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…

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,…

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…

This workshop provides participants with best practices for scheduling and showcasing their business during a scheduled videoconferencing or in-person meeting. Learn best practices for reaching out to prospective clients, preparing your verbal and visual presentation and effectively communicating during the meeting. What are some of the do’s and don’ts in this process? When should you follow up? When to move on? This is one workshop you won’t want to miss. Instructor: Saida Pagan (SBDC Advisor) media trainer, communication specialist and journalist. ln addition…

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…

This workshop will provide an overview of available options for financing your business. Equity and debt options as well as crowd funding and the process for raising capital from friends and family will be discussed. Details on what you need to know to apply for a business loan, as well the required documents and paperwork needed for the application process will be provided. The various types of financial institutions and which institutions are currently loaning money and what you will…

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…

As consumers get younger & more tech-savvy, businesses need to pivot to find and appeal to new customers. We will investigate the strategies used by successful companies, and look at the various areas that you can adapt your business in the Digital age. Keeping up with the times is vitally important to keep your edge in a competitive marketplace. You will learn how to use technology to: Find new customers Improve your customer communications Get more leads and sales Integrate…

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,…

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…

Accounting Basics is a practical, business-focused presentation designed to help small business owners understand how accounting systems support daily operations, cash flow, and long-term decision-making. Led by Michael DeDonato, J.D., M.B.A.—a seasoned corporate finance executive and business advisor—this session demystifies core accounting concepts and connects them directly to real-world business processes. Participants will explore how products and services are structured, how money moves through the business (from sales to cash and from procurement to payment), and how accounting systems are properly…

Supercharge Your Sales Growth—Sales Strategies That Work. Are your sales, donors or members growing? Does your business struggle with converting your ideas, products and services into stronger sales results? Learn how to unlock and overcome your sales and fundraising hurdles to help your team reach new record-breaking success. Increase your potential using smarter strategies and digital tools to thrive and expand your 2nd quarter growth!   This Workshop Will Teach You How To: Ensure your digital ads deliver more successful…

The trainings every employer wishes they had before the complaint, claim, or lawsuit. Learn how to avoid costly mistakes before they happen. California employers face some of the most complex employment laws in the nation, and many costly HR mistakes aren't discovered until an employee complaint, audit, injury, or lawsuit occurs. Join us and close the year strong as you prepare for year-end with confidence. This session will provide practical guidance on conducting a basic HR audit, reviewing workplace compliance…

Threads is an app within an app driven by texts messages, then images.  X, formerly known as Twitter, is a post driven site historically known for sharing short text driven posts, where images have been secondary. How do these networks measure up for your small business.  In this workshop, we’ll define each app and their native functionality.  We’ll discuss the power and strategic use of text driven social media messages to communicate a business and its brand. We’ll answer what kind of strategies…