Maker Business 101 is a five-week intro-level business development course that helps creative entrepreneurs set up for success.
Applications are open for the current cohort.
Class Dates: Wednesdays, Sept. 9 – Oct. 14
Location: Knoxville Entrepreneur Center | Knoxville, TN
Program Fee: $150
(email hello@themakercity.org for scholarship information)
WHO IS IT FOR?
This isn’t your typical business plan class. You’ll work with a small group of makers and a facilitator who’ll introduce practical concepts, then help you apply them to your own business right away. Each week you’ll discuss ideas, test them on your project, and refine your approach together. By the end, you’ll have both a solid business plan and the knowledge to keep building on it.
WHAT TO EXPECT.
New maker entrepreneur? Maker Business 101 helps you build a practical business plan for your craft in a collaborative, supportive community.
Prerequisites: a creative business idea you’re ready to develop, and a willingness to learn and refine it alongside other makers.
MAKER BUSINESS 101 | CURRICULUM
Week 1: Know Thy Self, Know Thy Customer
Understand your unique strengths and why you’re starting this business, then use that to connect with your customers. You’ll create customer avatars, identify what problems they’re facing, and map out how your work solves them. You’ll also assess your competitive landscape and find ways to stand out.
Week 2: Showing Up and Sharing Your Story
Learn how storytelling drives business growth. You’ll explore marketing and sales best practices, then build your marketing plan, including your story angles and the communities and organizations where you’ll share them.
Week 3: Building A Sustainable Business
Focus on the fundamentals: your costs, pricing, product or service offerings, and minimum viable product (MVP). You’ll also map your business village, the people and resources you need to thrive.
Week 4: Financials and Capital
Get practical with the four core financial documents: Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement. Then explore your capital options: what’s available, the pros and cons of each, and which fits your business.
Week 5: Legal, Taxes, and Business Building Checklist
Cover the essentials: business structure, taxes, intellectual property, insurance, and your launch checklist. You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for next steps.
DETAILS
“Maker Business 101” lasts five weeks, meeting one evening a week for three hours. Facilitators include educators and active entrepreneurs, and guest speakers include specialists and professionals from leading marketing, branding, legal and finance firms and agencies, as well as local entrepreneurs.
Fall 2026 | Class Dates & Times
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
*Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
October 7 will be skipped due to KCS Spring Break.
PRICING
The course fee is $150 dollars and includes materials. Full payment is required at the start of your first session. This fee is non-refundable.
The Maker City will send out an invoice through PayPal or Stripe to receive your payment.
QUESTIONS?
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR: David Harman, Native Maps
David Harman is the Founder of Native Maps based in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a Bachelor degree from The University of Dallas and an MFA from University of Tennessee-Knoxville. A prolific artist, Harman discovered his passion for map making in 2011, using it as a way to get to know his hometown better. He has expanded the collection to include cities from across the country, recently partnered with the National Parks Service and branched into scratch off maps.
Through his online shop and partnerships with retailers like West Elm, he has successfully grown Native Maps into a nationally recognized brand that brings hand-printed, locally-inspired maps to homes across the country.