Developing a Business Idea
Go to and read: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1999-great-business-ideas-2012.html
Click through and read about the new business idea trends.
Complete the worksheet "5 Problems of Middle School Student" Make sure your business idea is for a PRODUCT
Company Logo
Sketch four possible logo designs on pg. 3 of your DAB packet. Remember your logo should be easily recognizable and include words/images that best represent your company. When finished, select your final choice as a group and color in the logo. The colors you choose says A LOT about your company. Take a look at the color psychology chart at the bottom of this page to help you select the colors that best represent the overall feel of your company!
Now, open Microsoft PowerPoint. Save the file as "Product Name Logo" in your Entrepreneurship folder. Using clip art, word art and text boxes, design your product logo. When finished, save as a JPEG. Upload the final jpeg to your Google Shared folder.
Business Plan Do & Don't:
Go to and read: Business Plan DO & DON'T
Read the list of poor business plan practices. Using this article and your own ideas, create a business plan "Do and Don't" list on pg. 4 of your DAB packet.
CLICK HERE: https://padlet.com/vanbalens/qyk1kvilv7vp#
Follow the instructions on the online corkboard and make a post!
Mission & Goals
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/mission-and-goals-295195
As you watch the video, complete the guided note section on pg. 5 in your DAB packet. Pay careful attention to the main pillars of a mission statement and what a SMART goal encompasses.
Complete the remaining portion of pg. 5 in your DAB packet by writing a mission statement and four SMART goals ( two short-term goals and two long-term goals)
Note from Mrs. VB: Remember, although the video provided examples of personal goals, you want to write goals for your business. Keep in mind specific, achievable milestones for your company. After all, the first step to achieving a goal is setting one!
Journal Entry #1 & Writing a Product Description
Follow this link: https://www.shopify.com/blog/8211159-9-simple-ways-to-write-product-descriptions-that-sell
Scroll through and select one product description to analyze. Write the name of the project on Journal #1 on the top of pg. 6. Then list two strengths and two weaknesses of the product description. We will use this information to help craft a compelling and detailed product description during our next class.
Target Market
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/identifying-your-target-market-295238
Complete the guided note portion on the top of page 7 in your DAB packet. Now consider your ideal customer. A description of this customer will become your target market. Complete the five characteristics (geographic, demographic, psycho-graphic, benefits, behavioral) for your target market on the bottom of pg. 7 in your DAB packet. Be sure to select ONLY one item in each box.
For example, a well defined target market:
1. A family of four (two parents and two children) living in the suburbs with a medium income and are college educated. The family spends time at soccer games on the weekends, visiting local museums and going on family trips.
2. A male aged 24-34 years old, living in the city with a college education and medium income. This male works in the tech industry, travels for work frequently and belongs to a club lacrosse team for fun.
Journal Entry #2
Download the "Pro and Con of Media Types" file from the bottom of this page. Using this list, select one type of media that you would like to use to advertise your business. Consider this: Which type of media is best going to reach your target market? Consider the elements of the target market you just identified on pg. 7 of your packet. Using Microsoft Publisher create a digital advertisement. Use templates from the internet, your company logo, text box and appropriate pictures. Be as realistic and descriptive as possible! Save this file as "Company Name Advertisement". When finished, save this file as a JPEG and upload to the Google shared folder.
Organizational Chart
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/the-organizational-chart-294571
Now you will create an organizational chart for your company using Microsoft Publisher. Open a blank Publisher document and save it as "CompanyName_OrgChart" in your Entrepreneurship folder. Using shapes and text boxes create the up-side-down like tree structure of your organizational chart. Your organizational chart must have at least two levels.
Journal Entry #3 Selecting a Management Style
Open and read: 6 Management Styles & when to use them
After previewing all six management styles, select the two that you feel apply most to you and your business situation. Record these two management styles and answer the following questions on page. 10 in your DAB packet:
Financial Statement: Pro Forma Income Statement
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/developing-an-income-statement-296561
Complete the guided notes portion on page 11 in your DAB packet. Be sure to follow along and fill-in-the-blanks on the jewelry store income statement at the bottom of the page as the narrator describes it in the video.
