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…

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…

Are you using SMS (Text) Marketing to Grow Your Business? Today's consumers rely on their smart phones and many prefer getting information through Text Marketing. However there are rules and best practices that can help you create successful text marketing campaigns and entice your contacts to subscribe. Attend this webinar to learn how to set up and execute SMS Text Marketing campaigns that keep your contacts subscribed and interacting with your company. Learn how to achieve your marketing goals by…

This workshop will go over methods and strategies to leverage online marketing and social media to dominate your local market. If you're looking for ways to attract new customers then this training will show you how to avoid common pitfalls and get ahead of your competition. In this workshop you will discover: i. The 4 areas of Digital Marketing that are essential to a successful business ii. Why the way people perceive you online makes all the difference iii. The proper way to…

WordPress is by far the most popular content management system. From blogging to eCommerce, it can be a powerful tool for small business website owners to enhance their online presence. In this webinar, we will review some of the key features and benefits of WordPress, how it differs from other platforms, and how you can set yourself up for success. Attend this 2-hour Webinar to discover: How to get started on WordPress Which features set it apart from the pack Must-have…

Publicizing your business is one of the most important steps a small business owner can take. Letting prospective customers/clients know about your business while building relationships with them is essential for growth and stability. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of launching a publicity campaign. They will consider case studies and be guided step-by-step through the same process of creating the same type publicity campaign that is used by Fortune 500 companies.   Instructor: Saida Pagan (SBDC Advisor) and media trainer, communication specialist…

Learn how to make your business life easier and more profitable at the same time. We will look at some tech that's low cost or no cost. We'll check out the tech that most businesses cannot do without. We will also talk about what tech you might want to avoid!   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 Bono service to people…

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,…

Every employer in California is required to create and carry out an effective program to meet the requirements of Cal/OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) regulation. What to Expect:  The training that we will provide reviews the basics of the IIPP, the newer Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) and Indoor Heat Illness, existing  Safety Data Sheets and CA nonemergency COVID-19 Prevention Procedures.  We will explore the minimum requirements for all employees and provide resources directly from the State that…

8/19/2026 - Week 1 QBO Best Practices for Customizing QBO and Sales and Expenses During the 1st hour of the webinar learn how to customize QBO settings, set up customers, vendors, chart of accounts, product and service items. Know which version of QBO works best for you. Learn how to set up bank feeds, bank rules and get bank synchronization tips. 10 minute break During the 2nd hour, learn how to customize QBO sales and expenses to make the best use of QBO. Learn…

This workshop is to help businesses with existing social media platforms to take their business to a higher level. This workshop will answer: What is Social Media storytelling. What is the difference between building a business and selling a brand? You will learn key ways to tell a story without overselling your audience. We will discuss examples of current brands and businesses who are leveraging specific platforms to 'sell'. You will leave the webinar with an understanding of how to communicate…

Join us for this informative presentation to learn how you can go from Handyman to starting a Construction company. Upon completion of this course, participants will discover how to obtain a contractor’s license and start a Construction business. Topics we will cover: Business Organization Business Finances Employment Requirements Bonds, Insurance and Liens Contract Requirements and Execution Licensing Requirements Safety Public Works Who Should Attend: Skilled professionals looking to grow their careers Individuals interested in starting their own Construction company People eager…

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,…

Lean business planning is not what you think. Not a big formal plan. Not just for startups. Quick and practical tool for managing through a crisis. It's as quick and easy as a few simple bullet point lists and tables to set down milestones and metrics. Plus powerful tools to manage sales, spending, and cash flow. Make a quick dashboard for getting through a crisis. Join this webinar as Tim Berry, founder of bplans.com and Palo Alto Software, shares the simplicity and ease…

Learn the fundamentals of what it takes to get your business started. We will discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and the important steps that need to be taken to begin your business. Topics of discussion will include: -What it takes to be an entrepreneur -Legal requirements and different legal types including sole proprietorship (DBA), and LLC and S-Corp, -Building your team of experts, including CPA’s, Atty, Bank, Web and marketing experts and industry mentor -Office set-up…

Join our informative webinar on how to value your business, presented by investment banker, financial expert and business advisor Michael DeDonato J.D., M.B.A. Why Attend: Learn the 10 essential reasons to value your business, including exit strategy planning, buy/sell agreements, and securing funding Discover the 11-step process for accurately valuing your business Understand key financial metrics like Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE) and EBITDA, and when to use each Get insights from an experienced investment banker who has helped numerous business owners sell…

