Training

Buying A Business is a comprehensive course on how to buy the right business at the right price. Developed by entrepreneurs who buy businesses for a living, this course offers advice and wisdom in such areas as: the key questions to ask of any seller, the due diligence process, valuing a business and determining the offer, negotiation steps and tactics, and sample legal agreements. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: The pros and cons Finding businesses for sale The key questions to ask Valuing the business Negotiating the offer Structuring the transaction Financing the purchase Performing due diligence Creating a business plan Post purchase priorities

This course provides the advice and strategies of some of the leading entrepreneurs concerning what it really takes to start a new venture. Starting A New Business moves you through the important tasks of building a strong foundation for a business to the more tactical aspects concerning marketing, managing, and money. This course will also show you how to protect your ideas, how to hire employees, how to find out what licenses and regulations may apply, as well as, provide more than 50 resources of free information that are available to you in making your new business a reality. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: Defining the mission, vision, and goals Understanding the management trinity Determining feasibility and risk Marketing products and services Managing and operating the business Handling the money and the finances Hiring and managing employees Getting licenses and permits Protecting your ideas Growing by adaptation and experimentation

Event location:TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. The counselor discusses basic business planning including financial projections and legal entity. You will receive an information packet containing phone numbers and addresses for information about business licenses and taxes and other start-up materials. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1. Evaluate yourself as a potential business owner. 2. Examine the potential market for your business idea. 3. The basics of starting a business including the requirements of the loan process.

This course is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services.

This workshop provides information about sections of a business plan, information needed for each section, how to gather information, and how to compile it for your plan. Participants will complete a rough draft of the narrative portion of their business plan during the workshop. Reservations are required.

Speaker: Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

The purpose of the workshop is to provide individuals interested in starting a business a broad overview of the many things they will be confronted with in doing so. It will introduce attendees to the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, the services available, and how it can assist in the development of their business venture. Sources for information gathering and research and databases available are also discussed. This seminar is intended for persons who have never been in business who wish to meet with a counselor. There is no charge to attend the seminar or for one-on-one counseling. Reservations are required and available online at www.tsbdc.org or by calling 615-898-2745. Please arrive and sign in 10 minutes prior to the startup of the workshop. Accomodations are available for the handicapped.

The seminar discussion includes the forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning and financing options with additional discussion about SBA loan qualification and opportunities.

Speaker: Bruce Hayes, Sr. Business Specialist, TSBDC and Jacqueline Merritt, Business Development Specialist, SBA

Event Location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd.The counselor discusses basic business planning including financial projections and legal entity. You will receive an information packet containing phone numbers and addresses for information about business licenses and taxes and other start-up materials. . Call 423.756.-8668 for more information and to register.

This course is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services.

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1. Evaluate yourself as a potential business owner. 2. Examine the potential market for your business idea. 3. The basics of starting a business including the requirements of the loan process.

Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan: Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, the course, covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing and finance, legal and regulatory issues, operations, and information based planning and management are key components of workshop. Target business 0-3 years.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. The counselor discusses basic business planning including financial projections and legal entity. You will receive an information packet containing phone numbers and addresses for information about business licenses and taxes and other start-up materials. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

The seminar discussion includes the forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning and financing options.

Speaker: Rob Karpick / Jutta Bangs

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1. Evaluate yourself as a potential business owner. 2. Examine the potential market for your business idea. 3. The basics of starting a business including the requirements of the loan process.

***LOCATION: Oldham Theatre, Liberty Square, Sparta, TN This free workshop provides basic information on starting a small business. It will also discuss services provided by the TSBDC. Please register online or by phone at 931-372-3706.

Speaker: Vicki Henley

The Small Business Boot Camp is an essential first step for a budding entrepreneur. If you are thinking of starting a business, in the process of writing a business plan, securing financing or in need of a refresher, this is the seminar for you! During this ½ day seminar, participants will discuss practical steps to take in establishing a successful foundation to grow your business. From the business plan to securing financing, topics covered include general business matters, cash flow statements, P&L, financial ratios, marketing and management plans. This seminar is mandatory for 1st time SBDC clients. This free seminar will be held at the TSU Avon Williams Campus located at 330 Tenth Avenue, North. For registration assistance, please call 615.963.7179 and follow the prompts.

Speaker: John Ordung

This workshop discussion includes: forms of business organization, tax requirements, business licenses, business planning and financing options. The workshop will be held at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky at the ACAP Center.

Speaker: Myra Fisher, SBA, Alana Gonzales, BB & T Bank and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center

Pre-registration is required in case we need to contact you if class changes are necessary. 1. evaluate yourself as a potential business owner. 2. examine the potential market for your business idea. 3. the basics of starting a business including the requirements of the loan process.

