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Starting Your Business


Whether you are exploring starting your own business or you are ready to launch your business, it is important that you learn about becoming a business owner.

    To start your own business, either enroll in:
  • JumpStart Your Business, an ongoing series of five workshops in five weeks or
  • The FastTrac Planning 12 week Business Certificate program

    Either series will:
  • Accelerate the initial stages of building your own business
  • Guide you through the transition from being an employee to becoming a business owner
  • Give you the necessary tools and techniques
  • Teach you the very creative process of creating a business from your idea through the business plan process


Client Testimonials
"I've gained a direction, a plan to follow and a support group to help me start my new career as an entrepreneur."

"It helped boost my confidence and gave added direction to my efforts-saved me some useless steps."

"Gave me a much more realistic approach. Shifted me from being cost-concerned to focusing on revenue and on allocating resources to achieve financial goals."


Who Can Benefit?
Anyone who is interested in starting a business, whether
full-time, part-time, home-based, etc. as well as anyone
who has just recently started. We know how the first steps
toward owning your own business can be overwhelming and
confusing. We will simplify the process for you and guide
you through it step-by-step.


How We Can Help You
Through the workshop series, the WBDC can guide you through the steps to take to start your own business. After attending some of the workshops in either series, you are then advised to make an appointment with one of the WBDC business counselors by calling 312-853-3477, ext. 0.
Next Steps

  1. Click on Calendar of Events.
  2. Click on Workshop Descriptions to learn more about
    JumpStart Your Business and FastTrac Planning.
  3. Click on Calendar to find out when the two different
    series of workshops are starting.
  4. Decide which workshop series to take and then call
    312-853-3477, ext. 0 to pre-register over the phone with
    a credit card or request the printed brochures be mailed
    to you.







2007 Business Plan Competition  

Quick Guide to Starting a Business  

Franchise Woman
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO)



8 South Michigan • Suite 400 • Chicago, IL • 60603-3306 • (312) 853-3477 • Fax (312) 853-0145 • wbdc@wbdc.org