Anyone can start a small business. You don’t need a university degree or a friend who works at a bank. But you do need knowledge, a plan, and hard work to get your business off the ground.
Starting a business is risky if you don’t plan.
At SCORE, America’s business startup expert, we have developed a list of 20 items we want you to consider doing to help you manage the risk of starting a business. This list, SCORE’s Small Business Essentials Startup Task List, is your planning roadmap and lets you plan your new business step-by-step.
SCORE’s Small Business Essentials Workshop Series was developed to help anyone who is starting a business get the skills and knowledge to complete the business startup task list. We have streamlined our workshops to cover these key activities so that you are prepared to accomplish them after each workshop. All the workshops are two to three hours in length, and taught by experienced SCORE Mentors and free to attend.
Workshop Information
Scroll through & learn more about the workshops in the series!
Making a Quick Business Plan in Three Hours
In our first workshop, “Making a Quick Business Plan in 3 Hours,” we will help you take your idea and turn it into a product or service. We do that by helping you create a business plan based on the “Lean Canvas” template.
Successfully Starting a New Business
In our second workshop, “Successfully Starting a Business,” we’ll help you lay the foundation of your business by helping you choose the right business entity and understand the essentials of licensing, insurance, and funding.
Strategies to Identify and Reach Your Target Customers
In this workshop, we help you find your best customers (target market), write your value proposition and marketing message, and then create a promotional plan that lets you present your business in the best possible light.
Increase Sales and Profits with Pricing and Distribution Strategies
In "Increase Sales and Profits with Pricing and Distribution Strategies”, we spend most of the workshop on pricing and have special sections on the pricing of products and the pricing of services.
Digital Marketing to Grow Your Business
In “Marketing: Digital Marketing to Grow Your Business”, we explore how to get your business online to really boost your sales – profitability.
Financial Basics for New Small Businesses
In “Financial Basics for New Small Businesses” we review calculating your startup costs, projecting sales; and creating a projected profit, loss statement, and cash flow statement.
Tax Essentials for New and Existing Business Owners
This workshop will provide you with the skills to understand all your federal, state, and local taxes and create a plan to pay them
Building a Formal Business Plan (Optional)
If you are considering getting a business loan or lease for your business,
you
will need to put all your plans together in a formal business plan. Our “Building a Formal Business
Plan”
workshop will show you how!
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact greaterseattle@scorevolunteer.org
Ready for the challenge and reward of starting something of your very own?