Event Location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd.The counselor discusses basic business planning including financial projections and legal entity. You will receive an information packet containing phone numbers and addresses for information about business licenses and taxes and other start-up materials. Call 423.756.8668 to register or for more information.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. The counselor discusses basic business planning including financial projections and legal entity. You will receive an information packet containing phone numbers and addresses for information about business licenses and taxes and other start-up materials. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

This course is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services.

This course is about the craft of creating a plan for your business. The business plan is the essential document used to raise money for a business and communicate your business vision and strategy to your management team, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders. This ten-part course walks you through the details and tactics of creating a comprehensive plan while helping you avoid the critical planning mistakes that plague most business plans. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is a business plan? The questions you must answer Determining your audience Crafting your mission and vision Setting goals and objectives The structure of your business plan Industry aspects and considerations Sources of research information Bringing the plan together The most common mistakes

Understanding Intellectual Property defines exactly what a copyright, trademark, and patent are and what kinds of protection they might afford your business. The process of establishing such protection is presented for each kind of property. Also discussed are international intellectual property protection issues, as well as, important legal documents such as non-disclosure agreements. A primer concludes this course which details the prior details to prepare before meeting with intellectual property attorney. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: An introduction to intellectual property What is a trademark? What is a patent? What is a copyright? Understanding trade secrets Federal, state, and employees issues Internet intellectual property International intellectual property Creating & realizing the value of intellectual property Understanding confidentiality agreements

Este curso se basa en el arte de crear un plan para su negocio. El plan de negocio es un documento esencial utilizado para recaudar fondos. También comunica su misión y visión estratégica al equipo administrativo, proveedores, consumidores, y acreedores. Los 10 temas de este curso le enseña detalles y tácticas en la creación de un plan comprensivo mientras que le ayuda a evadir errores críticos de planificación que plagan la mayoría de planes de negocio. Como valor agregado, este curso incluye Activeplans, un software que le permite crear la parte narrativa y proyecciones financieras de su plan mediante la utilización de un enfoque simple que detalla paso a paso el proceso. Este software por si solo tiene un valor de $40.00. Contenido del Curso Los temas que se tratan en este curso son: Que es un plan de negocio? Diez preguntas que debe responder Determinando sus posibles lectores Elaborando su misión y visión Definiendo metas y objetivos La estructura de su plan de negocio Aspectos de la industria y sus consideraciones Fuentes de información e investigación Consolidando su plan de negocio Los errores más comunes al elaborar el plan de negocio

This workshop will discuss preparing a sales and use tax return. Supporting and reporting exempt sales and maintaining adequate records.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. Your credit is vital when starting a new business. This workshop will help you decipher the credit puzzle and set realistic goals for improving your credit scores and getting your business off the ground. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

This is a TWO-PART SEMINAR. The first session of the seminar will be March 16th, 2010 from 3:30pm to 6pm. The second session of the seminar will be March 18th, 2010 from 3:30pm to 6pm. This seminar will offer an opportunity for hands-on training in the use of Publisher software. The first session will have a particular emphasis on creating publications, navigating the Publisher environment, the basics and using templates. The second session will add features such as creating original publications, working with Master Pages and Styles, customizing the Publisher environment, and much more. This seminar will be taught hands-on using computers with Windows Vista and Publisher 2007 installed. Basic keyboarding and computer literacy skills required. Attendees are welcome to bring their own laptops with Publisher 2007 software installed for use during this seminar, if they wish. Registration is limited, please register early. Please register online or by phone at 931-372-3706. Location: TTU Johnson Hall, Room 403

Speaker: Lelia Gibson

The event location is the Moses Teen Center, 220 Carrick Street, Knoxville, TN 37921. Registration must be made with the TN Department of Human Services, Child Care Services Department. Phone: 594-6060 or www.state.tn.us/humanserv This program is designed for the large day care operators who work in a separate facility away from the home and which can accomodate many children.

Speaker: Bruce Hayes

The event location is the Moses Teen Center, 220 Carrick Street, Knoxville, TN 37921. Registration must be made with the TN Department of Human Services, Child Care Services Department. Phone: (865) 594-6060 or www.state.tn.us/humanserv. This program is primarily designed for the new day care provider who intends to operate out of their home.

Speaker: Marilyn Cobble

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. Exercises in class to help you get started writing your business plan: 1. You will be able to concisely and clearly describe your business to potential customers and other stakeholders. 2. You will be able to identify your target market, identify gaps in your knowledge of customer and competitor information and plan to close those gaps. 3. You will identify information needed to fill in financial statements which examine the feasibility of your business venture.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. A basic workshop to set up a presentation. Call 423.697.3100 for more information and to register.

