Events/Workshops

Quickbooks course description: Prerequisite for course is to currently be using QuickBooks for business bookkeeping system. QuickBook Basics and Troubleshooting Workshop walks through the various setup processes that drive your system, and cover general troubleshooting of common problems that users encounter. • Preference and account setup • Process flow for common transactions • Account reconciliation including credit cards • Inventory adjustments • Reports and monitoring your business activities.

Speaker: Laura Marohnic

Quickbooks course description: Prerequisite for course is to currently be using QuickBooks for business bookkeeping system. QuickBook Basics and Troubleshooting Workshop walks through the various setup processes that drive your system, and cover general troubleshooting of common problems that users encounter. • Preference and account setup • Process flow for common transactions • Account reconciliation including credit cards • Inventory adjustments • Reports and monitoring your business activities.

Speaker: Laura Marohnic

FastTrac, New Venture® is an intense 30-hour “boot camp” is designed specifically for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development and is co-sponsored by the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Centers (MI-SBTDC) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Attendance at a free orientation session is required: Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 6 PM - 7:30 PM. Please call NMC at (231) 995-1700 with Registration Code = CRN 11559 The normal $700 per student fee has been reduced to $140 through scholarship funding provided by the Michigan Economic Development Foundation. Class size for fall is limited.

Speaker: Chris Wendel and Meg Havenga

In this course, participants will learn the fundamentals of starting and owning a small business in Michigan and how to write a comprehensive business plan and cash flow statement. Business plans are important to help you set goals, determine resources needed to carry out your plan, and foresee problems. This three-hour course will discuss each section of a business plan: Executive Summary, Business Description, Marketing, Operations, Management, Sales, and Financials. Please register online and pay via charge card on MI-SBTDC Google Pay. The Google Pay account you establish is only for the MI-SBTDC online payment system. You are not signing up for Google. Please contact our office with any online payment questions or concerns.

FastTrac NewVenture is an intensive, 10-week program that helps you evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning your own business. Written by entrepreneurs for aspiring entrepreneurs, FastTrac NewVenture offers essential business information to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills and build your business on a strong foundation. FastTrac NewVenture provides the opportunity to objectively evaluate your concept and plans for moving forward, begin building an infrastructure for your business operations and processes, understand how to access the human, financial and business resources, and build an actionable business plan.

A business pan is an essential tool for your small business. Every existing or prospective business needs a plan, but every plan is unique. This seminar is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting a business. You will be introduced to the key characteristics of successful business ownership, and what it takes to start and run a thriving business. Plus, you will be provided with available resources to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Get focused, motivated and ready to go! Who should attend this seminar? Entrepreneurs, business owners, and innovators.

Speaker: MI-SBTDC Business Consultant

Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, or business launch, this course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing, finance, legal, regulatory issues, operations, information based planning and management are key components of this workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included. Examples of effective business plans are used as course material.

Speaker: A Certified Business Counselor

Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, or business launch, this course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing, finance, legal, regulatory issues, operations, information based planning and management are key components of this workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included. Live examples of effective business plans are used as course material.

Speaker: Kellie Hanford, Certified Business Consultant

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 the workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included along with a demonstration of the MI-SBTDC online business plan tool.

If you want to open and run a business successfully, a business plan allows you to be an effective business owner. Project costs, plan marketing strategies, set short and long-term goals, prepare for that important meeting with potential creditors. The SBTDC consultant will show you each step of the planning process.

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 the workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included along with a demonstration of the MI-SBTDC online business plan tool.

Speaker: SBTDC Staff

An intense, 10-week program that helps you evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning your own business. This course will be held at the Velocity Innovation Lab in Sterling Heights. You MUST be preapproved to register for this class. Call Denise Mentzer at 586-469-5118 or email Denise.Mentzer@macombcountymi.gov

Explore business startup issues and receive assistance during these orientation sessions focused upon readiness to be in business, market research, writing a business plan and obtaining financing for your small business. Learn the steps to starting a business from a Certified Business Consultant and receive answers to your financing questions from a Small Business Banker.

