Starting a business can be overwhelming, especially when you don?t know what you don?t know.
Whether you?re just starting to brainstorm your idea or ready to turn your passion into a profitable venture, this class will give you a roadmap to success. You?ll learn what you need to start a business in Georgia, from assessing the feasibility of your idea to marketing, finding financing, building a team, and operating legally. You?ll leave with actionable steps, essential tools, and resources to start your business on a strong foundation. Small businesses are the backbone of America; this class will help you start yours.
LEARN HOW TO:
Determine the feasibility of your business idea using market research and competitive analysis
Estimate start-up expenses for your business and identify requirements for pursuing start-up financing options
Differentiate between different legal structure options for business formation
Identify who you should include on your team when making plans and executing business formation
Navigate the steps to start your business in the State of Georgia Have an Idea? Turn it into a business!
Starting a successful business requires more than a great idea, conviction, and ceaseless energy to make it happen. A thorough Self-Assessment will identify your readiness to begin the journey to Start Your Own Business.
In this Live Online Workshop you will:
evaluate your preparedness to start a business
identify financial and other necessary resources
learn about business legal structures
collect data to build your business plan
You will have the opportunity to have your questions answered both during and at the conclusion of the Workshop.
About Our Instructor
User advocate Peter Hildebrandt has been helping companies make sound business decisions for 35 years. He is the principal in Covetability, a consulting firm specializing in bringing customer data into the design of product offerings. His clients range from high technology Fortune 500 companies to startup businesses. He is on three non-profit boards and plays the string bass professionally in his spare time. Mr. Hildebrandt has been a SCORE mentor for more than five years and has helped thousands of small business owners succeed. SBDC StartSmart provides the resources, support, and motivation to put your dream within reach.
StartSmart is tailored to be held virtually to facilitate virtual discussion, class engagement, & mastery of content. Participation in StartSmart will also allow access to LivePlan, an online business planning software. The program is facilitated by specially trained SBDC consultants and a long-term relationship with the SBDC and follow-up consulting is available and encouraged following the program.
Whether you are a new business (in business 2 years or less), or are still in the planning phase, building a business takes the right tools?and a lot of hard work. SBDC StartSmart will equip you to be successful!
SBDC StartSmart helps attendees to:
Evaluate & refine your business concept
Improve your knowledge of business concepts
Research markets and competition
Develop a financial forecast to improve chances of success
Develop a thorough, practical business plan
SBDC StartSmart includes 16 hours of instruction delivered over a period of 4 weeks. Sessions will be held twice a week for 2 hours.
LEARN HOW TO:
Evaluate your concept and develop plans to move forward.
Improve knowledge of business fundamentals.
Build an infrastructure for business operations and processes.
SBDC StartSmart graduates acquire:
An actionable business plan and access to business planning software
Access to financial and business resources.
A network of entrepreneurial peers and professionals
Eight modules cover critical issues for new businesses:
MODULE 1: Business Success ? How do we get there?
MODULE 2: Opportunity & Solutions
MODULE 3: Marketing for Success
MODULE 4: Digital Marketing & Online Strategies
MODULE 5: Navigating Human Resources
MODULE 6: Operations & Managing by the Numbers
MODULE 7: Management with a Plan
MODULE 8: Plan, Run, Review, Revise Marketing can feel overwhelming?but it doesn?t have to be.
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Join April Wright, principal and co-owner of 524 Creative, for an engaging and practical webinar designed to help small business owners avoid common marketing pitfalls and unlock their growth potential.
In this session, April will walk you through the Top 10 Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make and, more importantly, how to avoid them. From building a strong brand to leveraging social media, optimizing your website, and creating a marketing plan that works, you?ll leave with actionable insights to take your business to the next level.
Whether you?re just starting out or looking to refine your strategy, this webinar is packed with tips and tools to help you market smarter, not harder. Don?t miss this opportunity to learn from an experienced marketing leader who has helped countless businesses thrive.
LEARN HOW TO:
Identify the top 10 marketing pitfalls small businesses often make and understand why they hinder growth.
Employ practical strategies to correct or prevent these errors, from branding to social media and website optimization.
Create a cohesive marketing plan that aligns with business goals and avoids common missteps.
Apply specific tools and techniques to market more effectively, reduce wasted effort, and drive measurable growth. The DeKalb Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee speaks on behalf of the business interests of DeKalb County industry ensuring that DeKalb County remains a place that is competitive locally and statewide.
This committee meets monthly on the 1st Thursday of each month from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Imagine having a team of enthusiastic brand advocates promoting your business for free. It?s possible with growth marketing, a proven strategy that transforms customers into loyal brand ambassadors. In this class, you?ll learn how to harness the power of data-driven customer-centric marketing to acquire and retain customers, set marketing goals that make sense for your business, create engaging marketing collateral tailored to each stage of the buyer?s journey, and track and optimize your marketing campaigns for maximum impact. If you're ready to transform your customers into true brand ambassadors and boost your word-of-mouth referrals, this class is for you!
Course Outline
What is growth marketing?
The importance of your brand
Understanding how people decide what to buy
Setting realistic and measurable marketing goals
Creating content that connects with your customers
Evaluating the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns
Learner Outcomes
Attendees will learn how to:
Leverage the fundamentals of growth marketing
Understand their customers
Set realistic marketing goals
Determine key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with marketing goals
Optimize digital content for increased traffic and conversions
Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing campaigns The DeKalb Chamber Finance Committee meets to provide monthly oversight of financial transactions to help ensure transparency and accountability in safeguarding all funds and resources of the Chamber. A business plan is more than just a document ? it?s your roadmap to success.
A strong business plan helps keep you focused, reach your goals and is critical if you plan to seek financing for your business. Many business owners don?t have a business plan because they just don?t know where to start. This class breaks down each section of the business plan, from the executive summary to financial projections, with tools and resources to guide you along the way. Whether you?re just starting a business, need funding, or just finally have time to focus, this class will help you create an effective business plan to guide your business for years to come.
LEARN HOW TO:
Use the business plan tool or template that works for you
Understand and explain who your target customer is
Start with your company description and proceed step-by-step to finish your business plan
Strategically position your business using a written plan
Incorporate a strong financial foundation into your business plan
Workshop - How to Start a Business in Georgia
Workshop - Starting a Business - Are You Ready?
Workshop - StartSmart (8-class series)
Workshop - Marketing Monday: SEO: Drive Traffic and Grow Sales
Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting
Workshop - Convert Customers to Cheerleaders
Finance Committee Meeting
Workshop - Writing a Business Plan