This course details the exact set of steps necessary in preparing a comprehensive loan package request. Each of the forms and requirements are explained and included. From initial readiness tests to help with advanced topics such as U.S. Small Business Administration loans, this course lays it on the line concerning what a lender is really looking for and how they evaluate loan requests. Simply understanding the way a lender thinks can more than double your effectiveness in raising money for your business. Topics covered by this course include: What is a loan package? Are you ready for a loan? How much should you ask for? Offering collateral and security Obtaining your credit report The personal financial statement Creating a business plan The financial projections SBA guarantees and applications Bringing the loan request together

Finding and Attracting an Investor examines the peculiar nature of investment capital. The course presents practical tactics on how to identify and secure different types of capital including seed capital, angel capital, and venture capital. The process used by different kinds of investors is presented and the tools for completing the fund-raising process are presented. Special focus is given to the federal and state laws that govern the capital and securities process. Topics covered by this course include: What is an investor? The investment process Obtaining seed capital Obtaining angel capital Obtaining venture capital Creating a business plan Legal considerations and concerns Criteria for a new company Investor presentations and pitches Where to find investors

Finding Money To Start A Business offers a comprehensive ten-part course on the tactics of how money is really raised for small business formation. The course examines the sources of available capital and an overview concerning the difference between debt and equity. The course walks you through the maze of financial terms and tactics necessary to successfully identify and secure money for a new business venture. Topics covered by this course include: Where does start-up money come from? How much money do you need? The different types of money How to get money from a lender How to get money from an investor The available sources of capital A little help from the government Financing different kinds of things A few financing scenarios Overcoming your weaknesses

Community/Patriot Express Loan Workshop, 9-11AM

Speaker: Sue Malone

Community/Patirot Express Loan Workshop, 2-4PM

Speaker: Sue Malone

****LOCATION: Vocational Rehabilitation Center 955 E. 20th St, Cookeville, TN 38501***** The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at TTU in Cookeville will host a workshop on March 18th entitled “Community Express Loan Workshop”. The purpose of the seminar is to provide a one-stop opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to apply for SBA-backed loans on the spot. The workshop will take place on March 18th, 10:00 to 11:30 am, in at the Vocational Rehab Center on E. 20th St here in Cookeville. The seminar will be presented by Sue Malone of Superior Financial Group, an SBA Lender. Sue Malone of Superior Financial says, “All entrepreneurs – men and women, students, retirees, current small business owners – everyone is welcome to attend the workshop and apply for a small business loan on the spot.” “Superior Financial Group is offering small business loans for $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, to $25,000 – in $2,500 increments—with no financial statements or collateral required,” says Malone. The loans are payable over a 10 year period, and there are some restrictions on obtaining these loans, according to Ms. Malone. Persons with a criminal history, or anyone who has defaulted on a government loan, such as a student loan, are not eligible. Non-profit organizations are also not eligible.

Speaker: Sue Malone

Event Location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd .. This course covers Small Business Administration (SBA) loan options including which loan program meets a specific entrepreneurial need. The session begins with the 5 C‘s of borrowing - character, cash flow, collateral, capitalization and conditions, then transitions to an overview of SBA’s actual loan programs. Specific information will be shared about interest rates and repayment terms plus our preferred and certified lenders.Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

Every new venture has to work the complex decision of what legal structure to choose for the business. This course breaks down this decision into its essential characteristics simplifying the decision -making process. An in-depth discussion is presented about the pros and cons of such structures as the sole proprietorship, partnership, "c" or "s" corporation, and the limited liability company (LLC). As part of this course, a legal structure wizard ranks the best structure to choose for your business based on a series of questions that account for risk, complexity, types of ownership, and so forth. Once you have selected the best structure, the course then presents each of the forms that are necessary to file and set up your business from a legal requirements perspective. A final section of the course deals with employees and the legal implications surrounding this important responsibility. Each of the forms needed to successfully hire and manage employees is presented. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is a legal structure? The different types of legal structures The sole proprietorship The general partnership The "c" corporation The "s" corporation The limited liability company (LLC) Selecting your legal structure The forms that you will need Employee issues and requirements

This course presents the fundamental devices used in crafting a strategy for a business venture. The course puts forth the innovative mechanisms of internal and external strategy which are based on the findings of a new body of research into the strategy-making processes of successful growing ventures. In addition to showing you how to craft a mission, visions, goals, and strategy for your business, this course also shows you how to best present and execute your strategy through strategic stories, the act of organizing genius, and tipping point leadership tactics. As an added bonus, this course comes with Activeplans Strategic Planning Software which helps you create a strategic plan through a simple step-by-step approach--a $40.00 value by itself! Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is strategic planning? Knowing your purpose and mission Defining a vision Forming goals and objectives The two kinds of strategy Crafting internal strategy Crafting external strategy Presenting strategy as story The secrets of organizing genius Tipping point execution

