McDowell Technical Community College Small Business Center

Universal Advanced Manufacturing Center

Marion

An accountant will review how to decipher financial documents and discuss the four most important financial statements: Personal Financial Statement, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement, along with "warning signs" to look out for. The class will learn basic bookkeeping and record keeping skills.

Speaker: Bobbie Young

A successful entrepreneur attorney will unlock the mysteries of business structures and legal terms. This class provides an overview of the types of legal business structures and their pros and cons, types of professional relationships necessary for success, licensing and government regulations. The class will look at local demographics and their impact on economic development. Business Plan and Elevator Speech Review.

Speaker: Freddie Killough

Do you struggle writing your business plan? Do you wonder if there is in an introductory step to assist in the creation of your business plan? The Business Model Canvas is your blueprint for business success. This hands-on seminar will walk you through the nine building blocks of the Business Model Canvas and provide you with the tools necessary to successfully work the canvas for any scenario. You will learn to visually map, test and validate your business model quickly. Leave with a clear understanding of business models, the skills needed to implement the Business Model Canvas and ready to test their idea on potential customers, obtaining real world evidence to either support or pivot your business idea.

Speaker: Katy Gould

This seminar gives the participant a chance to run a simulated business. They are given a location and building. Then, working in a group and studying the demographics for the area, they decide what type of business to start in that location. Next they hire employees, decide hours of operation, how to market their products/services and types of advertising to use.

Speaker: Freddie Killough

Gain a solid understanding of taxes required for small business owners and develop the best tax strategy for your business. Become familiar with the latest tax forms and procedures for both state and federal taxes. Discover how everyday business decisions can have tax implications that can affect your bottom line. This seminar is important for both new and experienced business owners.

Speaker: Bobbie Young

This class discusses how to build your customer base. Business location, facade and interior design and layout, signage, pricing, service, traditional and social media, direct marketing, promotional material, trade shows - most every form of communicating with your audience will be discussed to help entrepreneurs understand how to effectively use the available tools, tips, and tricks of the trade to succeed. Learn to fairly price your product by determining the true cost.

Speaker: Bobbie Young

The following topics will be covered: 1. What is Customer Service? 2. Define Your Customer. 3. What are the Characteristics of your Customers? 4. What separates your customers from other companies' customers? 5. What drives your customers away? 6. What role does each person play in the company’s overall customer service? 7. What are the different levels of customer service? 8. At what level is your company? 9. What are the steps to enhance your Customer Satisfaction? 10. Verbal communication and its role. 11. Using Active Listening. 12. Measuring your Customer Service. 13. What are the “Seven Deadly sins of Customer Service?”

Speaker: Bobbie Young