Many South Africans are turning to their own resources to make a living. Most use their talents to create or produce a product or deliver a service which will give them the necessary emolument to maintain a satisfactory standard of living. We have seen many businesses fail – not because the entrepreneur does not have the skills, but because of a lack of knowledge of the requirements to start and run a business, the lack of financial control, and the lack of knowledge of marketing and sales.
The full course consists of twelve different modules, each consisting of several chapters or sub-divisions. For instance, the module on the different forms of business ownership consists of three chapters covering the various types of businesses, the formation of the various types and the forms necessary to register the business. The entrepreneur would probably take a few days to study the forms of business ownership but once the decision of which type to choose has been made, the rest will be quick.
Unfortunately, not all modules are that simple. It would be safe to say that the speed at which learners complete each module would depend on the time they are prepared to spend studying the notes and working through the assignments, as well as their prior knowledge of the subject matter. If they were very clued-up in Marketing, they would probably skim through the notes for that module.
What is important is that, at the end of each module learners are required to submit an assignment to the college. The college will mark the assignment and return it to the learner as soon as is humanly possible. Once ALL the modules have been completed and all assignments marked, AND the learner has obtained an average mark of no less than 50%, they will be awarded this college’s Certificate in Small Business Management. Moreover, they will be well qualified and equipped to start and run their own business successfully!!
Module 1 Different Types of Business Ownership
Sole Proprietorship
Partnerships
Close Corporations
Limited Liability Companies
Various forms needed to register and run a business
Module 2 Cash Management
Daily cash Book
Deposits and Reconciliations of Bank Statements
Cash Budgets
Value Added Tax
Module 3 Financial Management
Cost, Profit and Break-even
Cash Flow Forecasts
Depreciation
Inflation
Module 4 Stock Control
Order Books
Goods Received Vouchers
Invoicing and control of orders
Stock sheets or stock cards
Buying procedures
Module 5 Marketing
Analysing your market
Identifying the needs of your customers
Difference between “want” and “need”
Creating a need
The four “P’s” of Marketing:
Product
Price
Place
Promotions
Module 6 Sales and Tele-sales
The prospect
Arranging an interview/appointment with a customer
Overcoming objections
Satisfying the needs of the customer
Retaining a customer
Closing a sale
Module 7 Merchandising
Psychology of merchandising
Positioning your products for best effect
Labelling and pricing
Module 8 Communication Skills
The art of listening
Six “C’s” of communication
Clarify
Confirm
Constructive Criticism
Crediting
Commitment
Handling conflict
Module 9 Business Correspondence
Different forms of correspondence
Content of a letter for:
Marketing
Requesting an appointment
Demanding Payment of an account
Module 10 Staff Selection and Recruitment
The Position
Is it necessary?
Who do I need?
Job Description
Man Specification
Job Specification
The advertisement
The Applicant
The Interview
The appointment
The Employment Contract
Conditions
Salary Packages
Leave and Sick Leave
Disciplinary Hearings
Dismissals
Module 11 Credit Control
The Credit Application Form
Investigation of new Debtor
Evaluation of Information received
Approval or rejection of new account
Ongoing evaluation of customers
Measurement of financial efficiency of collections
Legal aspects of Credit Control
Module 12 Collection of Outstanding Accounts
Telephonic Collections
Preparation of call
Getting through to the correct person
Controlling the conversation
Gaining a commitment to pay
Written Collections
Types of collection correspondence
Wording of legal notices
Handing over an account to an attorney or collection agency
The course is offered in-house or via distance learning. On registration and payment of the fees for the course, study notes and all the necessary programmes will be forwarded to the learner. Learners study at their own pace – there is no time limit or time-table for submission of assignments but note that assignments must be handed in as a learner completes it and not all at the same time.
The course is “Outcomes Based”. Students are required to complete a workbook as well as a portfolio of evidence at the end of each module, and to submit it to the college for assessment and moderation. On obtaining a minimum of 50% average for ALL assignments, the learner will be awarded the college’s Certificate in small business management.
The course can be paid for as follows:
A once-off fee of R18 000,00 or
R1 500 per module.
Once the learner has registered and paid the prescribed fee, course notes will be sent via e-mail. The learner can then either study from the electronic notes or print out a hard copy for their own studies.
Christine Jordaan was born and raised in the Republic of South African. Christine initially obtained a B.A degree.
She studied and obtained the master’s Degrees in business leadership and Diploma in Credit Management and several other financial disciplines. She is a Fellows of the South African and African Institutes of Credit Management and the Principal of PBS College.
She has presented various public and in-house training courses throughout South Africa, Namibia and neighbouring countries, to several large corporations and Government Institutions. They are currently actively presenting courses (both face-to-face and correspondence) in the certificate in Credit Management of the Institute of Credit Management since 1981.
She has been contracted to present correspondence courses in Credit Management disciplines to UNISA and also lectured at UNISA summer schools. She has also act as guest lecturers at several colleges and universities in Credit Management and has facilitated and organised various seminars for large corporations.
She was appointed members of the National Credit Education Forum since 1997 and is a past director on the board of the Association of Debt Recovery Agents. She is presently the chairperson of the Institute of Credit Management (Africa).
She has lectured extensively since 1981.
Please complete the form below. If you have any questions please contact us on +27 82 333 0490 or pbs@pbscollege.com
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An exciting training course for all managers
An exciting training course for all staff involved in communication