San Francisco: SBA Classes May 4-14
TRAINING AT SBA The Small Business Administration offers a variety of classes for business owners in our Entrepreneur Center, located at 455 Market St., 6th Floor in downtown San Francisco.
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. Contact: Gary Marshall at 415 744-6771.
To register for classes, go to http://www.acteva.com/go/sba For more information, please contact Gary Marshall at (415) 744 6771 or
Food Safety Certification – Golden Gate Restaurant Association 5/4 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM State law requires that specified food facilities employ at least one person who has successfully passed a California State approved and accredited food safety certification exam. As of January 1, 2000, certification is mandatory and re-certification is required every three years. Registration and information is available at www.ggra.org
Creating New Life and Work Performances 5/4 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM People live, learn, work and play with others – often with difficulty. In this workshop we’ll introduce you to a unique performance-based approach to professional and personal development. There is growing recognition in the business community that improvisational performance is key to adult creativity, and, in these hard times, more important than ever. In this workshop we will work with you on learning how to “set the stage” for important client meetings and challenging interactions with employers, employees, business partners and clients.
Connect to the Net- How to Launch Your Website Quickly 5/4 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM This course will outline steps to either create the web site yourself, or how to go about selecting a company to create your web site, the average time and cost, how to identify and create content for the web site and how to maintain the site going forward.
How to Quickly Attract Your Prospect’s Attention 5/5 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM What is your prospect most interested in? Whatever it is, this should be the first thing you address in all of your marketing communication (i.e. print, online and in-person). You need to come right to the key point. Then, explain further. In a world of short attention spans, you need to assume you will only have a few seconds to catch someone’s interest before they move on.
Creating New Life and Work Performances 5/4 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM People live, learn, work and play with others – often with difficulty. In this workshop we’ll introduce you to a unique performance-based approach to professional and personal development. There is growing recognition in the business community that improvisational performance is key to adult creativity, and, in these hard times, more important than ever. In this workshop we will work with you on learning how to “set the stage” for important client meetings and challenging interactions with employers, employees, business partners and clients.
Free and Low Cost Resources for Your Business 5/6 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Representatives from SBA, SCORE, the SF SBDC, the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, and the San Francisco Public Library Small Business Center will discuss the resources available.
Starting a Business in San Francisco 5/6 11:30 AM – 12:30 AM Hear directly from San Francisco officials. How do you obtain permits? How do you register your business name? Learn what the City can do for you in this one-stop seminar.
Financing Your Business 5/6 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Discover the right way to seek financing for your business. We will discuss loan proposal requirements, financing options and SBA programs.
Business Law Basics 5/6 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM An experienced business lawyer will discuss Choice of Legal Entity (corporations, LLC, partnership, etc.); Intellectual Property; Employee issues; and Real Estate issues. This class does not constitute legal advice.
Become a Corporate Refugee; Learn How to Turn Your Expertise into a Business 5/6 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Have you ever wondered how you could use your business expertise outside of the 9-5 world? This class will give you an overview of what you need to start your own business. Learn what licenses and permits are needed, uncover marketable skills that you already possess, identify a target market and evaluate the break even point for your offering. If you’ve been thinking about a business idea, this is a great way to explore its feasibility.
Basic Bookkeeping, Part One 5/7 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Learn basic accounting and bookkeeping terms and processes. Topics include cash vs. accrual accounting, proper accounting data flow processes, the importance of budgeting, the purpose of different financial reports, the differences in computer accounting systems, cash management, and more. $30 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
How to Collect Your Business Debts 5/7 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM This seminar will cover what kinds of purchase orders you should use to minimize the chance of problems, how to maximize your chances of being paid for credit chard charges, and how to take security to insure you will be paid. Then if you are not paid, how to get a judgment in small claims court and above all how to collect on the judgment.
