Fall 2013 - at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Fall 2013
Small Business
Courses&Seminars
Dan Sullivan, Owner
Cabarrus Memorial Gardens
Seminars FREE and open to the public
Best Businesses to Start Today
If you’re thinking now is the time to start a small business, you’re
right. Join Mike Collins, president of The Perfect Workday Company,
as he shares tips on how to create a business idea that fits you,
businesses you can start for under $100 and the “hot” businesses that
will grow in the coming years. Let this seminar spark some ideas for
you.
8/8
TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
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 start-up,
marketing, legal issues, financing and more. Take home tips that you
can use now.
8/15
11/7
12/9
TH
TH
M
6:30-8:30 p.m.
6:30-8:30 p.m.
6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Rm. 4204
Cabarrus Bus. & Tech. Ctr. Rm. 9281
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
How to Prepare for a Lender
Get a behind the scenes look at what occurs when you approach a
lender. Find out what information they really need for a solid funding
proposal and how it’s used. Hear the dos and don’ts that you can
begin to address now to improve your chances.
8/22
TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
QuickBooks Pro® Overview
Thinking about using QuickBooks Pro® for your business? See how
this software helps you save time, better manage your business,
simplify your recordkeeping and avoid headaches at tax time. This
demonstration of QuickBooks shows how the software can be used in
your business to write checks, record deposits, track customer billing,
manage vendor bills, prepare financial statements, reconcile bank
accounts and more. Bring your questions!
8/28
W
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Social Media Lab for Small Business:
All About LinkedIn
Bring your questions about using LinkedIn for your business to this
hands-on lab and find out how much more you can do with this
popular social media tool. Presenter Holly Czuba will show you easy
ways to engage others. Learn about different groups, how to create
and distribute content, start a vigorous discussion, answer questions
on the Q & A boards, show your expertise, get prospects to visit your
website and more. Not set up yet on LinkedIn? This session is for you,
too! (Also see upcoming social media seminars “All About Facebook”
and “All About Blogging”).
9/5
TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
South Campus, Rm. 103A
Steps to Start a Nonprofit
Nonprofit organizations exist to bring together the people and
resources necessary to meet important community and societal
needs. While the volunteer-driven model of nonprofits is alive and
well, more and more nonprofits are adopting the business models
and entrepreneurial strategies developed in the for-profit world.
Join us as we walk through the practical steps necessary to start a
nonprofit corporation.
9/12
TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Rm. 4204
How do I Market My Small
Business?
Marketing is the lifeblood of any small business. Stay on top of the
best marketing techniques in this information packed session with
award-winning marketing expert Sherré DeMao as she shares the
latest effective strategies to get your business in front of your desired
customers.
9/18
W
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
North Campus, Rm. 4128
Small Business Spotlight
Memorial Day, 2010 will always be etched in the minds of Dan Sullivan
and his wife, Mary Connaughty-Sullivan. That’s the day they lost their
20-year-old son, Aaron, to a tragic car accident. But they will also
remember February 23, 2012, when they purchased Cabarrus Memorial
Gardens, in honor of Aaron. The 30-acre cemetery on Highway 73
and Cold Springs Road between Concord and Mt. Pleasant, gives the
Sullivans enough land to provide a full range of services for families
today as well as acreage for future development.
“We want to help the community in dealing with the loss of loved
ones,” Sullivan says, “eventually holding training, community events,
and special services on holidays.” Before the Sullivans purchased
the cemetery, they turned to the Small Business Center for help
with a business plan. “The counselor helped me fine-tune my plan,
think through the business for the long-term and develop a detailed
road map that I continue to use to this day.” He has since hired three
full-time and two part-time employees. Find out more at www.
cabarrusmemorialgardens.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
Thinking about a Food Business?
A food business can be highly rewarding, but before jumping in,
make sure you have the important guidelines necessary to set up
and run your business for lasting success. Join David Marshall, a
seasoned restaurant owner with 30 years of experience managing
large chain restaurants as he shares tips, tricks and practical
advice on starting a food enterprise. Get the pre- and post-opening
checklists, learn how to lower food and labor costs and more!
9/24
T
6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Rm. 4204
I’ve Started My Business, Now
What?
Take your new business to the next level. Learn how to set up
systems that will help your business grow—from networking to
organizing your operation to keep everything running smoothly. A
successful business doesn’t happen automatically. Find out what
you can do today to put your new business on the path to success.
9/30
M
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cabarrus Bus. & Tech. Ctr. Rm. 9281
Looking for Money for
Your Business?
Attend The Support Center Lunch & Learn
Funding continues to be a challenge for many small business
owners, especially for new businesses, but The Support Center,
based in Raleigh, may offer a solution. The Support Center is a
statewide nonprofit and approved SBA Community Advantage
7(a) Guaranteed Lender that provides loans that are not easily
available through a traditional bank, and includes funding for
start-ups! Join representatives in this free lunch & learn as they
help you navigate the funding maze. (Lunch is provided)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013 • 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Gateway Building
Downtown
Salisbury
(Second Floor)
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.