This course describes the available entrepreneurial strategies and how they are applied in the marketplace. For anyone starting or growing a business venture, the knowledge and skills underlying the entrepreneurial strategies are an essential part of any entrepreneur's toolkit. Besides presenting the available strategies and their application, this course presents the sources of innovation and an overview of how decisions are made and how those decisions change over the course of a venture's life-cycle. Most wars are won or lost before they are ever fought. Understanding and applying the entrepreneurial strategies fueled by the sources of innovation is what separates the victors from the defeated. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is entrepreneurial strategy? Being first with the most Hitting them where they ain’t Occupying a specialized niche Changing the economic characteristics Sources of innovation What makes an entrepreneur How entrepreneurs craft strategy Strategic entrepreneurial decisions Social entrepreneurship and innovation

This workshop provides information about sections of a business plan, information needed for each section, how to gather information, and how to compile it for your plan. Participants will complete a rough draft of the narrative portion of their business plan during the workshop. Reservations are required.

n overview of the essential processes of managing employees. Includes best practice on the hiring process, employee forms you must file, wage and hour regulations, taxation and privacy issues, health and safety standards, benefit and retirement plans, discrimination and termination processes, and more. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: The hiring process Employee forms to file Wage and hour regulations Age laws and requirements Taxation issues Privacy issues Health and safety standards Benefits and retirement plans Discrimination and termination Required posters and other standards

Take command of a bookstore and coffee bar and see how money moves in and out of a business learning the fundamentals of accounting at the same time. This course provides an in-depth look at each of the primary accounting transactions used in a business demonstrating how "the language of business" works. Without using any accounting jargon to begin with, the course demonstrates how to keep score in a business through a simple scorecard approach. When you are finished, you are shown that each of your scorecards represents one of the three primary financial statements used in managing a business. Topics covered by this course include: The language of business Keeping score in a business Money coming in Money going out Money owed to you Money you owe Handling cash and large costs The balance sheet The income statement The cash flow statement

Financial projections are a collection of statements that present a numerical model of your business. Any good business plan must pass two separate tests: the story test and the number test. The story test asks, "Does the story make sense?" The number test asks, "Does the story add up?" A well-prepared set of financial projections helps to address that indeed the story does add up, but it also does much more than that. The projections reveal the entrepreneur’s basic assumptions which are usually synthesized together in their mind only. It doesn't matter whether you're applying for your first bank loan or your fifth, or whether you're seeking venture capital or debt financing. Sooner or later, you'll have to prepare a set of financial projections. Lenders will look for a strong likelihood of repayment using your projections. Investors will calculate what they think is the value of your company based upon these numbers. Constructing a set of projections allows you to play with your business model in a safe environment. Playing on paper is a valuable form of prototyping that can raise many questions before you make a decision. Under most conditions, fast learners are going to outperform even the most brilliant planners. The key is not to think of your numbers as a "plan" set in stone, but as a learning environment where you can test out different scenarios and decisions. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What are financial projections? Your assumptions Budgeting your fixed expenses Determining your variable costs Calculating your breakeven point Creating a sales forecast The income statement The cash flow statement The balance sheet The dos and the don’ts

Are you getting the most from your QuickBooks software? Attend this hands-on-seminar to learn how to: -Manage money coming in and money going out (sales, invoicing, paying bills, and tracking expenses) -Reconcile accounts -Use reports to understand your business, including profitability and sales trends This free seminar will be held at the TSU Avon Williams Campus located at 330 Tenth Avenue, North. To register for this seminar, please call 615.963.7179 and follow the prompts

Speaker: John Sawyer, AccountNetInc!

Learn about business taxes on your own time, and at your own pace. Topics include: What you need to know about Federal Taxes, how to set up and run your business so paying taxes isn't a hassle, and much more.

Creating Buzz is one of the most comprehensive courses on how marketing is actually executed in a small business. Your marketing agenda as an entrepreneur is vastly different than that of a member of the Fortune 500. Some of the principles may be the same, but the details are different. The theory of creating buzz is that your primary investments should be time, energy, and imagination. In other words, you are shooting for a high return on imagination as opposed to return on investment. But buzz just doesn't happen by itself. Instead, it must be carefully cultivated and strategically crafted with an underlying architecture. Most of today's marketing still focuses on how to use advertising and other tools to influence each customer individually, ignoring the fact that purchasing is part of a social process. The most expensive marketing expenditure for any organization usually comes in educating your market-in placing your message into the targeted group of consumers you have chosen. Yet, your customers have already self-organized themselves into networks at the micro level. By tapping into these self-organized networks you can inject your message directly into the bloodstream of your targeted market. What you are really trying to do when you are marketing a concept is to have it spread in much the same way as an epidemic does through a network. Networks have properties, hidden in their construction, that limit or enhance our ability to do things with them. Creating Buzz details exactly how customer networks operate and how to select and leverage your marketing weapons to best turn your message into action. Creating Buzz is packed-full of hundreds of strategies, checklists, and tips across the realms of network theory, positioning, advertising media, word-of-mouth campaigns, publicity, and public relations. From informal, easy-to-do tactics to full-fledged formal marketing plans, the lessons taught in this course are paramount to anyone growing an organization. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is buzz and how does it spread? Understanding networks Hubs and connectors Your positioning and message Choosing your marketing weapons Word of mouth tactics Return on imagination From message to action Public relations and publicity Creating a marketing plan

