SCORE Small Business Workshops: Course 5 - Social Media (Zoom)

Course 1  – How to Start a Business on a Small Budget

Suggested attendees: individuals who are thinking about starting a new business.

• Basics of setting up a business
• Legal entity structures – Sole proprietor, Partnerships, Sub Chapter S, LLC and others
• Paying taxes
• Keeping financial records
• Insurance
• Business Plan introduction
• Marketing basics
• Financing a business

Course 2  – Can a Franchise be a Better Alternative to a Startup?

Suggested attendees: People who are thinking of starting a new business.

• Comparison to starting a business from scratch
• Overview of franchise industry
• Explanation of franchising arrangement
• Types of franchising arrangements
• Funding
• Tools to help select the right franchise
• Steps on evaluating a franchise

Course 3  – Why and How to Prepare a Business Plan

Suggested attendees: People who already have a small business and others who are starting a new business.

• Components of a business plan – what needs to be included
• Start up costs
• How to prepare a budget
• Cash flow projections
• How to use a business plan to get financing
• Walk through an example

Course 4 – Learning Marketing Strategies That Lead to Greater Sales

Suggested attendees: People who already have a business and others who are starting a new business.

• Developing a marketing plan
• Performing market research
• Pricing
• Advertising and promotion
• Internet marketing
• Tracking results

Course 5 – Build Your Business with Social Media

Suggested Attendees: People who already have a business and others who are starting a business.

• Review of 5 most popular social media networks
• Benefits of using each social media network
• How other businesses are using social media
• How to tell which networks are right for your business
• What kind of content to create and post
• How to tell if content is working
• Why social media and email marketing must be used together

Course 6  – Learn Best Practices for Successful Email Marketing

Suggested Attendees: People who already have a business and others who are starting a business.

• What email marketing really is (and isn’t)
• What email marketing can do for your business
• Five steps to harness the power of the inbox

1. Grow a healthy list
2. Create great content
3. Customize mobile friendly template
4. How to get emails opened
5. Tracking your results

Course 7 – Understanding the Financial Numbers of Your Business

Suggested Attendees: People who already have a business and others who are thinking of starting a new business.

• What is accounting & why it is key
• Balance sheet, profit & loss statement, cash flow statement
• Key bookkeeping accounts
• Setting Up business finances
• Financial budgets & forecasts
• Tips for good financial management

Course 8 – Essentials of Funding Your Business

Suggested Attendees: People who already have a business and others who are thinking of starting a business.

• •    Necessity for a well written business plan
  •    Funding options
  •    Trials and tribulations of startup funding
  •    Optimal funding and your startup
  •    Ultimate goal of profitability and success
   

Course 9 – Introduction to QuickBooks

Suggested Attendees: People who already have a business and others who are thinking of starting a business.

• Learn how to set up business, chart of accounts, enter transactions, write checks, enter deposits, bill and track customers
• Set up employee deductions and company contributions
• Print financial data, profit, and loss
• Set up budgets

Course 10 – How to Use Podcasts as a Sales and Marketing Tool

Suggested Attendees:  People who already have a business and others who are thinking of starting a business.

• Learn how to advertise or sponsor someone’s podcast

• How to find podcasts that would like you as a guest

• Learn how to put together your own podcast

• The five ways you can use a podcast as a powerful tool to grow your business