May 2: Wisdom, Wine and Cheese (Introduction to WBDC's Services)
A session that helps prospective and established business owners clarify their needs and learn more about WBDC resources.
May 3 or 5: Marketing and Selling Strategies (Part of JumpStart Series)
This session addresses how to: distinguish between selling and marketing, identify benefits for building skills in both areas, identify key forms of media that will help market your business, develop at least 3 strategies for marketing and more.
May 10: The Business Case for Succession Planning
At some point, business owners will want to exit their business and a well thought out exit strategy should be an important part of a business owner's planning. Learn from subject matter experts that provide financial, legal and accounting services to women business owners and increase your ability to create a comprehensive succession plan.
May 10 or 12: Financial Analysis I (Part of JumpStart Series)
Learn the importance of knowing and analyzing the sources of your business revenue. Learn how to project sales and what the impact of the target market's characteristics could be on cash flow and sales projections.
May 11: Website Development for Naked Business (e-Marketing Series)
In the Digital Age, the absence of a strong website is a missed opportunity to connect with both potential and current customers. This workshop will discuss the basics of designing and developing a website.
May 16: Webinar: The Myths of Franchising
Think you know all the options available to you in franchising? In this webinar, we'll expose the many myths of franchising. For starters, it's not all Popeye's and Subway. Learn from our partner, The Entrepreneur's Source, about the process you can go through to determine if franchising is right for you and how to position yourself well to increase your odds for success.
May 17 or 19: Financial Analysis II (Part of JumpStart Series)
Learn how to interpret and project business financial statements, determine start-up and expansion costs, and develop projected cash flow and income statements.
May 18: Is Certification Right for You?
Learn about certification from one of our resident experts. Local, state and federal certifications will be covered, along with the private certification offered by the Women's Business Development Center.
May 18: Driving Traffic to Your Website: SEO and Copywriting (e-Marketing Series)
Having a website is important, but even more important is the ability to get people to find and stay on your website long enough to build awareness and even buy something. Learn to build benefit and value for your customers through the words you choose to describe your product/service.
May 24 or 26: Business Plan (Part of JumpStart Series)
Learn the elements, applications, and contents of a good business plan. Use these instructions to develop a business plan for your company.
May 25: How to Do Business with the State of Illinois
The State of Illinois purchases more than $10 billion worth of supplies and services every year. The Small Business Set-Aside Program (SBSP) is the state program that reserves certain types of contracts so that only small businesses can compete for them. If the State of Illinois is one of your targeted clients, you don't want to miss this workshop!
May 25: Online Storytelling, Business Blogging & e-Mail Newsletters (e-Marketing Series)
Got news? Have great advice to give or a good story to share? Learn how you can use blogs and e-mail newsletters to reach your audience in a way that moves them into action.
May 26: Fix Your Credit Score & Other Financial Information for Starting a Business
Learn from a WBDC Finance Specialist how your credit score and personal financial situation can affect your ability to obtain a business loan. This webinar will also discuss methods that can help improve your credit rating and overall financial picture.
