Business Lunch Hour Classes
Dan Anderson, MBA, CBA, Director of the Small Business Development Center, will be teaching business lunch hour classes. He has worked with thousands of businesses, including his own, and will teach you how to understand and conquer the marketing process. He will walk you through financial statements and explain how they work, how they work together, and what you need to know to effectively manage your business. Dan will demystify and simplify the business planning process and the elements of a good plan. Anderson will teach you what questions to ask and where to find information about your industry, your market, and target markets. With more than 20 years human resources experience as a consultant, senior management, and a small business owner, he is able to present material that is practical and proven. Come to any number of the classes, or plan to attend all four!
How to Start a Small Business
When: The Second Tuesday of Each Month.
This hour long class will explore the issues critical to a successful small business start-up including: Dispelling the myths of small business ownership. Asking, “Do you have what it takes to be successful?” Outlining the start-up process. Discussing the business plan as an integral part of the start-up process. Financing and Marketing your small business. Community resources available to assist you every step along the way. And Much, Much, More If you are seriously considering starting or purchasing your own business, this class is a must. Why should I attend? This class is a prerequisite to receive free business consulting services from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE). The SBDC will assist you with each phase of the start-up and financing process. The SBDC will continue to work with you after launch to instill sound and best practices to ensure your long-term success. Perhaps the question is, “why should I not attend!”.
Cost: $29.00 per class Where: The University of Montana – Helena College of Technology, Donaldson
Building Room 136
For information and registration: Contact the UM-Helena Director of
Community Education at (406)444-6800 or visit the College website at www.umhelena.edu
The A-B-C’s of Marketing When: 9/18, 10/23, 11/27
If you find the concept of marketing your small business confusing and overwhelming, you are not alone. The A-B-C’s of Marketing will describe the marketing process in easy to understand terms. The class will help you to answer questions about your business and customers such as: • What is the marketing process and how can it help my business? • Who makes up my primary target market and where can I get information regarding my target markets? • How can I differentiate my business? • How can I most effectively reach my target audience to generate immediate sales results? • What factors do my customers consider important when buying my or a competitor’s product? • How can my competitors become my best friends? • What community resources are available to help me? By the end of class, you will have the knowledge to develop an effective marketing plan for your business.
Understanding Financial Statements When: 9/25, 10/30, 12/4
Do you find your company’s financial statements to be a mystery? You’re not alone. Many small business owners work hard to develop financial statements but often don’t have the knowledge or experience to understand what the financial statements are telling them about their businesses. The class will: • Define and explain the three basic financial statements and how they work together • Explain what each statement tells you about your business • Explain the two most important rules of business • Describe the community resources that are available to help you decipher and understand your financial statements.
By the end of the class, you will have a basic understanding of financial statements, what each can tell you about your business, and why understanding financial statements is critical to your business’s success.
Business Planning When: 10/2, 11/6, 12/18
The Small Business Administration estimates that 85% of small businesses fail within the first two years. The most cited reason: failure to plan. Of the 15% that survive, 85% of them fail within the next five years. The most cited reason: failure to plan. Small business is not easy. The mind blowing failure rates dictate how important longterm business planning is to the success of every business. However, the business planning process can be overwhelming. Well, not any more! By the end of class, you will understand the components of a good plan, where to obtain key information regarding your market, and community resources that are available to assist you through the business planning process. Your business will be transformed from the 98% that fail to the 2% that succeed!
Human Resources 101 When: 10/16, 11/20
It is inevitable. Most small businesses will grow to the point that they need to hire the dreaded EMPLOYEE. Don’t worry about the regulation and legal mumbo-jumbo, Human Resources 101 will walk you through the human resource process. Are you at the point where you may need to hire employees? Are you an employer who is uncomfortable with human resource and personnel activities? Fear no more, Human Resource Management 101 will demystify the HR function. We will discuss: • The HR Process • Why the ostrich approach doesn’t work • How your success or failure is in the hands of your employees • Fundamentals of good HR management and best practices • Community Resources available to help with HR activities. The key to small business survival and success lies not in the rational, quantitative approaches, but in people, employee involvement, and commitment. The strength of the company is in its people working together for a common purpose. Successful companies constantly strive to improve employees as they are the company’s most important asset. A well managed company begins with well managed human resource management activities. Good, motivated employees create value for a company. By the end of class you will be familiar with the entire human resource process, critical elements, and best practices that will add tremendous value to your company.