SBA San Francisco Business Workshops and Seminars – April 9th – 27th 2012
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of classes for business owners in our Entrepreneur Center located at 455 Market Street Suite 600 in downtown San Francisco. View the San Francisco SBA online calendar at: San Francisco SBA online calendar
Registration for all our classes is required. To ensure a printed handout for review along with the instructor during the class or to be notified if the class is cancelled please register at the SF Small Business Development Center registration site: SBA Training unless otherwise indicated.
Events: April 9th to 27th 2012
The Basics to Selling to Chain Stores
4/9 – Monday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Learn how to do selling to chair stores what chain stores expect from you; how the buying process works; who’s involved in their buying decision; the types of product categories and what you need to know; how to know who are the local regional and/or corporate buying offices and learn what are the common misconceptions and how to get started today.
State Payroll Tax Workshop
4/10 – Tuesday 9:00AM – 3:00PM
This workshop provides participants with hands practice on how to calculate state taxes and complete state payroll tax forms. The workshop is recommended for those who have previously attended a Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar or for those familiar with state payroll tax reporting but who would like additional practice. Presented by the California EDD Tax Office. For Information Visit: California EDD Tax Office or Call 866 873-6083
***SBA Webinar – Five Things You May Not Know About SBA Disaster Assistance
4/10 – Tuesday 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Corporations and LLCs Offer Different Options
4/10 – Tuesday 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Learn how to make the best use of your corporation or LLC to save money and shield you from liabilities. Learn the compliance details of when and how to properly set up your entity including medical insurance plans compensation strategies for tax planning records management and banking. $20 registration fee. Presented by SF SCORE.
Starting Your Own Web Start-up
4/10 – Tuesday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Web start-ups including LinkedIn Facebook and Groupon have changed the way that we use the internet. In this session learn how you can start your own web start-up. We will overview several topics specific to web start-ups including the lean start-up methodology equity financing and incubation web application product development and start-up marketing. Come with an idea for your web start-up.
Taxes and Your Business How to Prepare Schedule C
4/10 – Tuesday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Review what the IRS wants to know from you and how to report it on the Schedule C for your business. This is a class for business owners who need a basic understanding of their 1040 Schedule C tax forms. We’ll also talk about what to do with the numbers once you have them. We don’t guarantee you won’t get audited but this class will make it less likely.
Small Business Taxes
4/11 – Wednesday 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Save money on your taxes by learning the IRS rules and regulations that apply to small-business owners and get answers to your tax questions in this informative interactive live seminar covering tax deductions incorporations LLCs and commonly used tax strategies. $20 registration fee. Presented by SF SCORE.
Get More Clients in the Next 30 Days Than You Did In the Past 90
4/11 – Wednesday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Learn the basics of how to market your service business; how it differs from marketing products why it is important to have a niche how to create a compelling message about your services and various ways to achieve the critical function of networking and following up.
***Start Smart
4/11 – Wednesday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center WBC SF
Marketing Research – Understanding Your Competition
4/12 – Thursday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
As a start-up business owner you can market your business more effectively the more you understand about your competition and the customer they are targeting. Topics include uncovering the competition’s strengths and weaknesses understanding who they are targeting and why their marketing message to their prospects what makes their business attractive to prospects and determining what competitive advantages you might have compared to them.
Basic Bookkeeping Part Two
4/12 – Thursday 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
We’ll cover balance sheets incomes statements cash flow and working capital. Participants should have completed Basic Bookkeeping Part One or be familiar with the concepts covered in that seminar. $30 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Creating and Using Your “Elevator Pitch”
4/12 – Thursday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
All entrepreneurs need to have a clear and engaging elevator pitch. Learn how to have people listen to you understand you and be compelled to help you or seek assistance from your business. Learn the how’s why’s and word choice to include in your pitch and most importantly practice saying it. In this interactive class attendees will stand up and read the elevator pitch written try to memorize it and then they ultimately work towards delivering it with confidence.
Hiring Foreign Nationals: What Every Employer Needs to Know About U.S. Work Visas and Green Cards
4/16 – Monday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This presentation will explain U.S. work visa and green card processes from the employer’s perspective including what to expect the legal requirements and timing and strategy issues.
