The submission deadline for the 2018 James and Eileen Christmas Business Plan Competition has been extended to Friday, March 2.

The business plan, which will be held on April 6 from 6-9 p.m. in Tobin 201, is a competition that allows students to write-up their own business plans for projected endeavors.

The competition offers six prizes in total — three cash prizes for the top three business plans and three cash prizes for the top three-minute business plan pitches.

The top prize is $5,000.

This year the competition is seeking for-profit business plans of 15 pages or less.

Dr. William Reisel, professor of management, is directing the competition and believes students should look into taking advantage of this opportunity.

“At the end of the day, writing a business plan is a key takeaway for all St. John’s students,” Reisel said. “Being [the] boss of your own company doesn’t go out of fashion.”

He encourages students to set up a 30-minute time slot to meet with him to discuss their proposed plans if they choose. Students can reach Reisel at [email protected].

The competition will feature a panel of executive judges led by James Christmas whose gift endowed the competition. Gregg Bishop, commissioner of NYC SBS, will also sit on the judges panel and will provide the keynote speech on the state of entrepreneurial activity in New York City.

A business plan not selected to be one of five finalists in the competition may still be selected to take part in the Pitch Event.

All submissions require a business plan written by up to five St. John’s students.