Following is a listing of the WBDC’s most regularly occurring workshops organized by category. After each workshop description we have listed any upcoming dates and times that the workshop will be offered. For registration, location, and cost information about a workshop, go to our Calendar of Events and click on the date that the workshop is being offered.
Click on Calendar button, and if no dates are listed after a workshop you wish to attend, send an e-mail to us at wbdc@wbdc.org for more information.
General
WINE & CHEESE INTRO TO THE WBDC
A complimentary session that helps prospective and established business owners clarify their needs and learn more about WBDC resources.
Business Start-Up
JUMPSTART YOUR BUSINESS
Five sequential workshops, designed to be completed in five weeks, which offer you the skills and techniques essential for a successful business start-up or to strengthen an existing business. Aspiring entrepreneurs and business start ups, take the series to learn the process of creating a business from your idea. Existing businesses, select individual workshops to tune up your business.
The JumpStart Your Business workshop series offers practical information on starting and growing your business, a nuts and bolts approach to developing your business idea, structural coursework guiding in the creation of a business plan, and group interaction and networking.
BEFORE YOU START
Learn the pros and cons of self-employment, how to identify business opportunities, and how to make the transition from jobholder to business owner. How do you prepare yourself financially including personal budgeting and goal setting?
MARKET RESEARCH
Learn what market research is and how to use it to assess the potential of your business idea. Learn a process to conduct your own market research.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS I
Learn the importance of knowing and analyzing the sources of your business revenue. Learn how to project sales and what the impact of the target market’s characteristics could be on cash flow and sales projections.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS II
Learn how to interpret and project business financial statements. Learn how to determine start-up and expansion costs. Learn how to develop projected cash flow and income statements.
BUSINESS PLAN
Learn the elements, applications, and contents of a good business plan. Use these instructions to develop a business plan for your company.
______________________________________________________________
FASTTRAC PLANNING
Whether starting your business or exploring expansion, FastTrac Planning will take you where you want to go. You will leave this 12 week program with a vision for success and an in-depth action-oriented business plan to use for raising capital and to steer business growth.
FastTrac offers...
- Entrepreneurial and interactive instruction
- Guest entrepreneurs and experts
- Networking and one-on-one counseling
- Comprehensive and practical resource materials
- The opportunity to complete your business plan.
FastTrac covers...
- Characteristics of the successful entrepreneur
- Marketing research and marketing strategies
- Managing the money and financial tips and secrets
- Legal aspects/staying out of trouble, sources of financing
Marketing
MARKET RESEARCH – Part of the JumpStart Series
Learn what market research is and how to use it to assess the potential of your business idea. Lean a process to conduct your own market research
ARE YOU READY FOR A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT?
Learn to market your business to government agencies, take steps to identify contract opportunities in your industry and how to qualify to supply products and services to government agencies. Discuss advantages of WBE, MBE, SDB, 8(a), and HUBZone certification.
GETTING READY FOR E-BUSINESS
Learn how to develop your E-Business integration game plan. Evaluate your current business strategy in relation to the possibilities E-Business can offer you. Meet a women business owner who has developed and implemented different types of E-Strategies. Hear about the challenges she faced and how she attained success.
DEVELOPING YOUR BASIC WEBSITE
Determine if and how a website fits into your marketing strategy. Learn everything you need to know to develop a basic website– including securing your web address, designing your site, and selecting appropriate Internet technology to host and maintain your website.
MARKETING YOUR WEBSITE
Now that you have your website up, how do customers know you are there? Identify on-line and traditional strategies for marketing your website to both current and new customers. Learn about the power of search engine management, affiliate programs, on-line advertising, and permission based e-mail campaigns.
ABC'S OF CERTIFICATION
Gain an understanding of whether or not your business could qualify for minority and/or women business certifications. Learn the overall benefits of certification and then be able to determine if certification will actually benefit your business. All of the local, state and federal government certifications available in Illinois will be covered. Learn how you can use women and minority certifications from the WBDC and the Chicago Minority Business Development Council to streamline your certification efforts.
