Click a unit number below to view resources for that unit.
The Web sites of other organizations and agencies can answer your questions. Or you may need to write down an address or phone number so you can call or visit the organization in person.
Documents are PDF forms and letters provided by government agencies and other organizations. You may want to print them if they are particularly important for your business planning.
Library books are available for check-out from the Minneapolis Public Library. Ask a reference librarian for help if you have trouble locating them.
Resources for Unit 3
These resources can help you in planning your business:
101 hiring mistakes employers make and how to avoid them:
Learn from mistakes other employers have made in hiring employees.
Learn from mistakes other employers have made in hiring employees.
An employers guide to employment law issues in Minnesota:
Use this publication to get current on what is happening in Minnesota related to employment law.
Use this publication to get current on what is happening in Minnesota related to employment law.
Art of pricing:
There isn't one perfect way to price items. This book will show you many ways to price your products and services.
There isn't one perfect way to price items. This book will show you many ways to price your products and services.
Breakeven analysis:
Before you can make a profit you need to break even -- to cover your costs. Use this worksheet to find out what it will take for your business.
Before you can make a profit you need to break even -- to cover your costs. Use this worksheet to find out what it will take for your business.
Calculating your mark up : with sample:
This sheet lets you see how prices are determined using the mark up method.
This sheet lets you see how prices are determined using the mark up method.
Conduct a sales forecast:
Comprehensive information on all aspects and types of sales forecasting.
Comprehensive information on all aspects and types of sales forecasting.
Creating a sales forecast:
Follow the steps outline here to forecast sales for your business.
Follow the steps outline here to forecast sales for your business.
Determining your break even point:
While your goal is to make a profit, you first need to know what your break even point is. That is the point where you are not losing money.
While your goal is to make a profit, you first need to know what your break even point is. That is the point where you are not losing money.
Don:
Checklist and guide to hiring new employees.
Checklist and guide to hiring new employees.
Estimating retail sales :
How many cups of coffee make up $1000 in sales? To make the best sales estimates for your business you will need to roll up your sleeves and start adding! This worksheet will help.
How many cups of coffee make up $1000 in sales? To make the best sales estimates for your business you will need to roll up your sleeves and start adding! This worksheet will help.
Estimating retail sales :
How many cups of coffee make up $1000 in sales? To make the best sales estimates for your business you will need to roll up your sleeves and start adding! This worksheet will help.
How many cups of coffee make up $1000 in sales? To make the best sales estimates for your business you will need to roll up your sleeves and start adding! This worksheet will help.
Explaining fixed costs:
Your fixed costs are directly tied to your profit. Make sure you understand where they are coming from and if you have any flexibility to lower them.
Your fixed costs are directly tied to your profit. Make sure you understand where they are coming from and if you have any flexibility to lower them.
Explaining fixed costs:
Your fixed costs are directly tied to your profit. Make sure you understand where they are coming from and if you have any flexibility to lower them.
Your fixed costs are directly tied to your profit. Make sure you understand where they are coming from and if you have any flexibility to lower them.
Facility profile:
What do you need in your business space? How much do you have to pay for it? Use this worksheet when you are looking at potential spaces, to make sure you ask every question you want answered.
What do you need in your business space? How much do you have to pay for it? Use this worksheet when you are looking at potential spaces, to make sure you ask every question you want answered.
Finding and renting space for your business FAQ:
A handy set of information that answers many questions about leasing business space.
A handy set of information that answers many questions about leasing business space.
Fixed and variable costs:
A review of what fixed and variable costs are and how to calculate them.
A review of what fixed and variable costs are and how to calculate them.
Fixed and variable costs:
A review of what fixed and variable costs are and how to calculate them.
A review of what fixed and variable costs are and how to calculate them.
Fixed cost estimate:
This worksheet shows you sample fixed costs, so it is easier to understand where they come from.
This worksheet shows you sample fixed costs, so it is easier to understand where they come from.
Forecasting your sales revenue:
This article describes how you can forecast sales for your business.