How to Price Your Products and Services
4/17 – Tuesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
How do you set prices for your business or service? Are they working? When should you change them? This interactive workshop will address these topics as well as role of pricing in the overall Marketing Mix. $35 registration fee. Presented by SF SCORE.
Responding to RFPs (Request for Proposal)
4/17 – Tuesday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Understand how to locate government RFPs how to review it develop a “requirement matrix” define a scope of work how to prepare a proposal how to prepare for negotiation and more. $25 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Creative Collaborations and Partnerships
4/17 – Tuesday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This workshop is ideally suited for artists musicians and other entertainers who work together creatively. It will include a general overview of what creative collaborations are as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages in operating an entertainment/artistic business as a partnership as opposed to other business structures. Also covers various legal issues entailed in joint ownership of creative works the differences between “joint works’ and “derivative works” and the general steps entailed in setting up a creative collaboration or partnership including formal collaboration/partnership operating agreements dispute resolution and more…
***Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar
4/18 – Wednesday 10:00AM to 4:00PM in SAN JOSE
Prioritizing Prospects to Increase Your Sales Success
4/18 – Wednesday 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Learn how to prioritize which prospects are most likely to generate revenue for your business. Most small business owners make the mistake of treating all customers the same rather than getting clear about where the money is in the marketplace. Learn to save time and energy as well as produce greater results by concentrating on those most likely to buy (e.g. fast vs. large purchase) repeat or refer.
Basic Bookkeeping Part Three
4/19 – Thursday 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Topics include developing a budget statement of cash flow analysis and developing a cash forecast. Participants should have complete Basic Bookkeeping Part I or be familiar with the concepts covered in that seminar. $30 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Advanced Social Media Techniques
4/19 – Thursday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This presentation is designed for intermediate users of Facebook and LinkedIn primarily along with other social media. Numerous tips and tricks will be shared along with an automated strategy to ratchet up your following and increase opportunities for results. All participants must be familiar with Facebook LinkedIn blogging and YouTube to benefit from this class. $35 Registration Fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Setting Up a Successful Online Business
4/20 – Friday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
An extensive session to help you strategize setup and execute your own online business. You will learn to: design a strategy for your online business; define business model and commercial model execute an online business and market an online business. Register online at SF Score or call (415) 744-6827 to reserve your space. $25 registration fee.
***Basic Bookkeeping (3 part series)
4/23 – Monday 5:00PM to 8:00PM in SAN JOSE
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
4/23 – Monday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
We’ll cover set up updating and maintaining spreadsheets creating equations and functions generating graphs charts and more. This is a hands-on workshop. Participants should be familiar with basic computer functions. $30 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Understand the Financial Structure of Your Business
4/24 – Tuesday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Success in business requires sound financial planning and the establishment of realistic goals. This seminar enables you to develop an understanding of the financial parameters of your company and provides the tools for making the best financial and planning decisions. The following topics will be covered: Start-up Costs; Sales Forecasting; Operating Expenses; Cash Flow; Breakeven Analysis; Financial Reports. $35 registration fee. Presented by SF SCORE.
Legacy Planning
4/24 – Tuesday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Retire from your small business. Use your financial success to create a family and/or philanthropic legacy. Give some thought to how you want to retire and come with your questions.
Maintaining Tax Records
4/24 – Tuesday 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
Learn the money-saving tax strategies of the pros in this fun interactive course and learn how to effectively create the tax records necessary for proper IRS reporting. Receive a valuable overview of how to use technology to simplify your life with online banking and QuickBooks. $20 registration fee. Presented by SF SCORE.
How to quickly write a non-Fiction Book and Sell More Copies
4/24 – Tuesday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Are you an aspiring author who has great material but no idea how to begin? Or have you been agonizing over the right material to include in your book and how to promote and make it a business? In this class you will learn how to: Organize the content; Complete the manuscript in record time; Plan a marketing and P.R. strategy as you write; Get it ready for self-publishing or finding a publisher (Pros and cons of each method discussed); and/or Create in-person and online platform for reaching larger audiences.