This course presents a media-by-media discussion of the tips and tricks used by marketing professionals when advertising a product or service. Learn how to set an advertising budget, learn why it's better to run two smaller ads than one larger one, learn how to correctly position your product and how to best design an effective marketing message, and learn what you need to know about selecting media for an ad campaign. This course also presents an overview of public relations tactics and internet marketing practices. At its conclusion, this course details specific measures how to assess the success of your results. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is advertising? The audience, objectives, and platform Determining the advertising budget The positioning and message Using print media Using radio and television Direct marketing options Promoting internet websites Public relations and publicity Evaluating your advertising plan

This course describes the fundamentals of the most important aspect of any business: marketing. Learn the concepts taught in college-level courses in just a few hours including the "5Ps"--Product, Promotion, Price, Place, and Positioning. At the end of this course, you will be able to create a comprehensive marketing plan for business that encompasses a creative plan, a positioning plan, and a media marketing calendar--the essentials of any good marketing strategy. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is marketing? Conducting market research Analyzing the market environment Selecting your target markets Market positioning Designing products & services Pricing products & services Placing products & services Promoting products & services Creating a marketing plan

Positioning starts with a product. A piece of merchandise, a service, a company, or even a person. But positioning is not what you do to a product. Positioning is what you do to the mind of the customer. That is, you position the product in the mind of the prospect. Strategy is therefore planned in the mind, not the marketplace. Marketing then becomes a battle of perceptions not products. All successful positioning strategies must start with the mind of the consumer and then work backward. This is true because the answer is not contained within the product or service itself. No amount of creative thinking or analysis will result in the insights needed to successfully position your company, product, or service. The answer rests instead in the mind of your customer. You must begin with what’s already there and then work backwards--outside-in--to create your strategy. There are only a few generic positioning strategies you can employ: Getting into the mind first--finding the niche, positioning yourself to the leader, or repositioning the competition. This course describes each of the three strategies and tactics used to bring them to life. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is positioning? The assault on the mind The ladders in your head Getting into the mind Owning a word in the mind The positioning of a leader The positioning of a follower Repositioning the competition The line extension trap A positioning case study

Pricing is the moment of truth--all of marketing comes to focus in the pricing decision. And yet, pricing is one of the least understood of all the activities in marketing. Evidence of the eclectic approach taken by entrepreneurs can be found in an Inc.com executive survey which polled CEOs from across the county. More than half of the respondents said they incorporated the cost/plus method for pricing, while 40 percent said they simply matched what their competitors charged, and 9 percent admitted they "guesstimated." The difference between successful and unsuccessful pricing strategies lies in how they approach the process. The entrepreneurs who squeeze the maximum profits out of their businesses are the ones who make pricing an integral part of strategy, not merely an after-thought. Strategic pricers do not ask, "What prices do we need to cover our costs and earn a profit?" Instead, they ask, "What costs can we afford given the prices achievable in the market, and still earn a profit?" You should not ask, "What price is the customer willing to pay?" rather, "What is our product worth to this customer and how can we better communicate that value, thus justifying the price?" From the fundamentals of pricing to advanced discussions on psychological theories focused on pricing formulation, this course is essential to anyone responsible for making the price decision. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is value? Costs Customers Competition Generic pricing strategies Segmented pricing The marketing mix Pricing psychology Life cycle pricing Specific pricing tactics

Market research is the systematic process entrepreneurs use to gain insight into market problems and opportunities. The term market includes not only customers, but all players who are responsible for bringing certain products and services to market including suppliers, competitors, producers, wholesale distributors, retailers, logistics, and so on. To conserve time and money, successful entrepreneurs minimize the resources they devote to researching their ideas. Unlike the corporate world, the entrepreneur only does as much research and analysis to justify the next action or investment. This course presents scores of best practice concerning how entrepreneurial research is actually implemented. Answers to questions about market segments, consumer and business markets, market size, and sales forecasts are all addressed through step-by-step processes. Any entrepreneur should want to know as much as possible about any market they participate in. This course provides the guidance and resources necessary to develop just such a working knowledge. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: The market research process The market environment Researching your industry Market segmentation and targeting Researching consumers Researching business customers Estimating market size Creating a sales forecast Customer survey techniques Consumption chain analysis

This presentation will address website design and social media tools, such as Twitter and Facebook, with regards to your business. It will reiterate the need for your business to make the online transition in order to survive the fast-paced and ever-changing digital marketplace where both younger and older generations are merging together. It will show why a website is a necessity, what the elements are for an effective and well-designed website, and how to market it. It will also cover the importance of social media and provide strategies and tactics for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn as well as blogging strategies and ideas.

