Credit card processing costs continue to rise, putting pressure on small and mid-sized businesses across all industries. In this session, Ray Dukes, payments consultant and founder of The Merchant Broker, will break down credit card surcharging?what it is, how it works, and when it is (and is not) an appropriate strategy for businesses. Steps to Take Before Hiring an Outside Marketing Company
Hiring a marketing agency can be a significant investment for any business. Before signing a contract with a web designer, social media manager, or branding agency, it?s important to know how to properly evaluate their expertise and services.
In this Live Online Workshop, you?ll learn practical strategies to help you assess marketing vendors and make more informed decisions for your business.
Topics Covered Include:
Understanding the difference between vendors and true strategic partners
How to identify early red flags when evaluating marketing agencies
Key questions that reveal real marketing expertise versus surface-level knowledge
Workshop Features:
An interactive exercise reviewing a mock marketing agency proposal, including:
Content quality
Warning signs of limited expertise
A review of social media metrics that actually matter for business growth
How to identify branding issues that may be driving customers away
Attendees will also receive a 10-minute website audit checklist you can use to quickly evaluate your own website and identify areas for improvement. 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 Think like a leader, act like a strategist - This course builds the business acumen you need to make smarter decisions, communicate with impact, and spot opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Learn to see the bigger picture, link your work to organizational goals, and operate with confidence and clarity.
LEARN HOW TO:
Understand the core drivers of business performance
Make informed, strategic decisions with a wider organizational lens
Identify opportunities for efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage.
Communicate insights that influence decisions and shape outcomes Automate Business Tasks Using Google Gemini AI
As a small business owner, you are skilled at wearing many hats but there are not enough hours in the day to deal with the administrative side and still put in the time you would like to spend on increasing revenues.
This Live Online Workshop will show how you can be more productive so you can focus on growth instead of repetitive tasks.
Gemini is able to quickly automate:
Communications - drafting emails, generating proposals
Operations - creating SOPs (standard operating procedures)
Organization - entry of customer information, tracking expenses
You will be instructed in how to use Gemini through the demonstration of some typical real-world examples of how entrepreneurs free up their time.
You?ll leave with repeatable prompts, workflow templates, and a clearer understanding of how to integrate AI into your daily operations all without needing to be a technical expert. Before you can design like a pro, you need to master the fundamentals.
This 90-minute live webinar delivers a practical, hands-on introduction to Canva, focused on learning the basics and confidently navigating the platform. Participants will explore Canva?s dashboard and workspace while gaining experience with essential tools, including text formatting, color selection, alignment, positioning, layering, grouping, and file export options. Through live demonstration and guided practice, attendees will build a strong foundation that makes design work faster, easier, and more consistent. This session is valuable for business owners who are handling marketing, as well as teams with a marketing specialist who want to save time and produce even more professional work.
LEARN HOW TO:
Navigate Canva?s dashboard and workspace efficiently
Use key tools including text formatting, color selection, alignment, and positioning
Manage layers, grouping, resizing, and layout structure
Select appropriate design dimensions and download file formats 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 networking, potential partnerships at the Entrepreneur Hub Power Hour
Business @ Breakfast - Understanding Credit Card Surcharging: How It Works & When It Makes Sense
Workshop - Top Vetting Questions To Ask Before You Hire a Marketing Agency
Workshop - StartSmart (8-class series)
Workshop - The Mindset of Business Acumen
Workshop - Automate Business Tasks Using Google Gemini AI
Workshop - Design Like a Pro with Canva: Mastering the Basics and Core Tools
Workshop - Writing a Business Plan
The Entrepreneur Hour @ The Virtual Office Group - First Tuesday Monthly