Speaker: SBTDc and Fifth Third

Designed for persons thinking of starting a business or in the early stages of startup. The "Fundamentals of Starting a Business" workshop is the first step for many in MI-SBTDC assistance, which may be followed by additional training or no-cost, one-on-one counseling. Course content: Readiness to be in business, market research and making sure there is market potential for your product or service, detail on the steps and process of starting a business, and will provide information and tools to start writing a business plan.

Speaker: Region 6 MI-SBTDC Staff

You have a passion ... a hidden talent. Do you know what it takes to turn that skill into a successful business? This seminar is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. You will be introduced to the key characteristics of successful business ownership, and what it takes to start and run a thriving business. Plus, you will be provided with available resources to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Get focused, motivated and ready to go! Who should attend this seminar? Entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, and 'closet' business owners. Offered multiple times across the region. Cost: Free!

Speaker: MI-SBTDC Certified Business Consultant and Grace A Dow Memorial Library Reference Librarian

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. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Macomb County Residents attend Free, all others pay $30.00.

Speaker: A Certified Business Counselor

As an introductory session delivered in a workshop format, the course helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.

Are you thinking of starting your own business and want to research your business idea? Are you a new business owner who wants to understand which research sources to use for your business plan or loan proposal, and where to find the information you need? Then plan to attend this business pre-planning workshop.

Speaker: Oakland County Business Center, The Entrepreneur's Source, Oakland County Research Department and Oakland County Public Library

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. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.

Speaker: Tom Donaldson, Regional Director

You have a passion … a hidden talent. Do you know what it takes to turn that skill into a successful business? This seminar is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting a business. You will be introduced to the key characteristics of successful business ownership, and what it takes to start and run a thriving business. Plus, you will be provided with available resources to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Get focused, motivated and ready to go! Who should attend this seminar? Entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, and ‘closet’ business owners.

Speaker: MI-SBTDC Business Consultant

Designed for persons thinking of starting a business or in the early stages of startup. The "Fundamentals of Starting a Business" workshop is the first step for many in MI-SBTDC assistance, which may be followed by additional training or no-cost, one-on-one counseling. Course content: Readiness to be in business, market research and making sure there is market potential for your product or service, detail on the steps and process of starting a business, and will provide information and tools to start writing a business plan.

Speaker: Reg 6 MI-SBTDC Staff

Discover resources available that can help you make informed decisions about your business’ future. The Portage District Library will share how to use their business collection to locate market research information. Learn how to determine your target market, estimate the size and locate your competition along with other information that will impact your business. Business research classes are presented by Nicolette Warisse Sosulski, Business Librarian at the PDL.

Explore what it takes to start your own business. Find out what to do first, how to improve chances for success and where to go for assistance.

Speaker: Donald Morandini, Regional Director

Thinking of starting your own business and want to research your business idea? This workshop is designed for you to learn best practices for increasing your chances of entrepreneurial success. The takeaways: an understanding of the business planning process; how the planning process develops your business plan; and the critical role of research in business planning and feasibility analysis. You will also learn to separate the myths from the realities of small business financing and have an opportunity to ask questions of a business consultant. Attendees will also receive an orientation to the FastTrac NewVenture program. This makes them eligible to receive a scholarship to the next 10 week program that begins on April 12 at 6 pm. The scholarship reduces the cost of FastTrac NewVenture from $700 to just $140. Call Brian King at 313-967-9295 for more information.

Speaker: SBTDC Staff

Fundamentals of Starting a Business: 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. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan. There is no fee for residents of JEBA's service area: St. Jean to the west, Alter and the Detroit border to the east, Charlevoix to the north and the Detroit River to the south.

