Assignment 1: (3 pages single spaced with subheadings).

Customer/Industry Analysis (include subheadings):

a) Describe the industry within which your business will be located and describe at least three recent trends in that industry. Note: This information and item b. following may be found using your NAICS number and in trade organization publications. Also, see Skill Module 2.1, p. 30. And pages 196-98 and 376 and NAICS link above in assignment 1.

b) Describe the market growth rate for your product/service, i.e, what is the market demand likely to be in the next 1-3 years.

c) Describe your market segment and your market niche within that market segment, i.e. Describe your customers and where they are located. Ref. pages 385-88.

d) Describe at least three of your competitors, why they are competitors and where they are located.

e) Where will you locate your business?  If a wholly online business what will you do to attract customers?

f) How will you market or promote your product/service? I.e., online sales, social media marketing, search engine optimization, personal selling, etc. Describe in detail.

Assignment 2: (3 pages single spaced with subheadings)

Management and Operations (include subheadings):

a) Describe who will be the CEO and his/her qualifications/experiences in the product/service industry, including both education and work and other relevant experiences.

b) Describe who will make your product/service, how, and where.

c) Describe how many employees you will need at startup, their particular expertise (e.g. marketing, financial, operations, etc.), and how they will be paid.

d) Describe what types of external advisors you will need and how they will be paid (e.g. lawyer, accountant, etc.)

e) Describe the legal organization of your business (e.g. sole proprietor, LLC, Partnership, C Corporation, S Corporation) and reasons for selecting this legal organization form.  Ref. pages 580-84.

Describe unpaid advisors who will assist you during startup and 3 years thereafter.