The LA SBDC Network offers no-cost virtual business workshops for small businesses in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.
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June 2023
Webinar: ADA Website Accessibility Basics
This webinar will teach small business owners the basics of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website accessibility, such as understanding the ADA laws; WCAG accessibility standards; alt tags and screen readers; and potential liability for noncompliance. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Webinar – Veterans, Military and Spouses Series: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Some people are entrepreneurs or naturally entrepreneurial. This is an opportunity to explore the “entrepreneur in you”. The session will highlight entrepreneurship as an option to generate income and cash flow and how to bring your vision to life. Participants will also be introduced to resources to help you take the next step in starting or growing your business, or transitioning from current activity into a formal business. Featured Topics: Common Characteristics of an Entrepreneur Types of Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Economic…
Find out more »Webinar: Startup Activities – A Financial Perspective
Have the idea for the business and getting ready to move forward with the business launch? Learn the next steps to help navigate and launch your new business or continue the path where obstacles occurred along the way: Professional Services – Legal & Other Licenses and Permits Business Insurance Options REGISTER NOW
Find out more »WEBINAR Social Media: How to Tell Your Story, Sell Your Brand
This workshop is to help businesses with existing social media platforms to take their business to a higher level. This workshop will answer: What is Social Media storytelling. What is the difference between building a business and selling a brand? You will learn key ways to tell a story without overselling your audience. We will discuss examples of current brands and businesses who are leveraging specific platforms to ‘sell’. You will leave the webinar with an understanding of how to communicate…
Find out more »Webinar – QuickBooks Online Boot Camp
This boot camp is a short, intensive training program designed for non-finance people to learn how to use QuickBooks online. The boot camp covers the basic features and functions, including setting up accounts, managing invoices and expenses, tracking sales and revenue, generating financial reports, and reconciling bank statements. The focus is on practical skills, with the goal of providing participants with the knowledge and CONFIDENCE to effectively manage their financial data. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »What You Need To Know About Insurance For Your Small Business
Every business has certain risks related to its operation. To protect your business and personal assets, insurance coverage is critical. In this workshop, you will learn about the myriad types of insurance, the rationale for procuring the various insurance types, and come away with an understanding of how they can apply to your business. Specific Learning Objectives: Why do small businesses need insurance? Exactly what kinds of coverage are available? What insurance is needed for employees? What insurance is right for my…
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 2 of 3] Using an Excel Document for Financial Modeling and Forecasting
A simple Excel financial model can be created using your company’s financial data (historical and/or forecasted). CFOs and financial analysts use Excel models to determine if/when a company will be profitable, what is the correct selling price, how many “widgets” need to be sold to be cover cost, and how much money is available to pay expenses. Financial models are used for start-ups and for on-going analysis to make sure the company is operating at an optimal financial performance. This…
Find out more »WEBINAR Money Matters: Angel Investment 101 for Start-Ups
Funding and financing your business are extremely important. One of the options that comes up is angel investment. What does angel investment mean? How often does it happen? Is your business a candidate? What steps to take? What do you need? Webinar presenter Tim Berry has been on both sides of this table. He successfully raised investment for his business. And he has been an angel investor for more than a decade. In this webinar, Tim answers key questions…
Find out more »Financial Fitness: Personal Credit
The “Improve Your Personal Credit for Lending Opportunities” workshop is designed to help individuals and business owners understand the factors that affect their credit scores and learn strategies to improve them. Whether you are looking to apply for a personal loan, business loan, or credit line, having a strong credit score can significantly increase your chances of approval and favorable terms. During this workshop, participants will learn about the different credit bureaus and how they calculate credit scores, the common…
Find out more »WEBINAR Orientation: What the SBDC Can Do for You!
This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…
Find out more »Webinar – Finding Funding
Explore a variety of funding types for your business including disaster assistance related. Capital is critical for all businesses. The type of business, your capital needs, and additional factors may influence what you explore, along with the current climate. 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 &…
Find out more »Webinar: Improving Employee Retention, Recruitment and Culture
As employers nationwide continue to struggle to find quality employees, employers must focus on their current staff and company culture to attract the best candidates for new available positions. This webinar will touch on ways to improve your current staff morale, offer tips for recruiting the best available candidates, and focus on your overall company culture. Presented by Kevin McVearry, a business advisor for the SBDC since 2012, with over 25 years of experience recruiting, training, and retaining employees in…
Find out more »WEBINAR Using SMS Text Marketing to Grow Your Business!
