Course Catalog / BMU 170 / Syllabus
BMU 170 Start Your Business on a Budget: Course Syllabus
Welcome. You are an adult with a full life, and this course is built for that. This page shows what you will learn, why it matters, what you will do, and how to succeed. Come back to it any time you wonder what is next.
This page helps you
- Explain what success looks like in this course
- Find your next step and set your own target dates
- Find help when you get stuck
Why this course matters
Many people have a business idea but are not sure if anyone will pay for it, what it will cost, or what the legal and tax steps are. This course shows you how to test an idea with real possible customers before you spend much money, work out your price and break even point, find the setup steps from official sources like the SBA and the IRS, and write a one page plan with a 30 day goal. The course makes no promises about income or profit.
This course is for you if:
- You have an idea for a small business or side business and little money to risk
- You want to test whether people will pay before you spend or file anything
- You want plain steps from official sources, plus free mentors to check your thinking
What success looks like
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Describe, in one sentence about the customer, the problem a business idea solves, name who has the problem and who pays, and list at least two alternatives customers use now and what they pay.
- Hold and record at least 10 conversations with possible customers using open questions about past behavior, and sort what was heard into strong and weak signals.
- Calculate a price, cost per sale, fixed costs, and break even point (with a 10% buffer) using the SBA formula, and note the IRS self employment and estimated tax thresholds.
- List the legal and tax setup steps for a business (structure, name registration, EIN, licenses and zoning, records) from official, dated sources for the learner's own state and locality.
- Write a one page plan backed by 10 customer conversations, with an honest first customer plan that follows FTC advertising and review rules, a measurable 30 day goal, and a free mentor requested.
You will know you got there in two ways. First, you pass the posttest with 80% or higher. Second, your capstone rubric shows Ready to use on each row.
Your next step
Start with the pretest. It takes about 10 minutes and is not graded. Then open Lesson 1: Is it a business?.
Here is the full path through the course:
- Pretest: 12 questions, plus 3 quick confidence questions. Not graded. You take it once.
- The lessons, in order: 6 lessons, from Lesson 1: Is it a business? to Lesson 6: Your one page plan and free mentors.
- Posttest: 12 questions. Pass with 80%. Retake as often as you need.
- Course survey: about 2 minutes, optional and anonymous.
- Your certificate: type your name and print it.
- A 30 day check in, if you opt in.
Your dates. BMU sets no deadlines. You choose them. Pick a start date and a target finish date now, and put both on your calendar. Each lesson's action step also says when to do it, such as tomorrow or this week.
Course schedule
Every lesson has the same parts, so you always know what is coming. You get a short read, a Try it action step you do in real life, and, in most lessons, a quick check. Times come from each lesson page.
| Lesson | Read | Action step | What you do (Try it) | Builds outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pretest | 10 min | None | See where you start | All |
| Lesson 1: Is it a business? (free preview) | 16 min | 20 min | Run the idea test | O1 |
| Lesson 2: Talk to customers | 14 min | 45 min | Hold 10 customer conversations | O2 |
| Lesson 3: Price and profit | 14 min | 40 min | Find your break even point | O3 |
| Lesson 4: Set it up right | 17 min | 40 min | Build your setup checklist | O4 |
| Lesson 5: Get your first customers | 14 min | 40 min | Plan your first customer push | O5 |
| Lesson 6: Your one page plan and free mentors | 17 min | 60 min | Write your one page plan | O5 |
| Posttest | 10 min | None | Show what you can do (80% to pass) | All |
| Survey (optional) | 2 min | None | Tell us what to improve | None |
Suggested pace
Two lessons a week. That is about three weeks for the lessons. Lesson 2 asks you to hold 10 customer conversations, so give yourself up to two weeks for that step and keep going with the other lessons while you do. Go faster or slower if your life calls for it.
| When | What to do | About how long |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Pretest, Lesson 1, Lesson 2 | 105 min |
| Week 2 | Lesson 3, Lesson 4 | 111 min |
| Week 3 | Lesson 5, Lesson 6, Posttest, Survey (optional), Certificate | 143 min |
How much time it takes
- Each lesson: 14 to 17 minutes to read, in one sitting.
