Looking for a way to boost your own knowledge while helping your business? The Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering the following workshops in November:

Wednesday, November 06, 2019

Is My Business Sellable? Considerations for Creating an Optimal Exit Strategy

Time: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Location: Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 166 Second St.

Fee: No Cost

NOTE: Thanks to a sponsorship by Ent Business Banking, this class is free! This is a Lunch and Learn. Feel free to bring your lunch!

Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390131

Is my business sellable? Will I ever get to retire from my business? These are necessary questions to consider no matter what stage you are in your business! In this workshop, we will lay the groundwork for helping you prepare for an appropriate exit strategy and succession plan.

Thursday, November 07, 2019

Where’s the Money?! Funding Options for Starting or Growing Your Business

Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $25

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=70390207

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 trickiest 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, crowdfunding, bootstrapping, etc.

Thursday, November 07, 2019

Boot Camp: Steps to Owning Your Business

Time: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $25

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=70390208\

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 and Learn…Feel free to bring your lunch!

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Basics of Bookkeeping

Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $30

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=70390209

This workshop is designed for the entrepreneur with little or no experience in business accounting. The workshop will cover functions of record-keeping: cash versus accrual systems, recording transactions, revenue, expenses, and depreciation, and accounts payable and receivable. This seminar is great for both small-business owners, or business assistants in charge of financial transactions and record-keeping.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

WEBINAR – Cyber CYA Series: Privacy & Cyber Integration, Legislation Enforcement

Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Location: Online

Fee: No Cost

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 GoToWebinar 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 GoToWebinar 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 a few hours after the webinar, where you can save, fast-forward, and rewind from there.)

Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390202

Recently, a CISO from a 43-billion-dollar health care provider responded to a serious incident involving two of their physicians. The doctors had purchased and integrated Google Glasses with a collaboration platform that extended their exam room environment with a medical academic institution in India. The doctors performed diagnosis and treatment on patients who had no knowledge of what the technology was being used for and had not provided notification or consent for broadcasting their treatment with the students in India. The lawsuit is still pending.

Many states are passing strict cybersecurity and privacy laws that combine the two disciplines and mandate the protection of citizens privacy data by implementing sound cybersecurity hygiene strategies that need to be demonstrated. Because the United States does not have a federal law that identifies and defines protection requirements for privacy data, businesses have to understand the complexities of cybersecurity and privacy laws in each state they do business in.

This is a struggle for small businesses and can become overwhelming. This webinar will discuss strategies to help organizations understand their obligations and help them develop a plan to address areas where they may be at risk. The presenter is an experienced SBDC Cybersecurity Consultant and will take questions after the presentation.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

How to Hire Your First Employee

Time: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $25

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=70390210

To many of us, the prospect of hiring an employee sounds daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! This workshop is designed to serve busy business owners who are considering hiring employees. Join us for an overview of what the process looks like, including both legal and financial considerations, as well as personal development and managerial considerations before deciding to hire. You will leave with some practical steps to take in hiring an employee or considering whether it is the best option for you and your business.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Women Informed (WIN) Series: Alphabet Soup of Certifications – Are They a Real Opportunity for Me?

Time: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Location: Peak Hospice Foundation, 2550 Tenderfoot Hill Street, CO Springs, 80906

Fee: $10

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!) SBDC Partner discount codes do not apply to this event.

Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390140

This program is designed to help companies understand the different types of State, Federal and Corporate Social and Economic small business Certifications and how they are used along with the political aspects of them.

During this course we will examine:

  • The fundamental differences between state, federal and corporate small business certifications.
  • Certification strategies such as competitive set asides, sole source and direct award.
  • Solicitations verses origination strategies utilizing certifications, and which is the best for your governmental business development strategy?
  • Event marketing with certifications and the strategies and the difference between procurement fairs, corporate round tables, town hall meetings and reverse trade fairs.
  • How to work with Small Business Liaison Officers (SBLO) and Small Business Specialist (SBS), purchaser or buyer.
  • Using Certifications Strategically to market to into other states and how to target Fortune level corporations both though subcontracting and supplier diversity.
  • Other types of contracting vehicles such as GSA schedules, IDIQ’s and BPAs.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Developing Your Online Marketing Strategy

Time: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $25

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=70390206

In today’s market, your online presence is quite often your first impression to potential new customers. This workshop is a big-picture overview of strategies for improving your business’ visibility and reputation online. We will discuss recommendations for approaching your online visibility and determining which aspects are most important for your business. Start your online marketing plan as we review the options you have – including website, online reviews, optimizing Google My Business, general SEO tactics, and social media. You will leave this class with some practical takeaways for developing your online marketing strategy.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Social Media: Essential Principles for Small Businesses

Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $30

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=70390211

Learn how to increase success in your business specifically through the use of social media. This workshop will get you started amplifying your business through discussing concepts and tools for utilizing social media that are relevant to all platforms.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Everyone Sells Something: Basic Techniques for Improving Your Sales Game

Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $20

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=70390212

When you take on the challenge of being an entrepreneur, you take on the role of salesperson. Cold calling. Lead generation. Overcoming objections. Closing. Most of these things do not come naturally, even if you are passionate about your product or service. It takes preparation and practice. During this interactive session, you’ll be designing a sales strategy, working on your verbiage and role playing a prospect conversation.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Proactive Legal Considerations for Small Businesses

Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101

Fee: $20

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=70390213

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.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

WEBINAR – Connect2DOT – Navigating CDOT Systems for Contracting

Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Location: Online

Fee: Free

Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=70390232

After registering, you will receive an email from GoToMeeting with a link to join the webinar one day before the workshop. This workshop will cover the various systems and online resources for doing business with CDOT. It includes the various ways to find and bid on engineering, construction, and goods and services contracts. If you want to maximize your time online and learn CDOT’s various contracting systems, join this webinar for a hands-on look at where to go and how to navigate.

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.