Are you using SMS Text Marketing to Grow Your Business? Studies show that today’s consumers are tied to their smart phones and prefer getting relevant information through SMS (Text) Marketing. Join this webinar to learn how to create and share successful SMS (text) marketing. Create the best content to entice engagement. Learn how to develop trust and execute a robust SMS Marketing program. Learn the important steps you need to take to keep your contacts subscribed and interacting with your company…
Find out more »WEBINAR Legal Corner: How To Set Up & Register Your Business
This in-depth webinar addresses a multitude of important topics regarding legal entities and other important decisions you will need to make as a business owner. One of the first decisions will include how the company will be structured. Because of this, we will cover the basics of regulatory filings that permit new owners to properly set up entities in California. Our discussion will cover legal formation for startups, including: • LLC’s, S-Corporations, C-Corporations • DBA’s • Business permits •…
Find out more »Turning Your Dream Into A Business
This class will help you take the first steps to become a new business owner or legitimize a side hustle or hobby. In this class we will help you: • Figure out what you don’t know • Define your basic business model • Outline the basic steps of setting up your entity and bank account • Figure out the appropriate licenses, permits and insurances • Understand available funding strategies • Begin to form your basic business plan REGISTER NOW
Find out more »What is the Best Legal Structure for my Company? What are the Tax Advantages?
Many entrepreneurs do not fully understand the differences between a Sole Proprietorship, LLC and S Corporation. This causes many to form a corporation when they may be better operating as a sole prop. Additionally, they are confused about the tax differences for each structure. They often choose a legal structure based on a perceived tax advantage that is incorrect. This webinar provides an overview of the various tax structures. The required documentation for the original filing and annual filings. The…
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: Say What? Product Advertising and Labeling
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; and liability for violating advertising and labeling laws. REGISTER NOW
Find out more »WEBINAR E-Smarts: Google Analytics 4 For Beginners
As Google has announced discontinuing data collection for Universal Analytics, it’s crucial to begin making the switch to for Google Analytics 4. We will walk through how to set up a new GA4 property and how to switch over from UA. We will go over each of the main features of GA4 and discuss which features are the most valuable for small businesses to tap into. Attend this 2-hour webinar to discover: What is GA4 and how it is different…
Find out more »Webinar – WAVE Boot Camp
This boot camp is a comprehensive overview of the free accounting application designed specifically for non-finance people. This boot camp is delivered in a lecture-style format and covers all the key features and functions. Participants will learn how to use Wave for managing their finances, creating invoices, track expenses, and generating financial reports. In two hours, the boot camp will provide a high-level understanding of the application, focusing on the most important aspects that participants need to know in order…
Find out more »Profitable Menu Engineering for Every Restaurant
Do you have a menu made of stars….or dogs? How do plowhorses or puzzles help improve your sales and boost your bottom line? If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out what gibberish stars, dogs, plowhorses and puzzles mean-you just got a taste of menu engineering. Menu engineering helps restaurant owners uncover the secrets hidden in their menu by figuring out what’s profitable, what’s not and what to do about it! REGISTER NOW
Find out more »Trademark & Copyright Explained
Confusion often abounds regarding trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. These are all intangible creations of the human intellect, usually referred to as “Intellectual Property.” Regardless of the focus of your business, it is likely that Intellectual Property (“IP”) is one of the most valuable assets of your business. This webinar will help you understand the differences among the various types of IP and what it is that IP can protect. Finally, you’ll understand how you can invoke that protection, either…
Find out more »Business Finance Literacy Series [Session 3 of 3] How to Analyze your Company’s Financials for Better Decision Making
Business owners struggle with business decisions that affect the financial health of the company. Are we selling at the right price? Are we making money? Can we afford to hire someone? Many times, these decisions are made without a thorough understanding of the financial implications. This does not need to be the case. There are simple mathematical calculations that can be used to answer key business questions. Performance Measurements are simple mathematical calculations that can be used to…
Find out more »WEBINAR Orientation: What the SBDC Can Do for You!
This workshop will provide attendees with information about the program requirements and the different services and training offered by the SBDC. The key fundamentals essential for starting and maintaining a successful business will be reviewed. As capital is the life blood of any business, your questions concerning capital and how the SBDC can assist in this effort will be addressed. And as a special bonus, the critical reasons why products/services sell will also be discussed. Attendance is required for existing,…
Find out more »WEBINAR Biz Basics: Lean Business Planning
Lean business planning is not what you think. Not a big formal plan. Not just for startups. Quick and practical tool for managing through a crisis. It’s as quick and easy as a few simple bullet point lists lists and tables to set down milestones and metrics. Plus powerful tools to manage sales, spending, and cash flow. Make a quick dashboard for getting through a crisis. Join this webinar as Tim Berry, founder of bplans.com and Palo Alto Software, shares the simplicity and…
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