DECA Prepared Events consist of a written business plan and a prepared presentation before a judge. Some events are for individuals and some are for a team up to three members.
Refer to the Event Guidelines on DECA.org or in the DECA Guide for complete information and guidelines.
Update for 2026-2027
Competition for the three Integrated Marketing Campaign competitive events (Event, Product, and Service) will now start competition at the District Conference; students will need to qualify to advance on to the State Conference.
The pitch decks for Innovation Plan, Start-Up Business Plan, Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event, Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event, and Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service must be uploaded one week prior to your District Conference date.
Students in prepared events are NOT allowed to compete in any other event at the State Conference, except School Based Enterprise (MISBE).
Prepared Events are submitted to Michigan DECA in February when a team of volunteer advisors will review the projects to access penalty points prior to the State Conference.
Michigan DECA staff will upload all entries to TurnItIn.com to be screened for plagiarism. The entries will be screened by Michigan DECA staff by the end of February. Evidence of plagiarism or cheating shall result in the student being disqualified from competition. No refunds will be given for disqualified dropped students.
20-page Prepared Events will have the written portion of their project judged online prior to the State Conference. The student member(s) will present before a different judge at the State Conference on Thursday. The scores will be added together to determine the overall winners, which will be announced at Saturday’s Award Session.
The three Integrated Marketing Campaign events will take their Comprehensive Exam during the online testing window for the District Conference. Testing for the State Conference will take place on Friday at 10:00am. Scores from the exam will be averaged together from all teammates, and that score will be added to their judged score to determine the overall winners.
All students in Prepared Events are required to take either the Math or Economics Examination (or both) at the State Conference. These exams can be taken anytime during the hours the exams are offered on Friday. Recognition will be given during Saturday’s Award Session for the top scores in each exam.
The Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity form must be a separate PDF file from the project.
Please visit the Online Project Submission Instructions how to download and format your project.
District Conference competition
- Innovation Plan (EIP)
- Start–Up Business Plan (ESB)
- NEW FOR 2026-2027:
- Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event (IMCE)
- Integrated Marketing Campaign-Product (IMCP)
- Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service (IMCS)
State Conference competition
Prepared Events must be submitted online between February 9-15, 2027
- Business Growth Plan (EBG)
- Business Services Operations Research (BOR)
- Business Solutions Project (PMBS)
- Buying and Merchandising Operations Research (BMOR)
- Career Development Project (PMCD)
- Community Awareness Project (PMCA)
- Community Giving Project (PMCG)
- Finance Operations Research (FOR)
- Financial Literacy Project (PMFL)
- Franchise Business Plan (EFB)
- Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research (HTOR)
- Independent Business Plan (EIB)
- International Business Plan (IBP)
- Sales Project (PMSP)
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research (SEOR)
If the following District Conference Prepared Events qualified for the State Conference, they will need to be re-uploaded February 9-15, 2027. (Revisions between the conferences is permitted.)
- Innovation Plan (EIP)
- Integrated Marketing Campaign Event (IMCE)
- Integrated Marketing Campaign Product (IMCP)
- Integrated Marketing Campaign Service (IMCS)
- Start–Up Business Plan (ESB)
Merit Awards Program (MIGMAP) requires a PDF upload AND also a hard copy.
Upload PDF between February 9-15, 2027
Hard Copy Due February 25, 2027
Refer to the Merit Award Program page
Chapter Awards Program (MICAP) needs a hard copy only.
Hard Copy Due February 25, 2027
Refer to the Chapter Award Program page