Training

One of the more important decisions in your business planning process is choosing the best business structure. This seminar will define the most common entities including Limited Liability Corporation, S-Corporation, Partnership and Sole-Proprietor. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each is imperative to making an informed decision. Attend this seminar to learn the best structure for your business objectives. 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: Attorney Lewis Laska

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

This workshop provides basic information on starting a small business. It will also discuss services provided by the TSBDC. Reservations are required.

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.

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.

You don't have to be a millionaire to own a business! Over 50% of the franchises out there have a total investment that is less than $100,000! When considering business ownership, many entrepreneurs find success through purchasing a franchise. Franchises often offer a proven business model, management training assistance, purchasing power and national advertising campaigns along with many other added incentives. But, is it right for you? This seminar will detail the pros and cons of franchise ownership as well as offer a comprehensive discussion on researching the best franchise for your financial needs and personal goals. Attend this seminar to determine if franchise ownership is right for you. This free seminar will be held at the TSU AWC Campus located @ 330 Tentht Avenue North in Nashville, TN. To register for this seminar please call 615.963.7179 and follow the prompts.

Speaker: Dan Aronoff, FranNet

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.

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 and Feleesha Johnson, TSBDC

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.

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.

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

Speaker: Rob Karpick / Jutta Bangs

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.

Seminar on the basics of creating and writing a successful business plan. Printed materials included in the cost of the seminar. Event will be held in Johnson Hall, Room 403.

Speaker: Vicki Henley

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.

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 event is designed for those interested in starting a new business and developing a business plan.

Speaker: Ron Acree

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.

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

This workshop provides basic information on starting a small business. It will also discuss services provided by the TSBDC. Reservations are required.

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.

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 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

Event location: Chattanooga State Community College, 4501 Amnicola Highway. Learn to set up your business templates for business communications. Call 423.697.3100 for room number, more information and to register.

The contemporary business age is moving with the speed of light. In this era, business scenarios change so fast that one cannot afford to be relaxed and at ease. In such environment, efficient time managment becomes one of the most important skills to be adopted by modern business executives to improve business operations. Executives should learn how to manage all the activities of the day in the limited available time. The workshop examines some ways to improve time management skills.

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. Your resume is a key tool in helping you market yourself to an employer, and investor or a lender. This session will provide information and tips on how to write a resume to ensure it presents you in the best possible light! Handouts and examples will be provided for all who attend. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

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 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

What’s In A Credit Report Come find out what is actually in a credit report, how to read it, how to maintain a good credit report and how to repair your credit report for small business success.

Speaker: Class be instructed by Denise Newton, TSBDC UT Martin, Small Business Specialist. Denise’s experience includes extensive financial statement analysis, portfolio analysis, strategic planning and business development. Prior to that, she spent 10 years as a Corporate/Commercial lender for various commercial banks specializing in small business lending, structuring, and financing.

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

Staying competitive in today's economy can be tough. This free seminar, taught by Patrick Spear, the CEO of Identity Group, a business here in Cookeville, will give business owners tips on how to carve out a target market, be the best at what they do, and learn from a business that is thriving in spite of the economic downturn.

Speaker: Patrick Spear

Most workshops about creating business plans tend to focus on plans for new businesses. However, while most new businesses require business plans, existing companies may require them as well. Sometimes this is to seek additional funding for an expansion of the business or to take advantage of an opportunity. Sometimes these are internal business plans used to focus the management and staff of the company on the same goal and to better inform everyone not only about what the company is, but about what it wants to be. This workshop is for existing businesses 3+ years.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. Input some mailing information and mail merge to send invoice and letters. Call 423.697.3100 for more information and to register.

This presentation is designed to provide information to existing business owners and start-ups on how to survive in these economic times.

Speaker: Joel Newman

This seminar will discuss how to effectively evaluate business development and establish measurable activity. Many business owners blame the economy for their lack of sales, but this seminar will illustrate how to focus on the internal reasons for lack of sales and profitability. Although establishing sales quotas, performance levels, sales targets, etc. is important, this program will show the importance of also establishing behavioral goals such as number of appointments, number of referrals, or number of events your company holds. It will provide a simple seven point strategy towards changing a 'demand fullfillment strategy' to a demand creation strategy.,

Speaker: Steve Herzog,

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

There are several issues small businesses face with regard to managing their employees. This seminar will address several non-productive, but necessary issues for today's small business owner. Topics to be covered include: Human Resources, Payroll, Benefits, Worker's Compensation coverage, and Risk Management.

Speaker: Allen Snow

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

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. This workshop is a step-by-step workshop to walk you through the process of setting up your business finances in QuickBooks. The class includes such topics as check writing, invoicing and report generation based on information you provide from your own business. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

Event location:TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. A continuation of our popular Basic Level QuickBooks Workshop, this session will assist you with more advanced topics such as payroll, inventory, setting personal preferences, sales taxes, and many other areas that will make your use of QuickBooks more efficient and more enjoyable. A working knowledge of QuickBooks is needed to grasp the topics presented in this class. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. A continuation of our popular Basic Level QuickBooks Workshop, this session will assist you with more advanced topics such as payroll, inventory, setting personal preferences, sales taxes, and many other areas that will make your use of QuickBooks more efficient and more enjoyable. A working knowledge of QuickBooks is needed to grasp the topics presented in this class. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

The IRS requires that business records must be clear and complete. The city, county, state, and federal government, as well as banks, suppliers, and customers all need a business to keep good records of their earnings, their expenses, and their property. In order to understand how well your business has done and to plan for the future, records need to be complete and accurate. In this course, we will show you how to make and use a recordkeeping system that is simple, complete, useful, and organized. You don’t have to use special software or even a computer to do this important job for your small business. Join us and see how it’s done.

