivating and impactful training program but also mitigate human risk while boosting their ability to defend against cyberattacks and breaches.

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Computer Programming Business Plan

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Gaming Futures, LLC

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Gaming Futures, LLC, provides Windows ® application development/support, PlayStation2 ® development, XBox ® development, 2D and 3D art and visual effects, and project guidance. Gaming Futures is a game development studio formed by veterans of Modicum On-Line and Axiomatic InterRational. As developers of the best-selling and critically acclaimed “DreæmWhyrks” series, Gaming Futures’ talented core team members have produced five titles together, and have individual experience with dozens more. Gaming Futures is committed to creating high-quality, innovative, successful games and software.

We offer the following:

• Game concepts and development for PC, PS2 ® , XBox ® , Pocket PC ® .
• Game platform ports: PC/PS2/XBox/Game Boy ® .
• 2D and 3D art, programming, libraries to spec.
• Interface design and software enhancement.
• Cohesive, talented development team with years of experience shipping products together.
• Proven track record: DreæmWhyrks series has over 3 million units sold to date.
• On time and on budget shipping.

The company is forming out of the ashes of Axiomatic InterRational which shut down last June. Gaming Futures is the core group of the last DreæmWhyrks project at Axiomatic. The DreæmWhyrks line has shipped over 3 million units. The production team has four years of successful product development as a team. Individually, the group has over 30 years of experience and has contributed to over 40 software products.

Bill Kerl, Project Manager for Gaming Futures, believes the company is well positioned to be a valuable resource to gaming companies that are seeking cost-effective ways to implement a gaming design mission that will meet projected completion dates. One of the greatest obstacles is the ability of the production team to perform without wasted effort and resources. Gaming Futures has a documented history of completing its projects under budget and on time.

Currently, the company has been successful in acquiring three contracts with the following companies:

• Clear Mountain Productions
• Weaver Farm, Inc.

Note: Windows ® , PlayStation2 ® , PS2 ® , Xbox ® , Pocket PC ® , and Game Boy ® are registered trademarks of their respective corporations.

1.1 Objectives

Gaming Futures’ objectives are as follows:

• Achieve sales goal of $200,000 during first year of operation.
• Achieve a customer base of 40 companies.
• Increase sales by 15% during the second year of operation.

1.2 Mission

The mission of Gaming Futures is to provide the highest quality service through the development of innovative, exciting products to the interactive entertainment industry.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Gaming Futures, LLC, is a game development studio providing Windows application development/support, PS2 development, XBox development, 2D and 3D art and visual effects, and project guidance. The company will be organized as a Limited Liability Corporation.

2.1 Company Ownership

Gaming Futures, LLC is owned by its team of developers:

• Bill Kerl
• Diane Huber
• Marcus Hathcock
• Jillian Daley
• Jeremy Lang

2.2 Company Locations and Facilities

Gaming Futures is located in a 3,000 square foot office space in the Northwest Industrial Park in northwest Madison.

2.3 Start-up Summary

The start-up expense for the Gaming Futures is focused primarily on equipment and office space. William, Diane, Marcus, Jillian, and Jeremy will each invest $35,000. In addition, Gaming Futures will secure a $100,000 long term loan.

Gaming Futures’ cohesive, talented development team offer their clients:

• Game concepts and development for PC, PS2, Xbox, Pocket PC
• Game platform ports: PC/PS2/Xbox/Game Boy

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

According to a new report from DFC Intelligence, recent sales indicate that the video game market is poised for impressive growth. The report forecasts that annual unit sales of video games and PC games in the U.S. is expected to grow over 40% from 2001 to 2006. The successful introduction of four new game systems in 2000 and 2001 meant that the industry was able to avoid the major downturn in sales that has occurred in past platform transitions. According to DFC Intelligence, the industry should experience another year of record sales in 2002.

The interactive games industry is a major economic force. With an estimated global value of some $10 to $20 billion, the industry rivals Hollywood in revenues and is now recognized as a propulsive force behind the creation of markets for information and communication technologies. Games account for nearly one-third of consumer software sales in North America.

4.1 Target Market Segment Strategy

Not only was the video game market not slowed by a softening economy or the terrorist attacks, but 2001 turned out to be the best year ever for the U.S. video game industry. The total U.S. video game industry grew from $6.6 billion in 2000 to $9.4 billion in 2001. The previous all-time record was $6.9 billion in 1999.

DFC estimates that by 2006 the three leading games systems, the Sony PlayStation2, the Microsoft Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube, should have combined U.S. sales of over 60 million units. The report forecasts strong sales for all three systems. There are currently 3,000 gaming companies that are producing games for one or more of the leading gaming systems. While strong market growth is predicted, there are also many challenges facing the interactive entertainment industry.

