Looking for a way to boost your own knowledge while helping your business? The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a collection of workshops in March, including webinars.
Monday, March 04, 2019
Introduction to SBDC
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390023
An introduction to SBDC consulting, programs, workshops, events, and resources. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about all the things SBDC has to offer Colorado small businesses!
Monday, March 04, 2019
Info Session: LEADING EDGE™ Course: Strategic Planning For Entrepreneurs
Time: 5:15 PM to 6:00 PM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70380320
The Leading Edge course is an 8-week business planning and development course for entrepreneurs, ranging from concept to growth stage, who desire focused planning, education, accountability, networking, and the tools to build a strategic business plan. This Info Session is free and will give insight into what the 8-week course will cover with the Leading Edge curriculum. Meet the instructors, and find out if this course is right for you! Course is offered Spring (beginning March 14) and Summer (beginning July 18) in 2019.
Wednesday, March 06, 2019
Southern Colorado Construction Networking Forum
Time: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC Training Site-Catalyst Campus, 555 E Pikes Peak Ave
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=70390028
Come to the premier networking event for small business contractors in Colorado Springs! Meet up with in local government agencies, prime contractors, and industry peers for a look at what’s planned for the upcoming construction season. You’ll get project forecasts, learn about best practices of successful subcontractors, and network with engineers and estimators who are looking for local-area small and disadvantaged businesses. The best part…it’s FREE!
Thursday, March 07, 2019
Where’s The Money? Funding Options for Starting or Growing Your Business
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $ 30.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the class is REQUIRED! (If you are unable to attend, you will not receive a refund unless you cancel 24 hours in advance. Thank you for your cooperation!)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390022
Whether you are just starting your business or need more funding for an existing business, finding the money for your venture is one of the most tricky hurdles to overcome. There are a variety of ways you can find funding, and a variety of organizations, people, and resources available to you. What options are right for you? Where should you even start? We designed this course to be an insightful overview of the various options available to you — including traditional bank loans, microlending, SBA loans, venture capital, angel investing, grant-funding, crowd-funding, bootstrapping, etc.
Thursday, March 07, 2019
Boot Camp: Steps to Owning Your Business
Time: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $ 30.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the class is REQUIRED! (If you are unable to attend, you will not receive a refund unless you cancel 24 hours in advance. Thank you for your cooperation!)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390033
Taking the first step to starting your business can be difficult! This workshop will be a realistic starting point for all budding entrepreneurs. The two-hour workshop will be PACKED and FAST PACED. At the end, you will have a good feel for the level of effort and commitment it will take to make your business successful. If you’re serious about starting a business, you don’t want to miss this workshop. This is a Lunch ‘n Learn…Feel free to bring your lunch!
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Small Businesses
Time: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $ 30.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the class is REQUIRED! (If you are unable to attend, you will not receive a refund unless you cancel 24 hours in advance. Thank you for your cooperation!)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390031
As you know, digital marketing is an essential part to owning a small business in the Pikes Peak Region. At the top of the digital marketing realm is search engine optimization (SEO), easily the most important…arguably the most confusing. In this workshop, we will simplify the basics you need to know about making your business visible on Google in today’s market. We’ll cover:
- Keys to successful ranking in search engines
- SEO techniques that are working for local small businesses
- ptimizing your digital presence for both humans and computer algorithms
- Making your business visible online (ads, social media, Google Maps, etc)
- Q&A Session
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Understanding Financial Statements to Manage Your Business
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $ 30.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the class is REQUIRED! (If you are unable to attend, you will not receive a refund unless you cancel 24 hours in advance. Thank you for your cooperation!)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390021
Your small business’s day-to-day operations depend on having accurate financial data, and the success of your business depends on you understanding your business’s financial documents. This interactive roundtable will provide a top-line view and understanding of the key financial statements that need to be understood to be a successful business owner, including:
- Profit & Loss (Income Statement)
- Balance Sheet
- Cash Flow Statement
- Check Book
- Inventory Valuations
Thursday, March 14, 2019
WEBINAR – Sole Proprietorship, LLC, or Corporation? Choosing an Appropriate Legal Entity
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Mountain
Location: Online
Facilitated by Pikes Peak SBDC
Fee: $ 20.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the webinar is required. Please click on the button below to first register and pay through the SBDC. You will receive a confirmation email from Go To Webinar one day prior to the training date with a link to join the webinar. (If you are unable to attend, please note that you will receive an email afterwards where you can watch the recording.) For On-Demand Registrants: After you register, please click “Continue,” and it will take you to a Go To Webinar page. Once you register on that page, please note that the webinar will start automatically, and you cannot fast-forward or rewind. (However, an email with the recorded video is automatically sent one hour after the webinar, where you can save, fast-forward, and rewind from there.)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390043
This webinar is designed to help you make an informed decision about which legal business entity is best for your business. We will discuss the differences between a sole proprietorship, LLC, and S-Corp. This workshop is taught by an attorney with additional experience in taxation, so you will learn the practical legal and tax implications of each type!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
LEADING EDGE™ Course: Strategic Planning for Entrepreneurs
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM Mountain, 8 sessions ending Thursday, May 16
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $ 495.00
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390016
The Leading Edge course is an 8-week business planning and development course for entrepreneurs, ranging from concept to growth stage, who desire focused planning, education, accountability, networking, and the tools to build a strategic business plan.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Cybersecurity Simplified: What Your Small Business Needs to Know
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $ 30.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the workshop is REQUIRED! (If you are unable to attend, you will not receive a refund unless you cancel 24 hours in advance. Thank you for your cooperation!)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390024
You may think cyber attacks only happen to the corporate giants. But as a small business owner, you are actually more at risk than all of them! The issue of cyber security has become a central focus of companies, big and small, across all industries. As more individuals and small businesses become increasingly dependent on our networked and interconnected infrastructure, cybercrime and cyber criminals have become much more sophisticated in their techniques for stealing identities and using them to extract funds and make fraudulent purchases. Join us in this session to understand how your small business may be at risk and what you can do to protect your customers and your assets.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
WEBINAR – 7 Reasons Why People Invest in Franchises Over Starting Their Own Business
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Mountain
Location: Online
Facilitated by Pikes Peak SBDC
Fee: $ 20.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the webinar is required. Please click on the button below to first register and pay through the SBDC. You will receive a confirmation email from Go To Webinar one day prior to the training date with a link to join the webinar. (If you are unable to attend, please note that you will receive an email afterwards where you can watch the recording.)
