Unit 29: Managing and Running a Small Business

Unit code         L/508/0566

Unit level         5

Credit value     15

Pass	Merit	Distinction
LO3 Develop and analyse a cash flow forecast, budget and break-even analysis and interpret key financial statements
P4 Produce an annual itemised monthly cash flow forecast showing fixed and variable costs set against income for a specific organisation. P5 Explain how break- even analysis could be applied to an organisational situation.	M5 Apply appropriate quantitative and analytical techniques to provide an appropriately detailed cash flow forecast and break-even analysis.	D3 Produce an accurate cash flow forecast and break-even analysis with a critical evaluation of how key financial statements contribute to the successful management of the business.
P6 Interpret key financial statements for an organisation in relation to how they contribute to the successful management of the organisation.
LO4 Discuss the implications of regulation and
legislation on a small business or social enterprise
P7 Discuss key legislation	M6 Evaluate the	D4 Critically evaluate key
and regulations that have	implications of key	legislation and
implications on small	legislation and	regulations that affect
businesses or social	regulations in an	small businesses or social
enterprises.	organisational context.	enterprise organisations,
		taking future
		developments and
		changes into account.

Introduction

This unit will provide students with a practical understanding of the key aspects of running a small business or social enterprise. Students will learn about the activities involved in running a small business, including developing good relationships with customers, planning and allocating operational resources, forecasting and budgeting, interpreting financial statements, recruitment and retention of staff, leadership and building a team, dealing with legislation and regulation and how to put together a business plan.

Students will be able to apply their learning to a simulated business of their choice that they will work on as part of a group. They will develop an understanding of how all of the different aspects of running a business interrelate to achieve success, and develop an appreciation of the benefits and importance of organisation and planning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit a student will be able to:

1. Discuss how a small business or social enterprise plans and allocates resources to achieve objectives.
2. Explain and evaluate the customer relationship management process for a small business or social enterprise, including understanding the benefits and challenges of transnational operation.
3. Develop and analyse a cash flow forecast, budget and break-even analysis and interpret key financial statements.
4. Discuss the implications of regulation and legislation on a small business or social enterprise.

Essential Content

LO1 Discuss how a small business or social enterprise plans and allocates resources to achieve objectives

Planning resources – premises and equipment, people and skills:

• Planning of activities in a business to include capacity utilisation and management, identifying resources and skills needed to develop appropriate job specifications.

Being an employer:

• Organisation structures applicable to the business purpose and organisation stage.
• Establishing an appropriate organisational culture.
• Consideration of human resource management: recruitment and retention, performance management and team building.
• Use of outsourcing, networks and external advisers.
• Understanding key aspects of employment legislation relevant to a small business, for example, equality and diversity.

The business plan:

• Effective articulation of the vision, goals and objectives. Key components of a business plan.
• Consideration of when a business plan might be needed, for example, when securing an overdraft or bank loan.
• Project management techniques, including use of Gantt charts and critical path analysis.

Building customer relationships:

• Assessment of customer value, acquiring and retaining customers.
• Developing effective channels for customer communications and customer care programmes.
• Digital platforms for effective customer relationships to include email marketing for mobile devices, online chat and forums for real time responses and solutions, online testimonials and ratings and use of social media.

Transnational sales:

• Defining transnational sales and considering why start-up and small firms internationalise.
• Preparing to sell and source transnationally and application of the stage model of internationalisation.
• The process of exporting and key considerations.

LO3 Develop and analyse a cash flow forecast, budget and break-even analysis and interpret key financial statements

Sources of finance for start-up and small businesses:

• The main sources of finance for start-up and small businesses, including own savings, equity finance or loans from family and friends, bank loans and overdrafts, leasing and hire purchase, invoice factoring.

Forecasting and budgeting:

• Techniques for forecasting and budgeting: using time series data, calculating a moving average, finding a trend, dealing with seasonality
• Developing budgets, including ‘What-if’ sensitivity analysis. Using budgets for performance monitoring and control.
• Variance analysis. Break-even analysis.

• The key financial statements that are required for a small business and how to interpret them.
• The difference between profit and cash and the vital importance of cash flow for a small business/social enterprise.
• The elements of working capital and how to manage cash flow effectively.

LO4 Discuss the implications of regulation and legislation on a small business or social enterprise

Legal and regulatory issues:

• The legal and regulatory issues applicable to a small business in the country it is registered: record keeping, tax and employment, health and safety, insurance, data protection and cybersecurity measures.
• Examples of regulatory issues that may apply to different business types, different products or services and different localities such as environmental and waste regulations, professional practice guidelines, and local planning restrictions.
• The potential sources of information to determine applicable regulation.