GRAND RAPIDS ?The Michigan Small Business & Technology
Development Center will be hosting several workshops
this spring to help small business owners better run their businesses.
The workshops bring together several experienced business instructors
to cover topics including fundamentals of starting a business,
writing a business plan, obtaining financing, marketing, sales and
information about management.
The workshops for March and April are as follows:
Business Start-Up: Fundamentals of Starting a Business will be
held on March 10 and April 14 from 9 am ? Noon at the Holland Chamber
of Commerce, 272 E.8th Street, Holland, MI 49432. Attendees will work through a step-by-step process for launching a new company. Resources will be shared that enable the entrepreneur to create his or her own individual action plan for business development. Pre-registration by fax, phone, or online is required.
The cost of this workshop is $45.00 and is payable at the door.
Marketing on a Shoestring Budget is set for March 17 from 9 am ?
Noon and will be held at the Spring Lake District Library, 123 East
Exchange Street, Spring Lake, MI 49456. Marketing is an important
key in building your business. This class explores the marketing
process along with some low-cost options for creating awareness among
your customer base. Pre-registration by fax, phone or online is
required. The cost of this workshop is $45.00 and is payable at the
door.
Small Business Information Session will be held on March 23 and
April 27 from 3 pm ? 5 pm at the Grand Rapids Urban League, 745
Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Explore business start-up
issues and receive assistance during this orientation session focused
on general start-up questions, the importance of good credit, and
obtaining financing for your small business. There is no cost for
this workshop.
Your Business Plan – Developing a Roadmap for Your Company’s
Success will be featured on March 28 from 6 pm – 9 pm at the GVSU
DeVos Center, Room 303C, 401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The
time is now to begin writing a business plan for your start-up or
existing company. Learn the components of a business plan and then
use the step-by-step process to complete the plan. Bank financing
will require a business plan and it will help jump start your new
business. The first step to completing your business plan is to
start. Pre-registration by fax, phone or online is required. The cost
is $45.00 and is payable at the door.
Legal Aspects of Running a Small Business is set for April 4 from
6 pm -9 pm at the GVSU DeVos Center, Room 303C, 401 West Fulton,
Grand Rapids, MI 49504. This session provides vital information to
help start-up and young companies evaluate which legal structure
(sole proprietorship, corporation, etc.) will be best for their
business. It identifies the risks faced in operating a small
business, outlines what goes into a basic contractual agreement (with
clients, suppliers, employees), discusses insurance needs, licenses
and regulations. Learn how to select the legal counsel you need to
support your business. Pre-registration by fax, phone or online is
required. The cost is $45.00 and is payable at the door.
The Successful Marketing Plan will be featured on April 11 from 6
pm – 9 pm at the GVSU DeVos Center, Room 303C, 401 West Fulton, Grand
Rapids, MI 49504. ?Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a
path to your door ?? right? Not quite! Having a marketing plan ? a
detailed, written plan that lays out how to create customers (and
sales) – is absolutely essential in order to achieve that
?competitive edge.? This seminar offers a step-by-step process to
help you evaluate markets, identify opportunities and obstacles, map
out strategies for your product or service, packaging, pricing,
distribution, sales, advertising (including the Internet) promotions
and more. Pre-registration by fax, phone or online is required. The
cost is $45.00 and is payable at the door.
Patents & Trademarks will be held on April 18 from 6 pm – 9 pm at
the GVSU DeVos Center, Room 303C, 401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI
49504. Inventors will find this class indispensable for learning the
basics of patenting and trade-marking. Learn who should patent, when
to patent and the difference between patents and trademarks. Pre-
registration by fax, phone or online is required. The cost is $45.00
and is payable at the door.
Understanding the Financial Operations of Your Small Business is
set for April 25 from 6 pm -9 pm at the GVSU DeVos Center, Room 303C,
401 West Fulton, Grand Rapids MI 49504. To stay ahead in the business game, you must understand the financial operations of your organization. This crucial seminar provides a look at: various bookkeeping systems, utilizing accounting information, determining a break-even point, operating cash needs, balance sheets, profit and loss statements, cash flow projections, variance analysis,
ratio analysis, and much, much more! Pre-registration by fax, phone
or online is required. The cost is $45.00 and is payable at the door
For more information, call (616) 331-7370 or MISBTDC.Org/region7