***Employment Basics 101
4/25 – Wednesday 10:00AM to 11:30AM in SAN JOSE
***Business Structures 101
4/25 – Wednesday 11:30AM to 1:00PM in SAN JOSE
Small Business Web Site Basics
4/25 – Wednesday 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Learn to properly set and achieve goals for your web presence. Topics include internet overview goal setting web site creation web marketing vendor selection and pitfalls.
Marketing Made Easy
4/25 – Wednesday 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This class is a good introduction or serves as a refresher for entrepreneurs who want to take their marketing plans to the next level. You will better understand the variety of marketing tools available and the information will help you focus on choosing and mastering tactics for your target market. Topics will include: identifying your target market; establishing a framework for evaluating and monitoring your marketing efforts; designing signature marketing tactics and building systems.
Business Success on Your Own Terms
4/25 – Wednesday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Are you tired of others telling you that if you do it their way follow their formula you’ll be successful? This interactive presentation allows you to define success for yourself and map out the steps that will get you there. If you’re gonna spend all this time and energy on your business you outta darn well like it!
HUBZone and WOSB Program Certifications
4/26 – Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
This workshop will explain provisions of the HUBZone Program and the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program. Eligibility requirements application and certification will be explained.
SBA 8(a) BD Certification Workshop
4/26 – Thursday 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
This workshop is for small firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals interested in being certified for SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program.
Choosing a Retirement Solution for Your Small Business
4/26 – Thursday 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
The U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will provide a presentation focused on choosing a retirement solution for your small business. To ensure a financially secure future it is critical to make the right choices. We can help you start today.
QuickBooks Introduction
4/26 – Thursday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
This overview will discuss setting-up updating and running financial reports and efficient procedures for entering your accounting data. This is a hands-on workshop. Participants should have complete Basic Bookkeeping Part I or be familiar with the concepts covered in that workshop. $60 Registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Doing Business with Chevron
4/26 – Thursday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Learn the procurement process and opportunities for doing business specifically with Chevron in this informative presentation by a representative of the company.
Hi-Tech Low-Cost: Internet Strategies for Your Business
4/26 – Thursday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
The Internet offers many shortcuts to starting and growing your business in today’s world. But it is also full of unproductive sidetracks that can steer you away from success. We will look at the pros and cons of some of the online tools available to better help you run your small businesses as well as discuss whether and how online marketing might work for you. We will cover: Free Resources Website Creation Collaboration Tools Social Media Internet Marketing Essentials. $20 registration fee. Presented by SF SCORE.
Listed below are events offered by organizations and groups that are not always sponsored by SBA and may or may not be held at the San Francisco Entrepreneur Center
***SBA Webinar – Five Things You May Not Know About SBA Disaster Assistance
4/10 – Tuesday 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
In the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster you don’t have to be a small business owner to get recovery assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Interesting and useful facts about the SBA’s disaster assistance programs will be presented during this webinar. Space is limited.
***Start Smart
4/11 – Wednesday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Take the FIRST step with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. In this “Action” oriented two-day boot-camp you will develop the tools that will result in a 1-Page Business Plan. You will do this by ALL of the following: clarifying your vision; creating your mission; developing your business strategy; identifying your objectives; executing your plan and develop the tools that will result in a 1-Page Business Plan. Class meets Wednesday 4/11 and 4/18 from 6-9PM with an optional follow-up workshop on 4/25th to go over questions you might have. Cost $60 . Location: Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center WBC 275 5th Street San Francisco CA Call Jasmine Williams at 415-348-6227 or for more information.
SBA’s 2012 National Small Business Week is May 20th – May 22 2012. For more information visit National Small Business Week
Save the Date: San Francisco Small Business Week “Saluting the Heroes of Our Economy” – May 14-20 2012. An opportunity to celebrate the innovation and impact small businesses make in San Francisco every day.
May 14 2012 – 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Flavors of San Francisco City View Room at the Metreon. Meet and mingle with more than 1000 small business owners and community leaders. Registration is $10 and will open in Mid-April.