Speaker: Sean Christman, Daniel Monday, Matt McClane

Provides an orientation to software used to track and organize a company's contact with current and prospective customers. Will also look at how this information can be used to develop an effective email marketing program.

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. Whether you're working on the marketing section of your business plan or you're ready to create or revise your marketing plans, "Common Sense Marketing" is a three-hour session that will help you define your target markets, teach you the basic components of marketing, and examine what marketing strategies work and don't work for small businesses.

The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services will present this program which is designed to introduce the business owner or manager to the diversity of government purchasing. Participants will learn how to participate in the governmental contracting process and bid successfully in the government marketplace. Vergia Bigger, of the Small Business Administration will review the requirements for participation in the 8(a) program and the opportunities available to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners.

Speaker: Paul Middlebrooks, Field Consultant, UT Center for Industrial Services and Vergia Bigger, Business Development Specialist, SBA

Event Location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd.. PTA 101 covers the basics of government contracting. PTA 102 covers advanced government contracting. Call 423-756-8668 for more information and to register.

Take command of a bookstore and coffee bar and see how money moves in and out of a business learning the fundamentals of accounting at the same time. This course provides an in-depth look at each of the primary accounting transactions used in a business demonstrating how "the language of business" works. Without using any accounting jargon to begin with, the course demonstrates how to keep score in a business through a simple scorecard approach. When you are finished, you are shown that each of your scorecards represents one of the three primary financial statements used in managing a business. Topics covered by this course include: The language of business Keeping score in a business Money coming in Money going out Money owed to you Money you owe Handling cash and large costs The balance sheet The income statement The cash flow statement

Every new venture has to work the complex decision of what legal structure to choose for the business. This course breaks down this decision into its essential characteristics simplifying the decision -making process. An in-depth discussion is presented about the pros and cons of such structures as the sole proprietorship, partnership, "c" or "s" corporation, and the limited liability company (LLC). As part of this course, a legal structure wizard ranks the best structure to choose for your business based on a series of questions that account for risk, complexity, types of ownership, and so forth. Once you have selected the best structure, the course then presents each of the forms that are necessary to file and set up your business from a legal requirements perspective. A final section of the course deals with employees and the legal implications surrounding this important responsibility. Each of the forms needed to successfully hire and manage employees is presented. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is a legal structure? The different types of legal structures The sole proprietorship The general partnership The "c" corporation The "s" corporation The limited liability company (LLC) Selecting your legal structure The forms that you will need Employee issues and requirements

This course details the exact set of steps necessary in preparing a comprehensive loan package request. Each of the forms and requirements are explained and included. From initial readiness tests to help with advanced topics such as U.S. Small Business Administration loans, this course lays it on the line concerning what a lender is really looking for and how they evaluate loan requests. Simply understanding the way a lender thinks can more than double your effectiveness in raising money for your business. Topics covered by this course include: What is a loan package? Are you ready for a loan? How much should you ask for? Offering collateral and security Obtaining your credit report The personal financial statement Creating a business plan The financial projections SBA guarantees and applications Bringing the loan request together

Buying A Business is a comprehensive course on how to buy the right business at the right price. Developed by entrepreneurs who buy businesses for a living, this course offers advice and wisdom in such areas as: the key questions to ask of any seller, the due diligence process, valuing a business and determining the offer, negotiation steps and tactics, and sample legal agreements. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: The pros and cons Finding businesses for sale The key questions to ask Valuing the business Negotiating the offer Structuring the transaction Financing the purchase Performing due diligence Creating a business plan Post purchase priorities

Creating Buzz is one of the most comprehensive courses on how marketing is actually executed in a small business. Your marketing agenda as an entrepreneur is vastly different than that of a member of the Fortune 500. Some of the principles may be the same, but the details are different. The theory of creating buzz is that your primary investments should be time, energy, and imagination. In other words, you are shooting for a high return on imagination as opposed to return on investment. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is buzz and how does it spread? Understanding networks Hubs and connectors Your positioning and message Choosing your marketing weapons Word of mouth tactics Return on imagination From message to action Public relations and publicity Creating a marketing plan

Financial projections are a collection of statements that present a numerical model of your business. Any good business plan must pass two separate tests: the story test and the number test. The story test asks, "Does the story make sense?" The number test asks, "Does the story add up?" A well-prepared set of financial projections helps to address that indeed the story does add up, but it also does much more than that. The projections reveal the entrepreneur’s basic assumptions which are usually synthesized together in their mind only. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What are financial projections? Your assumptions Budgeting your fixed expenses Determining your variable costs Calculating your breakeven point Creating a sales forecast The income statement The cash flow statement The balance sheet The dos and the don’ts