- Each action step: 20 to 60 minutes, done in your real life within the window the lesson gives.
- At the suggested pace: up to about 143 minutes a week.
- The whole course: about 5 hours and 59 minutes, including the tests and the survey.
What you will do and why
Each task below practices or checks one of the outcomes above. Nothing here is busywork.
| Task | What you do | Counts toward the certificate? |
|---|---|---|
| Pretest | Answer 12 questions and 3 confidence questions before Lesson 1. It shows where you start, so you can see your growth later. | No. Not graded. |
| Check your understanding | Answer 3 short questions at the end of a lesson. Every answer tells you why it is right or wrong. | No. Try as many times as you like. |
| Try it action steps | Do one real task after each lesson. Each one builds a piece of your capstone. | No, but they are where the change happens. |
| Capstone | Your one page business plan from Lesson 6, backed by at least 10 customer conversations: problem, customer, evidence, offer and price, numbers, setup checklist, first customer actions, and a measurable 30 day goal. The Course Project page checks it automatically. | Yes. The Course Project page checks each part automatically. Every part must pass for your certificate. |
| Posttest | Answer 12 questions and the same 3 confidence questions. Each retake mixes the order and swaps in some new questions. | Yes. Pass with 80% or higher. |
| Self assessment | Rate yourself on each outcome and pick one to review. | No. It is for you. |
| Survey and 30 day check in | Tell us what helped and what to fix. Opt in to a check in at 30 days. | No. Both are optional. |
Your capstone rubric checks these parts:
- Problem and customer
- Customer evidence
- Numbers
- Setup steps
- First customers
- 30 day goal
How the course checks each goal
Each goal is taught in a lesson, tested in the Posttest, and, when it is something you do, checked again in your Course Project.
| Goal | Taught in | Posttest | Course Project part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Describe, in one sentence about the customer, the problem a business idea solves, name who has the problem and who pays, and list at least two alternatives customers use now and what they pay. | Lesson 1: Is it a business? | Questions 1, 2 | Part 1: Problem and customer |
| Hold and record at least 10 conversations with possible customers using open questions about past behavior, and sort what was heard into strong and weak signals. | Lesson 2: Talk to customers | Questions 3, 4, 5 | Part 2: Customer evidence |
| Calculate a price, cost per sale, fixed costs, and break even point (with a 10% buffer) using the SBA formula, and note the IRS self employment and estimated tax thresholds. | Lesson 3: Price and profit | Questions 6, 7, 8 | Part 3: Numbers |
| List the legal and tax setup steps for a business (structure, name registration, EIN, licenses and zoning, records) from official, dated sources for the learner's own state and locality. | Lesson 4: Set it up right | Questions 9, 10 | Part 4: Setup steps |
| Write a one page plan backed by 10 customer conversations, with an honest first customer plan that follows FTC advertising and review rules, a measurable 30 day goal, and a free mentor requested. | Lesson 5: Get your first customers; Lesson 6: Your one page plan and free mentors | Questions 11, 12 | Part 5: First customers; Part 6: 30 day goal |
Grading and your certificate
Performance task: in the Course Project page you build the capstone for your own life with guided fields, tables, and choices. The page checks each rubric line automatically and shows how to fix any part that is not ready yet. You can revise and check again as often as you need. The certificate needs every part of the project passing and the Posttest at 80% or higher.
- Pretest: not graded. You take it once. It is fine to miss questions. They show where to start.
- Posttest: you need 80% or higher. You can retake it as many times as you need. Your first try is the one BMU uses to see how much the course helped, so there is no need to rush it.
- Capstone (Course Project): the Course Project page checks each rubric line automatically. A line that is not ready yet shows you what to fix.
- Certificate of Completion: it unlocks when you have done two things: every part of your Course Project passed its automatic check, and you passed the posttest with 80% or higher. The survey is optional and never blocks it. Type your name on the certificate page and print it.
