It can be hard to take the plunge into entrepreneurialism. People often have great ideas, but don’t know where to start, or even how to start. That’s where Rock My Business Plan by Futurpreneur comes in.

Rock My Business Plan is a multi-session workshop that helps new entrepreneurs or existing small-business owners create and hone a business plan, including consideration for planning for growth beyond their local area, and making sure their businesses can launch from a solid foundation. Thanks to a $50,000 investment by the Province, small-business owners and entrepreneurs throughout B.C. will have more tools to plan for success with Futurepreneur’s Rock My Business Plan workshops.

“Rock My Business Plan helps B.C.’s entrepreneurs and small businesses break down how to start a business, from what can be an overwhelming task, to practical steps,” said Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “Having a rock-solid plan is the base of any great business, and we’re proud to support Futurpreneur’s workshops, which create a mentoring atmosphere where entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into action.”

This year, Rock My Business Plan workshop sessions were held in Kelowna, Prince George and Nanaimo. Over 80 people attended the sessions and almost 30% of attendees have started to pursue funding for their ideas through Futurpreneur-supported options.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Province of British Columbia to deliver our successful series of Rock My Business Plan workshops across B.C.,” says Julia Deans, CEO, Futurpreneur. “These workshops help young entrepreneurs tackle the business plan, one of the most critical parts of the startup process.”

Camille MacDonald, owner of Pop Media in Prince George, a company helping organizations create engaging web content, took part in Rock My Business Plan to create an action plan for her business and its finances. She found the workshop also enabled her to better connect with the small but strong entrepreneur community within Prince George.

“I truly appreciate Rock My Biz Plan coming to Prince George! Starting a small business can seem daunting, but when it’s broken down into concrete steps, it becomes manageable,” said MacDonald. “Entrepreneurs are the people who invest their time, money and energy into making Prince George an even better place to work and live. I’m grateful for Futurpreneur’s guidance in helping me launch my business!”

Another participant of the Prince George Rock My Business Plan workshop was Luke Hutchison, co-owner of XP Entertainment. He and his two business partners, Sydney Redpath and Kayli Vandermeer, formed the company only a few weeks ago during October 2016’s startup weekend in Prince George. Hutchison’s company provides virtual-reality experiences for events, parties and festivals. The company’s owners have vastly different schedules and hoped a business plan could help the members of the trio better manage their time.

"Rock My Business Plan was very beneficial for XP Entertainment. We learned a lot in the workshops, and we’ll definitely be using the tools provided,” said Hutchison. “The topics were easy to follow and engaging. We were encouraged to collaborate during the workshop, which allowed us to gain insight from our entrepreneurial peers. While I had never heard of Futurpreneur before the workshop, we are excited to learn more from them as our business thrives. Thank you, Futurpreneur!’

As well as creating a business plan, participants also meet a group of local like-minded entrepreneurs that can continue to help each other after the workshop has ended. Other participants said they liked the detailed and knowledgeable answers to questions, and the workshops gave them more confidence.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners can still sign up for one of the Rock My Business Plan’s ‘crash courses’ that run in November and December.

Learn More:

Futurpreneur Canada: http://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/

Rock My Business Plan: http://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/microsites/rock-my-business-plan/

Help for small businesses in B.C.: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/small-business