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Small Business Development Center
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Monthly Update
| November 2012
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The SOU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides in-depth, confidential, one-on-one guidance to businesses and prospective entrepreneurs atno fee. We can help you gather information, evaluate, plan, and create systems for your business that lead to greater profit, job creation, and job retention.
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Call 541-552-8300 for more information
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Smart Start Your Business
November 8, 2012
6:00 PM to 9:00 PMor November 30, 2012 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Get the important information you need to know before you start your business in southern Oregon. This 3-hour workshop provides the "nuts and bolts" and more to help you succeed.
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Small Business Networking Opportunities
Ashland Chamber Greeters Meetings
Every Friday,
8:15-9:30 am
Medford Chamber Greeters Meetings
Every Thursday,
8:00-9:00 am
Phoenix Chamber
Greeters Meetings
First Tuesday,
8:30-9:30 am
Talent Chamber
Greeters Meetings
Third Wednesday,
8:30-9:30 am
Heart of Medford Association
First Wednesday,
8:00-9:00 am
Jefferson Grapevine
Bi-monthly,
5:00-7:30 pm
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Additional Small Business Articles
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'My Dashboard'
Have you accessed your dashboard on BizCenter?
If not, click here for a handout to learn how.
Gain access to a variety of resources (including those from other centers), recommended documents from your advisor, and access LivePlan Business Plan Software at no cost
(Note: Advisor must sign you up first to receive the software at no cost).
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Oregon SBDC Programs:
Capital Access Team
The Capital Access Team is led by highly qualified SBDC advisors who engage clients in learning about access to capital.
In order to ready for a referral to the CAT, clients must pre-qualify by meeting
GROW Oregon
Thinking about growth? Wondering what it will take to stay profitable now and in the years ahead? GROW Oregon's highly experienced advisors have been there themselves, and have the wisdom to help your business thrive!
Click here for more information on GROW Oregon.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
As we approach that time of year when we celebrate our culture and the abundance of our nation, I would like to express my gratitude for the success of our SBDC, and to those that make it happen. Our staff is the greatest! Because of their commitment and hard work we are able to serve our local business community with care, excellence, and results. And, thank you to our clients and resource partners for giving us the opportunity to assist you.
Enjoy the upcoming holiday!
Jack
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"The SOU SBDC has an excellent team of advisors. Rob Cain helped us develop the business plan needed to finance our new building. After moving to our new location, we went from 7 to 25 employees! We continued working with Rob to create an employee manual that helped us organize and manage the new additions to our team."
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Business Plan Workshop
November 15, 2012
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Are you in the process of writing your business plan? Have you put it off because you don't know where to begin? Are you wondering, "Why write a business plan?" Attend this 3-hour workshop and get the answers.
Workshop Topics Include:
Cost: $25
Location:
RCC/SOU Higher Education Center
Room 129
101 S. Bartlett Street, Medford, OR
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The Wonder Woman Syndrome:
Women Entrepreneurs Trying to Juggle Everything
November 8, 2012; 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Are you feeling pulled in so many different directions that you don't have enough time to really sit down and focus on your business? How would things be different if you could manage it all, keep your goals on your priority list, and be able to say "no" when you need to? If you've been wondering how you juggle all the demands of your life and still build a business, you need to come to this meeting. Connect with other women in your community for this first-time-ever event. You get to ask the questions, and get the answers. During this open discussion you'll find you're not the only one wearing many different hats. There are always surprises and "aha" moments during these forums. Loren Fogelman is author of The Winning Point and founder of Expert Sports Performance.com, a company devoted to teaching athletes and entrepreneurs around the globe how to become high performers, maintain focus under pressure and create the confidence to reach their BIG goals. Location: Rogue Regency Inn 2300 Biddle Rd. Medford, OR Cost: Member - $18.00 (USD) for online registration and payment. Phone reservations and payment at the door - $20.00 Non-member - $23.00 (USD) for online registration and payment. Phone reservations and payment at the door - $25.00 Program only - $15.00 (USD) for online registration or payment at the door.
