July 2013 Business Workshops offered by Oakland County

Business owners and entrepreneurs who need assistance are encouraged to attend seminars offered by the Oakland County 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. Walk-In "Start-Up" Thursdays Free Business Counseling July 11, 18 and 25: 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business but do not know where to begin can receive confidential, one-on-one advice from an experienced business counselor in a supportive atmosphere with no appointment necessary. Counselors will provide direct answers to start-up questions, suggest next steps and provide guidance on business planning tools. Sessions will be available on a first come, first served basis. Fee: No charge, no appointment necessary. Business Research - Feasibility to Expansion July 10, 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. Presented by Oakland County Market Research and an Oakland County Public Library business reference librarian. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. CEED Microloan Orientation July 17, 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. Writing a Business Plan July 17, 9 a.m. to noon. 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. Fee: $40 per person. Legal & Financial Basics for Small Business July 30, 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop 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. Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Published: Fri, Jun 14, 2013