May 16 2012 – Small Business Conference & Workshops – a daylong conference consisting of 40 free workshops and seminars. More information to be provided on this topic in early April.
Supplier Connection: SBA recently announced a new private-public collaboration that will help small businesses strengthen their revenue streams by gaining access to more than $300 billion in combined supply chain spending by a consortium of 15 of America’s largest corporations. is designed to help bridge the gap between small businesses looking for new opportunities and large corporations looking for innovative new ideas and diversity in their supply chains. Supplier Connection is a free online portal that allows small businesses to send information about their products and services to 15 private sector companies. For more information on Supplier Connection visit Supplier Connection
***Federal/State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar
4/18 – Wednesday 10:00AM to 4:00PM
You will learn: • 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. No Fee. Location: San Jose Entrepreneur Center 100 E. Santa Clara Street San Jose CA 95113 For registration: San Jose Entrepreneur Center Contact Information: Emily Navarra-Refugio 408-351-3661
***Basic Bookkeeping (3 part series)
4/23 – Monday 5:00PM to 8:00PM
Understanding the basics of accounting; how to analyze your balance sheet income statement and statement of cash flows; learn how to develop a budget cash flow analysis and develop a cash forecast. Presented by the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center. Cost: $79 online; $89 at door check or cash only Location: San Jose Entrepreneur Center 100 East Santa Clara Street San Jose CA 95113 For registration: Sillicon Valley SBDC Contact Information: Client Services Coordinator 408-351-3600
***Employment Basics 101
4/25 – Wednesday 10:00AM to 11:30AM
Are you a small business owner with at least one employee? Don’t miss this course that goes over employment basics including at- will employment wage and hour employee classification and record keeping. No Fee. Location: San Jose Entrepreneur Center 100 E. Santa Clara Street San Jose CA 95113 For registration: San Jose Entrepreneur Center
Contact Information: Emily Navarra-Refugio 408-351-3661
***Business Structures 101
4/25 – Wednesday 11:30AM to 1:00PM
Are you thinking of starting a business but are not sure what type of entity to use? Do the words LLC S-Corp and C-Corp intimidate you? Are you confused about business structures? If you answered yes to any of those questions this is the class for you. Learn the basics about legal business structures from the different types of protection to the different types of taxation. We will go over DBA S-Corp LLC C-Corp and Partnership basics. *This class does not provide legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. No Fee. Location: San Jose Entrepreneur Center 100 E. Santa Clara Street San Jose CA 95113 For registration: San Jose Entrepreneur Center
Contact Information: Emily Navarra-Refugio 408-351-3661
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“A Practical Guide to Doing Business with the Federal Government and Directory of Federal Procurement Offices” (4/2011) available from the SBA San Francisco District Office by email request at
SBA’s International Trade Loan (ITL): Helping Businesses Bring Jobs Home – The SBA’s ITL program provides small businesses with capital to finance their fixed assets including real estate and working capital needs. The program offers private lenders SBA’s highest loan guarantee of 90% guarantee on loans up to $5 million to incentivize lending to small businesses poised for growth. Small businesses may contact their local U.S. Export Assistance Center for further information visit www.sba.gov/international.
Green.SBA.gov helps small businesses find green contracts grants and partnerships throughout the federal government. It promotes sustainable environmentally friendly procurement practices and lets small businesses share information related to green contracting.
SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative for 2012 – For more information visit: www.sba.gov/e200
SBA Office of Advocacy California Small Business Profile – visit: www.sba.gov/advocacy
SBA “Open for Business” blog http://community.sba.gov/community/blogs/official-sba-news-and-views/official-sba-blog
Free Small Business Counseling by Appointment…..Call or Click
SF SCORE @ 415-744-6827 or www.score.org SF Small Business Development Center @ 415-841-4050 or www.sfsbdc.org
The SBA training program is made possible by the generous support of our volunteer teachers and presenters. We appreciate their time and expertise; however these presentations do not represent an endorsement of their views opinions products or services by SBA. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 2 weeks in advance.