Sales of the total U.S. interactive entertainment software market, which includes PC entertainment and video game software, approached $6 billion in 2001 versus $5.4 billion in 2000, DFC found. Console and portable software sales rose 8.3 percent in unit sales, compared to 2000, while PC entertainment software experienced a unit increase of 3.8 percent. The main challenge is that while unit sales are expected to rise rapidly, development and marketing costs are also soaring.

4.2 Service Business Analysis

Companies are combating development costs by outsourcing segments of the development project. Currently, it is estimated that 30% of project work is outsourced. There are a number of advantages to this strategy.

By outsourcing, companies can take advantage of a tremendous gaming experience base without paying the personnel price tag to retain the talent on payroll. By negotiating a price for the outsourcing, companies can also cap development cost. More importantly, as few larger companies compete in the marketplace for dominance, a number of service firms will emerge to fill the demand for quality developers that are necessary for specific projects, much like the rest of software industry. It is estimated that product development in the software industry can save upwards to 30% of development costs by outsourcing key elements of the development process.

4.2.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

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Currently there are 100+ firms that compete for outsourcing contracts in the interactive game industry. Because of the unique cultural aspect of the interactive gaming community, companies specialize in gaming devices or user groups in order to gain advantage in the proposal process.

The team’s track record is the most important pivotal issue when competing for outsourcing contracts. A firm that has an intact team that has achieved past project goals has an advantage in the bidding process. Production companies are looking for assurances that deadlines will be met and the quality will be there. The production of a game is on a tight schedule and any missed deadline will ripple effect over the entire project, and could result in missed revenues and increased expenses.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Gaming Futures’ developers, William Kerl and Diane Huber, have extensive connections throughout the gaming industry. They will be responsible for marketing the company’s services to potential customers.

5.1 Competitive Edge

The competitive advantage of Gaming Futures is always bringing in a project before the projected deadline. As noted in the Market Analysis Summary, one of the greatest challenges will be production costs. Nowhere is this more critical than with outsourced projects. If a company can produce by deadline, they will get more work.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

William Kerl and Diane Huber will approach the 120 production companies that are currently producing video games. A marketing CD has been created for these presentations.

William and Diane have begun the process of presenting their company’s services to gaming production companies. The team has created a presentation program that will be the centerpiece of the marketing program.

Currently, the company has been successful in acquiring three contracts with the following companies:

The company will continue to aggressively pursue new contracts.

5.3 Sales Strategy

Gaming Futures anticipates that sales will start during the third month. The first two months of operation will have flat sales. After that point, sales will increase.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

The following is the sales forecast for three years. The owners have agreed not to take a salary for the first three months of the operation, and during this phase all five owners will be involved in sales.

5.4 Milestones

The accompanying table lists important program milestones, with dates and managers in charge, and budgets for each. The milestone schedule indicates our emphasis on planning for implementation.

What the table doesn’t show is the commitment behind it. Our business plan includes complete provisions for plan-vs.-actual analysis, and we will hold monthly follow-up meetings to discuss the variance and course corrections.

Personnel Plan

Gaming Futures staff is as follows:

Bill Kerl- Producer/New Business Starting out with games in 1993 programming on the 3DO, then programming and producing DreæmWhyrks games since 1995, Bill is driven to get things out. Planning for success is the most important part of any project.

Diane Huber – Lead Engineer Diane has been programming computers for over 25 years and has been making great games for the last 15 years, including DreæmWhyrks, Mighty Quinn, and Fire Mountain.

Marcus Hathcock- Programmer/GamePlay Marcus is a software engineer who has 5 years experience implementing interfaces and gameplay; most of this time was spent working on the DreæmWhyrks series at Axiomatic.

Jillian Daley- Senior Software Engineer With 11 years programming experience building games, tools, and technologies, she’s been involved in all aspects of several full 3D sims including Penthesilea and the DreæmWhyrks series.

Jeremy Lang- Software Engineer Jeremy has specialized in using artificial intelligence to simulate physical events. For the past six years Jeremy’s projects at Axiomatic have included the DreæmWhyrks series, Mighty Quinn, Fire Mountain, and Storm Warnings.

6.1 Management Team Gaps

Currently, the firm doesn’t have a corporate leader to manage the anticipated growth of the company during its third year of operation and beyond. As sales grow, the focus will be on production. The management of the company’s resources and decisions on how to effectively grow the firm will demand an individual with extensive management expertise as well as experience in the interactive gaming industry. This is critical vacancy will be addressed during the third year. The firm will hire a President to fill this role.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following is the financial plan for Gaming Futures. The various topic tables display annual figures for the first three years. Monthly figures for the first year are presented in the appendix.

