Launching Operations and Finance

This unit prepares students to move a business concept into an operating venture by testing ideas, selecting viable business models, and developing foundational financial, legal, marketing, and management plans. Students will explore accounting essentials, funding options, entity choices (including franchising), and go-to-market tactics needed to launch and sustain a small business.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze market niches and customer segments using tests of customer attractiveness, market segmentation, and feedback techniques to justify product–market fit
• Evaluate business models and funding pathways by comparing franchise relationships, startup models, venture capital, and IPO options to recommend an appropriate growth strategy
• Apply basic accounting and financial principles — including cash vs. accrual accounting, double-entry bookkeeping, profit decomposition, balance-sheet transactions, and free cash flow calculations — to prepare simple financial analyses and sales tax compliance plans
• Demonstrate the ability to develop an operational launch plan that selects an appropriate legal entity (sole proprietorship, S corp, LLC, corporation, or franchise), secures facilities or home-based arrangements, and creates integrated marketing and management actions (branding, media schedule, hiring, delegation, and web presence)