Financial Tools, featuring QuickBooks

Date: July 29, 2010
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Oak Park Inn (Waynesville)
Cost: $85 members, $140 alumni, $170 for the public
Deadline for Registration: July 23, 2010
Instructor: Amy Riddick
Contact: daphne@mountainbizworks.org

Building on your Foundations – Financial Tools is a five session course which starts with the basics of bookkeeping and then launches into QuickBooks for more advanced financial management.

Session 1 starts with bookkeeping basics

Session 2 you set up your own company

Session 3 deals with customer issues (invoicing and receivables)

Session 4 deals with vendors issues (payables)

Session 5 teaches you how to generate financial statements and touches on payroll and inventory.

For more information, please visit http://www.mountainbizworks.org/.

* All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made of requested two weeks in advance. Contact the staff member listed with said event to request accommodations.

Information Session (Asheville)

Date: July 21, 2010
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: Mountain BizWorks (Asheville)
Cost: Free
Deadline for Registration:
Instructor:
Contact: erika@mountainbizworks.org

Information Sessions are the first place to start if you are interested in learning about services available at Mountain BizWorks. Pre-registration is required to attend a session.

Directions: We are located at the corner of Hilliard and S. Lexington – one block over from The Orange Peel.

About Mountain BizWorks: The mission of Mountain BizWorks is to build economic opportunities through business development and capital. Our vision is inspiring entrepreneurs who have viable business ideas and the discipline to follow through will be able to access the resources they need to create successful businesses. The entrepreneurs’ increased income and improved quality of life will build a more vibrant local economy in Western North Carolina. All who participate know Mountain BizWorks as a trusted gathering place and community to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs of varying incomes, geographies, and ethnicities. Mountain BizWorks is a leading small business development organization.

Community Agri-Business Alliance (CABA)

Date: July 21, 2010
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Cooperative Extension Office (Columbus)
Cost: Free
Deadline for Registration: July 20, 2010
Instructor:
Contact: joann@mountainbizworks.org

The community Agri-Business Alliance (CABA) is a membership organization for the support and development of Mountain BizWorks Alumni in Polk County Office of Agricultural Economic Development.
The focus of this alliance has a special emphasis on agriculture, but the friends of agruiculture are also encouraged to participate.
For more information call: Jo Ann Miksa-Blackwell at 864.457.6843

Information Session

Date: July 26, 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: Mountain BizWorks (Asheville)
Cost: Free
Deadline for Registration:
Instructor:
Contact: erika@mountainbizworks.org

Information Sessions are the first place to start if you are interested in learning about services available at Mountain BizWorks. Pre-registration is required to attend a session.

Directions: We are located at the corner of Hilliard and S. Lexington – one block over from The Orange Peel.

About Mountain BizWorks: The mission of Mountain BizWorks is to build economic opportunities through business development and capital. Our vision is inspiring entrepreneurs who have viable business ideas and the discipline to follow through will be able to access the resources they need to create successful businesses. The entrepreneurs’ increased income and improved quality of life will build a more vibrant local economy in Western North Carolina. All who participate know Mountain BizWorks as a trusted gathering place and community to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs of varying incomes, geographies, and ethnicities. Mountain BizWorks is a leading small business development organization.

Information Session

Date: July 27, 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: Mountain BizWorks (Sylva)
Cost: Free
Deadline for Registration:
Instructor:
Contact: daphne@mountainbizworks.org

Information Sessions are the first place to start if you are interested in learning about and potentially signing up for classes and services with Mountain BizWorks. Pre-registration is requested to attend a session.

About Mountain BizWorks: The mission of Mountain BizWorks is to build economic opportunities through business development and capital. Our vision is inspiring entrepreneurs who have viable business ideas and the discipline to follow through will be able to access the resources they need to create successful businesses. The entrepreneurs’ increased income and improved quality of life will build a more vibrant local economy in Western North Carolina. All who participate know Mountain BizWorks as a trusted gathering place and community to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs of varying incomes, geographies, and ethnicities. Mountain BizWorks is a leading small business development organization.