7.1 Break-even Analysis

The following table and chart show our Break-even Analysis.

7.2 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table and charts highlight the projected profit and loss for three years.

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following table and chart highlights the projected cash flow for three years.

7.4 Projected Balance Sheet

The following table highlights the projected balance sheet for three years.

7.5 Business Ratios

Business ratios for the years of this plan are shown below. Industry profile ratios based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 7371, Computer Programming Services, are shown for comparison.

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Creating an Effective Business Plan (part II) Summary: CLASS OBJECTIVES: To enhance knowledge and skills of students about the: • Major terms of Business Plan • Market Analysis • Production Plan • Marketing Plan • Operations Plan • Logistics Plan • Financial Plan • Execution of Plan • Exit Strategy • The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) • Appendix (Essential documents) CLASS STRUCTURE • Review of the last Class, Creating an Effective Business Plan - Part • PowerPoint Presentation as per Class Objective • Students’ test / Question • Please write your answers in the box of 'COMMENT IN CHAT.' • Open question / answer session at the end of clas • Closing remarks Date: Tuesday, May 14th, at 10:00 a.m., US Eastern Time. Topic: Business Administration

Meeting ID: 816 6539 3400 Passcode: 089759

About Muhammad Saghir: University of Balochistan Quetta Pakistan Master of Commerce (MCom), Commerce and Management 1977-1979 University of Balochistan Master of Arts (MA), Political science 1974-1976

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These computer science terms are often used interchangeably, but what differences make each a unique technology?

Technology is becoming more embedded in our daily lives by the minute. To keep up with the pace of consumer expectations, companies are relying more heavily on machine learning algorithms to make things easier. You can see its application in social media (through object recognition in photos) or in talking directly to devices (like Alexa or Siri).

While  artificial intelligence  (AI),  machine learning  (ML),  deep learning  and  neural networks  are related technologies, the terms are often used interchangeably, which frequently leads to confusion about their differences. This blog post clarifies some of the ambiguity.

The easiest way to think about AI, machine learning, deep learning and neural networks is to think of them as a series of AI systems from largest to smallest, each encompassing the next.

AI is the overarching system. Machine learning is a subset of AI. Deep learning is a subfield of machine learning, and neural networks make up the backbone of deep learning algorithms. It’s the number of node layers, or depth, of neural networks that distinguishes a single neural network from a deep learning algorithm, which must have more than three.

Artificial intelligence or AI, the broadest term of the three, is used to classify machines that mimic human intelligence and human cognitive functions like problem-solving and learning. AI uses predictions and automation to optimize and solve complex tasks that humans have historically done, such as facial and speech recognition, decision-making and translation.

Categories of AI

The three main categories of AI are:

• Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)
• Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)
• Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)

ANI is considered “weak” AI, whereas the other two types are classified as “strong” AI. We define weak AI by its ability to complete a specific task, like winning a chess game or identifying a particular individual in a series of photos. Natural language processing and computer vision, which let companies automate tasks and underpin  chatbots  and virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa, are examples of ANI. Computer vision is a factor in the development of self-driving cars.

Stronger forms of AI, like AGI and ASI, incorporate human behaviors more prominently, such as the ability to interpret tone and emotion. Strong AI is defined by its ability compared to humans. AGI would perform on par with another human, while ASI—also known as superintelligence—would surpass a human’s intelligence and ability. Neither form of Strong AI exists yet, but research in this field is ongoing.

Using AI for business

An increasing number of businesses, about  35%  globally, are using AI, and another 42% are exploring the technology. The development of  generative AI , which uses powerful foundation models that train on large amounts of unlabeled data, can be adapted to new use cases and bring flexibility and scalability that is likely to accelerate the adoption of AI significantly. In early tests, IBM has seen generative AI bring time to value up to 70% faster than traditional AI.

Whether you use AI applications based on ML or foundation models, AI can give your business a competitive advantage. Integrating customized AI models into your workflows and systems, and automating functions such as customer service, supply chain management and cybersecurity, can help a business meet customers’ expectations, both today and as they increase in the future.

The key is identifying the right data sets from the start to help ensure that you use quality data to achieve the most substantial competitive advantage. You’ll also need to create a hybrid, AI-ready architecture that can successfully use data wherever it lives—on mainframes, data centers, in private and public clouds and at the edge.

Your AI must be trustworthy because anything less means risking damage to a company’s reputation and bringing regulatory fines. Misleading models and those containing bias or that  hallucinate  (link resides outside ibm.com) can come at a high cost to customers’ privacy, data rights and trust. Your AI must be explainable, fair and transparent.

