Purpose

Eligibility

Qualifications

1. Material must be word-processed, double-spaced, with footnotes, etc. If direct references are used, credit must be given to resource material.
2. Include headers for distinction in your material for the various sections.
3. Supportive material (photos, news clippings, brochures, etc.) may be included in the appendix.
4. Drawings, illustrations, and graphic presentations will be judged for clarity, not artistic value.
5. You must include at least two forms of written communication with the company: (a) a letter from the company on company stationery acknowledging your visit (you may want to design a form for the person to sign), and (b) a copy of your thank you letter(s) to the company.
6. You may NOT use a previous year’s Entrepreneurship Exploration entry for the current year’s entry.
7. You may NOT use a business that you work for or that your family owns/operates.

Specifications

1. Read about the types of business organizations. Explain (in your own words) basic terms such entrepreneur, sole proprietorship, corporation, etc. Identify your reading source(s). (3-page limit)
2. Make an appointment with an entrepreneur in your community. Outline items to discuss so you use the person’s time wisely. Your report should contain the following sections:
1. Identify the business/company; explain what its service or products are, where it is located, and its method of operation. Include how and when the company was organized, how much operating capital was necessary and how it was obtained, etc. Why was this business selected? (3-page limit)
2. Explain the company’s marketing strategy; include consumer needs and wants. (3-page limit)
3. Identify the major staff (by job title) needed to operate the business; include qualifications and education required, what salary is based on, etc. What equipment and inventory are needed for operation? (3-page limit)
4. Indicate how the annual budget is developed. Where are the biggest expenses? If possible, include sample figures; if not, include percentages of the total budget (i.e., 60% of sales must cover inventory purchases). (3-page limit)
5. Explain the major business forms used by the company; explain the purpose of each form and how it was developed. (3-page limit)
3. Explain an oral presentation you made to a group (class, civic club, educational group, professional group, church-related organization, youth group, etc.) about your visit to the business/company, questions you asked during your visit, how you prepared your report, and a summary of what you learned. (3-page limit)
4. OPTIONAL:  You may include an appendix that contains electronic information such as an organizational structure chart, business forms used, budgets, photos, news clippings, explanatory brochures, etc. (12-page limit)

Recognition

Deadline

Submission