Operations, Finance, and Organizational Structure

This unit guides students through practical operational, financial, legal, and marketing decisions needed to move from planning to sustainable small-business operation. Students will integrate management tools, tax-aware finance practices, ownership options, HR considerations, and distribution/promotion strategies to prepare for launch and growth.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze operational workflows, staffing needs, and management tools to produce a flexible organizational chart and staffing plan that addresses time management, hiring/firing, partnership formation, and vendor relationships
• Apply financial management and tax-aware strategies to prepare cash-flow projections, control expenses, manage inventory, interpret key ratios, and plan tax-wise spending including considerations for pass-through deductions
• Evaluate ownership and legal options—such as sole proprietorship, partnership, incorporation, buying a franchise or business, and multi-level marketing—by conducting due diligence and assessing tax, liability, and CPA engagement implications
• Demonstrate the ability to develop an integrated market-access and promotion plan that specifies distribution channels, vendor agreements, promotional tactics, trade association use, and measurable metrics for promotional effectiveness