On skysthelimit.org, our Pathway to Business Ownership - 14 different areas of entrepreneurship - is a tool we use to help young entrepreneurs and their business advisors & mentors talk about building a business. It provides a framework for identifying problems, prioritizing, and connecting with the right people & resources.

1. Pathway to Business Ownership
Areas

2. PREPARING TO LAUNCH THE BUSINESS
GROWING THE BUSINESS
1. Business Modeling 2. Customer Development 3. Brand
STARTING THE BUSINESS
4. Product/Service
Development
5. Website Development &
Technology 6. Funding
7. Marketing & Sales 8. Bookkeeping,
Accounting & Financials 9. Legal & Regulatory
SUSTAINING THE BUSINESS
10. Building the Team 11. Business Soft Skills 12. Operations & Strategy
Pathway to Business Ownership
Our entrepreneurs receive support from our advisors & mentors in the following areas:

3. BUSINESS PLANNING
I need guidance on where to start with my business idea. I need to
create a basic design and plan for how my business works and
how it can make money.
-Simone, Partner at Mamacitas Cafe

4. CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT
I need to better understand my customers: their problems &
desires, the differences between my types of customers, how to
reach them, what they think is valuable, etc.
-Tyrone and Tiffany, Co-founders of Circle Up Education

5. BRANDING
I need to name my business, create a logo, design how the
business looks (i.e. colors, style, designs, etc.), and figure out how
to talk about my business to other people.
-Afiba, Founder of Twisted Roots Project

6. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
I need to design my products to fit my customers’ needs, and
figure out what materials & equipment I need for them, which
manufacturer I should choose, how best to get my products
delivered, what price I should charge, etc.
-Victor, Founder of Run The World Clothing

7. SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
I need to design my services to fit my customers’ needs, and
figure out what services I offer (and what I don’t offer…), how
much I charge, how I deliver my services, etc.
-Daisy, Founder of Resilient Wellness

8. WEBSITE & TECHNOLOGY
I need to design and build a website for my business, and grow
my online presence. I need to create and use social media and the
right apps for my business.
-Morgan, Founder of Cakes by Morgan

9. MARKETING & SALES
I need to get the word out about my business and promote it. I
need to get paying customers, and figure out the best ways to sell
and market my products and services.
-Yodassa, Founder of Yoda Will Styling

10. ACCOUNTING & FINANCIALS
I need to figure out how to manage my business’ money. I need to
figure out which taxes I need to pay for my business. I need to
create a budget and financials for my business.
-Brittini, Owner of Prodigious Soles

11. FUNDING
I need to figure out the best ways to get funding for my business -
whether it is loans, grants, investors, crowdfunding, pre-selling my
products or services, or just starting my business with what I have
saved.
-Andrew, Founder of Helping

12. LEGAL & REGULATORY
I want to figure out the legal stuff, like licenses, permits, getting
insurance, etc. I want to create the right business structure,
whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, cooperative, etc. I want to
know what regulations I have to follow for my business.
-Acacia, Founder of Ethnic Ties

13. BUILDING A TEAM
I need to build a team for my business, and figure out how to
handle recruiting and hiring (or getting volunteers), creating roles
for each job position, motivating people, creating incentives,
training and managing employees.
-Bri, Owner of Wyred Up Bartending

14. OPERATIONS
I need to create business processes & systems to help me get
organized. I want to be more efficient and grow the business. I
want to find new ways to manage the business, cut business costs,
etc.
-Lindsay, Founder of Brown Sugar Baking

15. STRATEGY
I need to create a strategy for my business so that I can
accomplish my goals. I need a more detailed & organized plan
that describes what I do and how I grow my business. I want to
identify what the risks and opportunities are for my business over
the next few years.
-Brianna, Owner of Catrina’s Popcorn

16. BUSINESS SOFT SKILLS
I need someone who can be there for me along the way as I build
my business, someone who can make introductions, help me learn
and grow my skills, avoid mistakes, push past obstacles, and get
to my goals.
-Ajmal, Founder of MyRise