Legal Structures for Your Business from an Income Tax Perspective 5/11 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Choose the right entity for your business from an income tax perspective. Join us for a one and a half hour seminar discussing Corporation, S Corporation, LLC, LLP, and Sole Proprietorships and what these entities mean to your business for tax purposes. Topics covered will include income tax, payroll tax, self-employment tax, start – up, exit strategy, employee ownership, and investor issues.
Restaurant Series: Creating the Buzz Inside and Outside Your Restaurant 5/11 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Every person working in your restaurant is an extension of your brand. Engage your staff in the mission and promotion of your business. Your staff can become your customer evangelists by working as a team and by understanding the collective energy that is created. Also learn to develop PR strategies that build upon personal relationships. $30 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Taxes and Your Business, How to Prepare Schedule C 5/11 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Prepare your business taxes for ’08 and get ready for ‘09. 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.
Marketing: Building Awareness and Driving Sales 5/12 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Understand the fundamentals of marketing strategy and how good market planning can have a meaningful impact on your business. Learn how to develop a valuable and cost-effective marketing plan, execute the plan, and measure its effectiveness. We cover vital topics such as Pricing; Branding; Promotion; Internet Marketing; Positioning and Strategy; Lead Tracking. $35 registration fee in advance; or $40 day of event. For information, contact SCORE at (415) 744-6827, register at www.acteva.com/go/sfscore
From Kitchen to Market: Selling Your Specialty Foods 5/12 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM You have a specialty recipe you think the market would crave – BBQ sauce, homemade cookies or jams? How do you transition from your kitchen to the outside world? It pays to understand the huge specialty food industry as you maneuver through it. This class will focus on the planning and production process, contacts to help you get started, capitalization options, marketing strategies, the distribution network and more. You will receive a take home package with worksheets, resource guide and trend analyses. $30 registration fee. Sponsored by the SF SBDC.
Managing Employees in a Down Economy 5/12 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM The current state of the economy is affecting many Bay Area businesses negatively. In this workshop, learn how to cut the fat, stop the bleed, create a healthier bottom line and survive – even THRIVE! – in a challenging environment. Learn about alternatives to layoffs, how to implement compliant layoffs, if necessary, and preserving productivity and morale through the transition. $30 registration fee. Presented by the SF SBDC.
Secrets to Buying a Business or Franchise 5/12 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Learn how to reduce your risk and improve your chances of success in buying a franchise or existing business. Topics include Options for Financing; Choosing an Existing Business vs. a Franchise; Where to Find a Business or Franchise; Working with Brokers. $20 registration fee in advance; or $25 day of event. For information, contact SCORE at (415) 744-6827, register at www.acteva.com/go/sfscore
How to Manage Unemployment Insurance Costs 5/13 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM The Unemployment Insurance tax works like any other insurance premium. The purpose of this seminar is to explain how the UI system works and how you as the employer can manage UI costs. Jointly conducted by the Employment Development Department and the California state Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, this class will cover. More information at (866) 873-6083, register at www.edd.ca.gov/taxsem
Sell Your Business 5/13 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM This class is for small business owners who are considering a sale of their business ($500,000 to $20 million in revenues). Basic topics will include: motivation for selling, pricing, how to package the business, finding buyers, screening buyers, purchase agreements, and guiding the negotiations through the close of escrow. Five Easy Ways to Attract Targeted Website Visitors for Free 5/13 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Over 98% of websites get fewer than 5 visitors each day. Attracting high-quality website visitors doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a little direction, you can accumulate strategic one-way inbound links and watch the targeted traffic pour in!
Basic Bookkeeping, Part Two 5/14 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Designed for entrepreneurs intimidated by financial records, this course will 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.
