Fleming College

Program Highlights

This micro-credential series will give you with the foundational knowledge and practical skills to start and manage a successful independent business in your trade – no matter which trade you are in.

Gain knowledge in essential aspects of entrepreneurship, including business planning, legal considerations, marketing, finance, and operations, tailored to the trades industry in Ontario.

These micro-credentials will help you to:

• Understand the legal and regulatory requirements for starting a business in Ontario
• Apply marketing and branding strategies to promote your trade services
• Manage your business finances, including budgeting, tax planning, and pricing
• Develop operational strategies to manage your business efficiently

No previous experience or knowledge is needed to take any of the micro-credential courses in this series. Each of the courses can be taken independently or as a series, and in any order.

If you wish to complete the entire series, it is recommended to take “BUSN284-Entrepreneurship in Trades 4-Financial Planning” as the final course, as it provides a summary of all previous courses, which you will then use to create a comprehensive business plan tailored to your vision and trade.

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirement for entrance into this program is: 19 years of age or older, or an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or its equivalent.

Courses in Entrepreneurship for Trades Professionals

Details and registration below

Entrepreneurship for Trades Professionals Microcredential Series

• Entrepreneurship in Trades 1:Introduction and Innovation (BUSN263)
• Entrepreneurship in Trades 2-Planning and Compliance (BUSN282)
• Entrepreneurship in Trades 3-Business Branding and Marketing (BUSN283)
• Entrepreneurship in Trades 4-Financial Planning (BUSN284)
• Entrepreneurship in Trades 5-Operations (BUSN285)
• Entrepreneurship in Trades 6-Risk and Sustainability (BUSN286)
• Entrepreneurship in Trades 7-Business Plan (BUSN287)

Entrepreneurship for Trades Professionals Microcredential Series

Entrepreneurship in Trades 1:Introduction and Innovation

BUSN263

This micro-credential will give you a fundamental understanding of what entrepreneurship is, and what it is not. Once you've gained an understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship in Trades and the traits of successful entrepreneurs, we will dig into the building blocks to start becoming a successful entrepreneur: identifying business ideas in the Trades, conducting market research, assessing opportunities and performing a feasibility study.

Entrepreneurship in Trades 2-Planning and Compliance

BUSN282

Entrepreneurship requires an understanding of business planning and business law. In this micro-credential you will gain an understanding of both, as it relates to Trades businesses in Ontario, Canada. We'll start with what elements a sound business plan must have, how to create a business model and how to define and set business goals and objectives. You will also learn about the legal and compliance considerations in business structures, licensing and permits and Ontario's Regulatory Environment for the Trades.

Entrepreneurship in Trades 3-Business Branding and Marketing

BUSN283

In this micro-credential on marketing basics for your Trades business, we break down all you need to market your business successfully. You will discover how to develop a brand identity, what marketing strategies might work for your trades business and how to identify and target the different customer groups you would like to attract. You will also receive a crash course in developing an online presence and leveraging social media, from creating a professional website to understanding online advertising and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) basics.

Entrepreneurship in Trades 4-Financial Planning

BUSN284

An understanding of financial concepts is critical to the success of your business venture. In this micro-credential you will learn the fundamentals of business finance and uncover the specifics needed to run your business successfully, from acquiring start-up funds to budgeting and financial forecasting, to determining your pricing strategy. We will also provide a step-by-step guide to tax planning and management with an overview of business taxes in Ontario, tax planning strategies, record-keeping and accounting basics.

Entrepreneurship in Trades 5-Operations

BUSN285

Learn to manage your Trades operations and your customer service in this micro-credential. You will discover the intricacies of operations planning and development, supply chain management and quality management. You will also learn how to provide customer service excellence, build customer loyalty and manage customer feedback and complaints.

Entrepreneurship in Trades 6-Risk and Sustainability

BUSN286

This micro-credential delves into two important aspects of any Trades business: managing risk and leveraging sustainability. You will gain a basic understanding of what constitutes business risk, how to identify risks, how to develop mitigation strategies and what insurance and liability implications need to be considered. Then we delve into using more sustainable practices in the Trades from both risk and environmental perspectives to help you build a sustainable business model.

Entrepreneurship in Trades 7-Business Plan

BUSN287

In this culminating micro-credential in the Entrepreneurial Studies for Trades Professional program you will pull from knowledge from all previous micro-credentials to create and present your business plan. Get detailed guidance on how to review and finalize the business plan, how to obtain peer reviews and how to incorporate feedback and revisions. With your business plan now ready, we will show you how to create a pitch deck to present and submit your business plan. We will take time to consider reflections of learning outcomes and offer next steps in your entrepreneurial journey.