10/3 TH
11/21 TH
6:30-8:30 p.m. RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
9:00–11:00 a.m. Gateway Building Downtown Salisbury
Social Media Lab for Small
Business: All About Facebook
Yes, Facebook can be used effectively for your business but you must
know the dos and don’ts. This hands-on session will help you edit
your business page, write effective posts, make use of visuals and
engage others. This seminar is designed for those who already have
a personal and/or business page.
10/17 TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
South Campus, Rm. 103A
Choosing Your Legal Structure
Which business entity is best for your business—sole proprietorship,
LLC, S-Corporation, Partnership? Understand the benefits and
drawbacks of each and know the right questions to ask when
choosing a legal structure. Setting up your business with the proper
entity is an important step in your business success.
10/24 TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 115
Balance Sheet: The Forgotten
Financial
Discover how much a balance sheet can tell you about your
business. Get answers to questions such as, “What is a balance
sheet and why does it ‘balance?’” What is owner’s equity? How can
I prepare a balance sheet if I’m already in business? Why do I need
one? Join accountant Semone Brisson as she offers clear and easy
to understand examples to help you have a better understanding
of this important but often misunderstood financial. This seminar is
especially helpful if you’re working on a business plan.
10/30 W
6:30-8:30 p.m.
RCCC @ NC Research Campus Rm. 202
Profit and Loss: Help for Beginners
The profit and loss statement is a key tool every business owner
needs to understand—even if they have an accountant. This
seminar covers the basics of preparing a profit and loss statement.
Learn what “cost of goods sold” means and how it differes in retail
and service businesses. Understand how inventory costs are tracked
and how historical data can help you manage your business. Get
an introduction to break-even analysis. This session is a must for
anyone preparing a business plan.
11/13 W
6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Rm. 4204
Social Media Lab for Small
Business: All About Blogging
Blogging can be an effective way to market your business by building
your social media presence, establishing your brand and positioning
yourself as an expert in your field. Find out how to take advantage
of this popular social media tool in this hands-on seminar. Learn
how to create content that builds a community of support, how to
evaluate the effectiveness of your blog, and even how to generate
revenue. If you haven’t tried blogging, this seminar is for you.
12/3
T
6:30-8:30 p.m.
South Campus, Rm. 103A
QuickBooks Advanced: Reporting
Feature
If you’re already familiar with QuickBooks, this seminar gives you a
better understanding of the reporting features. Learn how to modify,
filter, memorize and save financial statements and other reports.
Also increase your knowledge of graphs, exporting reports into
excel, creating budgets and the use of sub-accounts and classes in
QuickBooks. This is a hands-on seminar in a computer lab.
12/5
TH
6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Campus, Rm. 4128
Please reserve a seat at www.rccc.edu/sbc to receive event reminders and any location updates.
Courses Cost effective training for small business owners
Agripreneur Workshop Series $fee waived
QuickBooks Pro® 2012 Level I $79
Turn your interest in growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and other crops
into a sustainable agricultural-based business. This four-part series will
use the REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship Through Action Learning) AgEntrepreneurship curriculum to teach you how to make money from your
harvest. Gain insights on the marketing of your product. Hear about current
issues facing small agribusinesses. Understand rules and regulations and
learn about funding options and other resources. The series will include
real-world scenarios and hands-on activities, along with guest speakers.
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)
2013 Agripreneur Workshop Series:
Class 1 Exploring Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Business Planning
(Self-Assessment · Community Analysis · Feasibility)
Class 2 Market Research and the Marketing Plan
Class 3 Business Operations (Legal Structure · Operating Procedures ·
Taxes, Licenses & Insurance ·Key People · Roles and
Responsibilities)
Class 4 Business Financials (Breakeven Analysis · Cash Flow · Budget)
9/18-10/16 W 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. North Campus, Rm. 4128
Free seminars are sponsored by the Small Business Center
Network of the North Carolina Community College System and
supported by these local partners:
10/3 – 10/24 TH 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Cabarrus Cooperative Extension Bldg.
This series is in partnership with
NC Cooperative Extension Cabarrus County Center.
Register today by calling 704-216-7222 or visit www.rccc.edu/sbc
Locations:
North Campus: 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd., S., Salisbury, NC 28145
The Gateway Building: 204 East Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28145
South Campus: 1531 Trinity Church Rd., Concord, NC 28027
Cabarrus Bus. & Tech. Ctr.: 660 Concord Pkwy N., Concord, NC 28027
RCCC @ NCRC: 399 Biotechnology Ln., Kannapolis, NC 28081
NC Cooperative Ext.: 715 Cabarrus Ave., West, Concord, NC 28027
www.rccc.edu/sbc • 704-216-RCCC (7222)
Post Office Box 1595
Salisbury, North Carolina 28145