How to Prosper in the New Energy Future
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Cost: FREE
Time: 8:30 am – 10 am
This presentation will review new federal and state energy legislation, utility deregulation, and the advances in technology that will provide new commercial opportunities for northeastern Pennsylvania businesses.
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Lunch & Learn: Employee Stock Ownership Programs (ESOPs): Are They an Option For Your Business?
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time: 12 pm – 2 pm
Cost: $35, add a boxed lunch for an additional $10
Is your business eligible to establish and ESOP? What are the tax advantages? How do you set up an ESOP? Learn the pros and cons of this unique business ownership plan.
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Making Sense of Dollars and Cents
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Time: 12 pm – 2 pm
Cost: Seminar $35, Box Lunch $10 (optional)
Location: MetroAction, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton
Presenter: Mike Kohanski, JonesKohanski
Program Description: This seminar is a plain-English approach to the "language of business". Learn to read and understand basic financial statements, including the income statement, the balance sheet, and the all important cash flow statement. The class will show you how to use these everyday financial statements as powerful tools to improve your profits and manage your business. This course is designed for small business start-ups, owners, or managers who want to take the mystery out of accounting.
Attendees will also learn the following:
-
The difference between cash basis and accrual accounting
- The pros and cons of both manual and computerized accounting systems
- How to set up a chart of account
- The importance of tracking accounts receivable and accounts payable
- What to look for in an accounting firm
- What should you expect from the firm you hire and what your responsibilities are
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Small Business Resource Clinic - Milford
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008
Time: 9 am – 10 am
Cost: FREE, pre-registration is required
Location: Pike County Chamber of Commerce, 209 East Harford Street, Milford
Presenter: MetroAction staff
Program Description: If you are thinking about starting a small business or if you have already started and realize you still have questions, the Small Business Resource Clinic is what you need. This program will review the steps needed to develop a successful business and link you to valuable resources to help you grow your business.
Receive quick and easy tips for writing your business plan and recommendations on how to use your plan to obtain financing, focus ideas, identify specific business objectives, and chart and manage growth.
The Small Business Resource Clinic will also take the mystery out of financing your business. You will learn how small business loans work, what documents and information are required, and review the requirements to qualify for small business financing. The clinic will also explain about small business grants, what lenders look for, and how you can improve your chances of qualifying for a small business loan.
This seminar is designed to point the new or potential business owner in the right direction, providing an overview of:
- Developing a business plan
- Helpful community resources
- Financing options for your business
- What lenders look for and much more!
The clinic ideal for all business types, such as retail, wholesale, hospitality, agricultural, child care providers, technology business and manufacturing.
Register Now
Doing Business with the Commonwealth
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2008
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Cost: FREE, pre-registration is required
Location: Scranton Enterprise Center, 201 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton
Presenter: Curtis Burwell, PA Department of General Services Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities
Program Description: Learn how your small business can pursue contract opportunities with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at this FREE seminar.
The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) purchases more than $4.5 billion in goods and services each year and establishes procurement policy/procedures for most Commonwealth agencies. The Department's Bureau of Procurement acts as the purchasing agency for statewide requirements contracts and for purchase orders for supplies in excess of $20,000 and for services in excess of $250,000.
This timely information and networking opportunity is a must for any small business owner. This seminar will cover the following topics:
- Discover whether the state buys what you sell
- Learn how state government purchases goods and services
- Know where to find state business opportunities
- Explore government programs to help small businesses
- Find out about certifications for minority and women-owned businesses
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Selling to the Federal Government
Date: Thursday, June 19, 2008
Time: 1 pm – 4 pm
Cost: FREE, pre-registration is required
Location: Scranton Enterprise Center, 201 Lackawanna Ave, Scranton
Presenter: John Banks, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Program Description:
Learn how your small business can pursue contract opportunities with the Federal Government at this FREE seminar.
The SBA has a number of programs to help small firms do business with the Federal Government. If your company is owned by individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged, you may qualify for certification in the U.S. Small Business Administration's 8(a) program. The 8(a) program seeks to level the playing field for those individuals, helping them compete for, and win, government contracts. Topics include: eligibility, benefits available to certified firms, documentation required to submit an application, and certification procedures.
Information and eligibility requirements for certification will also be presented for the HUBZone Program, which establishes preferences for award of Federal contracts to small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones.
.Register Now
Small Business Resource Clinic - Hazelton
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008
Time: 9 am – 10 am
Cost: FREE, pre-registration is required
Location: Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, 20 West Broad Street, Hazleton
Presenter: MetroAction Staff
Program Description:
If you are thinking about starting a small business or if you have already started and realize you still have questions, the Small Business Resource Clinic is what you need. This program will review the steps needed to develop a successful business and link you to valuable resources to help you grow your business.
Receive quick and easy tips for writing your business plan and recommendations on how to use your plan to obtain financing, focus ideas, identify specific business objectives, and chart and manage growth.
The Small Business Resource Clinic will also take the mystery out of financing your business. You will learn how small business loans work, what documents and information are required, and review the requirements to qualify for small business financing. The clinic will also explain about small business grants, what lenders look for, and how you can improve your chances of qualifying for a small business loan.
This seminar is designed to point the new or potential business owner in the right direction, providing an overview of:.
- Developing a business plan
- Helpful community resources
- Financing options for your business
- What lenders look for and much more!
