Events/Workshops

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn the basics of starting a small business. Learn how to: • assess yourself as a potential business owner • determine feasibility of your business idea • select a suitable business organization structure • obtain required licenses • arrange for business financing • develop your business plan

Speaker: Chris Conant, Assistant Counselor Small Business & Technology Development Center at Appalachian State University

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.

Speaker: Mike Collins, President, The Perfect Workday Company

Learn the various alternatives to financing a small business and the risks involved. The seminar introduces breakeven analysis as a tool to assist the entrepreneur in measuring financial feasibility. Activities identify the kinds of data needed to project the revenue, start-up, and operating costs of a business. The seminar helps attendees develop an understanding of cash flow and break even analysis and its relationship to business planning.

Speaker: Arlene Childers, Consultant, Going2Win

Join us to learn how to control the holiday craziness (work, life, family, travel) Owning a small business should be a rewarding experience. Do you know anyone who wanted their business to drain the life-force from them? Unfortunately, that's what most small businesses do to their owners. The problem is that owners allow all sorts of little things to control their day. This course is designed to change the small business owner mindset to that of Small Business Executive. Managing your time with this mindset will dramatically improve your productivity, help you stay organized, eliminate procrastination, and increase the thing that matters most: Your discretionary time! (Has also been billed as, “Manage Your Time Before It Manages You”) Learn to control the use of your time and access to your time by others, all with an objective of having more discretionary time in their lives (not just at work). Too many small business owners become a slave to the needs of the business, and this quickly leads them to become ineffective, unprofitable, and unhealthy.

Speaker: Russ Seagle, Specialist in helping small business owners make more money and have more fulfilling lives.

Keeping good financial records is a critical step in managing a successful enterprise. This seminar addresses the financial records needed for good business management. Attendees develop systems and practices for collecting necessary information for tax reporting and business decision-making.

Speaker: Arlene Childers, Consultant, Going2Win

Social Media, Local Google Search, Mobile Marketing, and Online Reviews.......Keeping up with the emerging trends in digital marketing can be a full time job for the average business owner. Join us for this informative one-hour interactive presentation where you will learn why and how social, local, and mobile marketing is revolutionizing the advertising landscape. In addition a variety of tools and tips will be shared that will help you use digital media to increase sales and customer loyalty.

Speaker: Todd Mortensen, Owner/Co-Founder, ArriveAt.com Local/Mobile/Social Promotions & Digital Marketing Solutions

A great seminar for the “dabbler” or the entrepreneur wanting to make eBay a primary business tool. During this fast-paced session, learn best practices to use when setting up an account, listing items for sale, taking payments, and shipping. Topics will include eBay appraisals and research, registering on eBay and starting a seller’s account, choosing formats & categories, writing descriptions that sell, submitting photos, feedback, using PayPal, shipping tips and pricing philosophies that will make you an eBay Top Rated Seller!!

Speaker: Nick Hawks, eBay Education Specialist trained by eBay. Hawks is also an eBay PowerSeller and a Top Rated Seller with 15 years of experience buying and selling on eBay.

This session is for individuals having knowledge/experience of selling on eBay who want to establish a continual retail presence on eBay. Topics in this fast-paced session will include: Starting and growing an eBay business, Finding merchandise to sell, Creating professional listings, Marketing your business on eBay, Managing active listings, Resolving issues & feedback, and protecting your eBay business. Plus learn those “tricks of the trade” that you have to know to become an eBay PowerSeller!

Speaker: Nick Hawks, eBay Education Specialist trained by eBay. Hawks is also an eBay PowerSeller and a Top Rated Seller with 15 years of experience buying and selling on eBay.

This 2 1/2 hour hands-on course is a fantastic way to provide a step-by-step approach to those individuals who are ready to become eBay Store owners. You will learn how to start, brand, and optimize your eBay store website. Understand how to market your eBay store more effectively with email newsletters, traffic reports, and the markdown manager sales tool. Learn how to use the “Quick Store Tune-up” feature and "Manage My Store" page to customize your eBay Store, plus learn tips for search engine optimization that will bring even more internet shoppers to your eBay Store!!

Speaker: Nick Hawks, eBay Education Specialist trained by eBay. Hawks is also an eBay PowerSeller and a Top Rated Seller with 15 years of experience buying and selling on eBay.

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