Starting a business is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. But it also offers the chance to create something truly your own. This course will not only help you start a business, but build one that lasts.
This course is for:
- Beginners who have a business idea but want guidance on how to get started
- New entrepreneurs who need help on structure, strategy and growing their business profitably
- Anyone who wants to get insider tips from successful business owners
What you'll get:
- 100 minutes of instructional video content, broken into digestible lessons
- A workbook with summaries and exercises
- Instant access to watch and read at your own pace
- Certificate of completion issued automatically upon completion of course
Through this course, you will:
- Prepare for the journey of becoming an entrepreneur
- Identify what you’re passionate about and start testing your business idea
- Understand market research and how to conduct it effectively
- Explore different ways to fund your business
- Learn how to manage cash flow and prioritize profit as you grow
- Develop smart strategies to market your business
- Learn how to connect with other entrepreneurs and build a strong support network
- Discover ways to structure and protect your business
Why choose Smarter by CNBC Make It:
Expert-Led Instruction: Learn from experts with extensive experience in starting businesses.
Actionable Insights: This course will teach you how to effectively start a business, with practical steps and exercises to help you get started the right way.
Comprehensive Curriculum: This course will provide a broad overview of everything you need to know about starting a business. We'll guide you through this journey step by step, in simple language that is easy to understand.
Your Instructors:
Kathryn Finney
Venture Capitalist
Kathryn is an entrepreneur, investor, startup champion and the author of bestseller “Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy.” She's the founder and general managing partner of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture capital fund. She explains how to build a business from the ground up — developing a business plan, finding investors, growing a team and refining a product.
Mike Michalowicz
Entrepreneur
Mike is the creator of Profit First, a cash-flow management system that's used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit. He's a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal and business makeover specialist on MSNBC. Mike is an entrepreneurship-focused mainstage keynote speaker and the author of several books, including "All In," "Get Different" and "Profit First."
Brian Moran
Business Consultant
Brian is the founder and CEO of Small Business Edge, Brian Moran & Associates, and co-founder of Bricks or Sticks, three companies dedicated to helping all business owners run better, more efficient and more productive companies. Brian also spent two years as an executive director at The Wall Street Journal, where he led the sales development and marketing programs for financial and small-business categories among the many Journal brands.
Course Curriculum
- From Ideas To Strategy (0:16)
- Market Research (5:06)
- Testing Your Business (2:42)
- Case Study: Sell The Tell In Practice With Lloyd Ortuoste (1:39)
- Creating A Business Plan (5:56)
- Pricing Your Product (3:36)
- Case Study: Picking the Right Price Point With Brian Scudamore (4:08)
- Funding Your Business: Part One (6:38)
- Funding Your Business: Part Two (10:36)
- Recap: Building Your Blueprint (1:24)
- Taking Your Business To Market (0:22)
- Registering Your Business (3:46)
- Case Study: Registering As An LLC With Vienna Hintze (3:38)
- Liabilities & Insurance (2:49)
- Managing Cash Flow (6:00)
- Building Your Team (4:45)
- Marketing 101 (2:05)
- Case Study: Push And Pull Marketing With Vienna Hintze (3:22)
- Growing & Scaling (2:17)
- Recap: Launching & Growing Your Business (4:34)
Additional Courses:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smarter by CNBC Make It a subscription?
No. You are charged once for the course you select, with no recurring charges. After purchase, the course remains available for you to take, subject to the Smarter by CNBC Make It Supplemental Terms. We reserve the right to cancel, suspend or make any changes to any Smater Services in our sole discretion at any time without prior notice.
How many times can I take a Smarter course?
Smarter by CNBC Make It courses are pre-recorded videos, and you can watch them whenever you want, on your own schedule, subject to the Smarter by CNBC Make It Supplemental Terms.
Do Smarter courses have subtitles?
Yes. All Smarter by CNBC Make It courses have subtitles. Turn them on with the subtitle icon at the bottom-right of the screen.
I am enrolled in a Smarter class and having technical issues!
Smarter courses are supported only on Chrome and Firefox. If you are experiencing log-in issues with your class, please try signing in here: https://smarter.cnbcmakeit.com/sign_in
You can try troubleshooting with the steps from this article: General technical troubleshooting.
For other issues, please visit Teachable's help page here.
Can I take Smarter classes on a mobile device?
For iPhone, you can download the Teachable iOS app and follow Teachable's instructions for accessing courses in the app:
Links:
- Teachable iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teachable-online-courses/id1177062376
- Instructions for using the iOS app: https://support.teachable.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000766167-Use-the-iOS-App-as-a-Student
Please note: Smarter by CNBC Make It courses are only supported on Chrome and Firefox browsers.
Can I take Smarter classes outside of the US?
Yes. Smarter courses should be accessible outside the U.S., and the lessons apply to people living in the U.S. and elsewhere. Course materials are in English. Contact support if you run into access issues.
How do I download the workbook for my Smarter course?
After enrolling, you can download the course workbook as a PDF. The download button is at the bottom of the worksheet page.
Can I purchase a Smarter by CNBC Make It course as a gift?
Yes. Select "Send as a gift" at checkout, then enter the recipient's name, email address, and a gift message. The purchased course is sent to the recipient immediately after purchase.
What is the refund policy for Smarter courses?
All sales for Smarter services are final. Returns, refunds and exchanges are not provided.
More information:
- Terms of Service: https://smarter.cnbcmakeit.com/p/terms.
Read more here.
Have more questions? Reach out to us at smarter@cnbc.zendesk.com and we'll help you out.