Now you will create a Pro Forma Income Statement using Microsoft Excel. Open a blank Excel spreadsheet and save it as "CompanyName_IncomeSt" in your Entrepreneurship folder. Follow the directions on pg. 12 in your DAB packet to create a sample income statement that explains future revenue and expenses for your company. Then brainstorm three ideas for how you would generate start-up costs for your product.
Start Up Costs: How will you fund your company?
Read this article from Forbes Magazine Online. Review the possible options for funding your new business. Complete DAB pg. with at least three possible options for your business and explain why they would be feasible for your company.
Writing a Business Pitch
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/elevator-pitch-352943
You have only 30 seconds to describe your company during an elevator ride. Script your business pitch on page. 30 in your DAB packet. Now it’s time to rehearse, practice, and time your business pitch. use the online stop watch at the following link to time yourself: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/ Revise your business pitch until it is 30 seconds or less and really paints a picture of your business! You only have 30 seconds to make every second count!
When your business pitch is perfect, use Sound Recorder and your headphone microphone to record your pitch. Be sure to pay attention to clarity, inflection and speed of your voice when recording. Save the recording as "LastName_CompanyName_BusinessPitch" in your Entrepreneurship folder.
Website Creation
Visit: http://students.weebly.com/
Follow the instructions on pg. 15-16 in your DAB packet to set-up your online account and plan the pages of your website. These instructions will also walk you through how to create pages, change the design, and upload files/images to your website.
Note from Mrs. VB: When designing this website, keep in mind that this will show potential investors how you plan to be successful. A website is only effective if it provides accurate information, is easy to navigate, and is appealing to the customer.
Business Plan Document:
See DAB pg. 14 for more details.
To submit your completed Business Plan: Share the Google Document with Stephanie Van Balen. Print a copy of the rubric file below, fill in your name and submit to the class IN BIN by the due date.
Go to and read: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1999-great-business-ideas-2012.html
Click through and read about the new business idea trends.
Complete the worksheet "5 Problems of Middle School Student" Make sure your business idea is for a PRODUCT
Company Logo
Sketch four possible logo designs on pg. 3 of your DAB packet. Remember your logo should be easily recognizable and include words/images that best represent your company. When finished, select your final choice as a group and color in the logo. The colors you choose says A LOT about your company. Take a look at the color psychology chart at the bottom of this page to help you select the colors that best represent the overall feel of your company!
Now, open Microsoft PowerPoint. Save the file as "Product Name Logo" in your Entrepreneurship folder. Using clip art, word art and text boxes, design your product logo. When finished, save as a JPEG. Upload the final jpeg to your Google Shared folder.
Business Plan Do & Don't:
Go to and read: Business Plan DO & DON'T
Read the list of poor business plan practices. Using this article and your own ideas, create a business plan "Do and Don't" list on pg. 4 of your DAB packet.
CLICK HERE: https://padlet.com/vanbalens/qyk1kvilv7vp#
Follow the instructions on the online corkboard and make a post!
Mission & Goals
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/mission-and-goals-295195
As you watch the video, complete the guided note section on pg. 5 in your DAB packet. Pay careful attention to the main pillars of a mission statement and what a SMART goal encompasses.
Complete the remaining portion of pg. 5 in your DAB packet by writing a mission statement and four SMART goals ( two short-term goals and two long-term goals)
Note from Mrs. VB: Remember, although the video provided examples of personal goals, you want to write goals for your business. Keep in mind specific, achievable milestones for your company. After all, the first step to achieving a goal is setting one!
Journal Entry #1 & Writing a Product Description
Follow this link: https://www.shopify.com/blog/8211159-9-simple-ways-to-write-product-descriptions-that-sell
Scroll through and select one product description to analyze. Write the name of the project on Journal #1 on the top of pg. 6. Then list two strengths and two weaknesses of the product description. We will use this information to help craft a compelling and detailed product description during our next class.
Target Market
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/identifying-your-target-market-295238
Complete the guided note portion on the top of page 7 in your DAB packet. Now consider your ideal customer. A description of this customer will become your target market. Complete the five characteristics (geographic, demographic, psycho-graphic, benefits, behavioral) for your target market on the bottom of pg. 7 in your DAB packet. Be sure to select ONLY one item in each box.