Your Certificate of Completion lists the skills under What success looks like, the course time (about 6 hours), and the standard you met: your Course Project passed the automatic check on every rubric line, and you passed the posttest at 80% or higher.
What you need
Prerequisites: none. You do not need any earlier BMU course. Read Getting started before Lesson 1.
- Cost: Lesson 1 is free. The rest of the course is part of BMU All Access. Sign up free as a Founding Member to keep going.
- Device: a phone, tablet, or computer with internet and a current version of Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox.
- Skills: you can open links, type in a box, and scroll. Printing is optional. You can also save pages as a PDF.
- A way to write and save notes, such as a notebook or a free online document tool, for your Business Notebook
- A calculator or phone
- Time to talk with at least 10 possible customers over about two weeks
- Job aids and tools: One Page Business Plan Checklist (printable).
How this course works
This course is self paced and online. There are no live classes, no group posts, and no one checks when you log in. Taking part means three things:
- Read each lesson in order, in one sitting if you can.
- Do the Try it step in your real life. That is where the learning happens.
- Be honest with yourself on the practice checks and the self assessment. Your reflections are private, and you never have to share them.
Policies and flexibility
If you fall behind or get stuck: there are no deadlines. Start with the Quick review at the top of the next lesson. If a step still does not make sense after two tries, contact BMU Learner Support with the lesson name and the step.
- Pace: go at your own speed. There are no late penalties. If you miss a week, pick up where you left off.
- Retakes: lesson checks and the posttest have no limit on tries.
- Your progress: lessons, notes, and test scores are saved in this browser on this device. They are not tied to your name. If you clear your browser data, use private browsing, or switch devices, your progress will not follow you.
- Honest work: take the pretest and posttest on your own, without notes, other people, or AI. Please do not share test answers. Your certificate says you passed, so let the score show what you can do.
- Using AI: You may use AI to brainstorm, explain an idea in simpler words, or practice. If AI helps you draft your capstone, check every fact and make it sound like you. Never paste passwords, account numbers, or medical details into an AI tool.
- Keep it accurate: This course teaches general money skills. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. For advice about your situation, talk with a qualified professional or a nonprofit counselor. The course makes no promises about income or profit, and it does not recommend any bank, lender, or product. Official rules and fees change, so every fact is dated and you recheck it before you act. Alabama is used only as an example state; check your own state.
- Changes: if BMU changes this course, the date at the top of this page will change, and we will say what changed here.
Getting help
Words you do not know? See the glossary.
This course is self paced, so there is no live instructor. You are not on your own, though. Here is where to go:
- Quick answers: the BMU Help Center covers progress, certificates, billing, and technical problems.
- Ask a person: use the Contact BMU support form and pick a topic. We read every message and reply as soon as we can. Please do not send card numbers or passwords.
- Something not working: refresh the page and try a current browser. If it still fails, contact support, choose Technical problem, and tell us the page, your device, and your browser.
Accessibility
We want every page to work with a keyboard, a screen reader, and zoom. Tables scroll on small screens, and answers open with a tap. If anything gets in your way, or you need a lesson in another format, tell us on the contact form. Choose Technical problem, say it is an accessibility issue, and describe the page. We will work to fix it or get you the content another way.
Check your understanding of this syllabus
Can you answer these three questions? If so, you are ready to start.
1. What does success look like in this course?
You can do the 5 things listed under What success looks like. You pass the posttest with 80% or higher, and your capstone rubric shows Ready to use.
2. What is your next step?
Take the pretest, then start Lesson 1: Is it a business?. Put your own start and finish dates on your calendar.
3. Where do you get help?
Try the Help Center first. Then use the contact form. We read every message and reply as soon as we can.
Recap
- Start with the pretest. It is not graded.
- Do one lesson at a time, and do each Try it step in real life.
- Pass the posttest with 80% to earn your certificate. Retakes are unlimited.
- Need help? Use the Help Center or the contact form.
Sources
This syllabus is built from the course design record. The research behind each lesson is listed at the end of that lesson.