SheBIZ Alliance

Date: July 28, 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: Mountain BizWorks (Asheville)
Cost: $20 for MBW members and Sheville advertisers, $25 for others
Deadline for Registration: 7/21
Instructor: Celeste Ametrine
Contact: shebiz@sheville.org

What is it?
The SheBIZ Alliance is a women’s networking and referral alliance! The mission of the SheBIZ Alliance is to provide women a place to network and develop business leads in a non-competitive business environment over six months.

How does it work?
The SheBIZ Alliance will hold closed monthly meetings of no more than 20 women. In these meetings you will have a chance to present your business and in
turn the group members will work to generate business leads for you.

What’s required of me?
Each member must agree to get leads for another business. You should bring 20
business cards to your first meeting. Each member will be required to sign a
confidentiality agreement. We will provide lunch.

Who can join?
Any woman owned and operated small business can join.

Group 1: First Friday of every month
Group 2: Last Wednesday of every month

*Lunch served @ 11:30 a.m.

Asheville Artist Alliance

Date: July 28, 2010
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Mountain BizWorks (Asheville)
Cost: Free
Deadline for Registration: 7/23
Instructor:
Contact: naomi@mountainbizworks.org

We invite you to join our steering committee to help create unique workshops and events to support local artists enhance their business skills. In this meeting, we will be working on the final touches for our August workshop.

The Asheville Artist Alliance mission is to provide assistance and opportunities to WNC artists for the development of business skills needed to succeed in their venue. The Asheville Artist Alliance is in its sixth year of producing Artist Seminar Series workshops and events, which are designed for WNC artists to provide assistance and opportunities to develop successful business skills.

Spanish Foundations

Date: July 31, 2010
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: PILLAR Tax Servicess
Cost: Sliding scale
Deadline for Registration: July 30, 2010
Instructor: Norberto Chavez
Contact: adriana@mountainbizworks.org

Una vez que usted haya elegido confiar en usted mismo y en el negocio de sus sueños, nosotros le invitamos a que inicie el curso de Fundaciones. Este curso es esencial para la planificación de su negocio, con una duración de nueve semanas. Cuando usted participa en la clase de Fundaciones, también tiene la oportunidad de compartir con otros futuros comerciantes y explorar las necesidades que tendrá al iniciar su propio negocio. Al finalizar el curso, usted habrá convertido su idea a un plan de negocios por escrito que le ayudará a iniciar o crecer su sueño.

What are the advantages of Foundations: the Mountain BizWorks business training program for small business?
1. Comprehensive: The 24-hour course covers the key elements of a business plan, including:
• Business mission, goals and structure and management capacity
• Financial planning and resources
• Marketing (defining and targeting markets, product features and benefits, marketing strategy)
• Presentation
2. Stimulating, empowering and enjoyable: New and expanding small business owners ‘discover’ how to
apply their knowledge, skills and experiences to realizing their dream of economic independence.
• Actively involves participants in their own learning process
• Encourages creative thinking, discussion and problem-solving
• Develops life skills as well as business skills
• Generates immediately relevant learning in a safe, fun environment
3. Flexible: To be effective in a wide range of environments, the innovative content and methodology are
designed for:
• Dynamic delivery in informal classroom setting
• Low cost reproduction and supplies
• Accessibility/effectiveness with culturally and educationally diverse groups
• Learner-focused; participant controls what and how he/she learns
• Targets start-up or expanding business owners in every industry
4. Value-based AND results-oriented: The underlying principles are the same, regardless of the group:
respect, empowerment, trust. Inspired by these values, participants build their OWN business plans
based on their goals, experiences, management style and resources over nine weeks.

For more information, please visit http://www.mountainbizworks.org/.

