Free or low-cost business classes offered at One Stop Shop Business Center

Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking for assistance are encouraged to attend high-value, low- or no-cost business workshops offered by the experts at the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center.

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, in Waterford. For pre-registration and a location map, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/businessworkshops or call 248-858-0783.

JULY/AUGUST WORKSHOPS:

—Starting a Business
July 6, 9-11:30 a.m.
July 27, 10 a.m., noon Troy Public Library, 510 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy
Aug. 3, 9-11:30 a.m.

Thinking about starting a business? This workshop is designed for individuals who are at the beginning stages of starting a business. This workshop will help aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products and services. Topics like startup costs, financing options and business planning are introduced, along with the necessary steps to getting started. If you are ready to start your business this workshop is for you.
Cost: No charge, registration required

—Market Research Basics
July 11, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Troy Public Library, 510 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy
Aug. 31, 9-11:30 a.m.

Ready to grow your business? Our Market Research Basics workshop helps you discover ways to find your ideal customers, identify your competitors, perform competitive analysis, identify new site locations, target direct mail campaigns, reveal untapped markets and expand to new and appropriate markets. If you are ready to grow your business, the Market Research Basics workshop is for you.
Cost: No charge, registration required

—Social Media for Business Growth
July 12, 9-11:30 a.m.

Business Power Tools – An overview for using LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to grow any business.

Whether you call it social media, social networking, web 2.0 or internet marketing, the question on every professional’s mind is this: “Is social media a waste of time or an essential power tool for business in a post phonebook world?”

Amid all of the distractions, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are emerging as essential tools for marketing your business. Join Terry Bean from Motor City Connect for this entertaining and educational seminar as he takes you through the tools and rules of social media. You’ll learn what works, what to avoid and how to use LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to grow your network, engage prospects and generate profit. Get ready to kick your internet marketing presence into gear.

This class is designed to use these tools for profit. It covers:

• Three things you MUST do to find success on each platform
• How to use status updates that gain attention
• Ways to manage priorities so you’re not stuck in an endless loop
• How to make posting simpler
• The fastest way to grow your audience
• Which platforms are best for you
Cost: $40 per person, registration required

—CEED Lending Small Business Loan Orientation
July 12, 9-11 a.m.
Aug. 9, 9-11 a.m.

Have a need for alternative financing for your business? Is your business located in Oakland County? Consider learning more about the CEED Lending Small Business Loan Program. Discover the requirements and processes necessary to apply for and obtain a small business loan. If you are interested in alternative financing for your Oakland County small business, then the CEED Lending Small Business Orientation is for you. CEED Lending is an initiative of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. Cost: No charge, registration required

AUGUST WORKSHOPS:

—Five Steps to LinkedIn Mastery
Aug. 3, 9-11:30 a.m.

While Facebook looks like any number of reality TV shows, LinkedIn is the business documentary you need to watch. You’ve done the “Google myself” thing, right? Most people are surprised (and excited) to find their LinkedIn profile is the first result. Since Google uses LinkedIn that well, shouldn’t you? When you use LinkedIn right, it’s much easier to:

• Be found by prospective clients and/or employers
• Locate and learn about the decision makers you need to meet
• Stay current in your industry
• Stay top of mind with your network
• Check out future employees and partners
• Use all of the bells and whistles you didn’t know existed LinkedIn really is a power tool. It’s part SEO monster, part contact manager, part resume, part research tool and it’s ALL business. The better we all get at networking, the better all of our networking will be. Speaker: Terry Bean, Founder of Networked Inc. and Motor City Connect
Cost: $40 per person, registration required

—Team SBA Financing Roundtable
Aug. 29, 9 a.m.-noon

Need the inside scoop on how to obtain a business loan? Attend the Team SBA Financing Roundtable to find out how banks evaluate your application. Learn how to improve your chances for a business loan and how SBA loan guarantee programs can help you get financing. This workshop is best suited to those with good credit, a solid business idea and funds of their own to invest in the business. If you want to improve your chances of obtaining a business loan, then this workshop is for you.

Note: Because the SBA does not provide loan guarantees to real estate investment firms, including purchasing and rehabbing houses for resale, this type of financing is not discussed at the roundtable.
Cost: free, registration required

—Walk-in Start Up Thursdays in Waterford and Novi
WalkIn-StartUp Small Business Counseling
July 6, 9:30 a.m.-noon, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Aug. 3, 9:30 a.m.-noon, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

In Waterford: One Stop Shop Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
In Novi: Novi Civic Center, Community Development Center Room, 45175 Ten Mile Road, Novi
Whether you opened a business or you’re thinking about it, the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center has resources to help you. We can provide you with confidential small business counseling. You receive one-on-one advice from an experienced business consultant – with no appointment necessary. Consultants offer direct answers to your questions about startups, suggest next steps and provide guidance on business planning tools. These high value services are offered at no charge to you. Walk-in sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each session is limited to 15 minutes.