On-Line Training Courses

I. Credit Issues

a. Consumer guide to credit scoring. Know what lenders see about you and what they expect.

II. Thinking About Starting A Business?

a. Deciding on a business: Select a strategy and walk through the thought process of deciding on a business venture to pursue.
b. How To Finance A Business:

• How much money will you need to start your business? How will you get the money? How do loans work? Hear actual bankers discuss borrowing in real life situations. What do banks want?
  
• Loans verses investment. What is the difference?

III. Business Start-Up:

a. Developing a Business Plan
b. Analyze Your Competition
c. Cash Flow
d. Targeting Your Market
e. Business Organization
f. Small Business Marketing and Opening

IV. Operating and Building A Business

a. Marketing

1. Identifying your target market
2. Building your brand
3. Promoting your business
4. Advertising your business

b. Financial Management

1. Analyze profitability
2. Cash flow

V. Advanced Business Topics

a. Buying a business franchise
b. How to finance your business
c. Business insurance
d. Location and leasing
e. E-commerce business and search engine marketing
f. Computer and communication tools
g. Business expansion and handling problems

Interactive Video Courses: Go to http://www.bankofamerica.com/smallbusiness/resourcecenter

Topics and courses include:

I. Starting Your Business

• Developing a business plan
• Targeting your market
• Analyzing your competition
• Creating a competitive advantage
• Pricing products and services
• How much do I need to start my business?

II. Growing Your Business

• Building your brand
• Preparing market analysis
• Advertising your business
• Promoting your business
• Building your web site

III. Financing Your Business

• Partners and investors
• Should I lease or buy?
• Should I get a loan or line of credit?
• What term of loan should I choose?

IV. Managing Your Business

• Managing your cash flow
• Analyzing profitability
• Preparing a cash budget
• Preparing a balance sheet
• Profit and loss
• What is my business worth?

V. Protecting Your Business

• Determining a company’s legal structure
• Business legal issues: contracts
• Protect your business with patents, copyrights and trademarks