Events/Workshops

HP Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE) is a global program that offers aspiring entrepreneurs and small business-owners valuable business skills. HP LIFE offers participants a path to realizing their business dreams. The NC Small Business Center Network, in partnership with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), is pleased to offer this innovative program to NC entrepreneurs and small business owners free of charge! This program is self-paced, making it possible for more aspiring entrepreneurs to participate. All you have to do is register to start.

Speaker: Various

Understand the basics of starting a business in this seminar that takes you from idea to opportunity. Learn key strategies for start-up, financing and marketing as well as important information about legal issues, licensing, zoning, operations and more. Realize the importance of a self-assessment and how to evaluate the feasibility of your business idea. Discover the resources available to help you start and successfully operate your business.

Speaker: Tina Parker

Payroll in a Nutshell Pt 1&2 - Register Your Business with Authorities & Complete New Hire Paperwork As a small business owner, see how to obtain a federal employer identification number, register to submit your federal tax payments on the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) and register to collect and remit withholding tax with the state of North Carolina. Federal, state and employment eligibility forms (I-9, W-4, NC-4) can be confusing for the employee and employer. Learn what forms you need to provide the employee at hiring or re-hiring and how to handle them.

Speaker: Jen Deal

A business plan can be the most important tool a small business owner has. Learn how to turn your ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. This seminar teaches you the important components of a business plan and helps you lay the foundation for a winning plan. Find out how marketing, operations, and finance are interrelated. Discover how a business plan is used by potential lenders and the dos and don'ts of writing a plan, and steps for making the process easy. This seminar is designed for new and established business owners.

Speaker: Tina Parker

This class covers the pros and cons of cloud-based QuickBooks Online accounting software. Learn how to use bills, expenses, invoices, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online. See the accounting process from beginning to end. Learn how to navigate, access reports, and how to expand the capabilities with integrated applications.

Speaker: Jen Deal

After completing this training, the participants will be able to do the following: Identify the banking services commonly available to a small business, including business checking, business debit cards, business credit cards, financing receivables and purchasing inventory, lines of credit, term loans, cash management services, expanding business capabilities (Accept Credit, Debit and Gift Cards, Enable Online Payments), merchant services, payroll processing, financing fixed assets: equipment and real estate, wealth management (SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), SEP), explain how these banking services work, identify the advantages and disadvantages of each of the banking services, explain how a small business owner decides which banking services are best for his or her business.

Speaker: Woodforest National Bank

Understand the basics of starting a business in this seminar that takes you from idea to opportunity. Learn key strategies for start-up, financing and marketing as well as important information about legal issues, licensing, zoning, operations and more. Realize the importance of a self-assessment and how to evaluate the feasibility of your business idea. Discover the resources available to help you start and successfully operate your business.

Speaker: Tina Parker

A business plan can be the most important tool a small business owner has. Learn how to turn your ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. This seminar teaches you the important components of a business plan and helps you lay the foundation for a winning plan. Find out how marketing, operations, and finance are interrelated. Discover how a business plan is used by potential lenders and the dos and don'ts of writing a plan, and steps for making the process easy. This seminar is designed for new and established business owners.

Speaker: Tina Parker

Financing continues to be a challenge for many small business owners. Questions range from, Who will give me money for my business idea and what do they need from me, to, How will this business make money and will it be enough to pay back a loan or attract an investor? Get to the heart of business financing in this seminar that answers your questions. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of funding sources and how to choose the right one for your needs. Discover the keys to financing success.

Speaker: Ruben Gonzales

Payroll isn’t rocket science. Small business owners will learn how to use withholding tables, where to find tax rates, and how to apply both so that you can calculate an employee’s take-home pay. Bring a calculator!

Speaker: Jen Deal

In this seminar, attendees will become aware of what is needed to start a Family Child Care business in their home. This session is loaded with information to assist participants in making better-informed decisions before becoming an Entrepreneur. It is highly recommended to attend “How to Start a Home–Based Daycare Part II.

Speaker: Trudy Lynn

Gain a workable knowledge of how to properly record financial transactions for your business. Discover the three most important financial reports and how to use them to make the best informed business decisions. If you’re a new business owner or need a refresher on the basics of accounting, this seminar is designed for you.

Speaker: Jess McLamb

This seminar is a continuation of How to Start a Homebased Child Care business in their home. Content includes the various NC Child Care Requirements. It is highly recommended that you attend the “How to Start a Home–Based Daycare Part I.

Speaker: Trudy Lynn

After completing this training, the participants will be able to: Describe the purpose of cash flow management in a start-up small business. Assess a cash flow cycle and make some cash flow projections. Describe how a cash flow statement can help assess and improve the financial health of a start-up. Identify some ways to manage cash flow in terms of managing costs and potential income. Identify ways to seek out expert technical assistance to improve cash flow management.

Speaker: Woodforest National Bank

Gain a workable knowledge of how to properly record financial transactions for your business. Discover the three most important financial reports and how to use them to make the best informed business decisions. If you’re a new business owner or need a refresher on the basics of accounting, this seminar is designed for you.

Speaker: Jess McLamb

A good credit score is now considered to be 740 points or higher. This seminar will include information about the history of credit scoring, credit reports and how they are calculated, the importance of maintaining good credit, and more. Proven methods to increase your credit score by 50-100+ within 60 days will also be discussed.

Speaker: Bob Moore

Financing continues to be a challenge for many small business owners. Questions range from, Who will give me money for my business idea and what do they need from me, to, How will this business make money and will it be enough to pay back a loan or attract an investor? Get to the heart of business financing in this seminar that answers your questions. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of funding sources and how to choose the right one for your needs. Discover the keys to financing success.

Speaker: Ruben Gonzales

After completing this seminar, the participants will be able to: Explain how an evolving planning process can help them make key decisions as business owners. Describe how to convert a vague idea into a resource plan. Explain the importance of a healthy personal credit score and healthy relationships with lenders. Describe how a business plan helps motivate stakeholders to understand and support their business ideas. Explain the benefits of creating a day-to-day action plan for running a small business.

Speaker: Woodforest National Bank

As a small business owner learn how and when to send in the payroll taxes you collected to both the IRS and the State of North Carolina.

Speaker: Jen Deal

After completing this seminar, you will be able to: Identify the common risks associated with a small business. Identify the external and internal factors that affect risk for a small business. Identify situations that may cause risk for a small business. Identify the common warning signs of risk for a small business. Implement, monitor, and evaluate a risk management plan for a small business.

Speaker: Woodforest National Bank

Perplexed by which forms apply to your small business? Learn what forms to use and when they should be filed. Learn the purpose of the forms, how to fill them out, and how to send them to the right place.

Speaker: Jen Deal