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Lunch ‘n Learn Series for New Business Owners
Free Score Webinar Series

Owning your own business can be a very rewarding experience, but it is also very challenging.  Many people either don’t know where to begin, or jump right in without knowing some of the keys to be successful.  If this sounds familiar, then this workshop series is exactly what you need.

This Month’s Module: Start-Up School

Elevate Your Entrepreneurial Journey with Our Exclusive Webinar Series! 

Dreaming of starting your own business? Join our highly informative and interactive series that covers crucial topics to help you succeed. From the germ of an idea to marketing, finance, and operations, this transformative journey will empower you with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the competitive market. Whether you're new to entrepreneurship or eager to take your venture to new heights, secure your spot today! All sessions conducted via Zoom. Pre-registration is required. Let's make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality! 

P.S., You’ll get more out of it if you come to all five classes. We've even given you sign-ups below for all of them to make it easier.

February 24th, Start-Up School #1: Business Ownership: Your Choice Awaits

Have you decided it’s time to make your business ownership dreams a reality? Already started your business but struggling to keep it on track? Business ownership is not for everyone, but those who learn the keys to success find it a very rewarding career move. Let us help you with the first session of our Start-Up School series. 

You’ll learn:

  • The key concepts that every business owner must consider when embarking on the entrepreneurial journey
  • The myths and realities of owning a business
  • Examples of how businesses can make or break their first year with critical decisions
  • How to organize your priorities and your resources to get started

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn how to maximize your opportunities and get your business off to a successful start.

Presenters:  Steve Mahoney and Kathleen Thompson

Register

Feb 26th,Start-Up School #2:Define Your Business: Product, Service, and Audience

Launching and growing a successful business starts with a clear understanding of what you offer and who your customers are. Without a well-defined product or service, it’s difficult to identify potential customers, understand your market, and create a successful marketing program that targets the right buyers. Likewise, failing to pinpoint your target audience can lead to wasted time, money, and missed opportunities.

This comprehensive workshop will help you build a strong foundation for your business by guiding you through the process of defining your product or service and identifying your target market.

In this session, you’ll discover:

  • How to effectively define your product or service
  • Key characteristics of a well-defined offering
  • Strategies to differentiate your product or service in the marketplace
  • What a target market and audience are, and how to identify them
  • How to determine the size of your market and align it with your business goals
  • How to use this information to focus your efforts and dominate your niche

Stop guessing and hoping for success—harness the power of knowledge to ensure your efforts are focused on those who truly value and benefit from what your business offers. This session will set you on the path to creating a strong, strategic business plan that gets results.

Don’t miss this valuable workshop—register today!

Presenters:  Elle Kowal, Kathleen Thompson and Steve Mahoney

Register

March 3rd, Start-Up School #3: Marketing & Sales: The Key to Business Liftoff

You've done your homework, nailed your niche, and created a standout offering. Now, it's time to add the fuel that will propel your business into the stratosphere. Introducing our highly anticipated workshop, "Marketing & Sales: The Key to Business Liftoff." Get ready to ignite your marketing efforts, turbocharge your sales, and take your business to new heights of success. 

In this power-packed session, you'll learn how to:

  • Captivate and convert your target audience 
  • Master the art of turning leads into loyal customers
  • Uncover the secrets of long-term customer retention 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to launch your business into orbit and achieve stellar results. Buckle up, because we're about to take off!

Presenters: Kathleen Thompson and Steve Mahoney

Register

March 5th, Start-Up School #4: Know Your Numbers: Business Financial Management

There are only so many hours in the day and as a business owner, you wear many hats.  Between marketing, sales, customer service, product innovation, and managing your team, how do you have time to be a finance expert?  Don’t worry - you don’t have to be, but there are some basics that you must manage.  In this session, we will teach you how to implement the best practices to manage your finances.  You’ll learn:

  • How to read and understand your financial statements
  • Budgeting and cash management tips
  • Managing your taxes
  • Pricing your products and services

You don’t have to be an accountant or a math whiz to get control of your finances, but every business owner must know the basics to ensure their business thrives.  Don’t miss this webinar to learn how you can master the art of knowing your numbers.

Presenters:  Steve Mahoney and Kathleen Thompson

Register

March 10th, Start-Up School #5: Master Your To-Do List: Secrets to Success

Are you a new business owner feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands of managing tasks and priorities? It's time to take control and master your to-do list like a pro. Join us for our engaging workshop, "Master Your To-Do List: Secrets to Success". In this transformative session designed specifically for new business owners, you'll gain invaluable tools and strategies to effectively manage your tasks, boost your productivity, and achieve outstanding results. 

In this session, you’ll learn how to:

  • Prioritize your workload
  • Streamline your workflow
  • Maximize productivity 

Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to productivity and set yourself up for success in your entrepreneurial journey. Sign up now and start mastering your to-do list with ease!

Presenters: Kathleen Thompson and Steve Mahoney 

Register

Headshot of Kathleen Thompson
SCORE mentor
Presenter: Kathleen Thompson

Kathleen Thompson is a professionally trained singer and public speaker. She gained experience leading through change and communicating in difficult situations with 7 mergers and acquisitions while working in finance and technology.  Kathleen now writes and produces her own music. She’s been a Score volunteer for 5 years. Kathleen also coaches people to develop their story and voice so that what others hear is what they intended to say. Her unique blend of story crafting and voice techniques help you not only tell a better story, but also tell a story better.

Find Her Here
SCORE mentor
Presenter: Steve Mahoney

Steve Mahoney is a certified mentor with SCORE Greater Hartford. He has over twenty years of experience in financial planning, budgeting, financial analysis, strategic planning, accounting and auditing. He has experience with large and small organizations, working across multiple disciplines including Finance, Legal, HR, Communications, and Business Operations.

Find on LinkedIn
SCORE mentor
Presenter: Elle Kowal

Elle is a certified mentor with SCORE who has over 20 years of experience leading global organizations of all sizes in the financial services and technology markets. Her career has focused on business and product strategy, marketing and product management. Most recently, Elle was Chief Operating Officer at MineralTree, a B2B fintech company that was acquired by a Fortune 100 company in 2021, and was named to the list of the Most Influential Women in Payments by PaymentSource. She has a passion for leading transformational change in companies and people to help them grow and meet their full potential.

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Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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