The Sandhills Community College Small Business Center offers free seminars, workshops, certificates, counseling and networking opportunities targeted to the needs of entrepreneurs, small business owners and start-ups in Moore County.

Accounting

QuickBooks expert Crystal Wambeke introduces you to the cloud-based software in this course, “QuickBooks Online I” and suggests ways this popular software can help small business owners save time, simplify bookkeeping and avoid costly errors. Bring your laptop or tablet to class.

“QuickBooks Online I” will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Branding Your Business

Don’t miss these hands-on workshops presented by Brian Sykes, Owner and Chief Creative Officer of AdJourney. Attendance to all three of these workshops will result in a Branding Certificate of Completion.

“Developing Your Logo” will help you create the visual anchor of your Brand and develop the basis for a new logo. Don’t fret over lack of drawing skills or non-existent graphic ability. This hands-on seminar will be a creative exercise to uncover the name, images and visual cues that best represent the business you desire to communicate. Discover your brand identity and how to visually express it.

“Developing Your Logo” will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

“Building Your Brand with Intent” will teach you how to build your business’s brand on purpose. You will learn the importance of defined communication channels and how the brand elements (logo, collateral, and consumer touch points) all play a role in your company’s communication and its bottom line. This class is hands-on. If you have any current material—website, samples of social media posts, brochure, business cards, etc.—come prepared to review. Bring a notebook.

“Building Your Brand with Intent” will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

A major part of branding is the story that sets your business apart from the rest. The workshop, “Telling Your Story Like No Other,” shares how to develop a strategy for each consumer touch point, define the job description for each channel engaged and determine the voice and content for communicating your brand story. A creative and fun exercise that will impact all your marketing efforts moving forward.

“Telling Your Story Like No Other” will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Small Business Development Series

“Start Your Business” will teach you the basics of starting a business. Learn key strategies for start-up, financing, and marketing, as well as important information about legal issues, licensing, operations and more. Realize the importance of a self-assessment and how to evaluate the feasibility of your business idea. Presented by the Sandhills SCORE Chapter which offers mentoring and seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“Start Your Business” will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 6-9 p.m.

Explore the advantages and disadvantages of different types of funding sources and how to choose the right one for your needs in the class, “Finance Your Business.” Presented by the Sandhills SCORE Chapter which offers mentoring and seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“Finance Your Business” will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 6-9 p.m.

Gain a solid understanding of taxes required for small business owners and develop a tax strategy for your business in the class, “Understanding Business Taxes.” Become familiar with the latest tax forms and procedures for both state and federal taxes. Discover how everyday business decisions can have tax implications that can affect your bottom line. New and experienced business owners will benefit from this information. Presented by the Sandhills SCORE Chapter which offers mentoring and seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“Understanding Business Taxes” will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 6-9 p.m.

Get a thorough overview of marketing principles and applications in “Intro to Marketing.” Develop a focused and effective marketing plan to help you comprehend strategic marketing, the marketing mix, and consumer behavior. Join Michael Barbera, Strategy Consultant, and Consumer Psychologist, for this dynamic seminar.

“Intro to Marketing” will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 6-9 p.m.

Other Seminars

Bob Moore, SBC Director at Robeson Community College, will reveal common threats small businesses face in the class, “Identifying & Avoiding Threats to Your Business.” Most existing and new business owners don’t have time to “slow down” long enough to identify possible internal and external threats to their businesses. You will learn how to determine if threats exist and how to identify possible future threats. Most importantly, you will learn to avoid these threats and ensure the success and sustainability of your business.

“Identifying & Avoiding Threats to Your Business” will be held on Thursday, Feb. 1 from 1:30-4 p.m.

Registration

Small Business Center seminars meet in 102 Van Dusen Hall. To register online, visit our website at sbc.sandhills.edu. For more information or to place your name on a waiting list for seminars that are full, please contact Teresa Reynolds at (910) 695-3938 or email [email protected].

 

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