Finding and Attracting an Investor examines the peculiar nature of investment capital. The course presents practical tactics on how to identify and secure different types of capital including seed capital, angel capital, and venture capital. The process used by different kinds of investors is presented and the tools for completing the fund-raising process are presented. Special focus is given to the federal and state laws that govern the capital and securities process. Topics covered by this course include: What is an investor? The investment process Obtaining seed capital Obtaining angel capital Obtaining venture capital Creating a business plan Legal considerations and concerns Criteria for a new company Investor presentations and pitches Where to find investors

Finding Money To Start A Business offers a comprehensive ten-part course on the tactics of how money is really raised for small business formation. The course examines the sources of available capital and an overview concerning the difference between debt and equity. The course walks you through the maze of financial terms and tactics necessary to successfully identify and secure money for a new business venture. Topics covered by this course include: Where does start-up money come from? How much money do you need? The different types of money How to get money from a lender How to get money from an investor The available sources of capital A little help from the government Financing different kinds of things A few financing scenarios Overcoming your weaknesses

n overview of the essential processes of managing employees. Includes best practice on the hiring process, employee forms you must file, wage and hour regulations, taxation and privacy issues, health and safety standards, benefit and retirement plans, discrimination and termination processes, and more. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: The hiring process Employee forms to file Wage and hour regulations Age laws and requirements Taxation issues Privacy issues Health and safety standards Benefits and retirement plans Discrimination and termination Required posters and other standards

Market research is the systematic process entrepreneurs use to gain insight into market problems and opportunities. The term market includes not only customers, but all players who are responsible for bringing certain products and services to market including suppliers, competitors, producers, wholesale distributors, retailers, logistics, and so on. To conserve time and money, successful entrepreneurs minimize the resources they devote to researching their ideas. Unlike the corporate world, the entrepreneur only does as much research and analysis to justify the next action or investment. This course presents scores of best practice concerning how entrepreneurial research is actually implemented. Answers to questions about market segments, consumer and business markets, market size, and sales forecasts are all addressed through step-by-step processes. Any entrepreneur should want to know as much as possible about any market they participate in. This course provides the guidance and resources necessary to develop just such a working knowledge. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: The market research process The market environment Researching your industry Market segmentation and targeting Researching consumers Researching business customers Estimating market size Creating a sales forecast Customer survey techniques Consumption chain analysis

This course describes the fundamentals of the most important aspect of any business: marketing. Learn the concepts taught in college-level courses in just a few hours including the "5Ps"--Product, Promotion, Price, Place, and Positioning. At the end of this course, you will be able to create a comprehensive marketing plan for business that encompasses a creative plan, a positioning plan, and a media marketing calendar--the essentials of any good marketing strategy. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is marketing? Conducting market research Analyzing the market environment Selecting your target markets Market positioning Designing products & services Pricing products & services Placing products & services Promoting products & services Creating a marketing plan

Positioning starts with a product. A piece of merchandise, a service, a company, or even a person. But positioning is not what you do to a product. Positioning is what you do to the mind of the customer. That is, you position the product in the mind of the prospect. Strategy is therefore planned in the mind, not the marketplace. Marketing then becomes a battle of perceptions not products. All successful positioning strategies must start with the mind of the consumer and then work backward. This is true because the answer is not contained within the product or service itself. No amount of creative thinking or analysis will result in the insights needed to successfully position your company, product, or service. The answer rests instead in the mind of your customer. You must begin with what’s already there and then work backwards--outside-in--to create your strategy. There are only a few generic positioning strategies you can employ: Getting into the mind first--finding the niche, positioning yourself to the leader, or repositioning the competition. This course describes each of the three strategies and tactics used to bring them to life. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is positioning? The assault on the mind The ladders in your head Getting into the mind Owning a word in the mind The positioning of a leader The positioning of a follower Repositioning the competition The line extension trap A positioning case study

Pricing is the moment of truth--all of marketing comes to focus in the pricing decision. And yet, pricing is one of the least understood of all the activities in marketing. Evidence of the eclectic approach taken by entrepreneurs can be found in an Inc.com executive survey which polled CEOs from across the county. More than half of the respondents said they incorporated the cost/plus method for pricing, while 40 percent said they simply matched what their competitors charged, and 9 percent admitted they "guesstimated." The difference between successful and unsuccessful pricing strategies lies in how they approach the process. The entrepreneurs who squeeze the maximum profits out of their businesses are the ones who make pricing an integral part of strategy, not merely an after-thought. Strategic pricers do not ask, "What prices do we need to cover our costs and earn a profit?" Instead, they ask, "What costs can we afford given the prices achievable in the market, and still earn a profit?" You should not ask, "What price is the customer willing to pay?" rather, "What is our product worth to this customer and how can we better communicate that value, thus justifying the price?" From the fundamentals of pricing to advanced discussions on psychological theories focused on pricing formulation, this course is essential to anyone responsible for making the price decision. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is value? Costs Customers Competition Generic pricing strategies Segmented pricing The marketing mix Pricing psychology Life cycle pricing Specific pricing tactics

