The LA SBDC Network offers no-cost virtual business workshops for small businesses in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.
SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons
cocsbdc.org
Assisting clients in the Northern Los Angeles County Area
June 2025
Webinar – Business Planning #1
Come ready to work on your business in this two-part training. Business planning is a tool to help your business! It’s an opportunity to create a road map and tell the story of the business with a focus on key elements. Highlighted Topics: Creating a Business Plan Goal Development Business Development Marketing Plans Advertising Strategies Financials – Overview REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – How to Start Your Business
Learn to start, run and grow your business. This workshop covers critical topics such as business development, market research, business entities and so much more. Don’t waste another minute, join us in learning how to bring your entrepreneurial idea to life. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – I Filed the Articles, Now What? Next Step for Running a Limited Liability Company
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will teach business owners the basics of owning and running a California limited liability company or “LLC,” such as what is an “LLC,” management, operating agreement basics, required and optional filings, member duties and liability, common mistakes, and best practices. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – WAVE Introduction
WAVE Introduction: This webinar is aimed at individuals who are not from a financial background and wish to gain some understanding of WAVE’s features, along with basic accounting concepts. We will cover how to navigate the tool, make configurations, and briefly introduce the main menu options. Our primary focus will be to build trust and help you feel more confident while using the tool. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »July 2025
Webinar – Claims and Lawsuits: Litigation Basics
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will explain various aspects of litigation small business owners should know, such as determining legal rights, sending “cease and desist” and other demand letters, stages of litigation such as the summons and complaint, discovery, motions, trial, judgement, and appeals, hiring a litigator, barriers to litigation such as “statutes of limitation,” litigation costs, and settling lawsuits before trial. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Legal Issues in Marketing and Promotion
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will introduce small business owners to legal issues in marketing and promotion, such as “puffery” vs. fraud and misleading advertising; steering clear of copyright infringement and rights of privacy/publicity; marketing by phone, fax, email, and text; using social media; differences in federal and state laws; legal protections in marketing; and legal penalties for noncompliance. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – The Difference Between Local SEO vs Small Business SEO
Are you like many business owners wanting to know how to increase your search engine ranking and visibility, in your local area? If so, here is a helpful and informative webinar, made just for you. Our Digital Marketing Specialist, Darren Elliott, will explain the difference between Local and Small Business SEO, and what it takes to develop a solid search engine presence within your local target area. After attending Darren’s easy-to-follow webinar, you will be able make these improvements yourself. …
Find out more »Webinar – 8 Steps to Improving Your Business’ Local SEO
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) has become an essential marketing strategy for those who draw most of their business from a local area or community. Local SEO, when done correctly, can bolster online visibility significantly in a select area. Thus, making it easier to connect local consumers to the local business. Sound like a strategy you want for your business? Then, join our Digital Marketing Specialist, Darren Elliott, as he shares ethical Local SEO methods that will increase search engine visibility, in and around your market area. Best of all, these…
Find out more »Webinar – Privacy Policies and Terms of Use: The Basics
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will discuss the importance of privacy policies and terms of use in ecommerce; relevant state, federal and international privacy laws; drafting a privacy policy and terms of use; and how privacy policy and terms of use clauses can reduce liability. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Explore Starting Your Home Based Business
This informational Webinar, will give you a good overview of what it takes to Start Your Own Home-Based Business. Having this knowledge will nurture your dream of being self-employed and doing what you want to do in life. From selecting a business and getting it registered to how to balance your home life with our work life, this introduction will help you move forward towards entrepreneurship! REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Tax Considerations for Home-based Small Businesses
Instructor: Charles Yacoobian Operating a home-based small business and need some tax related tips/guidelines? This webinar covers tax considerations for a sole proprietorship, LLC and S-Corporation. Highlighted topics will include: Special Business Expense Deductions Self-employment Taxes Quarterly Estimated Taxes and More Come ready with your questions. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »August 2025
Webinar – Digital Marketing #1
The three-part series allows participants to learn about Digital Marketing including tips on how to develop a strong, low-to-no-cost marketing plan and Internet strategy. Collaborative marketing strategies that can help develop QUALIFIED social media followers, and funnel traffic to your website will be featured. Do it yourself tips on Content, Web Design, and Search Engine Optimization will be shared. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Say What? Product Advertising and Labeling Laws
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will introduce small business owners to the basics of California and federal advertising and labeling law. Attendees will learn the difference between truthful vs. fraudulent and misleading advertising; business “puffery”; lawful product comparisons; requirements when using terms such as “organic” and “fat free”; required disclosures for certain ingredients such as nuts and other allergens; state and federal product label requirements; and liability for violating advertising and labeling laws. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Digital Marketing #2
The three-part series allows participants to learn about Digital Marketing including tips on how to develop a strong, low-to-no-cost marketing plan and Internet strategy. Collaborative marketing strategies that can help develop QUALIFIED social media followers, and funnel traffic to your website will be featured. Do it yourself tips on Content, Web Design, and Search Engine Optimization will be shared. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Fundamentals of Food Businesses
