Bellissima - at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Monica Cameron, Owner
Bellissima
Fall 2012
Small Business
Courses
and Seminars
Seminars FREE and open to the public
Track I
Core Business Start-Up Issues
Business Start-Up
Turn your idea into an opportunity. Get step-by-step instructions
on how to start a small business and discover what you really need
to increase the odds of your success. Learn key strategies for startup, marketing, legal issues, financing, and more. Take home tips that
you can use now.
8/13 M
9/5 W
11/13 T
6:30-8:30 p.m. Cabarrus Business & Tech. Ctr. Rm 9231
6:30-8:30 p.m. North Campus, Rm. 4204
6:30-8:30 p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
Looking for Money for Your Business?
Improve your chances for business funding by knowing the best
options for you. Find out the different types of funding available—
the benefits and drawbacks, the dos and don’ts of looking for
money, your best options if you’re a new or existing business, and
what to do today to prepare for a lender.
8/16 TH 6:30-8:30 p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
Developing Your Business Plan
Need to get started on your business plan? This seminar will
help you evaluate all aspects of your business and determine the
elements needed for a winning business plan. Find out how a
business plan is used by potential lenders, the dos and don’ts of
writing a plan and steps for making the process easy.
8/21 T 6:30-8:30 p.m. North Campus, Bldg. 400 Rm. 4213
12/6 TH 6:30–8:30 p.m. Cabarrus Business & Tech. Ctr. Rm. 9281
10 Most Common Sales Mistakes and
How to Avoid Them
The point of being a business owner is to provide goods or services
of value that customers will buy, but getting them to buy isn’t that
easy. Find out how to improve your sales by avoiding some of
the common sales mistakes business owners make. Also, learn
some key concepts such as designing a value proposition, creating a
profiling plan, and the art of opportunistic selling.
8/30 TH 6:30-8:30 p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
Setting Up a Home-Based Business
Many small businesses start at home. Find out what you need
to know about home-based businesses. Get the latest on tax
implications. Discover ways to save money, tips for organizing
your paperwork, how to separate home life from work life, what
technology can help you run your home business smoothly, and
more.
9/13 TH 6:30-8:30 p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
Insurance Facts & Myths: What do You
Really Need for Your Business?
Business insurance can be a confusing matter for small business
owners. How do you determine risk or whether you’re under or
over insured? How much business insurance do you need to get
started? Get your questions answered and learn how to determine
the right type and amount of insurance for your business.
11/1 TH 6:30-8:30 p.m. North Campus, Bldg. 400 Rm. 4213
Location, Location, Location!
Choosing a location to set up shop is a difficult decision for many
business owners—especially with so many vacant properties
available. Appropriate space, cost, traffic patterns, demographics,
and lease negotiations are just some of the considerations. Join
commercial real estate broker Ed McAfee as he guides you through
the process of finding the best location for your business. Discover
the secrets of lease negotiations and hear about the different
options available.
8/28 T
6:30-8:30 p.m. Cabarrus Business & Tech. Ctr. Rm. 9281
Small Business Spotlight
Bellissima—the Italian name means “very beautiful” and it’s a fitting description for the new
bridal boutique located on the Square in downtown Salisbury. Owner Monica Cameron
began from scratch with just an idea, strong desire, and a background as an event planner.
From there her research took her to New York City to attend designer bridal shows and
meet top gown designers. She eventually met with her banker who referred her to the
RCCC Small Business Center. “The counselor at the Small Business Center was great. She
helped me think of things I had not thought of and worked with me step-by-step on my
plan. When I went back to the bank with my business plan, I felt confident.” Cameron
worked with the SBC for almost a year before opening Bellissima, which today is listed in
national ads placed by some of her top designers. Brides-to-be will find a wide selection of
gowns and a broad price range. Find out more at www.bellissimaofsalisbury.com
Please reserve a seat at www.rccc.edu/sbc to receive event reminders and any location updates.
Seminars FREE and open to the public
Track II Business Growth and Development
Online Marketing Tools Series
Want to learn how to use some of the popular online marketing
tools for your business? This 3-part hands-on series will teach you
how to get started. Join online marketing expert Holly Czuba as
she shares best practices on using the tools currently available. The
first seminar covers how to get found locally. The next session
teaches you how to use social media for your business. Then
learn how to put together a business website using the free tool
WordPress. If you need help marketing your business online, this
series is for you.
8/7, 9/18, 10/23 T
6:30 – 8:30p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 122
Tech Tips: Do More with Google Pt. 1 & 2
Expand your knowledge of Google’s free resources in this hands-on
session that highlights applications under the Google “more” tab.
Part 1 covers the calendar and documents features. Then in Part
2 learn how to embed those features into an intranet site for your
small business. Discover the limitless possibilities for communication
and collaboration in this seminar.