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…

Learn some of the best ways that you can even the playing field without having to be a lawyer when you deal with someone else's contracts. Also, you'll get tips about how to avoid some of the most common blind sides that can often seriously hurt your small business. Actual common examples, but explained without the confusing legalese. Instructor: Ben Martin (SBDC Advisor) and Attorney who loves helping new and small businesses, survive and thrive. With over 20 years of…

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,…

How much will it cost to start your business? What are the different categories of costs I need to be concerned about? Financial preparation is key so that you can plan ahead in starting your new venture. Topics include: Steps needed to calculate start-up expenses Calculating the first 90 days projected monthly costs Ongoing expenses Conducting a margin analysis and a break-even analysis Initial cash flow projection will be reviewed and presented in this hands-on session.   Instructor: Andrew Strachan…

How does your website perform when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Is your company showing up on search engines? Search Engine Optimization has changed with the addition of AI. Join us to review those changes to improve your results. Did you know that people searching for a product or service online typically buy within 1 day of that search? In fact, they often shop and purchase within hours of that search. Learn how to improve your websites' performance…

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…

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…

Keeping track of your business income and expenses is crucial to the financial health of your company. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be complicated! This webinar will cover how to use Wave, a free online accounting software program to help keep you on track. Wave is designed for small business owners. No jargon, just an easy accounting software for small business that makes sense.  This webinar is not for companies with inventory. Instructor: Maureen Thielen (SBDC Advisor). She provides bookkeeping, accounting and tax…

Discover the basics of getting 'on' social media. In this workshop we'll briefly cover main social platforms - what are they and how to use them. We'll discuss key terminology, cover how-to's (ie.e how to post, share stories, upload a video, write captions and create hashtags.) We'll cover best practices including how to use apps as a search engine, how to follow, share, comment and engage organically to build followers and community.   Chérmelle Edwards (SBDC Advisor) and writer, photographer, and cultural strategist…

Day 1 9/15/2026 10:00 AM (PDT) 9/15/2026 12:00 PM (PDT) Day 2 9/17/2026 10:00 AM (PDT) 9/17/2026 12:00 PM (PDT)   Description: Take our 2-day Fast Track “bootcamp” program.  This course was developed by industry professionals to provide you the basic tools you need to start your business.  This is ideal for prospective businesses with little to no time but a willingness and desire to learn the language of business, determine whether starting a business makes sense and if so, specific steps to start the business. The…

You’ve got a hot new product or great service that you would like prospective customers to know about. Or maybe, there has been a problem at your business and you need to get ahead of the story. Whatever the circumstance, knowing how to prepare a professional press release is a valuable skill for any business owner. In this hands-on workshop, participants will examine what news organizations and others are looking for in a good media release and how to craft communication that will help…

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,…

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…

As Google has announced discontinuing data collection for Universal Analytics, it’s crucial to begin making the switch to for Google Analytics 4. We will walk through how to set up a new GA4 property and how to switch over from UA. We will go over each of the main features of GA4 and discuss which features are the most valuable for small businesses to tap into. Attend this 2-hour webinar to discover: What is GA4 and how it is different…

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,…

Lean business planning is not what you think. Not a big formal plan. Not just for startups. Quick and practical tool for managing through a crisis. It's as quick and easy as a few simple bullet point lists and tables to set down milestones and metrics. Plus powerful tools to manage sales, spending, and cash flow. Make a quick dashboard for getting through a crisis. Join this webinar as Tim Berry, founder of bplans.com and Palo Alto Software, shares the simplicity and ease…

Artificial Intelligence.... AI, is all the rage. It can boost productivity and profitability. But it can also endanger you and your business if you are not careful. We will cover those things that can arise when you start using AI in your business. 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 Bono service to people wanting to build their…

New Hire Onboarding teaches you the many various mandatory new hire paperwork requirements and processes to successfully bring a new employee into your business in California. Doing it correctly from the beginning minimizes your risk of unintentional violations of the many State and Federal HR mandates. Instructor: Sara Nicholson (SBDC Advisor) brings over 25 years of HR experience, helping small business owners find solutions to their human resources needs. She has worked across Southern California and Mexico, guiding business owners with a…

This workshop will uncover the mysteries of using Facebook Ads to grow your business. Regardless of your experience in Facebook Ads, this training will teach you how to set up your campaigns for success and get more from your advertising budget. In this workshop you will learn: i. If you're running your Facebook Ads correctly ii. The 5 pillars of successful Facebook Ads iii. The one thing that may be holding back your Facebook Ads iv. Why a marketing funnel is essential in…