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Southern Oregon University
Small Business Development Center
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The SOU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides in-depth, confidential, one-on-one guidance to businesses & prospective entrepreneurs at no fee. We can help you gather information, evaluate, plan, & create systems for your business that lead to greater profit, job creation, & job retention.
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A Word from Jack... Hello, everyone! Hope you are having a great summer here in southern Oregon.
We are delighted to welcome Kathleen Johnson, our new Office Manager, to the SOU SBDC team. Kathleen is responsible for scheduling our client appointments and is the first point of contact at the SOU SBDC . She also manages our Monthly Update and website, not to mention running an efficient and effective office.
We are delighted to have Kathleen on our team and encourage you to stop by or contact her if there is any way that we can serve you.
All the best,
Jack
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Client Spotlight
Soccer Post- America's Soccer Store! Opened July 12, 2013- Look for "Grand Opening" coming in August
When it comes to soccer, Cheryl Rose, the owner of Soccer Post, really knows the field! Southern Oregon soccer activities and clubs have grown tremendously and Cheryl recognized the need for a high quality, customer oriented store where individuals and clubs can find what they need to play their best. Soccer Post has the largest selection of cleats, uniforms, and accessories in southern Oregon and is quickly becoming the place to go for all things soccer.
Cheryl began the process of becoming a business owner by coming to the SOU SBDC for assistance and attending the Smart Start workshop which helps prospective business owners by providing facts and insights into starting and operating a small business. Once she determined that the business was feasible and what it would take to start, she met with an SOU SBDC counselor. In a series of counseling sessions, Cheryl developed the business plan and financial forecasts which helped to secure the funding necessary to open and operate the business. Cheryl credits the SBDC with helping her to understand the business process and especially how to develop and understand the financial picture which is critical before investing in a new venture.
Soccer Post is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sundays 11 am to 4 pm. There are 3 part-time customer service people and one full-time staff ready to answer your questions and take care of your needs.
Soccer Post 1550 Biddle Road Medford, OR 97504 (541) 973-2239 |
August 2013 SBDC Workshops:
August 8, 2013 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
August 23, 2013 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. More information.
August 15, 2013
Are you wanting to learn how to strategically use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YELP to create an online community? Learn how to use social media tools to grow your small business (and have fun doing it)! Participants that do not have a Facebook business page, will learn how to create one and much more.
More information.
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Medford Chamber Forum:
Prime Time at the Ballpark
August 10, 2013 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM Harry and David Field, Medford
Primetime focuses on helping local small businesses and entrepreneurs increase their client base and promote their services and products. Join us for a fun filled time at the Ball Park and support our community by supporting Chamber members! Open to both non-members and members of The Chamber to attend, this event showcases a variety of Chamber Member exhibitors. Also included in the event are giveaways, raffles and contests.
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Rogue Nexus Uplink
August 23, 2013
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Bigham Knoll, Jacksonville
Are you interested in joining the BOOMING wine industry in Southern Oregon. Attendees from all parts of the Southern Oregon wine industry - growers, winery owners, winemakers, suppliers, vendors, distributors, retailers and others - will come together with economic development experts, educators, lenders, hospitality and culinary specialists, and professionals in real estate, law, accounting, marketing and other fields. The purpose of this all day event is to share best business practices and to help stimulate the industry's growth.
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Small Business Networking Opportunities
Ashland Chamber Greeters
Every Friday, 8:15-9:30 am
Medford Chamber Greeters
Every Thursday,
8:00-9:00 am
Phoenix Chamber Greeters
Talent Chamber Greeters
Third Wednesday, 8:30-9:30 am
Heart of Medford Association
Bi-Annually in May & October
Jefferson Grapevine
Bi-monthly, 5:00-7:30 pm
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SBDC Online Training
Click on workshop title for registration information.
Available until December 31
This course covers the basics of the many Google products including Documents, Google Chrome, Calendar, Gmail, and how to search Google images and shopping products. Such things as invoicing clients in the field, providing clients with estimates on site, making appointments, sharing your schedule with key people, and having access to important documents anywhere and anytime are among the advantages of using Google products.
Available until December 31
This introductory course walks you through the steps to create a Facebook page and a Twitter account. This course consists of two sections, Facebook and Twitter.
Better, Smarter, Richer
If you work as a solopreneur - an author, web designer, financial planner, or massage therapist - YOU ARE the business.