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Sustainable Acceleration: To Infinity & Beyond
November 14, 2012 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM This "Special Session" of the Jefferson Grapevine will be held in support of the Network with Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs while enjoying a Networking Reception, followed by a sit down dinner, a presentation by the Managing Director of Earth Energy Ventures and an important announcement from the Southern Oregon Angel Investment Network.
The conference features noted Bay Area venture capitalist Maurice Gunderson, Managing Director of Earth Energy Ventures. He will discuss compelling alternative energy investments and new future opportunities.
Steve Bengston, Director of Emerging Company Services with PricewaterhouseCoopers will provide an overview of the MoneyTree report. This quarterly report highlights geographic and economic sectors that receive the majority of venture investments.
In partnership with Sustainable Valley, this educational forum will provide entrepreneurs, angel investors, business leaders and students the opportunity to network with venture capitalists. Free parking.
For more information, contact Dennis Leidall, executive director, 541-414-0000 or Melissa Stiles, 541-779-0569. Location: Southern Oregon University; Stevenson Union 1250 Siskiyou Boulevard Ashland, OR Cost: $40/person $400/table of 8
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WESO Success Circle: Dealing with the "I Can't Afford It"
Sales Objection
November 20, 2012; 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM
These small group meetings are open to WESO members, friends and other women in business. If you have a business concern or just want to run new ideas by other women in a safe and supportive environment, then come and join the group. We also need you if you like to share your ideas with others. If you're just curious and want to learn more, come to a meeting and find out what we do. You're always welcome. The meetings are FREE! Each Success Circle begins with a brief mini-program on a marketing topic. Then, the regular meeting will follow. If you plan to attend, please register online or RSVP by calling Cathie Izor at 541-734-7279 or e-mail: ecommunication@wesoweb.org Location: Medford Library, Carpenter Meeting Room 205 S. Central Downtown Medford Cost: Free!
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 Join Us for Small Business Saturday
November 24, 2012
The third annual Small Business Saturday is November 24, 2012. Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. American Express created this day as a way to encourage people to do their holiday shopping at local businesses.
Constant Contact also created a step-by-step Small Business Saturday Toolkit to help you build buzz and momentum leading up to the big day. And it's free, even if you're not a customer.
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On Demand: Start, Run, and Grow
Available until December 31
Free Training Opportunity
Tim Berry, business-planning expert and course creator, presents a free 4-series BizCenter online learning course! Topics include: Start-up Assistance, Marketing and Sales, Business Accounting and Budget, and Financing!
Available on demand until December 31, 2012.
Entrepreneurship: In this course, Tim Berry, business-planning expert and course creator, talks about his own history as a small-business owner, and provides examples and feedback on common questions for new business start-ups. This course consists of 4 modules, approximately 3 hours to complete.
How to Market Your Business: In this course you will learn, what a "target market" is and what it means for your business what is it that makes your customers buy from you how is marketing different from sales how do you create a "brand" for your product or service. It also covers what to think about when developing a website for your business. This course consists of 4 modules, approximately 3 hours to complete.
How to Budget and Forecast Your Business: In this course you will learn the difference between "startup" and "ongoing" expenses, how expenses vs. assets are treated for tax purposes, how to create a sales forecast for your business, how to create an expense budget for your business and the important difference between profits and cash. This course consists of 5 modules and should take approximately 3 hours to complete.
How to Raise Money for your Business: In this course you will learn about different methods to finance a new business, how to build your management team and how to hire employees, the differences between a business "pitch" and a business "plan", and how to create and use Plan vs. Actual forecasts for your business. This course consists of 4 modules and take approximately 3 hours to complete.
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Coming to Medford in 2013!
 The Avista Center for Entrepreneurship launched at Spokane Community College in 2007 and has since created 3 other centers throughout Avista's three-state service area, including Medford in partnership with Rogue Community College. The Avista Center for Entrepreneurship offers an intensive program through community colleges that can be completed in just 6 months. The "hands on" curriculum is designed specifically for emerging entrepreneurs -- providing the knowledge, skills, tool, mentoring, and resource network to greatly enhance the viability of your startup business.
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 The Small Business Development Center is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute or express an implied endorsement of any of the cosponsors; or participants' opinions, products, or services. Special arrangement for disabled individuals will be made if requested in advance. |
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