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Level of Importance Course / Workshop Description
Starting Your Own Business
This class is designed for anyone starting their own business, or thinking about it. It is designed to provide a high-level overview of what it means to start a business and key items for consideration. Topics during this session include;
why start a business?
things to consider before you start
sources of information and assistance
developing your business ideas
considerations in selecting the appropriate business entity
financing and funding your venture
business and marketing planning
NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Training Program
NxLeveL for Startup Entrepreneurs is a business training course designed to enhance your entrepreneurial skills and assist you in creating a comprehensive business plan. This course is primarily for the business owner, manager or involved employees who want to operate a business successfully. This program is offered in partnership with Miami University Hamilton and participants may be eligible for 3.6 CEUs (College Equivalent Units). There are 8 classes in this series (one night per week) for 8 weeks.
Marketing 101: The Fundamentals
This course describes the fundamentals of one of the most important aspect of any business; marketing. Whatever your current understanding of marketing is, this primer will provide an overview of the basic disciplines and theory of marketing with some interactive discussion to ensure you have a good grasp of what it is, and how to use it to significantly improve your business. Topics included in this session include;
understanding marketing's role in your business
market analysis, segmentation and competitive analysis
review the 5 P's (product, price, placement, promotion and positioning) and how to apply them in marketing
creating your brand strategy
options for building awareness and lead generation
building a marketing plan to grow your business
Website Development and Online Marketing
A website can help you establish brand identity, promote and sell your product or service online and create a virtual home for your company. This course describes the fundamentals of establishing and promoting your business on the internet. It provides a basic overview of how to register a domain, develop and optimize a website and cost effective ways to market your business online as well as helpful links to sources available at minimal or no cost. Topics covered in this session include;
Website Basics
designing your website - do's and dont's
web development tools and the pro's and con's of each
common web terms you should know about
domain naming and registration considerations
web hosting alternatives and what to look for
security, privacy and anti-spam laws
Marketing Online
Marketing online and driving traffic to your site
Understanding search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN and how to optimize your site to get visibility
eCommerce and online payment processing options
leveraging social networks (e.g. MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, etc)
Tips for effective email marketing campaigns
Low-Budget, High-Imact Marketing
This session provides an overview of various low-budget activities you can use today that are free (or nearly free) to help maximize your sales and marketing dollars. This session will cover activities such as;
creating a professional image and building your brand
creating and maximizing your website visibility online
identifying a niche market for maximum effectiveness
networking within the community, trade and specialty groups
techniques for improving your customer relationship
using Microsoft Office and other tools to automate your sales and marketing tasks
review of other online resources available at low or no cost
Bookkeeping 101: The Fundamentals
This session provides an overview of the basic principles of bookkeeping including a discussion of the differences between managerial and financial information. An overview of how to create a basic bookkeeping structure using QuickBooks or Quicken will also be provided. Key topics covered in this session include;
what is accounting and how does it work?
understanding the chart of accounts
creating and reading a financial statement
fixed assets, inventory and depreciation
income, profitability and cash flow
expense tracking and good record keeping practices
Small Business Insurance 101: The Fundamentals
This session provides an overview of various business insurance options and programs available in the market and will increase your awareness of the costs and risks associated with these various plans. It will also cover common insurance questions for startup and small business owners and a good understanding of how to protect your small business in the most cost effective way. Key topics covered in this session include;
what is small business insurance and why do I need it?
basic business policy, general liability, business property, income, professional liability and more
understanding of risk management and tips for minimizing this risk
Review of information that insurance companies look for in assessing business risk
Insurance do's and don'ts
common gaps in insurance policies
what to do in the event of a claim
Small Business Tax Workshop
This workshop provides an overview of tax strategies and planning advice for proper IRS documentation and filing. This is a great orientation for new business owners and a welcome refresher for veterans. All attendees receive a complete information packet and CD including IRS publications and forms.
Small Business Loan Options
This session provides a forum for open discussion with representatives from commercial loan organizations. During this session we discuss how banks evaluate small business loans and information required during the loan application process, recommended procedures for startup businesses as well as alternative funding sources.
