Entrepreneurship & Business Finance

Choosing Legal Structure

• Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, Private Limited, OPC

• Comparison: liability, taxation, compliance, funding access

Business Registration Process

• Required documents and steps

• Cost implications and timelines

• GST registration and licenses

Brand Identity & Market Presence

• Business naming strategy

• Domain and social media handles

• Logo, colors, and basic branding elements

• Building online credibility

Financial Record-Keeping Fundamentals

• Understanding income and expenses

• Fixed vs. variable costs

• Separating personal and business finances

Bookkeeping Best Practices

• Daily, weekly, monthly routines

• Receipt and invoice management

• Simple accounting tools: spreadsheets and software

Budgeting & Fund Allocation

• Estimating startup costs realistically

• Projecting first-year revenues

• Working capital management

• Building contingency buffers

Hands-on Budgeting Exercise

Understanding Profitability

• P&L statement structure

• Gross profit, operating profit, net profit

• Calculating key profitability metrics

Cost-Cutting Strategies

• Identifying non-essential expenses

• Negotiating with suppliers

• Technology for efficiency

Break-Even Analysis

• Break-even point calculation

• Using break-even for decision making

• Pricing strategy validation

Interactive P&L Analysis Activity

Cash Flow vs. Profit

• Why cash flow matters more

• Timing of inflows and outflows

• Cash flow problems that kill businesses

Managing Receivables & Payables

• Credit terms and invoicing

• Follow-up systems for payments

• Strategic payment prioritization

Cash Flow Forecasting

• Weekly and monthly projections

• Planning for seasonal variations

• Using forecasts for decision making

Cash Flow Worksheet Exercise

Funding Options Overview

• Self-funding and bootstrapping

• Microfinance and SME loans

• Angel investors and venture capital

• Government schemes and grants

Building Creditworthiness

• Financial discipline and record keeping

• Building business credit score

• Bank relationship management

Pitching to Investors

• Essential elements of investor pitch

• Financial projections and valuation

• Handling investor questions

Pitch Practice Session

Managing Growth

• When and how to scale

• Reinvestment strategies

• Maintaining quality during expansion

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Cash flow mismanagement

• Premature scaling

• Neglecting customer relationships

• Poor financial planning

Success Story Case Study

• Small business growth journey

• Key decisions and turning points

• Lessons learned

Personal Business Plan Presentation

• Participants present comprehensive plans

• Peer and instructor feedback

• Action steps for next 90 days