Workshop Descriptions

Business Start-Up Series

Business Start-Up Basics: This information-packed workshop will give you a good understanding of what you need to consider in order to start a profitable business. Get your questions answered and learn all about starting a successful business, including some of the basic requirements needed to launch your business.

Topics discussed will include:

Legal Structure
Registration Requirements
Necessary Recordkeeping
Marketing
Financing Your New Venture

Business Plan Basics: Join us for this informative seminar that covers the basics of preparing a successful business plan.

Topics to be discussed include:

The Purpose of a Business Plan
What Information Your Plan Should Contain
The Financial Documents You Will Need
How to Determine Start-Up Costs
Market Research and Its Importance
What Lenders Look For

Cash Flow Fundamentals: This information packed workshop will give you a good understanding of how money flows in and out of your business. Get your questions answered and learn all about starting a successful business.

You will learn and understand how to use and apply:

Positive Cash Flow
Flow of Money
How to Figure Cost of Goods Sold for Products
Sales Forecasting
Gross Profit

Marketing Fundamentals: So you just started a new business...you're registered, licensed, and ready to start selling! But how do you get the word out about your new company?

Join us to discover the basic things you need to know about marketing your small business. Learn about the marketing skills and tools that will create momentum in your business, and learn how to determine who your customers are and how best to reach them.

This workshop will cover:

Why Marketing is Important
How Much Marketing is Enough?
Comparing to Your Competition
Defining Niche, Specialty, and Target Markets
How to Set Goals and Test Your Marketing Efforts

Small Business Growth & Operations Series

QuickBooks for Beginners: This introductory, interactive workshop will cover how to properly utilize the QuickBooks program. You will learn how to set-up, back-up and store your company files, and also receive valuable accounting and bookkeeping tips.

Learn How To:

Customize the Chart of Accounts
Create Invoices
Receive payments via Cash, Check and Credit Card
Reconcile bank accounts
Create Financial reports

Intermediate QuickBooks: Intermediate QuickBooks is a continuation of the training offered in our QuickBooks for Beginners class. In this workshop, additional hands-on training will help you obtain a better understanding of why your financial records are so important and how this information can help you make managerial decisions within your company. Go through the transactions of a "sample company" to see how this program can improve your accounting practices.

Topics covered include:

Creating Customers and Invoices
Credit Card Purchases and Payments
Receiving Payments from Customers
Entering and Paying Bills
Making Deposits
Understanding the Various Reports
Writing Checks
Back-up & Restoration of Your Company's Files
Reconciling Bank, Credit Card Accounts

Legal Series: Presented by Minor & Brown PC, the Legal Series is offered in installments throughout the year. Each installment focuses on a different legal issue surrounding small businesses, allowing attendees to learn about the intricacies of the issue and ask questions specific to their business. Previous topics have included legal entity, hiring and firing, contracts, legal documents, and succession planning.

Small Business Lunch Series: Offered throughout the year, our Small Business Lunch Series covers a wide variety of topics and interests relevant to entrepreneurs. Presented by South Metro Denver SBDC sponsors, experienced small business owners, and skilled trainers, check our calendar regularly to see what we will be covering in upcoming sessions.

Special Topic Workshops

Lender's Panel: Join us twice a year as representatives from local lending institutions discuss the various lending options available for small businesses and what you need to obtain this funding. You will also have the opportunity to ask whatever questions you may have when it comes to finding the money you need to start or grow your business. Meet each lender one-on-one to discuss the possibility of working with their organization.

Denver Business Empowerment Series: Co-Sponsored by the South Metro Denver SBDC and the South Metro Denver Economic Development Group, the Denver Business Empowerment Series is designed to help existing business owners tackle the current issues within and surrounding their organization. Industry experts provide their expertise on the featured subject and answer your questions to help you and your business become powerful in our local economy and community. Personnel decisions, commercial real estate, capital acquisition, benefits planning and compensation for key employees, and using financial data to grow your business are examples of the topics this series discusses.

Colorado Leading Edge/NxLevel
Join us for an informational briefing on our upcoming Colorado Leading Edge/NxLevel for Entrepreneurs course. The NxLeveL(r) for Entrepreneurs is an intensive business planning course designed for entrepreneurs who want to grow their business. The program includes:
1. 10 workshop sessions
2. Five hours of one-on-one consulting
3. Special bonus sessions

The fully executed business plan will include:
* Organizational Matters: Legal Entity, Management & Personnel
* Operations: Recordkeeping, Controls & Risk Management
* Marketing: Market Research, Strategies, Tactics & Implementation
* Financials: Sales Forecast, Cash Flow Projections & Financial Statements

Course dates are April 17-June 19, 2013, and classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm.
Total cost is $495 per person (Chamber Members & Colorado Business Bank Customers: $445 per person), and $250 for each additional member of the organization.

*A limited number of partial scholarships are available.
To register, please call (303) 795-0142 or email info@smallbusinessdenver.com

NxLeveL for Entrepreneurs
The Colorado Leading Edge Presents: NxLeveL(tm) for Entrepreneurs, a 10-week, intensive business planning course designed for existing entrepreneurs seeking knowledge and practical skills for managing and/or growing their business. Participants graduate with a fully executed business plan! Topics covered include:
*Planning & Research: Entrepreneurial Essentials
*Organizational Matters: Management & Legal Structure
*Marketing: Market Research, Analysis & Understanding
*Advertising: Strategies, Tactics & Implementation
*Financial Overview: Books, Records & Controls, Financial Planning
*Managing Your Money: Developing and Using Cash Flow Projections, Budgets & Assumptions

Speaker: Stefanie Dalgar, South Metro Denver SBDC Consultant & Certified NxLeveL Trainer