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LinkedIn Learning

Entrepreneurship: Bootstrapping Your Business

via LinkedIn Learning

Overview

Start and grow your own business without outside funding. Learn what it takes to manage your spending, prepare your personal finances, apply for awards and grants, and more.

Bootstrapping—starting and growing a business without outside funding—allows founders to play by their own rules. Curious about what it takes to start your own bootstrapped business? Tune into this course to learn how.Instructor Kim Kaupe begins by helping you determine whether bootstrapping is the right move for you. She then shows how to create a business plan and set up measurable goals. Once you have your plans in place, she covers fundamentals like managing your cash flow and spending, navigating customer acquisition at a low cost, and creating partnerships with like-minded companies. Plus, learn how your personal spending plays into your growing business, as well as how to prepare friends and family for the potential ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re a new business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur looking for new ways to leverage your capital, this course can help you set up your self-funded business for success.

Syllabus

Introduction
  • What is bootstrapping?
1. Conduct a Self-Evaluation
  • Is bootstrapping right for you?
  • Three questions to ask before bootstrapping
2. Starting Your Bootstrapped Business
  • Create a business plan
  • Setting up goals
3. Manage Your Spending
  • Determine your cash flow
  • Are credit cards right for you?
  • What is a credit line?
  • Find good partners and vendors
  • Spending on office space
  • Hiring full-time employees vs. part-time employees
4. Your Life vs. Your Business
  • How to prepare your personal finances
  • Prepare friends and family before bootstrapping
5. Utilizing and Building Networks
  • Customer acquistion
  • Utilizing founder forums and groups
6. Leveraging Press and Funding Opportunities
  • Apply for awards and accolades
  • Find local features
  • Grants and contests
7. Control Your Finances
  • Hiring a CPA
  • Financial numbers you should know
Conclusion
  • Next steps to starting your bootstrapped business

Taught by

Kim Kaupe

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