For example, a well defined target market:
1. A family of four (two parents and two children) living in the suburbs with a medium income and are college educated. The family spends time at soccer games on the weekends, visiting local museums and going on family trips.
2. A male aged 24-34 years old, living in the city with a college education and medium income. This male works in the tech industry, travels for work frequently and belongs to a club lacrosse team for fun.
Journal Entry #2
Download the "Pro and Con of Media Types" file from the bottom of this page. Using this list, select one type of media that you would like to use to advertise your business. Consider this: Which type of media is best going to reach your target market? Consider the elements of the target market you just identified on pg. 7 of your packet. Using Microsoft Publisher create a digital advertisement. Use templates from the internet, your company logo, text box and appropriate pictures. Be as realistic and descriptive as possible! Save this file as "Company Name Advertisement". When finished, save this file as a JPEG and upload to the Google shared folder.
Organizational Chart
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/the-organizational-chart-294571
Now you will create an organizational chart for your company using Microsoft Publisher. Open a blank Publisher document and save it as "CompanyName_OrgChart" in your Entrepreneurship folder. Using shapes and text boxes create the up-side-down like tree structure of your organizational chart. Your organizational chart must have at least two levels.
Journal Entry #3 Selecting a Management Style
Open and read: 6 Management Styles & when to use them
After previewing all six management styles, select the two that you feel apply most to you and your business situation. Record these two management styles and answer the following questions on page. 10 in your DAB packet:
- What personal beliefs and other life experiences contributed to your selection of a management style?
- Please justify why you believe this style will be more beneficial for your company.
Financial Statement: Pro Forma Income Statement
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/developing-an-income-statement-296561
Complete the guided notes portion on page 11 in your DAB packet. Be sure to follow along and fill-in-the-blanks on the jewelry store income statement at the bottom of the page as the narrator describes it in the video.
Now you will create a Pro Forma Income Statement using Microsoft Excel. Open a blank Excel spreadsheet and save it as "CompanyName_IncomeSt" in your Entrepreneurship folder. Follow the directions on pg. 12 in your DAB packet to create a sample income statement that explains future revenue and expenses for your company. Then brainstorm three ideas for how you would generate start-up costs for your product.
Start Up Costs: How will you fund your company?
Read this article from Forbes Magazine Online. Review the possible options for funding your new business. Complete DAB pg. with at least three possible options for your business and explain why they would be feasible for your company.
Writing a Business Pitch
Watch the following video: http://www.teachertube.com/video/elevator-pitch-352943
You have only 30 seconds to describe your company during an elevator ride. Script your business pitch on page. 30 in your DAB packet. Now it’s time to rehearse, practice, and time your business pitch. use the online stop watch at the following link to time yourself: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/ Revise your business pitch until it is 30 seconds or less and really paints a picture of your business! You only have 30 seconds to make every second count!
When your business pitch is perfect, use Sound Recorder and your headphone microphone to record your pitch. Be sure to pay attention to clarity, inflection and speed of your voice when recording. Save the recording as "LastName_CompanyName_BusinessPitch" in your Entrepreneurship folder.
Website Creation
Visit: http://students.weebly.com/
Follow the instructions on pg. 15-16 in your DAB packet to set-up your online account and plan the pages of your website. These instructions will also walk you through how to create pages, change the design, and upload files/images to your website.
Note from Mrs. VB: When designing this website, keep in mind that this will show potential investors how you plan to be successful. A website is only effective if it provides accurate information, is easy to navigate, and is appealing to the customer.
Business Plan Document:
See DAB pg. 14 for more details.
To submit your completed Business Plan: Share the Google Document with Stephanie Van Balen. Print a copy of the rubric file below, fill in your name and submit to the class IN BIN by the due date.
top_10_business_plan_mistakes.pdf |
pro_and_con_of_media_types.jpg |
website_planning_and_home_page_rubric.pdf |
individual_webpage_assessment_by_level.pdf |
business_plan_rubric.pdf |
sample_product_descriptions.pdf |