The clinic ideal for all business types, such as retail, wholesale, hospitality, agricultural, child care providers, technology business and manufacturing.
Register Now
Building Better Credit
Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Time: 9 am – 10 am
Cost: FREE, pre-registration is required
Location: MetroAction, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton
Presenter: Terri Stocki, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeast PA
Program Description: MetroAction and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of NEPA have teamed up to provide a FREE informative seminar designed help you understand and improve your personal credit.
79% of all credit reports have errors on them that could cost you thousands of dollars in unnecessary charges. You can avoid this just by knowing more about how the credit system works.
Credit impacts virtually every facet of our lives! This Building Better Credit seminar is designed to educate you about the necessary concepts of credit and credit reports. Join presenter Terri Stocki from Consumer Credit Counseling of NEPA as she uncovers:
- Understanding Credit Scores
- The Basics of Credit Reports
- How to Build and Maintain a Good Credit Rating
Lenders use credit scores all of the time. They use this information to determine interest rates and credit limits and to determine if you qualify for special incentives. Understanding your credit can make your financial dealings a lot easier and can save you hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars in interest.
Learn how to maximize your ability to obtain the best financing and insurance terms available in the marketplace by attending this FREE seminar!
: Register Now
Small Business Resource Clinic - Scranton
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Time: 9 am – 10 am
Cost: FREE, pre-registration is required
Location: MetroAction, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton
Presenter: MetroAction Staff
Program Description: If you are thinking about starting a small business or if you have already started and realize you still have questions, the Small Business Resource Clinic is what you need. This program will review the steps needed to develop a successful business and link you to valuable resources to help you grow your business.
Receive quick and easy tips for writing your business plan and recommendations on how to use your plan to obtain financing, focus ideas, identify specific business objectives, and chart and manage growth.
The Small Business Resource Clinic will also take the mystery out of financing your business. You will learn how small business loans work, what documents and information are required, and review the requirements to qualify for small business financing. The clinic will also explain about small business grants, what lenders look for, and how you can improve your chances of qualifying for a small business loan.
This seminar is designed to point the new or potential business owner in the right direction, providing an overview of:.
- Developing a business plan
- Helpful community resources
- Financing options for your business
- What lenders look for and much more!
The clinic ideal for all business types, such as retail, wholesale, hospitality, agricultural, child care providers, technology business and manufacturing.
Register Now
Business Writing I Workshop
Date: Tuesday and Thursday, August 12, 14 and 19, 2008
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Cost: $299 per person
Location: MetroAction, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton
Presenter: Dr. Larry Kuhar, Wilkes University Professor
Program Description:
Do you struggle with writing letters, emails or reports? Do you have difficulty communicating your ideas to your customers and colleagues?
This comprehensive 9-hour seminar will provide you with the skills and tools you need to become a more effective and professional writer. This Business Writing I Workshop will:
- Enhance your confidence as a writer
- Improve the clarity and precision in your messages
- Teach you how to adapt your tone to suit your audience
- Teach you how to improve your punctuation and grammar skills
- Review ways to get started at a writing task and see writing as a process
- Identify proofreading approaches
- Improve your editing skills
This workshop is highly tailored and customized to directly address the participants' specific needs and expectations. Participants will be asked to provide several writing samples prior to the class. Workshop exercises will be developed based on the participants' materials and focused on specific job competencies.
This interactive workshop will conclude with a one-hour, one-on-one conference to review progress and provide individualized results.
Because this workshop is customized and hands-on, seating is extremely limited! Enroll today!
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Small Business Institure
Date: Tuessday, October 7 - November 25, 2008
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Cost: $149 per person
Location: The Innovation Center @ Wilkes-Barre
Presenter: Wilkes Small Business Development Center staff
Program Description:
The Small Business Institute helps lay the groundwork for successful business development in northeastern Pennsylvania. Organized through a unique collaboration between the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Innovation Center @ Wilkes-Barre and MetroAction, the institute offers a one-stop entrepreneurial educational program like no other in this region. Over the past two years, the SBI has graduated more than 50 new entrepreneurs, owners of expanding businesses and business managers.
This 8-week program helps participants put all the pieces together to complete a comprehensive business plan, make sound business decisions and achieve better performance in their business. The SBI utilizes the award winning Core Four® curriculum and features sessions on success, market, cash flow, and operations planning.
Program Outline:
- Success Planning: Success planning presents tools for self-assessment, financal goal setting, boundary setting, communication skills, selling skills, and contingency planning.
- Market Planning: Market Planning presents tools and strategies for operating a market-driven business including: identifying customers, analyzing competition and industry, identifying a market niche and position, options for distributing products and services, identifying features and benefits of products and services, image and packaging decisions, promotional planning, pricing and selling.
- Cash Flow Planning: Cash Flow Planning presents detailed strategies for preparing cash flow projections, projecting sales, setting goals, and contingency planning. It focuses on helping you understand that the business and the person are separate economic entities.
- Operations Planning: Operations Planning presents key issues and strategies for having a legitimate business, compliance with all legal requirements, and effective business operations. Operations Planning helps you identify the various “hats” that owners and managers, must wear and how to stay focused.
Who Should Attend:
- People planning to start a business in the near future
- Business owners who want to expand their business
- Entrepreneurs who are seeking small business financing
- Managers and supervisors who are in need of management training
Register Now