You have a passion ... a hidden talent. Do you know what it takes to turn that skill into a successful business? This seminar is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting a business. You will be introduced to the key characteristics of successful business ownership, and what it takes to start and run a thriving business. Plus, you will be provided with available resources to help launch new ventures in Michigan. Get focused, motivated and ready to go! Who should attend this seminar? Entrepreneurs, business owners, innovators, and 'closet' business owners. Offered multiple times across the region. Cost: Free!

Speaker: MI-SBTDC Business Consultant and Hoyt Library Reference Librarian

Fundamentals of Starting a Business: As an introductory session delivered in a workshop format, the course helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.

Speaker: SBTDC staff

Explore business startup issues and receive assistance during these orientation sessions focused upon readiness to be in business, market research, writing a business plan and obtaining financing for your small business. Learn the steps to starting a business from a Certified Business Consultant and receive answers to your financing questions from a Small Business Banker.

Speaker: SBTDC & Fifth Third

Designed for persons thinking of starting a business or in the early stages of startup. The "Fundamentals of Starting a Business" workshop is the first step for many in MI-SBTDC assistance, which may be followed by additional training or no-cost, one-on-one counseling. Course content: Readiness to be in business, market research and making sure there is market potential for your product or service, detail on the steps and process of starting a business, and will provide information and tools to start writing a business plan.

Speaker: Reg 6 MI-SBTDC Staff

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. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.

Speaker: Kellie Hanford, Certified Business Consultant

Are you an experienced professional with valuable-defined skill sets, looking for a new career avenue? Think about taking your expertise and becoming an independent consultant, a contractor, or a service provider. Explore the steps to form your business (LLC or other), market yourself and your services, create an action-oriented business plan, and define your client engagement. Take away from your experience, a 1-2 page action-business plan to help you start, build and sustain a successful service-oriented business.

Speaker: Meri Dembrow

Thinking of starting your own business and want to research your business idea? This workshop is designed for you to learn best practices for increasing your chances of entrepreneurial success. The takeaways: an understanding of the business planning process; how the planning process develops your business plan; and the critical role of research in business planning and feasibility analysis. You will also learn to separate the myths from the realities of small business financing and have an opportunity to ask questions of a business consultant. Attendees will also receive an orientation to the FastTrac NewVenture program. This makes them eligible to receive a scholarship to the next 10 week program that begins on April 12 at 6 pm. The scholarship reduces the cost of FastTrac NewVenture from $700 to just $140. Call Brian King at 313-967-9295 for more information.

Speaker: SBTDC Staff

This course is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. This introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as wellas evaluate market and sales potential for their product/services. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.

Speaker: Tim Lake

This course is designed for entrepreneurs and business owners who are new to social media. Through step by step instruction and examples, attendees will learn how to get their business online using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Speaker: Rob Geer, West Michigan, Kelly IT

Utilizing the Internet for business development is no longer optional. Determining which online capabilities will optimize small business success can be overwhelming. This course is designed to provide a basic overview of Internet communication and marketing tools, starting with goals and objectives. Keys to successful website development, search engine optimization, online selling, and social media are all discussed. The course is designed for business owners who are at the beginning stages of Internet use.

Speaker: Rob Geer, Business Development Representative - West Michigan, Kelly IT

Participants in this no cost session will acquire an overview of the FastTrac NewVenture program’s key objectives, benefits and features. They will learn how this program assists entrepreneurs to develop a business concept through each step of the business planning process. The ten week program will run on Tuesdays from Febuary 7 through April 10 from 2-5PM. To register, please call the MI-SBTDC West Michigan office at (616) 331-7370. You must have a business idea and the desire to start a business.

FastTrac NewVenture is an intensive 10-week program that helps you evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning your own business. Written by entrepreneurs for aspiring entrepreneurs, FastTrac® NewVenture offers essential business information to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills and build your business on a strong foundation. FastTrac® NewVenture provides the opportunity to objectively evaluate your concept and plans for moving forward, begin building an infrastructure for your business operations and processes, understand how to access the human, financial and business resources, and build an actionable business plan. Full cost for the FastTrac NewVenture 10 week series is $700, however, scholarships are available to reduce the cost to $140. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm - 9:00pm for 10 weeks.

