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Small Business Connections February 2010 |
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Welcome to Small Business Connections!
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Waubonsee Community College is here to serve your small business needs. We offer free business counseling to entrepreneurs and business owners, as well as a variety of small business workshops.
Call us today at (630) 906-4143 to learn how we can help you start or grow your business. |
| Small Business Spotlight |
Vignettes
One sure cure for the winter blues is a trip to Vignettes in Yorkville. At Vignettes, spring and summer are eternal, with a myriad of home and garden displays sure to inspire anyone seeking a fresh flair for table settings, room décor or gift items. Everywhere you turn, Vignettes offers some new treasure.
Vignettes owner Phyllis Keller managed a floral shop for many years. This experience, combined with her extensive travel in Italy, France and Greece, inspired her to create in Vignettes a shopping experience that appeals to the five senses. Located in an old building filled with charm and history in downtown Yorkville, the atmosphere at Vignettes encourages you to linger and indulge yourself.
Vignettes offers a wide assortment of unique merchandise including jewelry, candles, garden and wall art, handmade soaps, gourmet foods, tableware, linens, wine items and small furniture. Phyllis also offers occasional in-store classes and will create custom floral arrangements for all budgets.
Vignettes is approaching its third anniversary, and Phyllis is proud to report that the shop has been slowly but steadily growing in spite of the economic downturn. Phyllis has worked with Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College over the last year to discuss marketing ideas and other ways to continue to grow the business.
You can visit Vignettes Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 101 Emmon in downtown Yorkville, or online at www.vignettesdecor.com. |
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IL SBDC News and Events |
| Spring Tax Workshop |
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The Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College is partnering with the National Association for the Self-Employed to bring micro-business tax strategies to you. This small-group two-hour seminar offers close access to a CPA specializing in taxes affecting the self-employed.
- Find hidden deductions
- Save by employing your spouse and children
- Learn Tax Code changes for 2009
- Enjoy breakfast and networking with fellow micro-business owners in your community
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Registration/Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.
Seminar: 9 - 11 a.m.
Waubonsee Community College
5 E. Galena Blvd.
Aurora, IL 60506
Room 133
Special pricing for SBDC clients and NASE members -- Register now for $20!
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Are You Ready? FREE Webinars and Workshops
Attend a free 30 minute webinar to assess your state of business 'readiness' in the event of a disaster. You will boost your awareness of critical business functions and how they can be impacted by natural, business or technological disasters. Or, attend a workshop to create a Business Ready Plan.
Both programs are offered free as a result of the new Disaster Assistance Program supported by grant funding provided by the SBA, DCEO and College of DuPage.
Is your business prepared for the unexpected? For more information or to attend either a webinar or a workshop, contact Kris Fay at (630) 942-3088 or by email at faykris@cod.edu.
Webinars:
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18, 9 a.m.
Workshop:
Thursday, Feb. 25, 9:00 a.m.
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Exporting Workshops
The Illinois International Trade Center at College of DuPage is offering the following exporting workshops at their Lisle campus:
Learn the Basics of Exporting
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 9 - 11 a.m.
International Marketing
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 1 - 3 p.m.
For more information or to register, please call (630) 942-2600, or email mayorga@cod.edu. You can also view the flyer here. |
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Biz Buzz |
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Financing Your Business -- How to Survive in a Tight Credit Market |
Financing has always been one of the hardest parts of starting or growing a business. There never was such a thing as easy money. And in today's economy, entrepreneurs and business owners are faced with even greater challenges finding financing.
Here are some tips on ways to make financing your business in today's economy just a little easier.
 Be prepared - Start-ups have no established cash flow, so bank financing will depend primarily on the strength of your personal financial history. A business plan is also a requirement.
Don't fall for the free money myth - There is no such thing as free money. The internet is rife with offers and promises on how to tap into free government money for your business. Most of these range from misleading to downright dishonest. Before pursuing any grant resources, let the Illinois SBDC help you evaluate the validity of the offer.
Start small - If you can't find the financing to start the business of your dreams, look for ways to scale back your idea and build the business on the back of initial successes.
Explore seller financing - If you are buying a business, ask the seller to help you finance the purchase. Often a motivated seller can work out financing terms that will make the acquisition possible.
Improve bookkeeping practices - No one likes to pay the taxes, but many businesses manage their books to minimize taxes only to find that they are unable to qualify for a loan. This is especially true of cash-based businesses where sloppy or nonexistent bookkeeping practices ultimately harm their ability to finance the business.