* All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made of requested two weeks in advance. Contact the staff member listed with said event to request accommodations.

Is now the time to pull back and weather the storm, or do you seize the moment and move into growth mode? The truth lies somewhere in between. Learn how to look for hidden business opportunities in the current economy. (3 hrs)

For more info visit the Asheville Small Business Incubator Website!

Total Registration Fee: Free
Tue, Apr 13, 6:00PM-9:00PM
2046 Small Business Center, Enka Center Course #: SBC-1001-700

This course is designed for anyone planning to start a new business, expand their existing business or introduce a new product, with a special emphasis on businesses related to the “Green Business.” Before investing time and money, the question must be asked, “Is this idea or product feasible?” This course will train you to prepare a preliminary feasibility study and will be critiqued by the Professional Services Team at the Center for Business and Technology Incubation, enabling you to determine if your idea/product is a Go or No-Go business idea. (15 hrs)

Total Registration Fee: $25.00

Thu, Apr 01 – May 20, 6:00PM-9:00PM
2001 Small Business Center, Enka Center Course #: SEF-2003-700
Class will meet Apr 01, 15, 29, May 13, and 20.

March 20, 2010 – Saturday – 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration: $30.00
Save $5 by pre-registering!

Ask any banker if they would consider lending money to you for a business that does not have a Business Plan. Once they wipe the tears of laughter from their face, they will look at you sympathetically and say, “Of course…NOT!”. Why would they do such a mean spirited thing? Lenders know that without a Business Plan (1) They cannot make a valid judgment about whether your business idea is a good one or not and (2) They cannot be sure that you have thought through all the essential issues of your proposed business. And guess what… neither can you! Join our Business Plan workshop and learn how to assess the real chance your business has to survive in today’s hotbed economy.

The speakers are successful business persons who will bring you first-hand insights.

–Bryce Malsbary is a retired executive with careers in Human Resource Management and Financial Services. He has 18 years experience in Healthcare HRM with 10 of those years as Vice President of HR at Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida. His second career of 17 years was with AIG Retirement as Regional Director for the State of Florida where he was responsible for group relations and new business development. His responsibilities also included developing and implementing annual business plans to achieve corporate sales quotas.

–Glenn Pirrong is an Asheville SCORE counselor with extensive background in finance and general management. Prior to purchasing and operating his own company, he was the CFO of a NASDAQ-traded public company. Earlier he held senior financial positions with major corporations and was president of a subsidiary company. He will present the material on the Financial Section of the Business Plan covering Balance Sheet, Income Statement (P & L), Cash Flow Statement and Break even Analysis.

Scheduled dates, times, location and directions:

March 20, 2010 – Saturday
* 8:00 a.m. – Registration
* 8:30 a.m. – Seminar starts promptly
* Location: A-B Tech Enka Campus, Small Business Center, Room 2046

April 22, 2010 – Thursday – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Registration: $30.00
Save $5 by pre-registering!

Each year the Internet becomes more and more competitive. The more companies there are online the harder it is to maintain a number one spot on the search engines and the more difficult it is to achieve the online attention you need. Do you want to increase your web site’s performance? Then attend SCORE’s Internet Marketing Advanced Fall class. Learn about:

* The basic rules of search engines
* Search Engine Optimization, better known as SEO
* Organic search engine marketing
* Blogging
* Social Networking
* The Importance of Keywords
* Writing for the web
* The role of Pay Per Click… is it right for you?
* Keys to Successful Email Newsletter Campaigns
* Online Syndication and RSS Feeds

And much more! This class is geared towards web savvy businesses that have already started to develop an online presence. Individuals that have been building and managing their own web site but are interested in search engine marketing are encouraged to attend. For more information visit the Asheville SCORE website.