Speaker: SBTDC Staff

FastTrac NewVenture is an intensive, 10-week program that helps you evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning your own business. Written by entrepreneurs for aspiring entrepreneurs, FastTrac NewVenture offers essential business information to help you develop your entrepreneurial skills and build your business on a strong foundation. FastTrac NewVenture provides the opportunity to objectively evaluate your concept and plans for moving forward, begin building an infrastructure for your business operations and processes, understand how to access the human, financial and business resources, and build an actionable business plan.

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.

Before you apply for a business loan, we recommend that you first attend this Financing Roundtable. The roundtables are a free loan orientation conducted by a business banker, a business consultant from the SBAs 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.

Speaker: SBA/Business Banker/Oakland County Business Counselor/Oakland County Business Finance Corporation Loan Officer

Team SBA is a round table session where you can learn what is required from a lender. You’ll have opportunities to meet business counselors who can help you prepare your loan request for the bank and chances to network with other business owners. Before you apply for a business loan, first attend this free financing roundtable. We will debunk the myths and demystify the process of small business financing. The “team” is a bank, an SBA representative, an SBA business counselor, and business owners like you. You will get first hand information on what credit criteria your banker had. The team will answer all of your financing questions and give you advice on what steps to take to achieve your goal of starting or expanding a business. We will explain how the SBA loan guarantee can work for you. The roundtables are best suited for those who have good credit, a solid business idea, and some money to invest in the business.

Speaker: MI-SBTDC Business Consultants, Local Bankers, SBA Loan Officers

FIVE KEYS TO ACHIEVING Fiscal Fitness A workshop to help even the non -financial business owner achieve “Fiscal l Fitness ” Topics include: • Identify opportunities with your balance sheet and income statement • Discuss proven methods to improve and increase your company’s cash flow • Apply breakeven analysis to improve decision-making • Understanding how working capital can support your growth • Strengthen the partnership with your banker

Speaker: Jim Beauchamp & Laura Marohnic

Fiscal Management Tools for the Non-financial Manager -- This workshop provides the business owner an in-depth look at the essentials of using financial information to make effective decisions about improving their business performance. Topics include: Ways to improve your company's cash flow, how to use the balance sheet and income statement to diagnose business problems and opportunities, how breakeven analysis helps you make better pricing and investment decisions, how to ensure you have enough working capital to support growth, and how to keep your banker on your side. Who should attend: CEOs of businesses with at least three years of financial history who want to have a better understanding of how financial statements can inform their business decisions.

Speaker: MI-SBTDC Regional Director Charlie Penner & Senior Business Consultant Ron Stevens

Fiscal Management Tools for the Non-financial Manager -- This workshop provides the business owner an in-depth look at the essentials of using financial information to make effective decisions about improving their business performance. Who should attend: CEOs of businesses with at least three years of financial history who want to have a better understanding of how financial statements can inform their business decisions. Topics include: Ways to improve your company's cash flow, how to use the balance sheet and income statement to diagnose business problems and opportunities, how breakeven analysis helps you make better pricing and investment decisions, how to ensure you have enough working capital to support growth, and how to keep your banker on your side.

Speaker: SBTDC and Fifth Third Bank

The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center at Tech Town is hosting 8(a) Business Development programs that help minority small businesses gain a foothold in government contracting. Upon enrollment in this program, firms receive information on finding contracts, proposal preparation, and contract administration. Monthly pre-qualification meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 9 am - noon at Tech Town.

Speaker: SBA Staff

"Legal & Financial Basics" provides new and existing Michigan entrepreneurs an understanding of the "key” legal and financial considerations when starting and operating a business in Michigan. The program addresses “how to” select the best legal entity for your business, “how to” protect your business interests when dealing with customers, suppliers or independent contractors and important information and guidelines for establishing short and long term succession plans for your business.

