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 September:
Thursday, September 05, 2019
[WEBINAR] Developing and Optimizing Your Business’ Website
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
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 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 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=70390192
Your website is often the first impression someone may have of your business, and it can be a vital tool in generating leads, developing customer education, or turning potential customers into paying customers. This webinar will be 1) an overview of some popular website platform options and determining which one is best for you, and 2) a discussion on optimizing your website’s content and layout, addressing common issues, and giving tips on creating the most effective website for your business.
Thursday, September 05, 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: $20.00
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/workshop.aspx?ekey=70390171
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, September 10, 2019
Managing Your Growth
Time: 9:00am – 10:15am
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/Rd0c?iframe=no
As your company growing? Are you concerned about your ability to meet increased demand for your products and services? Learn how to handle this tipping point in your business by tracking: financial readiness, personnel readiness and inventory readiness
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Cyber Security Update
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/Qd10
A growing company is even more susceptible to cybersecurity threats due to employee ignorance! Learn the latest on how to protect your company against the latest hacks, how to prepare your employees to be cyber aware, and the latest cyber regulations that may affect your company.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Building Infrastructure to Facilitate Growth
Time: 3:00pm – 4:15pm
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/Sp2o
Ready to take your business to the next level? Learn how to avoid pitfalls, anticipate challenges, and understand the complicated landscape of regulations and legislation to help grow your business.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Top Five IP-Related Reasons Why Your Business Could Fail, and What You Can Do
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Time: 9:00am – 10:15am
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/RVoj
When an artist or composer signs their work it’s more than vanity, it is a claim of attribution. With the recognition of talent comes demand and ultimately compensation. And with compensation comes competition from other struggling artists. The same can be said for innovations. Reaping the benefits of innovation drives company success. But when capital is scarce, the innovation needs to be targeted, precise and highly likely to generate a market demand. It is important to protect a company’s intellectual property, but it also important to craft a strategy that creates intellectual property that is important enough to protect. This seminar will introduce its participants into this mindset and help provide them with basic knowledge for incorporating IP protection into their business strategy.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Alphabet Soup of Certifications: Are Certifications a Real Opportunity For My Business?
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/RW13
This workshop 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 workshop 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, IDIQs and BPAs.
Attendees will learn the most important aspect of marketing to State or Federal agencies and how to avoid the certification merry-go-round.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
10 Things You Need to Know about Hiring Your Next Worker
Time: 3:00pm – 4:15pm
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/T9id
One of the greatest investments you can make in your new company is hiring the right people. Great employees can help you propel your business forward. This session will provide you with important information as you begin to hire employees.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Customer Engagement Strategies for Growth
Time: 9:00am – 10:15am
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/Qd0s
Customer engagement as a by-product of sales and marketing is not enough. A consistent and intentional customer engagement strategy fuels growth, increases retention and improves the customer experience. In this session we will discuss creative ways to engage customers and partners.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
CEO Mindset- Your #1 Strategy for Growth
Time: 2:00pm – 3:15pm
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://techstarsstartupweekcolorad2019.sched.com/event/Sp1O
Why do some businesses fail, and others widely succeed? Success can be attributed to product innovation, customer service, and ad campaigns, but beneath these various strategies is a leader that has a single guiding force…A Success Mindset. Owning a business can be scary and you often don’t know where to turn, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Don’t get stuck thinking like an employee working IN your business rather than ON your business. Join us to learn how to cultivate your own success mindset, exercises to support it and how to create a strategic plan to grow your business to the NEXT LEVEL.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Introduction to SBDC
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: No Cost
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390151
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!
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Basics of Bookkeeping
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $30.00
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=70390176
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.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Courses for Creatives: Approaching Galleries and Music Venues
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC – Training Site Kreuser Gallery 125 E Boulder St
Fee: $10.00
NOTE: Discounts available! FREE for Pikes Peak Arts Council Members (code: PPACMEMBER) and $5 for students (code: STUDENT). SBDC Partner discount codes do not apply to this event.
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390182
As a creative, how do you go about approaching venues to gain visibility by integrating your creative products into the community? What is the best way to approach a music venue, gallery, artist collective, and more? What are the different ways to go about it? What is the most professional way to reach out to venues? What are best practices and what are practices to avoid? How do you make your art and persona stand out from the crowd and become memorable while you’re applying? What can you learn from rejection and use it to succeed next time? Learn the answer to these questions and more!
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Women Informed (WIN) Series: #IamRemarkable
Time: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC – Training Site Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation
Fee: $10.00
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!) SBDC Partner discount codes do not apply to this event.
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390138
#IamRemarkable is a Google initiative empowering women and underrepresented groups to celebrate their achievements in the workplace and beyond.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Connect2DOT: CDOT & SBA Bonding Assistance Program for Contractors
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 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=70390039
Do you need help getting bonded? Do you want to get your bonding limit increased to take on larger contracts? The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the US Small Business Administration (SBA) have bonding assistance programs that can help contractors get a bond…even if you’ve been told “no” before by a surety. Come to this FREE workshop led by Lockton Companies, CDOT’s bonding partner, and the SBA’s Office of Surety Guarantees to learn about how you can use these programs to obtain bid, payment, performance, and other ancillary bonds depending on your situation and the type of contracts you are pursuing.
Thursday, September 19, 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: $20.00
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=70390177
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, September 19, 2019
Zero-Based Budgeting
Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $20.00
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=70390195
Learn about zero-based budgeting, a method to control your expenses every month and create more profitability. Find ways to trim your bills and reduce your financial stress as your grow your business!
Monday, September 23, 2019
[WEBINAR] Cyber CYA Series: How to Find a Good Cybersecurity Company
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Location: Online, Facilitated by Pikes Peak SBDC
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 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=70390186
It is no secret that cyber security is a significant focus for many businesses. With new laws taking affect in Colorado, California and other states, organizations need to understand the risks posed by the computer systems used to manage their day to day activities.
How does a business owner shop for a good cyber security company and be assured that they can provide reasonable services that won’t break their budget? How does a person be assured that the consultant they hire has the right skillset and will not use scare tactics to intimidate them to purchase services that are not necessarily needed? The presenter will cover these topics and explain how to shop for credible, economical and reasonable cyber security services which will allow them to operate their business more securely.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
QuickBooks (Desktop Version): Introduction (Part 1)
Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $75.00
NOTE: This course is approximately 3 hours of classroom training, with an optional extra hour at the end to address attendees’ specific questions. 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=70390180
Are you considering using QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) for your business? Or maybe you already use it but know that you’re not using it to its fullest potential? Then plan to take our “test drive” hands-on workshop facilitated by a local QuickBooks ProAdvisor!
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC – Training Facility – Tri Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 166 Second ST
Fee: No Cost
NOTE: Thanks to a sponsorship by Ent Business Banking, this class is free!
Register: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/reg.aspx?mode=event&event=70390127
If you want results from your marketing but you don’t have a big marketing budget then this course will be a great place to start! Learn how you can grow your business on a small budget with some simple but powerful tips and tools. Additionally, we will cover some of the basics of creating a marketing plan.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
QuickBooks (Online Version): Introduction (Part 1)
Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Pikes Peak SBDC, 559 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Ste. 101
Fee: $75.00
NOTE: This course is approximately 3 hours of classroom training, with an optional extra hour at the end to address attendees’ specific questions. 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=70390178
Are you considering using QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) for your business? Or maybe you already use it but know that you’re not using it to its fullest potential? Then plan to take our “test drive” hands-on workshop facilitated by a local QuickBooks ProAdvisor!
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.