In every issue of this newsletter, we tell you about local training opportunities. They can give you strategies to help you grow your business faster, and also help you avoid pitfalls common to startups. But sometimes you just can't make it to an event at a certain time. That's when you can turn to online training that's available when you are. Here are a few options:

BizLaunch offers online webinars, such as "Best Way to Hire: Know Who Will Succeed Before You Offer," "Email Your Way to More Customers," and "eChecks: The Easy Way to Pay Bills and Save Money." The presenters speak from experience as entrepreneurs who have personally launched companies. You can access their past webinars for free.

The Company Corporation started more than 100 years ago and has helped 750,000 small businesses become incorporated. You can access these and other past webinars for free on their website: "Strategies for Raising Growth Capital in Volatile Markets," "How to Stay in Compliance," and "How to Pick a Great Domain Name and Use It."

The U.S. Small Business Administration is a federal government agency that helps start, build and grow businesses in America. The SBA offers a wide variety of training tools, including self-paced online workshops such as: "Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights," "How to Prepare Government Contract Proposals" and "Introduction to Crowdfunding for Entrepreneurs." The complete list of free webinars is on the SBA website.

Business Plan Bootcamp

This five-week class will cover strategic planning, marketing, financial reports, sales projections, social media and website development.

Date:   Mondays, January 12 and 26 and February 2, 9 and 23.

Time:   6 to 9 p.m.

Place:   Shenandoah University, 44160 Scholar Plaza, Leesburg

Cost:    $199. Must apply to be accepted into program.

Doing Business With Loudoun County

Information on the county's procurement processes and upcoming contracts. 

Date:   January 13, 2015

Time:   2 p.m.

Place:   Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg

Cost:    Free; register online

1 Million Cups

Join us for six-minute presentations from Loudoun business owners. Engage in peer mentoring by giving the presenter the benefit of your knowledge and experience in resolving business issues and making companies grow.

Date:   January 14 and 21, 2015

Time:   9 - 10 a.m.         

Place:   Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church Street SE, Leesburg

Cost:    Free

Tech Breakfast

Network and learn as four innovative companies make showcase-style presentations to techies, developers, designers, and entrepreneurs.

Date:   February 4, 2015

Time:   8 - 10 a.m.

Place:   AOL, 22000 AOL Way, Dulles

Cost:    Free; register online

Start Your Business

Ruth Cope, assistant director of the Loudoun Small Business Development Center, and Arthur Thompson, a principal at Keyser Thompson Insurance Agency, will answer essential questions about successfully starting a small business. Highlights will include taxesand licensing, business plan development and sources of financing.

Date:   January 15, 2015

Time:   11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Place:   Loudoun Small Business Development Center, 202 Church Street SE, Leesburg

Cost:    $10 online; $15 at the door

MEC Entrepreneur Book Club

Lunch is provided, so please RSVP. Explore how to grow your business by applying the concepts in the book "Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Date:    January 13, 2015

Time:    2 noon

Place:   Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church Street SE, Leesburg

Cost:     Free, register online