Speaker: Carter & Affiliates, P.C.

This course is an introduction to the different types of legal entities appropriate for structuring and starting a new business. Tax and liability issues are covered, along with basic elements of contracts, collections, licenses, registrations, employment and property issues, leasing and insurance, and intellectual property issues. It is designed to guide prospective business owners in setting up the organizational structure that will help protect them from unneccesary legal challenges.

Speaker: Curtis Zaleski, Attorney

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. For additional information visit www.miceed.org.

Speaker: Michigan Women's Business Council

This workshop provides an overview of how businesses can increase value through the development of a succession plan. Key topics include plan components, successor identification and skills development as well as plan implementation and communication guidelines. The training covers the key benefits and drivers which include: building organizational value and integrating long-range organizational plans with employee career plans. Designed to illustrate the difference between developing a long term succession plan and the transaction of selling a business, this course helps business owners evaluate ownership transition options long before any unexpected events may force change. Please register online and pay via charge card on MI-SBTDC Google Pay. The Google Pay account you establish is only for the MI-SBTDC online payment system. You are not signing up for Google. Please contact our office with any online payment questions or concerns.

This course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to grow small businesses. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well planned approach to marketing is demonstrated, with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques. Focus is on the business’s customers - creating and keeping them.

Speaker: Luchi Nelson

The course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to help small businesses grow. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well planned approach to marketing is demonstrated with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques.

Speaker: SBTDC Staff

This course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to grow small businesses. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well planned approach to marketing is demonstrated, with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques. Focus is on the business's customers - creating and keeping them.

Speaker: Laurie Lonsdorf, Senior Business Consultant

Introduction to Social Media Marketing and using Twitter for Business Millions of people are using Twitter and social media for fun, but it is also a powerful business tool that can connect you with your customers, potential customers and the world. Social media is a two-way marketing channel-a conversation with your customers. With social media marketing and Twitter you can leverage these conversations and relationships to: increase brand visibility and reach, be established as a thought leader and expert in your field, give real time customer service, stay on top of industry trends and conduct competitive research, build brand advocates, and yes- you can see a measurable ROI-even sales! But before you jump in to Twitter and start using social media, learn how to get these results with an introduction to social media marketing and Twitter for business. What you will learn: •How to sign yourself and/or your business up for Twitter •How to set up your account and profile and choose the best Handle (user name) •How to navigate Twitter •Twitter lingo •How to find (the right) people and business to follow •How to use lists to manage who you follow as well as your followers •How to Tweet, ReTweet, Mention, and Direct Message other users •Use of Hashtags •Twitter Privacy •How to protect yourself and your brand on Twitter •How to establish and track your digital footprint •How to stay on top of social media and Twitter trends

Speaker: Salina Washington

For any small business to stand out from the competition, it's essential to develop a strong, identifiable brand. In this workshop we'll discuss what is branding, why it matters and the importance of both visual and verbal branding. We'll give you the tools to sketch out key branding components that define your company's brand personality, insights and position, tagline and key marketing messages. You'll walk away with a strong framework for developing your company's own verbal brand.

Speaker: Laurie Lonsdorf, Senior Business Consultant

This course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to grow small businesses. It covers basic marketing tools, including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well planned approach to marketing is demonstrated, with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques. Focus is on the customers of the business -- creating and keeping them.

Speaker: A Certified Business Counselor

Create your Twitter Strategy In this Intermediate session of Twitter for Business you will: •Establish your social media objectives and goals for Twitter •Create your Twitter social media marketing strategy and schedule •Integrate Twitter into your marketing strategy What you will learn: •Core strategies and tactics businesses are using to get customers talking through Twitter •How to use social media management tools •How to schedule tweets in advance •How to use social media search tools for optimizing the timing and reach of your tweets •How to use social media monitoring tools and leverage them for your Twitter strategy •How to use social media search tools to find and track people talking about your company/product/industry •How to respond ethically and effectively to brand supporters and detractors •How to manage your digital footprint-connecting Twitter with your website and other social media platforms **The prerequisite for this session is Twitter for Business (Beginner)

Speaker: Salina Washington

Learn the basics and etiquette of social networking for your small business. Content will include how to leverage social networks to help grow your business while reducing your marketing costs. Benefits, disadvantages and tricks of the major social networks (FaceBook, Twitter, and Linked-In) will be discussed.