For On-Demand Registrants: You will immediately be able to view the webinar. Please click “Continue” after registration, and it will take you to Go To Webinar where you can sign in and watch it. Upon registration, you will also find a copy of the slides directly below this text, on the event page.
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390032
Why would anyone invest in a franchise? You’re smart – you could start your own business, right? The reality is, for most people coming out of a job where they work for someone else, starting a business from scratch is a lot harder than they could imagine. Our brains have been hardwired to do work for someone else – and then complain about it. That’s where we are comfortable. But starting a business asks us to step outside of our comfort zone and many people find it difficult to do that without some coaching of some kind. Enter franchising, a hybrid approach to entrepreneurship.
Now, we’re not talking about what everyone thinks of when they consider a franchise – burgers or chicken sandwiches. It’s not just fast food. Many of the businesses you walk into everyday are actually franchises, although you might not realize it. Franchises are structure. Franchises are predictable. Franchising is a plan of action to follow. So what does that mean for you, the average Joe? Franchising can work in different ways for different people:
- Fill a need in the community from something that people use everyday
- Have a semi-absentee business from a franchise and keep a regular corporate job
- Dive in and be the owner-operator, AND your own employee from day one
- Invest in multiples and build an empire quickly, or grow slowly from one location
- Invest in a mature or emerging brand to match your risk tolerance
- Find a business that fits you, your family and your lifestyle, without starting from scratch
Know your options! Understand why some of the most successful entrepreneurs own franchises, and why you can do this as well.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
WEBINAR – Business Plan in an Hour
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Mountain
Location: Online
Facilitated by Pikes Peak SBDC
Fee: $ 20.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the webinar is required. Please click on the button below to first register and pay through the SBDC. You will receive a confirmation email from Go To Webinar one day prior to the training date with a link to join the webinar. (If you are unable to attend, please note that you will receive an email afterwards where you can watch the recording.)
For On-Demand Registrants: After you register, please click “Continue,” and it will take you to a Go To Webinar page. Once you register on that page, please note that the webinar will start automatically, and you cannot fast-forward or rewind. (However, an email with the recorded video is automatically sent 1 hour after the webinar, where you can save, fast-forward, and rewind from there.)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390041
During this webinar, we will begin the task of putting together a very basic strategic plan that will act as a roadmap to building your business plan. Join us to begin the process of strategically mapping your business through a simplified business plan that you can then continue to build upon. This workshop is for both startups and existing businesses!
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Proactive Legal Considerations for Small Businesses
Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Mountain
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC – Training Facility – Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 166 Second ST
Facilitated by Pikes Peak SBDC
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70380306
Learn how to avoid costly legal mistakes while building value in your business. Whether you are an established business or start-up, you are not intending to work for free, right? In this seminar we will review basic proactive legal considerations you can take to protect your business, such as proper ownership agreements, contracts that include payment/collection requirements, protecting your products, and a look at building your due diligence list throughout the life of your company to maximize the company’s exit value.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
WEBINAR – Overcoming Misconceptions in Communication While Building Your Business
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Mountain
Location: Online
Facilitated by Pikes Peak SBDC
Fee: $ 20.00
NOTE: Pre-payment for the webinar is required. Please click on the button below to first register and pay through the SBDC. You will receive a confirmation email from Go To Webinar one day prior to the training date with a link to join the webinar. (If you are unable to attend, please note that you will receive an email afterwards where you can watch the recording.)
For On-Demand Registrants: After you register, please click “Continue,” and it will take you to a Go To Webinar page. Once you register on that page, please note that the webinar will start automatically, and you cannot fast-forward or rewind. (However, an email with the recorded video is automatically sent 1 hour after the webinar, where you can save, fast-forward, and rewind from there.)
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390044
Whether you are a solo-preneur, growing a business or a team, you will be faced with communicating internally as well as externally with customers, vendors or advocates for your business. Effective communication will accelerate your success. Understanding yourself, understanding others and learning how to adapt are key components for this understanding and success.
In addition to many individual workshops and sessions, the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers multiple tracks. Tracks are a tailored series of workshops focused on a particular subject. Although many of these tracks began in January, workshops that are part of the track are available.
- The Start-Up Track, offered every other month, is for business owners just getting started of those who are thinking about it: www.pikespeaksbdc.org/startup.
- The Financial Track, offered quarterly, is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs to manage business finances: www.pikespeaksbdc.org/financial.
- The Marketing Track, also offered quarterly, is focused on determining the relevance of businesses in today’s market: www.pikespeaksbdc.org/marketing.
The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center and the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) are located at the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation at 559 East Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 101, in downtown Colorado Springs. The Pikes Peak SBDC offers business consulting and training to assist existing and new small businesses in El Paso, Park and Teller counties. For more information about the SBDC and services it offers, visit www.pikespeaksbdc.org or call 719-667-3803.