Pt. 1
9/10 M
Pt. 2
10/1 M
6:30-8:30 p.m.
South Campus Rm. 103A
6:30-8:30 p.m.
South Campus Rm. 103A
Hiring Your First Employee
Thinking about bringing on someone to help you in your business?
Find out what you need to know before you hire an employee—
even a part-timer. Join Jill Rufty of Cheerwine as she shares some
of the dos and don’ts of hiring. Discover ways to make each hire
your best hire.
10/11 TH 6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Bldg. 400 Rm. 4213
Collecting Bad Debt
Collecting late payments from customers is one of the least favorite
tasks of business owners. This seminar teaches you the steps to
take long before payments dry up or fail to arrive. Learn when to
take action and the first action to take. Find out what to expect
if you seek help from an attorney, Better Business Bureau, Small
Claims Court or a collection agency. Get non-threatening but
effective sample letters and phone scripts. This seminar is a must,
especially for new business owners.
10/17 W
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Women and Minority Certifications
What does it mean to be a “certified” woman or minority owned
business and what is required to receive the designation? Find out
about the certification process, the advantages and questions to ask
before selecting a certifying organization. Discover how to get the
most out of certifications to boost your business.
11/5 M
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
Pricing Your Product or Service
Take the guesswork out of pricing your products or services by
applying some key strategies. In this seminar you’ll identify internal
and external factors to consider in setting your prices. Learn how
to estimate potential market share, evaluate pricing methods,
develop sales forecasts, and more. This is an important seminar
especially for new business owners.
11/15 TH 6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Bldg. 400 Rm. 4204
SBC Online:
How to Develop a
Marketing Strategy
No time to attend a seminar? Take advantage of
this online learning opportunity designed for small
business owners! Learn at your own pace around your
busy schedule. This seminar will help you develop a
marketing strategy in four important areas—marketing
message, pricing your product or service, promotion
and target market. Don’t miss this opportunity for
great marketing tips!
This seminar will be available online: 9/27 – 10/17
Visit www.rccc.edu/sbc for registration information or
call 704-216-3941.
Cabarrus Business & Tech. Ctr. Rm. 9281
Visit www.rccc.edu/sbc to reserve your seat.
Free seminars are sponsored by the Small Business Center Network
of the North Carolina Community College System and supported by these local partners:
Small Business & Technology
Development Center (SBTDC)
Courses
Cost effective training for small business owners
Starting a Business—
From Concept to Launch
$65
This new entrepreneurship program combines the best elements of
popular courses to give you the most comprehensive and practical
content to start your business the right way. If you’re serious
about starting a business, this 22.5 hour course is the place to
begin. Experienced small business consultant Larry Siglar will lead
you step-by-step from developing your concept to being ready for
customers.
Course topics include:
➢ • Knowing when to launch
• Licenses and permits
➢ • Business opportunities good for
• Funding options
start-up or expanding businesses
• Choosing a location
➢ • Defining your market
• Creating an image
➢ • Market research
• Opening your doors
➢ • Business structure and business name • Effective marketing &
➢ • Legal and tax issues
selling techniques
➢ • Creating a winning business plan
9/12-11/14 W 6:00-8:30 p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 202
QuickBooks Pro® 2012 Level 1
$79
Simplify your accounting functions with this easy to use, valuable
business tool. QuickBooks has become the software of choice
for many small business owners. In this 15-hour class you’ll learn
how to set up your company with a chart of accounts, receive
payments, pay bills, track cash sales, create invoices, make deposits,
write checks and more. ( Please Note: Purchase the required
textbook “QuickBooks Pro 2012 Level 1” from the North Campus
Bookstore prior to class)
8/8-9/5 W 8:30-11:30 a.m. North Campus, Bldg. 400 Rm. 4230
QuickBooks Pro® 2012 Level 2
$79
Get more from QuickBooks in this second-level course that covers
inventory, payroll set-up, time tracking budgets, and more. Prerequisite: QuickBooks Level 1
( Please Note: Purchase the required textbook “QuickBooks Pro 2012
Level 2” from the North or South Campus Bookstore prior to class)
9/20-10/18 TH 8:30-11:30 a.m. North Campus, Bldg. 400 Rm. 4230
11/13-12/11 T 6:00-9:00 p.m. South Campus Rm. 103A
Register today by calling 704-216-7222
North Campus
1333 Jake Alexander Blvd.
Salisbury, NC 28145
Locations
Cabarrus Business & Technology Ctr.
660 Concord Parkway N.
Concord, NC 28027
RCCC @ NCRC
399 Biotechnology Lane
Kannapolis, NC 28081
at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Post Office Box 1595
Salisbury, North Carolina 28145
www.rccc.edu/sbc • 704-216-7222
South Campus
1531 Trinity Church Rd.
Concord, NC 28027