Week 5 Day 2 Workshop Agenda

• ✅ Updates: upcoming classes & website
• 📅 Oct 14 – Marketing Show & Tell
• 📅 Oct 21 – Business Plan Draft Overview
• 🎯 Focus Today:
• 1. Operations Plan
• 2. Management & Organization
• 3. Startup Costs & Suppliers

Operations Plan Overview

Describes how your business runs day-to-day.

Includes:

• Location & Facilities

• Daily Operations

• Suppliers/Vendors

• Technology/Tools

Example: Downtown Café

• Location: 2,000 sq. ft. Downtown Novato café & retail corner.
• Operations: Open 7 AM–8 PM, 7 days/week.
• Team: Baristas, retail associates, manager.
• Suppliers: Local roasters, bakeries, gift suppliers.
• Tech: POS, Wi-Fi, booking software, social media tools.

Activity: Design Your Daily Operations

Imagine your business open for one full day:

• What time do you open and close?

• Who’s working?

• What systems keep it running?

🕐 5 min brainstorm + 5 min share

Management & Organization

Explains who runs the business & how decisions are made.

Includes:

• Owner/Founder

• Staff roles & responsibilities

• Advisors/Mentors

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Example: Downtown Café

• Owner: [Your Name] – strategy, finances, operations

• Staff: 4–6 employees (baristas, cashier, event support)

• Advisors: Local mentors, café consultants

Why Businesses Fail Early

Common reasons:

• Underestimating startup costs

• Running out of cash before break-even

• Overreliance on grants/loans

• Unrealistic revenue expectations

💡 Financial planning = survival strategy

What Are Startup Costs?

Expenses before and after launch:

• Land/building

• Equipment & supplies

• Marketing & branding

• Legal & insurance fees

• Permits & memberships

• Living expenses

• Cash reserve & contingency fund

Example: Café Startup Costs

• Lease deposit – $5,000
• Buildout & furniture – $25,000
• Equipment (espresso, POS) – $15,000
• Marketing launch – $2,000
• Insurance & licenses – $1,500
• Inventory – $3,000
• Cash reserve (3 mo) – $10,000
• TOTAL – $61,500

Finding a Manufacturer, Supplier, or Distributor

• Knowing who makes, supplies, or distributes your product is key.
• Good suppliers = predictable costs + consistent quality.

How to Find Reliable Suppliers

1. Define what you need (materials, packaging, delivery)

2. Research sources:

- Referrals, trade shows, ThomasNet, Alibaba, NAICS

3. Ask smart questions (MOQ, samples, payment terms)

4. Verify & get everything in writing

Building Strong Relationships

• Pay invoices on time

• Communicate early

• Be fair & loyal

• Ask for suggestions

• Keep exploring new suppliers

Example Scenarios by Business Type

• Lawn Care – equipment, uniforms, fuel supplier
• Print-on-Demand – POD platforms, blank garments
• Artist – printers, frame shops, café partners
• Garden Designer – nurseries, soil & material distributors
• Home Food Business – kitchen rentals, ingredient distributors
• Custom Shirt Maker – garment wholesalers, embroidery vendors

Activity: Supplier Search Challenge

• Step 1: List 3–5 key materials/services you need/ platforms (Canva Pro, Website builder, CMS)
• Step 2: Research potential suppliers (online/referral)
• Step 3: Note location, cost
• ⏱️ 10 min research + 10 min share

Reflection Prompt

Which part of finding suppliers feels most challenging?

• Research?

• Cost?

• Relationship building?

💬 Discuss with a partner for 3 minutes.

Activity: Startup Cost Worksheet

Use the Startup Cost Analysis Worksheet to estimate your funding needs.

1. List startup categories

2. Estimate costs

3. Identify what you can bootstrap

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B7Dw6iD0M8N-0zs_7aEBBbtvONtZTYl3/view?usp=sharing

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Reflection & Homework

• ✅ Complete Operations, Management & Startup Cost sections on Business Plan
• 🎨 Bring marketing visuals for Oct 14 Show & Tell
• Business Card, Flyer,
• 📝 Prepare draft for Oct 21 Business Plan Review

Closing & Q&A

• 💬 Recap key takeaways
• 🎯 Next class: Marketing review + Business Plan Draft