Speaker: Shannon Beeman - Business Consultant

Is your business falling short of its financial potential? Improve your retail effectiveness in a continuously challenging marketplace by looking at the financial side of your operation, managing inventory merchandising strategies while focusing on a strong operation and staff, and improving sales. Improve sales and profitability by looking at the retail industry’s not-so-obvious principles.

Speaker: Ron Stevens

Topics include: Schedule C, Estimated Taxes, Self-Employment Tax and Record Keeping.

Speaker: Linda Geary, CPA

Michigan has instituted new state tax laws relating to Michigan Business Tax, a new corporation income tax, individual income tax, homestead property tax and pension law changes. Knowing about these huge changes and how they will affect you and your business is crucial.

Speaker: Jim Demis of Demis and Wenzlick, PC

Business decisions you make can have a significant effect on your tax situation. Be better prepared for tax reporting by learning more about tax planning, tax forms, and IRS rules and regulations that affect small businesses. This course includes a discussion of accounting records, business expenses, depreciation, and specifics of taxation in the state of Michigan. Utilize available deductions and credits, as your business grows and changes.

Speaker: Brett Karhoff, HANC

The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship is an event that celebrates and promotes entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes region. ACE brings together entrepreneurs, service providers, investors, students, government agents and other members of the business community to network, learn and connect. Hundreds of people attended ACE ‘11, and the event garnered national attention in the Detroit Free Press and the New York Times. Join our local and national community in 2012. ACE began in Michigan in 2001 as a joint meeting hosted by the New Enterprise Forum (NEF) and the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes. Today, additional organizations participate in organizing, supporting and promoting the event, and the scope of ACE has grown to encompass participants from the broader Great Lakes region.

Whether your company is a veteran exporter or just curious about getting into exports, the STEP seminar will provide valuable information for all that attend. Saginaw Future, Inc. (www.saginawfuture.com) is hosting a Pure Michigan State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP) seminar to connect your business with resources and expertise that can help you develop a strategic export plan, enter new markets, and increase revenues from exports. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) received a grant from the US Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist Michigan businesses increase exports. The SBA STEP grant, combined with MEDC funds, provides support to increase Michigan's capacity for exports. Eligible Michigan businesses can get up to 50 percent reimbursement for expenses related to export activities in new markets, including: - Overseas trade mission or trade show participation - Foreign market sales trip - Subscription to U.S. Department of Commerce services - Foreign language translation services for export marketing materials and web site assets

Ready to see your business soar to the quarter million $ mark? You've got to tell it to sell it! Prepare for the Blast! Pitch Competition by joining us at this pitch party! At the pitch party, participants will have the opportunity to pitch their business in front of a group and obtain positive feedback for improvement. At the Competition in March, your practiced-pitch could win you one of 30 no-cost seats in a 12 month business accelerator program. Items to include in your 2 minute pitch: • Your name, business name, location, years in business • Business mission and product or service • Target market or customer • Number and type of employees (FT,PT, consultants) • Current and projected revenues • Plans for scaling your business For more information on the Blast! Count Me In Business Accelerator program, visit www.countmein.org/grandrapids

This full day workshop is designed for participants seeking to open a successful business incubator. Participants will work through the feasibility of the business incubator concept. Additional topics covered include: Incubator business management, business plan development; including how to market and determine financial start-up requirements. Presented by Ms. Sandra Cochrane, MI-SBTDC Technology Consultant and Board Member with the National Business Incubator Association. Fee includes workshop materials, lunch and one WMU day parking pass per attendee. Pre-registration and payment is required one week prior to workshop.