Fundamentals of Food Businesses gives an overview on the various food business models. From Cottage Food Law (which allows preparing approved foods at home) to full-service restaurants and everything in between. This webinar will allow attendees to explore their ideas and think about different business models for their food business dream, and show steps to each with easily explained phases. Presented by Kevin McVearry, Business Advisor with the SBDC since 2012, with over 25 years of experience opening and operating…
Find out more »Webinar – Working with Social Media Influencers: FTC Influencer Guidelines and Other Important Laws
Presenter: Erica Bristol Social media influencers and “brand ambassadors” can be invaluable for marketing and promoting company products on the internet. But federal and state advertising laws and intellectual property (IP) rights lurking in the background may create liability for the small business (and the influencer/brand ambassador). This webinar discusses legal issues affecting the use of influencers and brand ambassadors, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s “Influencer Guidelines,” federal and state advertising laws, required disclosures, and IP laws a small…
Find out more »Webinar – AVTA and SBDC Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Outreach and Training
Come and join the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to learn about resources available to help your business prepare, explore and pursue Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) procurement opportunities. The goal is to help the Small Business Community participate in the local economy where local businesses can provide their services and/or supplies to the AVTA for a contract or other procurement opportunity. Opportunity examples include construction, specialty contractors, manufacturing, digital signage, wholesalers, furniture, architectural services, landscaping…
Find out more »Webinar – Digital Marketing #3
The three-part series allows participants to learn about Digital Marketing including tips on how to develop a strong, low-to-no-cost marketing plan and Internet strategy. Collaborative marketing strategies that can help develop QUALIFIED social media followers, and funnel traffic to your website will be featured. Do it yourself tips on Content, Web Design, and Search Engine Optimization will be shared. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Software License Agreements: The Basics
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will provide small business owners with the basics for creating or entering into software license agreements, such as exclusivity, territory, licensed rights and exclusions, ownership, term and termination, and bankruptcy. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Restaurant 101 Step by Step Overview on Opening a Restaurant
Are you perfecting recipes? Have you been told…you should open a restaurant after friends and family taste your creations? Are you a chef dreaming of opening a restaurant? “Restaurant 101 – Step by Step Overview on opening a restaurant is the opportunity to explore. Starting with the menu, a plan, and profitability you can explore your dream before spending money. Presented by Kevin McVearry, a Business Advisor for the SBDC since 2012, with over 30 years of experience opening…
Find out more »Webinar – Introduction to Certifications – State of CA, LA County, City of LA and Federal
This webinar will provide participants with a comprehensive overview of the importance and benefits of certifications. Participants will gain insights into certification programs and understanding the certification process in order to do business with State of California, LA County, City of LA and the Federal Government. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Can I Protect That Name, Slogan, or Logo? Trademark Basics
Presenter: Erica Bristol This webinar will provide small business owners with information on why a “trademark” is a valuable asset for a company to own; how “trademarks” help customers identify goods and services; how to select, use and protect a “trademark”; the importance of doing “search and clearance” activities prior to adoption and use; state and federal trademark “registration”; and how to avoid violating the trademark rights of others. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »September 2025
Webinar – SB(Small Business) Certification
Come ready to learn the steps on how to register and complete the Small Business Certification with the State of California. Why not be eligible in helping the State of California meet the requirement of 25% of contracting dollars being awarded to certified businesses? REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar-LSBE(Local Small Business Enterprise)/SL(Small Local Business) and SLBE(Small Local Business)
Participants will receive a step by step guide on how to register with Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles vendor registration systems, as well as understanding how to complete the applications. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Intro to Certifications and Contracting Opportunities for Veterans, Military and Spouses
The Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) certification offers several benefits to veterans with disabilities who are looking to establish or grow their businesses, including a 3% set-aside requirement by the State of California. Join us to learn more about how you can take advantage of the DVBE designation and other Veteran designations/certifications. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – LA County webVEN Registration
If you are looking to do business with the County of Los Angeles, this webinar will give a step-by-step guide on how to register with the LA County registration portal, WebVen. Register today to learn how you can begin your journey in doing business with the County of Los Angeles. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Veterans, Military and Spouses Series: How to Start Your Business
Learn to start, run and grow your business. This workshop covers critical topics such as business development, market research, business entities and so much more. Don’t waste another minute, join us in learning how to bring your entrepreneurial idea life. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Veterans, Military and Spouses Series – 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM (including a 15 minute break)
Part 1: How to Start Your Business (1:00 PM – 2:00 PM) Learn to start, run and grow your business. This workshop covers critical topics such as business development, market research, business entities and so much more. Don’t waste another minute, join us in learning how to bring your entrepreneurial idea life. Break 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM Part 2: Finding Funding (2:15 PM – 3:15 PM) Explore a variety of funding types for your business. Capital is critical for…
Find out more »Webinar – Veterans, Military and Spouses Series: Finding Funding
Explore a variety of funding types for your business. Capital is critical for all businesses. The type of business, your capital needs, and additional factors may influence what you explore. There are many types of capital including owner investment, profit reinvestment, loans from a bank, loans from an alternative financial resources(non-banks), equipment financing, tax credits, supplier credit, credit lines, equity lines, Angel Investors, Venture Capital Investors, money invested by family & friends, Crowd Funding, etc. REGISTER NOW
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