[West Plains, MO] – Are you dreaming of starting your own business? Do you want to make your current business more successful? Starting in February 2022, the Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will be hosting LaunchU for the first time since the pandemic. LaunchU is a 9-week hands-on course for aspiring and early-stage business owners. This training course helps entrepreneurs complete a written feasibility plan to determine if their business idea is a “GO”, “NO GO” or needs to be adapted.
”Before investing time and money in starting a new business, why not first test the feasibility on paper and determine the best way to execute your business idea. LaunchU saves you from making costly mistakes and helps you create a plan for success,” said Heather Fisher, OzSBI’s CEO. Over the nine weeks you will learn and execute the following concepts: set your business goals, research your industry and competition, market your services and products, identify your target customers, set pricing, project profitability and break-event point, choose the right business structure and more.
LaunchU is a proven curriculum developed by the Kauffman Foundation designed for microentrepreneurs, especially those who have a lower than average budget and plan to employ five or fewer employees starting out. LaunchU graduate Phil Wages of Wages Brewing Company said, “I wouldn’t be on the path I am today without attending the first LaunchU class. I’m glad I took the leap which led to running my own business.”
LaunchU will kick-off on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 9 am with an interactive program, and lunch will be provided. Then it will continue every Thursday evening from 5:30-8:30 pm through April 7th, making it more accessible for the working people. Each attendee will receive a workbook, subscription to LIVEPlan business planning software (a $60 value) and hear from expert guest speakers in marketing, accounting, finance and law. One-on-one mentoring and plan review will occur throughout the course.
West Plains Bank and Trust is sponsoring LaunchU and the program is being offered through funding from the USDA Rural Development. To learn more about LaunchU and for pricing, you can go to our website at ozsbi.com/events, or call us at 417-256-9724.
