Major Topics Covered in this Diploma Program include:

Module 1 - Entrepreneurship: The First Steps in Business

• What a business is, products, goods and services
• The business “idea”, considering skills, knowledge, experience, dangers to avoid
• The Business Plan, importance, matters it should cover, dangers of not producing one
• Capital, money needed in starting a business, sources, savings, loans, banks, advice

Module 2 - Ownership of Businesses

• The profit motive, how profit arises, the “factors of production”, losses, raising capital
• The sole-owner business, activities, advantages and disadvantages, liability, registration
• Business partnership firms, formation, division of profits, advantages, disadvantages, registration
• Limited liability companies, shares, shareholders, advantages of limited liability, incorporation

Module 3 - Location of Businesses

• Types of businesses, industrial, trading, distributive, wholesaling, retailing, service-providing
• Consumers, corporate buyers, necessities, luxuries, the “market” for products, competition
• Where to locate, working from home, passing trade, town outskirts, business parks, trading estates
• Facilities needed by businesses, availability and cost of premises, investigation and research

Module 4 - Buying or Taking Over an Existing Business

• Why ‘going concerns’ might be bought and sold, business terminology, the value of the business
• How the price is to be paid, assistance from vendors, avoiding competition from former owners
• The sale agreement, buying into a partnership, the premises, the lease, other payments
• Share transfers, the board of directors, company officials, duties, directors fees, dividends

Module 5 - Furnishing and Equipping the Premises

• Business needs, layouts, laws and regulations, electrical fittings, telephones, computers
• Walls and ceilings, floor coverings, furniture, heating and/or cooling, doors, windows, security
• Machinery & equipment, paying by hiring, renting or leasing, working asset, depreciation
• The outside, signs, window displays, internal displays, safety considerations, insurance, risks

Module 6 - Ordering and Storing Stock (Inventory) Items

• Products needed, buying, order forms, ordering, choosing suppliers, price, discounts, credit terms
• Receipts of deliveries, action to be taken, storage of stock items, storage costs, location of stores
• Stores doorways, openings, floors, temperature control, stores layout, stores equipment, pallets
• Inventory control, preventing theft and damage, stock records and levels, stocktaking and spot checks

Module 7 - Principles of Selling

• Salesmanship in business, persuasion, benefits of products, methods of selling and making sales
• The selling transaction, the five “steps”, product knowledge, demonstrations of products
• Advertising, aims, advertising media, indirect and direct advertising
• Sales promotion, types of promotions, “sales” to reduce stocks, public relations (PR), marketing

Module 8 - The Human Resource

• People as a “resource”, managing people, business expansion, delegation, organisation structure
• Recruitment, job analysis, job descriptions, employee specifications, advertising for vacancies
• Selecting employees, preparing and conducting interviews, tests, terms of employment, trial period
• Induction aims and planning, training, responsibilities of employers, safety, pay, employee benefits

Module 9 - Financial Matters

• Control over finances, forecasting, its relationship with planning, anticipating sales
• Budgets and budgeting, cash flow, overheads, working capital, current assets & liabilities
• Financial accounting, receipts, payments, revenue, expenditure, profit & loss account, balance sheet
• Credit control, periods of credit, dangers of allowing credit, credit limits, creditworthiness

Module 10 - Business Documents and Bank Accounts

• Issuing and receiving documents, invoices, credit notes, statements, receipts, delivery notes
• Bank accounts, types of accounts, interest paid, cheques, counterfoils, other bank payment methods
• Methods by which customers may pay, cash, cheques, credit cards, transfers, foreign currency
• Checking & passing bills for payment, issuing cheques, the need for accuracy, security

Module 11 - Recording transactions: Principles of Bookkeeping & Accounting

• The books of account, the ledger, the cash, purchases, sales & returns books, computerised accounts
• Drawings, managing petty cash, cash and credit sales, sundry debtors and creditors
• Stocktaking, why it is done, what it involves, stock valuation, work in progress:
• The trial balance, producing the final accounts, adjustments, prepayments, accruals, depreciation

Module 12 - Principles of Economics

• Demand, wants and needs, wealth, prices, consumer budgets, demand and markets, demand curves
• Suppliers and markets, how costs and prices affect supply, supply curves, equilibrium prices
• International trade, exporting, costs, selecting export markets, exchange control, customs duties
• Import, businesses involved, agents, licences, foreign exchange, customs delays, benefits

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MODEST CIC FEE

 Your CIC Fee includes:-

• Your enrolment/registration with Cambridge International College, and your own high-quality, professionally produced and illustrated comprehensive International CIC Study & Training Publications.
• A detailed, professional ‘Study & Training Guide’ with full instructions on how to study to achieve success and gain top results.  The Guide includes detailed advice on how to answer Self-Assessment Tests, Training Tests and Examinations.
• Self-Assessment Tests and Recommended Answers for them, and a Progress Chart.
• Two Progress/Training Tests (which can be used as ‘Past Papers/Questions’) with an optional Tutorial Support Service.
• The Final Examination** sat under Invigilation/Supervision in your own area - full details, guidance and explanation of how your Examination will be arranged and how Invigilation is conducted will be provided when you register.  Note, CIC arranges Examinations in over a hundred countries worldwide for thousands of Members every year; it is a flexible, straightforward process and will be arranged when YOU are ready to write your Examination.  **An Assignment Option is available instead of an Exam for the ‘Covid-19’ (Corona) virus period.
• The prestigious Cambridge International College Diploma on successful completion of your Study & Training and on passing the Final Examination.
• Your personal page on CIC’s Member Services website with access to results, despatch details, advice and guidance, and more: www.cambridgeinternationalcollege.co.uk
• Regular information and news including: Newsletters with details of special offers and new Programs and much more; and Competition Forms; by email and post.

Everything needed for your Study & Training success is included in the CIC Fee.

Additionally:

• Further Study and Training Advice, and Assistance is available before, during and after CIC Study & Training; Members may ask CIC’s team of experienced Consultants for advice on further study and Programmes to improve career prospects and advancement. 
• CIC’s experienced and helpful staff can assist with numerous special requests, such as reference/recommendation letters and transcripts, and more, by post and email.

• Business Management & Administration Diploma 12 months (flexible)
• Business Administration Honours (Higher) Diploma 21 months (flexible)
• Business Development Honours (Higher) Diploma 21 months (flexible)
• Business Administration EBA: Executive Business Administration 3 years (flexible)
• International Business & Trade Diploma 12 months (flexible)

This practical Program provides essential knowledge and understanding of business matters needed for starting up or taking over or developing a business profitably and successfully.  It will therefore enable people to become entrepreneurs and/or effective business people and managers, and is very helpful for anyone involved in business organisation and seeking career advancement.

It is recommended that Business Management & Administration, either as another Diploma Program or as part of an Honours Diploma or Baccalaureate or ABA Programme, is studied next.  That will then provide many options for even higher studies - if needed!

There is a wide range of options for further study - see the "Related Courses" section for suggestions - which include Honours Diplomas, ABA & Baccalaureate Programmes, and the 'Double Award' EBA & BBA Bachelor degree Programme.  You are welcome to ask the College for advice, and of course you can see details of these Programmes on this website.