Speaker: Charlotte Gentry

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 accounting principles and record keeping for the preparation of essential financial statements. In this age of computerization, we'll work with the basics that do not change whether you use a computer or not. This is excellent preparation for beginning a computerized accounting program. Learn to summarize the activities of a business through journal entries, understand and prepare income statements and balance sheets.

Event location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. This workshop is a step-by-step workshop to walk you through the process of setting up your business finances in QuickBooks. The class includes such topics as check writing, invoicing and report generation based on information you provide from your own business. Call 423.756.8668 for more information and to register.

QuickBooks is a powerful accounting software that can be used to manage your small business accounts, but getting started with it can often be confusing. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at TTU will conduct a seminar entitled “QuickBooks Boot Camp for Small Business”, on February 20th to help you get started managing your payroll with QuickBooks 2009. The seminar will taught in a hands-on format using QuickBooks 2009 software, and will walk attendees through the steps of using the payroll functions in QuickBooks. Scheduled topics include automated payroll services packages offered by Quickbooks (Intuit), setting up a company file, setting up a specific payroll bank account, adding accounts to the chart of accounts for taxes and other deductions, setting up vendor accounts to pay deducted amounts, setting up payroll items such as salaries, hourly wages, overtime, bonus, commission, setting up actual employees, payroll schedules, running payroll and balancing payroll reports, remittance schedules, and remitting liabilities to the proper agencies. The seminar will be held on February 20th and is a three-hour event beginning at 9am and ending at 12pm. The seminar will be held in TTU’s Johnson Hall, room 403. The cost for the seminar is $30, which includes a detailed reference handout. Pre-registration is required and the size of the class is limited. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop with QuickBooks 2009 installed or they must call to reserve a computer seat for the class. Participants may register by calling (931) 372-3706.

This workshop will be held at Brown Baptist Church, 980 Stateline Rd., Southaven, MS

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.

Event Location: TN Small Business Development Center, 100 Cherokee Blvd. Covers business expenses, credits and deductions; withholding of income and social security tax; federal unemployment tax; deposit requirements; self-employment and estimated tax; and business use of the home. 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. Filing requirements for different business entities Basics of recordkeeping Estimated tax: who, what, when and how Business use of your home

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. Withholding income and social security tax on your employees Depositing employee withholdings using EFTPS Federal Unemployment Tax: making deposits and filing the return

The Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, is sponsoring a Small Business Tax Workshop on Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Building located at 501 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This is a free workshop, although pre-registration is required. You may register online at www.tsbdc.org or call 615-898-2745. Arrangements for the handicapped can be provided with advanced notification. This workshop is designed to provide new business owners with an overview of the services provided by the IRS and federal tax law requirements. The day will be divided into two sessions. The morning session will include: filing requirements, basic recordkeeping, business use of the home and self-employment tax. The afternoon session includes: federal employment withholding taxes, federal unemployment taxes and deposit requirements. We reserve the right to cancel this workshop due to last minute schedule changes.

Speaker: Wei Ralph and Gene Osekowsky

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1. Filing requirements for different business entities 2. Basics of recordkeeping 3. Estimated tax: who, what, when and how 4. Business use of your home

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1.Withholding income and social security tax on your employees 2. Depositing employee withholdings using EFTPS 3. Federal Unemployment Tax: making deposits and filing the return

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

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.

This class will use layman’s terms to explain and describe a variety of online marketing methods that can not only keep your business from struggling during this recession, but can also help it grow. We’ll cover search engine optimization (SEO)—or, helping your website rank better on Google—e-mail marketing, blogging, social networking, viral marketing, and much more. Come join us for this free class and walk away with some fantastic tips on using the Internet to market and grow your business.

This presentation will address the issues business owners may encounter with website and other social media tools. Businesses need 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. The program will demonstrate that a website is a necessity, how to make an effective and well-designed website, and how to market it. The program 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

Marketing Boot Camp I will be conducted at the Pellissippi Magnolia Ave. Campus, 1610 East Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, 37914 Marketing Boot Camp - How to Survive Today's Economy Part I, is an interactive seminar presented by Grass Roots Marketing. Part I will include Strategic Planning (strengths, weaknesses, target audience, goals, etc.), Marketing Education (Marketing is NOT Advertising) and Your Marketing Materials critique. Participants should bring any and/or all advertising they have used to promote their business.

Speaker: Fred Hess

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1.How to do business with State of TN 2.Basics of federal gov’t contracting 3.Overview of SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Pgm. 4.Marketing to the government 5.Searching for opportunities

Speaker: PTAC: Paul Middlebrooks

Pre-registration is required so that we can contact you if class changes are necessary. 1.How to do business with State of TN 2.Basics of federal gov’t contracting 3.Overview of SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Pgm. 4.Marketing to the government 5.Searching for opportunities

Speaker: PTAC: Paul Middlebrooks

This workshop will be held at US Bank, 1816 Madison Street 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. In this seminar, you will learn how to do business with the federal government. Some of the topics include: How to market to the Federal Government, how to find government business opportunities, information regarding federal codes, how to find information on the Internet related to government contracting, and understanding the government contracting process. You also will hear overviews of the U.S. Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program, Small Disadvantaged Business Program, and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Initiative. All attendees receive resource material with all the information necessary to become a successful government contractor. To register call (931) 221-7816 registration is required

Speaker: Russell Toone, PTAC Counselor, University of Tennessee, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Kena Dixon, Small Business Administration, Wisty Pender, BERO Enterprise Specialist Middle Tennessee,

Government Contracting Workshop from 9AM-Noon

Speaker: Russell Toone, Saundra Jackson & Janna Hellums

Speaker: Debbie Barber, UT Center for Industrial Services Procurement Technical Assistance Center

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

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