The SBDC Program is partially funded by the U. S. Small Business Administration. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

Workshops

Click here  Calendar  to sign up for workshops and other events.

Business Basics Seminar Series Description

The “Business Basics Seminar Series” is designed for the start-up business operator. Seminars do not have to be taken in order, but together provide a good legal/financial/operational foundation for the entrepreneur. Each seminar includes handouts, and is designed to help start-ups avoid common pitfalls associated with the initial phases of business.

Who should attend?

  • Individuals in the planning stage of their business.
  • People who own existing businesses but may have never written a business plan or created an operating budget.
  • Anyone who wants to know more about what starting a business requires- legally, financially, and operationally.
  • Individuals trying to evaluate whether or not to pursue their idea.
  • People wanting a brush up on business basics.

Notes

  • Workshops are provided at no cost to you!  They are funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  • They are offered in both Humboldt and Del Norte counties
  • Each seminar is two hours in length.
  • There are no prerequisites.
  • Take the courses in ANY ORDER.
  • Take all classes and receive certificate of completion– helpful for securing financing.
  • Click on the blue calendar links to make your reservation.

Available Workshops

StartUp Basics

Workshop format with question and answer period at the end. Areas covered include: licenses and permits- (Business Licenses, Fictitious Name Statements, Retail Seller Permits, and others); taxes and business banking; employees and contractors- knowing the difference; legal structures of businesses- (LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, nonprofit); good start-up resources- local and online.

Financial Basics

Workshop format. Areas covered include: Pricing your product or service, determining your company’s Break-Even point; how to create basic financial documents (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, tracking Cash-Flow); business banking basics, importance of sound bookkeeping from day #1 Case study used.

Basic Business Plans

Workshop format. Areas covered include: why every business should write a business plan; contents of a business plan; writing your business plan outline; market research; helpful hints to save time and maximize effectiveness of your plan; sample business plans- Do’s and Don’ts.

Marketing Basics

Workshop format. Many people consider marketing to be promotion, advertising and all the selling techniques used to get someone to buy a product. However, marketing is much more.

In Marketing Basics you will learn how to identify your customer’s needs and design your entire enterprise around fulfilling those needs. You will gain a solid understanding of who the customer is and what they are looking for. You will learn how to describe your products in terms relevant to your customers and explain how your product is different than the competitions, with different benefits.

Bookkeeping Basics

Workshop Format with question & answer period at the end. Areas covered include: manual and computerized bookkeeping systems, setting up a chart of accounts, tracking sales and receivables, tracking purchases and payables, tracking inventory and fixed assets, loans and company credit cards, owners investments and withdrawals, reconciling bank statements, catching cash flow problems, hiring and paying employees, and tax reports (Sales Tax, Property Tax, Payroll Taxes, Income Tax)

 

Special Accomodations

Individuals needing (or requiring) reasonable accommodation to attend SBDC workshops and trainings should contact the event coordinator listed on the event sign up form.

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