This class will provide students with an overall understanding of the buying and selling process, including the financial statements and ratios used, how to prepare and market your business for sale, how to analyze a business to buy, and managing and structuring deals. (2 hrs)

Total Registration Fee: Free

• Tue, Jan 19, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
• 2046 Small Business Center, Enka Site Course #: SBC-7795-700
• Thu, Feb 25, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
• 126 Ramsey, Madison Site Course #: SBC-7795-701

Sponsored by:

Teresa T. Carrelli, CPA 828-230-0704
Teresacarrelli.cpa@gmail.com

March 6, 2010 – Saturday – 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (details below)

Registration: $40.00 (box lunch provided during seminar)

Save $5 by pre-registering!

There is an ancient Oriental saying that states, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We at Asheville SCORE would add that it’s probably a good idea to be headed in the right direction when that step is taken. Our How to Start a New Business in Tough Times seminar is designed to point the new or potential business owner in the right direction.

This seminar provides an overview of key elements and issues that every business owner must face: the Business Plan, Record Keeping (for tax/inventory/accounting), Legal Structure, Financing, Promotion/Marketing and Risk Management/Insurance (workers’ comp and liability). Any person starting a business without this knowledge may be taking those aforementioned initial steps toward a cliff, while admiring the clouds in the sky!

Our five-speaker team will bring their expertise to you in an easy-to-grasp manner, so that by the end of the session you will have a realistic understanding of what you need to do to get your business off on the right foot. There will be ample opportunities to ask specific questions of each speaker.

Here’s a fact: most business start-ups fail due to bad business decisions made by the owners. This seminar will help you make the right decisions during the critical formative stages of your organization. The seminar runs until 2:00, so lunch is included in the seminar fee.

Kerry Friedman is a partner in the Asheville law firm of Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, PA, specializing in business and corporate law. He will make you aware of the various legal forms of business organizations and the advantages /disadvantages of each so that you can make the best decision for your business. In addition, this is an opportunity for you to become familiar with a broad variety of the legal issues of your business and the options available to you.

Glenn Pirrong is an Asheville SCORE counselor with an extensive background in finance and general management. Prior to purchasing and operating his own company he was the CFO of a NASDAQ-traded public company. Earlier he held senior financial positions with major corporations and was the president of a subsidiary company. His presentation will cover many areas of obtaining financing for small business.

William ‘Chip’ Williamson is President of Hutton Vincent Williamson Mclean Insurance Company, located in Asheville, NC. Chip started his career as a field agent and then eventually became President of Schley and Williamson Agency in Asheville. He successfully merged his company with two other insurance agencies in Western North Carolina. An Asheville native, Chip is active in his church and various community organizations. His company is a full service agency offering complete services for home, auto, business, life and health.

Terri Carrelli, CPA is a graduate of UNCA with BA in Economics. She earned her CPA in 1988. A member of AICPA and NCACPA since ‘89, she began her career as an auditor with McGladrey and Pullen specializing in small to midsize businesses. This was followed by association with Brian C Hunter CPA P.A., specializing in small business and accounting software consulting, tax returns and financial statement preparation and tax planning. Terri is currently owner and principal of her own consulting firm. She can be reached at 828-230-0704 or by email at teresacarrelli.cpa@gmail.com.

Don Sinclair is our presenter. He was a practicing chiropractic physician for 25 years with four clinics. In addition, he owned Chiroventures, Limited. – a publishing house specializing in newsletters, audio tapes and videos for the chiropractic profession. At Chiroventures he was responsible for all the company’s marketing and advertising, which led to his founding his own advertising agency. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and Life Chiropractic College. Don is presently a marketing consultant and SCORE counselor serving the Asheville area. The knowledge he shares with you comes from his practical successes…and failures, and can help your business grow.

Scheduled dates, times, location and directions:

March 6, 2010 – Saturday

Time; 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.(boxed lunch provided)

• 8:00 a.m. – Registration
• 8:30 a.m. – Seminar starts promptly
• Location: A-B Tech Enka Campus, Small Business Center, Room 2046