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Entrepreneurship

Nuts and Bolts of Business Plans: A Free MIT Course

Learn how to write and present a business plan with this MIT course covering marketing, business models, financing, financial projections, and legal issues.

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Lessons
7
Time
About 8 hr 17 min
Level
beginner

Now playing: Session 1, Part 1: Introduction and Overview of Business Plans

About this path

This free learning path is built from MIT OpenCourseWare's 15.S21 Nuts and Bolts of Business Plans, taught during IAP 2014. It walks through the practical parts of putting a business plan together: what a plan is for, how to refine and present your idea, marketing and sales, business models, financing sources, financial projections, and legal questions entrepreneurs often have. The course is taught by Joe Hadzima and guest instructors from the MIT and startup community. It is released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.

What you will learn

  • Explain what a business plan is, why it matters, and how it is used
  • Refine and present a venture idea to employees, customers, partners, and investors
  • Approach the marketing and sales section of a business plan
  • Compare common business models and when each is most appropriate
  • Identify different sources of startup financing
  • Use financial projection techniques based on real business experience
  • Recognize common legal issues that entrepreneurs face

Who this is for

Beginners who want a structured free introduction before deeper practice.

Curriculum

Section 1: Getting Started: The Plan and the Pitch

  1. Lesson 1: Session 1, Part 1: Introduction and Overview of Business Plans

    Joe Hadzima introduces the business plan: what it is, why you need one, and what it is used for. The session covers practical do's and don'ts for preparing a plan and things to keep in mind while writing.

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  2. Lesson 2: Session 1, Part 2: Refining and Presenting Your Venture Idea

    Stephen Pearse discusses how entrepreneurs are always selling their ideas to potential employees, customers, partners, and investors. The session focuses on how to position and present your venture idea.

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Section 2: Marketing, Sales, and Business Models

  1. Lesson 3: Session 2, Part 1: Marketing and Sales

    Bob Jones covers marketing and sales issues and gives guidance on how to approach the marketing section of a business plan.

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  2. Lesson 4: Session 2, Part 2: Business Models

    Rich Kivel discusses business models, including common models and when each is most appropriately used.

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Section 3: Financing and Financial Projections

  1. Lesson 5: Session 3, Part 1: Financing Sources Panel

    A panel of experts representing different financing sources discusses startup financing options. Panelists include Axel Bichara, Amir Nashat, and Julianne Zimmerman.

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  2. Lesson 6: Session 3, Part 2: Financial Projections

    Charlie Tillett introduces financial projection techniques based on actual business experience.

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Section 4: Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs

  1. Lesson 7: Session 4, Part 2: Legal Issues

    Joe Hadzima answers general questions on legal issues for entrepreneurs, covering what you always wanted to know about the law but were afraid to ask or pay for.

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Your progress

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