That's why traditional business advice, which focuses on managing employees, just won't work for you. This online workshop has audio guidance, valuable content, tips, and activities to help solos of all stripes, including creative and encore entrepreneurs, "be the business"...and achieve success. You don't have to be a starving artist! Or a starving retiree! If you have been struggling with how much to charge, who to sell to, or how to find enough time in your day, we'll help you get straight. We'll even help you fire clients who just aren't worth your precious time!
We structured this new business advice around stories from people who did what you want to do, just to show that whether you take photographs or provide financial advice, your passion can make you Better, Smarter and Richer. The price includes a downloadable workbook, and the course includes seven modules, each of which is about one hour in length.
Tim Berry, business-planning expert and course creator, will talk about his own history as a small-business owner, and provide examples and feedback on common questions for new business start-ups.
Learn the difference between "start-up" 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.
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, and how do you create a brand for your product or service? Course will also cover what to think about when developing a website for your business. Learn about the different methods to finance a new business, how to build your management team and how to hire new employees, the difference between a business "pitch" and a business "plan," and how to create and use Plan vs. Actual forecasts for your business.
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Small Business Taxes: Virtual Workshop
This virtual workshop is designed to help a new business owner understand and meet federal tax obligations.
The first 3 lessons are for everyone, no matter what kind of business you have or whether you have employees. The next 2 lessons will discuss information that may be relevant now-- or that may become relevant once your business has become established. The final 4 lessons are for those employers who already have, or who are thinking about hiring, employees.
Because this is a virtual workshop, you can choose the lessons that apply to you.
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Free SBA Webinars
http://www.sba.gov/events/
The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers various online trainings for small businesses. Most of which are free or low cost.
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Alternative Financing: Dream$avers
Dream$avers is an individual development account (IDA) program that encourages participants to build assets. This program encompasses 3 important branches of development: education, savings and the purchase of an asset.
Dream$avers is administered by ACCESS in Jackson and Josephine Counties in partnership with Neighborworks Umpqua.
If you can answer YES to any of the following questions, you may qualify for this exciting opportunity!
- Do you live in Jackson or Josephine counties?
- Is your GROSS household income at or below the income limits for the program? Income limits are listed by household size at the bottom of this flyer
- Does your total household net worth equal less than $20,000 (not counting your home if you own one and one vehicle)?
- Are you eighteen years of age or older and an Oregon resident?
- Can you afford to save money and commit to making a deposit monthly for one to three years?
- Would you like to save for first time homeownership, starting or expanding a small business, getting your post secondary education?
To learn more or to request an application contact ACCESS at 541-779-6691 ext 355
Dream$avers allows eligible participants to save up to $2000 over the course of 1 to 3 years, and will match it 3:1. That's like receiving 300% interest! Participants receive financial education and additional training and support specific to their savings goal so that when they reach their savings goal and are eligible to make a purchase, they are prepared!
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Moss Adams Monthly Article
Oregon's Registered Domestic Partners - Taxes After The DOMA Rulings
By Terri T. Blogett, EA, CPA, Senior Tax Manager, Estate, Gift & Trust Group, Moss Adams LLP
How will taxes for same-sex couples residing in Oregon be handled in light of the recent US Supreme Court rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act? It's a wait-and-see situation for sure.
On June 26, 2013, the US Supreme Court issued two decisions effectively requiring the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages in states where legal.
What is clear is this mandates federal required treatment and benefits if the state of the couple's residence recognizes the marriage. Oregon is not one of those states. Although Oregon allows Registered Domestic Partners (RDPs), it is not one of the 12 states and Washington DC where same-sex marriage is legal. What is not clear, and won't be for a while, is what this means for states of residence that recognize other forms of relationships not quite at the level of legalized same-sex marriage.
The relevant impact not only includes federal income tax and federal estate and gift transfer tax, but also opens and expands the availability of Social Security benefits, spousal benefit rules for retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, among others that traditional married couples enjoy.
Oregon does provide for some specific tax benefits already. For estate taxes upon death, Oregon allows a marital deduction for Registered Domestic Partners in the same manner as the Federal and state government does for traditional married couples. Oregon also requires the filing of individual income tax returns for Registered Domestic Partner couples as married status returns, either as married-filing-joint or married-filing-separately. RDPs in the state of Oregon are no longer able to file their Oregon state income taxes in any form of single status.
So now what will the IRS do where state's same-sex couples are in another recognized type of arrangement? How will Oregon adapt further to that? It will take time to figure it out. Stay tuned.
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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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