Create jobs - Some loan programs are based on job creation. If you are planning to hire employees, look into participation loans and other programs that offer financing incentives or reduced interest rates based on job creation.
Manage cash flow - There is no better way to finance your business operations than from your own cash flow. Reduce inventory levels. Improve billing and collection practices. Consider factoring as a way to provide immediate cash for receivables that you can't wait to collect.
Scale back and focus - When was the last time you evaluated your product/service line? Tighten up operations and focus on the most profitable parts of your business. Eliminate or scale back products or services that are not as profitable and cut overhead costs.
Small loans to start-ups and existing businesses that are unable to qualify for conventional financing.
Contact Chrissy Halsey at (815) 758-3910
Contact Karen Christensen at (630) 264-3054
The Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College can help you evaluate ways to improve your business and explore business financing options. For more information about these and other resources, or to schedule an appointment, contact the SBDC at (630) 906-4143. |
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Biz Bits |
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Construction Industry, Code Officials, Architects & Engineers Urged to Attend Environmental Workshops |
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The Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance Program along with other state and federal agencies will be hosting workshops to raise awareness of regulatory requirements in the construction, demolition and property management industries. Topics will include regulations regarding floodplans, asbestos, lead, radon, storm water, endangered species review, OSHA, as well as energy efficiency incentives and USEPA's Indoor airPLUS Program. The course will satisfy requirements for professional development hours/continuing education units for professional engineers, architects and radon professionals.
Locations include:
- February 9 - The Regency Conference Center, O'Fallon
- February 10 - John A. Logan College, Carterville
- February 23 - Harper College, Palatine
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Building Operator's Certification Training
Waubonsee Community College and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) have teamed up to offer Building Operator's Certification (BOC) training. On average, BOC training will save your company up to $12,000 annually in facility costs. Classes begin February 2. For more information, contact Blance Norris at (630) 906-4120, or visit www.waubonsee.edu/workforcedev/BOC.
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SBIR/STTR Grant Workshop
The iBio Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is holding an SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Workshop. This is a 2-day intensive workshop covering all aspects of writing SBIR/STTR grants focused on life science technologies. The workshop will cover all agencies including Department of Defense, National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, with detailed emphasis on NIH.
February 22-23
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Enterprise Works - Conference Room 130
60 Hazelwood Dr., MC-659
Champaign, IL 61820
For more information contact Ann Reed at (312) 422-1111, ext. 3.
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OSHA Safety Day
Join Waubonsee Community College on March 17 as it welcomes federal OSHA officials for a full day of presentations on various safety topics. Presentations include the most frequent OSHA violations, the latest safety concerns, as well as subjects relevant to specific industries such as construction. Attend up to four sessions covering more than 30 safety concerns for business, industry, and other organizations.
Breakout session topics include:
- Effective Strategies for Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
- Electrical Safety Requirements
- Health Issues in the Construction Industry
- Infection Control at Work
- ... and many more!
For more information or to register, call Blance Norris at (630) 906-4120 or email bnorris@waubonsee.edu. You can also view the flyer here. | |
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| Get Smart: Small Business Workshops at Waubonsee |
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Marketing in the 21st Century: Using New Technologies
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 - 8 p.m., $30
Starting Your Business in Illinois
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6 - 9 p.m., $30
Thursday, March 18, 6 - 9 p.m., $30
Is Franchising Right for You?
Wednesday, March 3, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., $30
Marketing for Small Business
Thursday, March 11, 6 - 9 p.m., $30
Check seminar details online for class descriptions, locations, ticket numbers, prices and registration information, or call the Illinois SBDC office at (630) 906-4143.
QuickBooks classes are available to meet your small business accounting needs. Class titles include:
- QuickBooks: Exploring Products to Meet Your Small Business Needs
- Using QuickBooks: An Introduction to the Setup Process
- QuickBooks Basics
- Using QuickBooks: One-to-One Consulting
- Year-End Closing with QuickBooks
- Using QuickBooks: Complete the Payroll Process
Click here for complete QuickBooks class descriptions, locations, dates, times and costs.
IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER, BE SURE TO CHECK THE WAUBONSEE WEB SITE FOR CLASS CANCELLATIONS: WWW.WAUBONSEE.EDU
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| Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or DCEO.
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