This course presents the fundamental devices used in crafting a strategy for a business venture. The course puts forth the innovative mechanisms of internal and external strategy which are based on the findings of a new body of research into the strategy-making processes of successful growing ventures. In addition to showing you how to craft a mission, visions, goals, and strategy for your business, this course also shows you how to best present and execute your strategy through strategic stories, the act of organizing genius, and tipping point leadership tactics. As an added bonus, this course comes with Activeplans Strategic Planning Software which helps you create a strategic plan through a simple step-by-step approach--a $40.00 value by itself! Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is strategic planning? Knowing your purpose and mission Defining a vision Forming goals and objectives The two kinds of strategy Crafting internal strategy Crafting external strategy Presenting strategy as story The secrets of organizing genius Tipping point execution

This course describes the available entrepreneurial strategies and how they are applied in the marketplace. For anyone starting or growing a business venture, the knowledge and skills underlying the entrepreneurial strategies are an essential part of any entrepreneur's toolkit. Besides presenting the available strategies and their application, this course presents the sources of innovation and an overview of how decisions are made and how those decisions change over the course of a venture's life-cycle. Most wars are won or lost before they are ever fought. Understanding and applying the entrepreneurial strategies fueled by the sources of innovation is what separates the victors from the defeated. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is entrepreneurial strategy? Being first with the most Hitting them where they ain’t Occupying a specialized niche Changing the economic characteristics Sources of innovation What makes an entrepreneur How entrepreneurs craft strategy Strategic entrepreneurial decisions Social entrepreneurship and innovation

This course presents a media-by-media discussion of the tips and tricks used by marketing professionals when advertising a product or service. Learn how to set an advertising budget, learn why it's better to run two smaller ads than one larger one, learn how to correctly position your product and how to best design an effective marketing message, and learn what you need to know about selecting media for an ad campaign. This course also presents an overview of public relations tactics and internet marketing practices. At its conclusion, this course details specific measures how to assess the success of your results. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is advertising? The audience, objectives, and platform Determining the advertising budget The positioning and message Using print media Using radio and television Direct marketing options Promoting internet websites Public relations and publicity Evaluating your advertising plan

Understanding Intellectual Property defines exactly what a copyright, trademark, and patent are and what kinds of protection they might afford your business. The process of establishing such protection is presented for each kind of property. Also discussed are international intellectual property protection issues, as well as, important legal documents such as non-disclosure agreements. A primer concludes this course which details the prior details to prepare before meeting with intellectual property attorney. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: An introduction to intellectual property What is a trademark? What is a patent? What is a copyright? Understanding trade secrets Federal, state, and employees issues Internet intellectual property International intellectual property Creating & realizing the value of intellectual property Understanding confidentiality agreements

Este curso se basa en el arte de crear un plan para su negocio. El plan de negocio es un documento esencial utilizado para recaudar fondos. También comunica su misión y visión estratégica al equipo administrativo, proveedores, consumidores, y acreedores. Los 10 temas de este curso le enseña detalles y tácticas en la creación de un plan comprensivo mientras que le ayuda a evadir errores críticos de planificación que plagan la mayoría de planes de negocio. Como valor agregado, este curso incluye Activeplans, un software que le permite crear la parte narrativa y proyecciones financieras de su plan mediante la utilización de un enfoque simple que detalla paso a paso el proceso. Este software por si solo tiene un valor de $40.00. Contenido del Curso Los temas que se tratan en este curso son: Que es un plan de negocio? Diez preguntas que debe responder Determinando sus posibles lectores Elaborando su misión y visión Definiendo metas y objetivos La estructura de su plan de negocio Aspectos de la industria y sus consideraciones Fuentes de información e investigación Consolidando su plan de negocio Los errores más comunes al elaborar el plan de negocio

This course provides the advice and strategies of the some of the leading entrepreneurs concerning what it really takes to start a new venture. Starting A New Business moves you through the important tasks of building a strong foundation for a business to the more tactical aspects concerning marketing, managing, and money. This course will also show you how to protect your ideas, how to hire employees, how to find out what licenses and regulations may apply, as well as, provide more than 50 resources of free information that are available to you in making your new business a reality. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: Defining the mission, vision, and goals Understanding the management trinity Determining feasibility and risk Marketing products and services Managing and operating the business Handling the money and the finances Hiring and managing employees Getting licenses and permits Protecting your ideas Growing by adaptation and experimentation

This course is about the craft of creating a plan for your business. The business plan is the essential document used to raise money for a business and communicate your business vision and strategy to your management team, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders. This ten-part course walks you through the details and tactics of creating a comprehensive plan while helping you avoid the critical planning mistakes that plague most business plans. Course Content Topics covered by this course include: What is a business plan? The questions you must answer Determining your audience Crafting your mission and vision Setting goals and objectives The structure of your business plan Industry aspects and considerations Sources of research information Bringing the plan together The most common mistakes