This article describes how you can forecast sales for your business.
Hiring Employees:
Nolo Press provides a 10 step check list for hiring employees. Clear directions are easy to follow.
Nolo Press provides a 10 step check list for hiring employees. Clear directions are easy to follow.
Hiring employees (FAQ from Minnesota DEED):
A guide to hiring your first employee.
A guide to hiring your first employee.
How to calculate your break even point:
Helpful advice for businesses that sell many products.
Helpful advice for businesses that sell many products.
How to find the best location:
This article describes how you can find a great location for your business and says who can help you if you need more help choosing a site.
This article describes how you can find a great location for your business and says who can help you if you need more help choosing a site.
How to forecast growth at a start up:
Clear instructions for making financial projections.
Clear instructions for making financial projections.
Leasing office space:
This article also provides links to information on negotiating a lease and a discussion of should you rent or purchase.
This article also provides links to information on negotiating a lease and a discussion of should you rent or purchase.
Minimum wage law in Minnesota:
Find out what the current, legal, minimum wage is.
Find out what the current, legal, minimum wage is.
Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers:
This umbrella organization provides a wealth of services to small and micro businesses in Minneapolis.
This umbrella organization provides a wealth of services to small and micro businesses in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Salary Survey:
Use this site to view wages by occupation and by region/metropolitan area, in Minnesota.
Use this site to view wages by occupation and by region/metropolitan area, in Minnesota.
Minnesota Salary Survey:
Use this site to view wages by occupation and by region/metropolitan area, in Minnesota.
Use this site to view wages by occupation and by region/metropolitan area, in Minnesota.
Money issues in small business:
Guide to keeping records and using financial analysis tools to grow your business.
Guide to keeping records and using financial analysis tools to grow your business.
Monthly cash flow:
Cash flow is an excellent measure for how healthy your business is. You will want to keep close track of your cash flow to avoid end of month shortages. If you do have problems, you can use your cash flow document to resolve them.
Cash flow is an excellent measure for how healthy your business is. You will want to keep close track of your cash flow to avoid end of month shortages. If you do have problems, you can use your cash flow document to resolve them.
Negotiating the best commercial lease terms:
Great advice for negotiating a lease for your business space.
Great advice for negotiating a lease for your business space.
Price: understanding costs and pricing for profit:
This resource provides the formulas for calculating prices using several pricing strategies. Try two or more for your product/service and see which will generate the most profit for you.
This resource provides the formulas for calculating prices using several pricing strategies. Try two or more for your product/service and see which will generate the most profit for you.
Pricing Strategies:
This site has clear explanations of what types of pricing can be chosen, and what difference it makes for your business.
This site has clear explanations of what types of pricing can be chosen, and what difference it makes for your business.
Pricing Strategy:
Use this site to learn different methods of setting product prices.
Use this site to learn different methods of setting product prices.
Pricing strategy:
There are many ways to price your services and products. No one way is better than another -- you'll decide how you want to price based on what your services and products are. And probably use a couple of different methods.
There are many ways to price your services and products. No one way is better than another -- you'll decide how you want to price based on what your services and products are. And probably use a couple of different methods.
Pricing your products:
This booklet from the Small Business Administration is an excellent review and discussion of setting prices in your business.
This booklet from the Small Business Administration is an excellent review and discussion of setting prices in your business.
Product and service pricing:
How much you charge will have a direct impact on how much money you make. Take your pricing decisions seriously, and don't undersell yourself.
How much you charge will have a direct impact on how much money you make. Take your pricing decisions seriously, and don't undersell yourself.
Projecting cash flow:
Find out how much cash it will take to keep your business up and running.
Find out how much cash it will take to keep your business up and running.
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives):
SCORE provides counseling and mentoring to entreprenuers and they have a wealth of experience to share.
SCORE provides counseling and mentoring to entreprenuers and they have a wealth of experience to share.
Secrets to pricing your product:
This article talks about how pricing decisions will make a difference in calculating financial projections.
This article talks about how pricing decisions will make a difference in calculating financial projections.