This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…

Thinking of starting a business, but not sure what kind? You’re not alone. Many aspiring entrepreneurs are fueled by passion and the dream of being their own boss—but often lack clarity on the type of business that truly fits their strengths, lifestyle goals, and market realities. In this interactive 2-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to: Clarify your personal motivations and entrepreneurial strengths Explore and compare different business models Evaluate your business ideas with practical tools Identify the type of business…

This in-depth workshop addresses a multitude of important topics regarding legal entities and other important decisions you will need to make as a business owner. One of the first decisions will include how the company will be structured. Because of this, we will cover the basics of regulatory filings that permit new owners to properly set up entities in California. Our discussion will cover legal formation for startups, including: • LLC’s, S-Corporations, C-Corporations • DBA’s • Business permits • Resale…

Businesses have many taxes they need to pay besides just income taxes.  The webinar presenter will discuss federal and state income taxes, county taxes, city business license taxes, Secretary of State fees, sales taxes, payroll taxes, estimated tax payments and business back tax solutions.  You will be sure to learn of taxes and tax rules in 2026 that you were not aware of for your new or existing business. Instructor: Maureen Thielen (SBDC Advisor) provides bookkeeping, accounting and tax consulting services to…

A cross-disciplinary workshop showing the relationship between Marketing, Website Design, and Social Media to build, promote and market a small business. This Multichannel workshop presents three advisors who'll share their expertise of their field and its application to small businesses as they proceed through the SBDC process. At the end of each advisors presentation there will be a 30 minute Q&A to ask questions across the multichannel. Instructors and SBDC Advisors: Debbie Goldfarb is a well-respected marketing coach and consultant. Chérmelle Edwards is a writer,…

Building a successful business requires vision, and the coordination of efforts in several areas.  The process of starting and running a business can be overwhelming without a good plan. A good solution to understanding all of the moving parts of your business is to write a business plan. In this webinar we will discuss: -The internal and external purposes of a business plan -A review of the types of plans: Traditional, one page, Canvas, Pitch Deck -Writing strategies and tips,…

One way to increase sales for your business is to become a vendor or contractor to public agencies and private organizations. This workshop will provide an overview of how to decide if contracting is right for you, as well as cover the elements you need to know to begin the pursuit of new contracting opportunities. Instructor: Michael Williams (SBDC Advisor) proudly offers over 30 years of experience in government contracting and procurement, certifications, marketing, recruiting, and training. He has successfully…

This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…

Funding and financing your business are extremely important. One of the options that comes up is angel investment. What does angel investment mean? How often does it happen? Is your business a candidate? What steps to take? What do you need? Webinar presenter Tim Berry has been on both sides of this table. He successfully raised investment for his business. And he has been an angel investor for more than a decade. In this webinar, Tim answers key questions you…

The “Improve Your Personal Credit for Lending Opportunities” workshop is designed to help individuals and business owners understand the factors that affect their credit scores and learn strategies to improve them. Whether you are looking to apply for a personal loan, business loan, or credit line, having a strong credit score can significantly increase your chances of approval and favorable terms. During this workshop, participants will learn about the different credit bureaus and how they calculate credit scores, the common…

What do small businesses need to know about contracts?  While Covering the Basic principles of contracts, you’ll learn how to avoid the pitfalls hidden in written and oral contracts and learn how to negotiate and to write them.  Learn how to make a checklist to identify your contract needs. Instructor: Ben Martin (SBDC Advisor) and Attorney who loves helping new and small businesses, survive and thrive. With over 20 years of experience working for SBDCs, Non-profit Entrepreneurship Programs, and Pro…

This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…

Ask HR  anything about California employment law, hiring, firing, compliance & workplace culture in this live Q&A session. Are you a business owner or entrepreneur trying to make employees and employment law requirements in California? Are you navigating hiring, managing or terminating an employee? Are you trying to build a positive, strong workplace culture? This open format office hours session with real-time Q&A is for you! Join us and get answers to all your toughest HR questions directly from the…

Intellectual Property: An Overview – Ideas and inventions are often the key assets of a business. How do you protect your ideas while using them, developing them, or marketing them to customers? Discussions includes the basics of Copyrights, Patents, Trade Secrets, Trade and Service marks, Masks and Domain Names. Non-disclosure Agreements and Agreements Not to Compete are covered along with how to keep records that prove your idea is your idea and no one else’s. Instructor: Ben Martin (SBDC Advisor)…

Accounting is the system of tracking the income, expenses, assets and liabilities of business. Owners, managers, bankers, investors - use accounting terms and concepts to describe the events that make up the "story". This workshop will explain the basics of how to make journal entries including debits and credits, the structure of financial statements, important financial ratios, and, more importantly, how to "account" for the transactions in your business. Instructor: Andrew Strachan (SBDC Advisor) has many years of financial analysis…

Did you know that for many companies, the holidays are critical to wrapping up the year to meet their annual goals? From fundraising to well wishing, you can turn the holidays into opportunities while reminding your customers why they love your company. Whether you are a non-profit or sell products or services to consumers or businesses, use our free guide to help you maximize your marketing impact in November & December. This Webinar Will Teach You How To: • Use…

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide an opportunity for small businesses to tap into federal funding to conduct research and development on promising new innovations and technologies.  With $4 billion available annually, the programs are a source of seed capital for early stage companies. SBIR/STTR funding can also serve as a pathway to equity financing by allowing businesses to demonstrate feasibility of new technologies and move toward commercialization. This webinar will cover…