Simple Steps for Starting Your Business 

Entrepreneurs, are you ready to take your business idea to the next level but aren’t quite sure how to go about implementing it?  Are you looking for a comprehensive business seminar where you can learn everything (i.e., marketing, projections, funding etc) you need to know to become a successful business owner?  If so, please join us for a special series of five (5) pre-business workshops that are designed to help entrepreneurs strategically launch their business idea.  In five (5) weeks you will be given homework and offered personalized one-on-one counseling sessions as part of your process to get your business started!  At the end of the series, you’ll be ready to understand your business market, and how to successfully get started.  Course descriptions are listed below.

 These sessions will be held at Prince Georges County Small Business Assistance Center, 1801 McCormick Drive, Suite 350, Largo, MD. The sessions will start at 9:30am and end by 12:30pm.

Session One: "Startup Basics," Wednesday, April, 15 - The first session is an introductory session that provides an overview of the process of reaching a "go or no go" decision about your business concept.  We will explore the myths surrounding self-employment, and help participants through a self-assessment. We will discuss legal structures, bookkeeping requirements, and provide an introduction to marketing and finance.

Session Two:  “Business Concept,” Wednesday, April 22 - The second session involves developing the Business Concept. It includes defining the critical aspects of the business (market, competition, suppliers, etc.) and covers the ways to gather the information needed to quantify the concept.  

Session Three: “Marketing,” Wednesday, April 29 - The third session concentrates on the marketing aspects of the business. This will include factors such as: pricing strategy, competition, target markets, distribution channels, and marketing strategies for target markets (marketing message, communication tools, costs, etc.).

Session Four: “Financial Matters,” Wednesday, May 6 – Session Four deals with the nature of financial reports, how to interpret the information, and use it to manage your business. This will cover the Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, Balance Sheets, Financial Diagnostics, Year End Summary, and Break-Even & Ratios. Participants will learn how to prepare pro-forma financial forecasts using a SCORE template.

Session Five: “Funding Sources and Next Steps,” Wednesday, May 13 - The final session will cover ways to find the funding required to get your business up and running. We’ll cover the C’s of credit, how to identify funding sources, and what to expect as you apply for bank financing.

Fee:  $125.00

Register Now!