20 Rules for Marketing And Sales Success for Every Small Business

Come prepared to listen, learn and discuss how these proven rules / techniques / strategies can and should be applied to your small business to help you become more successful.  Increase sales. Build your brand. Cut costs.  Grow your profits.  Accomplish all of this and more from these 20 proven rules.  Then it will be your turn to ask questions as you tell about your business situation and receive customized answers and recommendations on what you should be doing.  Led by an SBDC Senior Business Advisor to over 500 clients who is a marketing and sales expert with more than 35 years of successful business experience – first, as a corporate executive at Disney, Activision and Panasonic and then as a small business owner just like you.  Ideal for both existing business owners and those just getting started.

Access to Capital – Finding Funding for Your Business

Sponsored by Citi Bank

If you want/need a loan to start or build your business, or if you need some financial help to survive this recession, this workshop is for you.  Learn the 5 C’s of credit so you will know what lenders are looking for when considering lending you money.  You will receive information about available small business loan programs designed to assist businesses during a recession.  Lastly, you will learn about the importance of having a well thought out business plan when asking for credit loan consideration from a bank or other lenders.

Start Your Home-Based Business – Saturday Class

Home-Based Businesses are one of hottest trends in business today.  The benefits of working from home are endless:  be independent, do away with traffic, office politics and more.  Learn how to develop the entrepreneurial qualities – motivation, discipline, and creativity – that you will need.  This class is a great way to start your own home-based business or enhance an existing one.   This workshop will walk you through:

• Entrepreneurial qualities
• Business selection process
• Start-up procedures and legal requirements
• Licenses, permits and the zoning board
• Banking and record keeping
• Sales, marketing, advertising and promotion
• Business image
• Balancing your life

Essential Steps for Writing a Business Plan

A business plan is a necessity for the success of your business! This workshop will cover all aspects of creating a business plan. Critical topics such as business development, marketing plans, advertising strategies, financial analysis & budgeting will be covered.   Attendees may bring a laptop to work on their business plan during the training.

New Client Orientation

This orientation will give insight into starting and running a successful small business. You will learn about what the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has to offer and how we can assist you in establishing or maintaining your small business through one-on-one consultation and training seminars. We offer the New Client Orientation free of charge to all new clients.

Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar

This seminar will bring you current to the following payroll issues affecting your business:

• California payroll reporting requirements, including forms, employer obligations, reporting, and payment requirements.
• About independent contractor reporting requirements.
• Electronic filing and payment requirements and options.
• Federal payroll reporting requirements, including Forms 940, 941, 1099, W-2, W-4, W-9, and alternative filing.

Instructor:  IRS and CA Employment Development Department Staff

LinkedIn for Business Development and Networking

Sponsored by Citi Bank

Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced user of LinkedIn, this workshop has something new and essential for you! Using LinkedIn actively and strategically, you can and will grow your business! Learn how to:

* Create / improve / complete your LinkedIn profile and presence to increase your visibility and the probability of being found by others

* Build a network that expands your search capability

* Utilize Groups and Advanced Search to prospect for, find and connect with potential new Customers, Strategic Referral Partners, Vendors and Service Providers, and Industry Peers

* Expand your Search Results list (and save the cost of Premium services)

* Message within LinkedIn for free with in-direct connections (and save the cost of Premium services)

* Identify the last name of 3rd level connections (and save the cost of Premium services)

* Find contact information (including phone and email addresses) for in-direct connections