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Business owners and entrepreneurs who need assistance are encouraged to attend seminars offered by the Oakland County Business Center. Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph in Waterford. For pre-registration and location map, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/expand or call 248-858-0783. Marketing Your Business June 5, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to help small businesses grow. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well-planned approach to marketing is demonstrated with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques. Fee: $40 per person Financial Management June 6, 9 a.m. to noon As an introductory seminar, the course covers the basics of financial management, including how to start an accounting system and how to apply the information from key financial statements to help you manage your business. Accounting language including debits and credits, preparation of the balance sheet and profit and loss statement are explained. Cash flow analysis and breakeven are also covered with specific small business examples. Fee: $40 per person Business Research – Feasibility to Expansion June 6, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thinking of starting a business and want to research your business idea? Do you want to identify market trends and opportunities to grow your sales? Are you looking for new customers or to diversify your market base? Business research shows you ways to find your ideal customers, your competitors, perform competitive analysis and more. Presented by Oakland County Market Research and an Oakland County Public Library business reference librarian. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Venture Plan | 10-Week Series June 11 – Aug. 20, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. No class July 2 Your application must be submitted and approved prior to registration. Venture Plan is an intensive 10-week program that helps evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning or growing a business. This program offers essential business information to help develop entrepreneurial skills and build your business on a strong foundation or help to prepare for expansion. The program utilizes text and online training materials from a nationally-recognized program proven through use with thousands of businesses. Fee: $140 per participant. Thanks to sponsor support, the cost is reduced from $700. CEED Microloan Orientation June 12, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Many small businesses face obstacles when trying to obtain a business loan. The recognition of the serious need for working capital for existing businesses, start-up or expansion, equipment purchases, and job creation is not the priority it once was. If you have a need for alternative financing consider the Microloan Program. Discover the requirements and process necessary to apply and obtain a microloan. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Facebook for Business (Beginner) June 12, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Introduction to Social Media Marketing and using Facebook for Business. Millions of people are using Facebook and social media for fun, but it is also a powerful business tool that can connect you with your customers, potential customers and the world. Before you jump in and start using social media, learn how to get these results with an introduction to social media marketing and Facebook for business. Fee: $40 per person Starting a Business June 13, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. An introductory session delivered in a workshop format, the course helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Fee: $30 per person. Quickbooks Essentials (Parts 1 and 2) June 13, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and June 13, 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. This introduction to small business financial management provides an overview of accurate record keeping and report interpretation and utilization. Part 1 will cover basic accounting terminology, new company file setup, customizing forms and letters, and working with bank accounts. Part 2 will cover invoicing customers, receiving payments and making deposits, entering and paying vendor bills and more. Cost: Attend both sessions for $75 per person or attend one session for $40 per person. Facebook for Business (Intermediate) June 19, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Create your Facebook Strategy. In this intermediate session of Facebook for Business, establish your social media objectives and goals for Facebook. Learn core strategies and tactics businesses are using to get customers talking on Facebook, how to use social media management tools for Facebook, how to schedule posts in advance, and more. Prerequisite: Facebook for Business (Beginner) Fee: $40 per person Health Care Reform and Small Business June 20, 9 a.m. to noon Learn about health care reform legislation and how it will affect all business owners. The workshop covers tax penalties, small business credits, small business wellness program grants (small and large wellness program grants), full-time employee status compliance and all health care reform changes that will be implemented next year. It also covers the health care exchanges, how to talk to your employees, the individual mandate, and what this all means for you as a business or as an individual. Business owners (large or small businesses) or human resources directors should attend. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Writing a Business Plan June 20, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, the course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing and finance, legal and regulatory issues, operations, and information-based planning and management are key components of the workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included along with a demonstration of the MI-SBTDC online business plan tool. Fee: $40 per person Facebook for Business (Advanced) June 26, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Create and Launch your Facebook Campaign. In this advanced session of Facebook for Business you will establish objectives and goals for a Facebook campaign, and create and launch a Facebook campaign. Explore ways to take Facebook beyond social media marketing, learn how to run effective Facebook promotions and/or sweepstakes that meets Facebook’s rules and guidelines, and much more. Prerequisites: Facebook for Business (beginner) and Facebook for Business (intermediate) Fee: $40 per person Future Workshops July 2013 10: Business Research – Feasibility to Expansion 17: CEED Microloan Orientation 17: Writing a Business Plan 30: Legal and Financial Basics for Small Business August 2013 7: Marketing Your Business 8: Business Research – Feasibility to Expansion 8: Team SBA Financing Roundtables 14: CEED Microloan Orientation 14: Starting a Business 21: Writing a Business Plan |
