Business workshops offered in May by County's One Stop Shop Business Center

Business owners and entrepreneurs who need assistance are encouraged to attend seminars offered by the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center. Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph in Waterford. For pre-registration and location map, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/expand or call 248-858-0783. Get a Grip on Your Business | EOS Workshop May 1, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. If you are the owner, leader or manager of an entrepreneurial organization who wants to see your business consistently run better and grow faster, Mike Kotsis, a professional EOS implementer, can help you and your team simplify, clarify and achieve your vision. You will walk away with a focused action plan using the EOS workbook containing the tools that will help you to gain more traction in your business. Don't let the company run you - Get a Grip on Your Business. Fee: $40 per person, pre-registration is required. Business Research: Feasibility to Expansion May 7, 9 a.m. to noon Thinking of starting a business and want to research your business idea? Do you want to identify market trends and opportunities to grow your sales? Are you looking for new customers or to diversify your market base? Business research shows you ways to find your ideal customers, your competitors, perform competitive analysis and more. This is presented by the Oakland County Business Center, Oakland County Market Research Department and an Oakland County Public Library business reference librarian. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Know Your Numbers: Five Keys to Using Financial Statements May 13, 9 a.m. to noon Who Should Attend: Business owners and key staff who want to have a better understanding of how to use their financial statements. The ideal participant will have two-to-three years of financial history and be pursuing financing or having challenges with cash flow. Topics include how to use your balance sheet and income statement in managing your business, use break even analysis to improve your decision-making, find the source of your cash flow problems, increase your company's cash flow, and get the banker on your side. Fee: $25, pre-registration is required. CEED Microloan Orientation May 14, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Many small businesses face obstacles when trying to obtain a business loan. The recognition of the serious need for working capital for existing businesses, start-up or expansion, equipment purchases, and job creation is not the priority it once was. If you have a need for alternative financing consider the Microloan Program. Discover the requirements and process necessary to apply and obtain a microloan. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. QuickBooks® for Business Owners May 15, 9 a.m. to noon Join ATD Solutions as we explore the possibilities within QuickBooks. Our QuickBooks for Business Owners class is recommended for owners and financial decision makers who would like to explore the options available within QuickBooks. ATD Solutions will review best practices to limit your exposure to embezzlement or fraud within your company, the best version to use, and which industry specific reports to use to make great business decisions. Further resources will be presented to help you after this introductory class. Fee: $40 per person, pre-registration is required. Break the Rules, Close More Sales May 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A business development workshop for business owners, company Presidents/CEO's and professional service firms and sales people; in two short hours, you'll learn how to establish trust with your prospects, prospect more efficiently, shorten the sales cycle, eliminate stalls and objection, take control of the sales process, and differentiate your company. Fee: $40 per person, pre-registration is required. Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification Orientation May 21, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Learn about the benefits and process of becoming a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE). Benefits include certification to private sector WBE's and access to procurement opportunities with major national companies. Fee: $25 per person, pre-registration is required. Team SBA Financing Roundtable May 22, 9 a.m. to noon Before you apply for a business loan, we recommend that you first attend the Small Business Association Forum on Small Business Lending. This is a free loan orientation conducted by a business banker, a business consultant from the SBA's network of Small Business Development Centers, and an SBA representative. During the roundtable, we'll debunk the myths and demystify the process of small business financing. You'll learn how the lending process works and what is expected of you and you'll understand how the SBA can assist with our SBA Guaranteed Loan Program. This session is best suited to those who have good credit, a solid business idea, and some money to invest in their business. Because the SBA does not provide loan guarantees to real estate investment firms, including purchasing and rehabbing houses for sale, this type of financing is not discussed at the roundtables. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Published: Wed, Apr 9, 2014