Finance
ACCESS TO EQUITY BOOTCAMP
The Access to Equity Bootcamp will provide you with:
- Hands-on access to the investor and service provider community that can assist in the development of high-growth businesses.
- An understanding of the differences between debt financing and equity financing.
Expert advice on how to develop your business model and then translate that into a business plan investors will find compelling.
- Learn effective strategies for mastering the process of raising capital, from the first e-mail you send out to your first investor meeting.
- Success stories from women who have successfully raised angel and venture capital investment.
TAKE THE MYSTERY OUT OF OBTAINING FINANCING FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Learn the criteria lenders and investors will use when evaluating your business. Empower yourself and learn how to prepare a financing package to send to either a bank or a potential investor.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS I – Part of the JumpStart Series
Learn the importance of knowing and analyzing the sources of your business revenue. Learn how to project sales and what the impact of the target market’s characteristics could be on cash flow and sales projections.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS II – Part of the JumpStart Series
Learn how to interpret and project business financial statements. Learn how to determine start-up and expansion costs. Learn how to develop projected cash flow and income statements.
RAISING CAPITAL FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS
For most start-up firms, the first funding comes from family and friends. Take this seminar to get ideas on how to structure an investment that will meet your business needs as well as maintain positive relationships with your family and friends. Learn investment terminology and the legal requirements for various types of investments. Panelists will include entrepreneurs as well as legal counsels.
Child Care
OPENING A CHILD CARE CENTER
This workshop is for those who are interested in opening or expanding to a Child Care Center. This panel discussion will cover business topics necessary for growth, including financing, access to financing, marketing, working with an architect, and issues specific to the growing pains of expansion.
DEVELOPING YOUR CHILD CARE BUSINESS
The comprehensive series of 12 workshops in 12 weeks will provide you the tools to launch and sustain your business. Participants will follow a step by step process to develop a business and marketing plan, policies and procedures for their child care business, a parent handbook and a sound understanding of business financials. Developing Your Child Care Business offers: Expert instruction in operating a child care business; comprehensive and practical resource materials; the opportunity to complete your business plan. Developing Your Child Care Business Covers: Managing your money; Legal aspects of organizing and operating a business; Market analysis and research; Recordkeeping and taxing; Budgeting and sources of financing
HOW TO MARKET YOUR CHILD CARE BUSINESS
Learn the techniques to market your child care business, take steps to identify opportunities in your community and how to determine your target customers. Discover new strategies which will help you attract and keep clients.
BUSINESS FINANCIALS FOR CHILD CARE
Obtain essential information on applying for loans for your business. Gain an understanding on how to prepare your loan package, financial statements and financial projections. Find out about sources of financing.
BUSINESS WELLNESS CLINIC FOR ADVANCED PRACTITIONERS
If you have owned a child care business for two or more years, then register for this workshop. The Business Wellness Clinic is where you want to be to better organize or prepare your business for growth. Meet with business "experts" who will share knowledge in their areas of expertise. Imagine what you would have to pay to get advice from legal, accounting, technology firms and more. This is your opportunity to get valuable information the most efficient and cost-effective way!
_____________________________________________________________________
Retail
THE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT SERIES
The Retail Development Series are workshops to be taken once a week over 3 weeks. The program offers potential and existing retail entrepreneurs a quick and simple road map to becoming an outstanding retailer. The program is presented by the WBDC and retail experts at McMillan Doolittle Consulting Group.
Each session addresses key elements to develop and profitably operate a retail business:
Session 1: Strategy
Learn how to identify an unmet need in the marketplace, position the product and become organized around meeting strategic objectives.
Session 2: Supply
Learn how to use pricing, inventory management, and controls to create and maintain a profitable retail business.
Session 3: Customer Communication
Learn how to optimize communications with your customer
|