Maximize Your Web Site Traffic and Sales: Search Engine Optimization and Web Analytics 5/14 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Getting customers to your Web site involves much more than merely designing an interesting site for them to visit. In this class you will learn how to optimize your Web site to ensure the highest possible placing on the key search engines, and thus ensure more traffic. By learning how to use Web analytics you will also learn how to keep your customers on your site once they are there, and how to ensure the maximum conversion rates for site visitors into paying customers. Presented by the SF SBDC. Registration fee $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
OUR PARTNERS PRESENT: a weekly feature of events offered by organizations and groups outside SBA. These events are not sponsored by SBA and are not held at our Entrepreneur Center.
East Bay Small Business Training The East Bay SBDC offers more than 20 different seminars that teach entrepreneurs and business leaders how to implement new strategies, skills and ideas across varied business disciplines; workshops tailored to fit entrepreneurs in any stage of the business development process.
Check out the SBDC training in a city near you
http://www.eastbaysbdc.org/pages/seminars.php
ALSO Hiring an Ex-Offender
Would you like to learn how to generate continuous federal and state tax credits for your business? Are you tired of spending your hard earned money on pre-employment background checks? Are you experiencing issues with employee job performance or retention?
On Thursday, May 14, 2009, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, the United States Probation Office and United States Pretrial Services will host a networking workshop to discuss the benefits of hiring an ex-offender.
In this workshop, you will learn how you can gain a financial advantage in these uncertain times. We will present solutions to some of your staffing concerns, how you can eliminate unnecessary business expenses, and provide valuable information on hiring the ex-offender population. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to make new contacts and expand your business network.
Robert F. Peckham Federal Building, U.S. Courthouse 280 S. First Street, Room 1198, San Jose, CA 95113. The federal building is located in downtown San Jose on San Carlos Street between First and Second Streets, directly across from the State Building.
May 14, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Continental Breakfast will be served. Please bring valid photo ID for entry to the Courthouse building.
For more information please contact Susan Portillo at (408) 808-3938, Jacinta Hernandez at (408) 535-3938 or visit our website at www.canp.uscourts.gov
Please RSVP by May 12, 2009
ALSO San Francisco Chamber of Commerce presents Speed Networking for Women Thursday, May 14, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM SF Chamber’s Boardroom 235 Montgomery Street, 12th Floor. Find it difficult to connect with the right people at networking events? Not meeting as many people as you could because you are caught in one long conversation? Hesitant to walk up and start a conversation with someone new?
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- Join us for this popular program focused on making connections.
- Engage in facilitated meetings with at least 20 businesswomen.
- Make a business connection in four minutes or less.
- Expand your network in minutes instead of months.
- Learn to become a connector and introduce your contacts.
Here’s how it works: In the beginning of the session our group facilitator will share her expert networking tips with the group. Then each pair will have a few minutes to introduce themselves and their company. You will explain what you are looking for or the value of your products/services, and then switch. After meeting with everyone on the opposite side of the room, we will break for informal networking over complimentary wine and light hors d’oeuvres.
Cost is $30 for Chamber members, $40 for non-members. Space is limited to 40 participants. Make sure to bring 25 or more business cards. Cancellations must occur 48 hours in advance to receive a refund.
For more information please contact Nadia Chan at 415-352-8803 or .
ALSO Springboard Enterprises will be hosting the Equity Matters: The Route to NASDAQ seminar which aims at educating woman on seeking venture capital for funding, complete with panels filled with lenders, investors, and entrepreneurs. The one day event will be held at the Wharton West facilities in San Francisco on May 21. To register, go to www.springboardenterprises.org.
ALSO Did you start your business after being laid off recently? If so, a local newspaper reporter is looking for entrepreneurs like you to tell their story. If you’re interested, please let me know and I’ll pass along your contact information to the reporter for a possible interview.
ALSO National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive Set for May 9 The 17th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive is set for May 9 . On May 9, customers are being encouraged to leave donations of non-perishable food by their mailbox for collection by their letter carrier.
Letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and in post offices and deliver them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters. Nearly 1,500 local NALC branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved in the drive.
ALSO Help spread the word about your experiences with our training. Please post your notes about us on Yelp at SBA Yelp reviews