Machine learning is a subset of AI that allows for optimization. When set up correctly, it helps you make predictions that minimize the errors that arise from merely guessing. For example, companies like Amazon use machine learning to recommend products to a specific customer based on what they’ve looked at and bought before.

Classic or “nondeep” machine learning depends on human intervention to allow a computer system to identify patterns, learn, perform specific tasks and provide accurate results. Human experts determine the hierarchy of features to understand the differences between data inputs, usually requiring more structured data to learn.

For example, let’s say I showed you a series of images of different types of fast food—“pizza,” “burger” and “taco.” A human expert working on those images would determine the characteristics distinguishing each picture as a specific fast food type. The bread in each food type might be a distinguishing feature. Alternatively, they might use labels, such as “pizza,” “burger” or “taco” to streamline the learning process through supervised learning.

While the subset of AI called deep machine learning can leverage labeled data sets to inform its algorithm in supervised learning, it doesn’t necessarily require a labeled data set. It can ingest unstructured data in its raw form (for example, text, images), and it can automatically determine the set of features that distinguish “pizza,” “burger” and “taco” from one another. As we generate more big data, data scientists use more machine learning. For a deeper dive into the differences between these approaches, check out  Supervised versus Unsupervised Learning: What’s the Difference?

A third category of machine learning is reinforcement learning, where a computer learns by interacting with its surroundings and getting feedback (rewards or penalties) for its actions. And online learning is a type of ML where a data scientist updates the ML model as new data becomes available.

To learn more about machine learning, check out the following video:

As our article on  deep learning  explains, deep learning is a subset of machine learning. The primary difference between machine learning and deep learning is how each algorithm learns and how much data each type of algorithm uses.

Deep learning automates much of the feature extraction piece of the process, eliminating some of the manual human intervention required. It also enables the use of large data sets, earning the title of  scalable machine learning . That capability is exciting as we explore the use of unstructured data further, particularly since  over 80% of an organization’s data is estimated to be unstructured  (link resides outside ibm.com). 

Observing patterns in the data allows a deep-learning model to cluster inputs appropriately. Taking the same example from earlier, we might group pictures of pizzas, burgers and tacos into their respective categories based on the similarities or differences identified in the images. A deep-learning model requires more data points to improve accuracy, whereas a machine-learning model relies on less data given its underlying data structure. Enterprises generally use deep learning for more complex tasks, like virtual assistants or fraud detection.

Neural networks, also called artificial neural networks or simulated neural networks, are a subset of machine learning and are the backbone of deep learning algorithms. They are called “neural” because they mimic how neurons in the brain signal one another.

Neural networks are made up of node layers—an input layer, one or more hidden layers and an output layer. Each node is an artificial neuron that connects to the next, and each has a weight and threshold value. When one node’s output is above the threshold value, that node is activated and sends its data to the network’s next layer. If it’s below the threshold, no data passes along.

Training data teach neural networks and help improve their accuracy over time. Once the learning algorithms are fined-tuned, they become powerful computer science and AI tools because they allow us to quickly classify and cluster data. Using neural networks, speech and image recognition tasks can happen in minutes instead of the hours they take when done manually. Google’s search algorithm is a well-known example of a neural network.

As mentioned in the explanation of neural networks above, but worth noting more explicitly, the “deep” in deep learning refers to the depth of layers in a neural network. A neural network of more than three layers, including the inputs and the output, can be considered a deep-learning algorithm. That can be represented by the following diagram:

Most deep neural networks are feed-forward, meaning they only flow in one direction from input to output. However, you can also train your model through back-propagation, meaning moving in the opposite direction, from output to input. Back-propagation allows us to calculate and attribute the error that is associated with each neuron, allowing us to adjust and fit the algorithm appropriately.

While all these areas of AI can help streamline areas of your business and improve your customer experience, achieving AI goals can be challenging because you’ll first need to ensure that you have the right systems to construct learning algorithms to manage your data. Data management is more than merely building the models that you use for your business. You need a place to store your data and mechanisms for cleaning it and controlling for bias before you can start building anything.

At IBM we are combining the power of machine learning and artificial intelligence in our new studio for foundation models, generative AI and machine learning, watsonx.ai™.

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CITGO Retirees Get Class Status in Benefits Calculation Suit

By Bernie Pazanowski

CITGO Petroleum Corp. and its retirement plans must face a federal class action brought by plan participants claiming that their benefits were miscalculated.

The plaintiffs said that the defendants violated the Employee Retirement Income Act by using out-of-date mortality assumptions to calculate their benefits from Jan. 1, 1995 to Jan. 1, 2018. They told Judge Matthew F. Kennelly of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois that there are 1,773 class members and that the underpayment was at least $31,713,141.

CITGO argued against class certification, saying many of the potential class members’ claims are time-barred. The company ...

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