Simple Steps For Starting Your Business - Session 1 

A free SCORE Small Business Workshop co-sponsored by Fairfield Library 

 

For those who have an idea about starting a business but don't know where to start, or those with a new business struggling to grow, this free, five-part workshop series conducted by a team of professionals from SCORE's Fairfield chapter will provide a solid foundation for your business to grow and thrive.

April 10, 2018: Session 1 Introduction

Focuses on and addresses the most important question in this entire process. For those who are interested in, planning to or just wondering if starting a business is something they would like to do, Session 1 is THE place to start.

"What Does It Take To Starting Your Own Business?" covers what is required of the entrepreneur. The "good" and "not so good" aspects about running your own business.  Some may not wish to face the risks; be it financial or otherwise and that's absolutely OK. Why? It's better to find out now, before committing the time, the money and the resources.  On the other hand, some may be absolutely convinced that becoming an entrepreneur is the way to go.

Session 1 will both identify the risks (not just financial) and will establish the path that needs to be followed.

Presenter:  Daniel de Percin

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April 17, 2018: Session 2 Creating Your Business Concept

Properly forming your business concept, combined with a properly prepared and executed business plan, is part of the road map that will provide direction for your business to chart its future course and help it to avoid speed bumps. Session 2 will discuss "Capturing Your Business Dream", "Creating An Outline For Your Business Concept" and developing your business' "Elevator Speech".

Properly implementing these tools will pay big dividends for your business in the weeks, month and years to come.

Presenter:  Donald Putrimas

April 24, 2018: Session 3 Marketing Your Business

How do you find potential customers? You may have created and/or developed the best product or service in the history of the planet. But, if you can't find potential customers; if you can't find a way to tell the marketplace what business you have and why the customer should buy from you, it will be quite difficult to generate revenue.

Session 3, "Marketing Your Business", will focus on:

• Determining Your Competition
• Creating Your Marketing Message
• The "Elevator Pitch"! Do you have one? You will need one!
• Marketing Strategies to Reach Customers (including Social Media)

Presenter:  Daniel de Percin

May 1, 2018: Session 4 The Importance of Financial Information

The first of two devoted to the critical topic of Money. The importance of not only organizing your business' financial information but reporting it in a timely and accurate manner is critical to managing any business!  Module 4 will address the contents as well as the types and frequency of needed financial reports.

What Financial Systems should you be considering? (Desktop vs. Cloud-Based)?  Should your financial reporting be done as a "DIY activity"?  Versus retaining a Bookkeeper?  Versus hiring an Accountant?  An Entrepreneur must have a clear understanding of this financial information and its reporting components; particularly if the business has a future need for outside financing options. 

Presenter:  Barry Skalka

May 15 2018: Session 5 What's Next

Panel Discussion on Funding Options

With your Business Concept, Business Plan, Marketing Plan and Financial Reporting Documents completed, now comes the all-important task of raising the money necessary to jump-start your Entrepreneurial dream into reality.  This panel discussion will focus on the types of funding options available to the entrepreneur.

There will be representatives from traditional lenders, micro lenders, Government programs and, information on Crowdfunding.  There is a Q&A component of this panel.

Presenters:  Dennis Brown, Frank Alverado, Thomas Heaney

Free Business Counseling 
 
To get free one-on-one business counseling or learn about other SCORE free workshops, please visit our website. 
SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association.