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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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Happy February!
It is that time of year when we meet with our business tax specialist and review our results for 2013. It may also be a time of bewildering financial reports leading to many questions about managing a business by the numbers.
If you are looking for some assistance to help you understand and interpret your business financials, we can help. Give us a call to make an advising appointment and be sure to bring your financial reports. We'll line you up with one of our experts and perhaps, you will set some new directions for 2014! We look forward to serving you! Let us know how we can assist.
Be well,
Jack
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Client Spotlight
Asha Goldstein, LCSW
Psychotherapy
Asha Goldstein is a psychotherapist, coach, and facilitator who supports people in moving towards greater authenticity, intimacy, and meaning in their relationships with themselves, others, and the earth.
Asha first sought advising from the SOU SBDC four years ago. She has since started and completed the Dream Savers Program, attended the Smart Start and Business Plan Workshops and has taken advantage of the free 6 month LivePlan software subscription offered through the SOU SBDC. She has also gained valuable insight from her one on one business advising sessions. Asha's advisor helped her identify her target market and identified specific marketing strategies on how to reach her potential clients.
This no cost support has allowed Asha to stay dedicated to helping others experience deeply integrated transformation that works at the core to transform shame and shed stuck patterns. She brings her experience with dance and movement to help people access their feelings, sensuality, power, and wisdom through their bodies. Her work is grounded in the belief that the deep personal growth work she has done though her last 12 year healing journey allows Asha to hold a powerful space for others' transformation.
In addition to a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Smith College, Asha has special training in mindfulness, dance/movement therapy, expressive arts therapy, and deep ecology. She is also a certified Shadow Work® Coach. Asha's work can be experienced in regular ongoing 60 or 90 minute sessions, 3-hour intensives, or classes and workshops offered throughout the year. In this way the work can specifically meet both emotional and financial needs. Asha creates an environment in which people feel deeply seen, heard, and honored. Contact Asha to get started today.
Asha Goldstein
asha@ashagoldstein.com
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The 2014 Federal Contracting Success Series
The Government Contract Assistance Program (GCAP) and the Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center presents The 2014 Federal Contracting Success Series.
Eight courses in eight months to kick off the New Year and help you secure, grow, and diversify revenues through federal contracts. This FREE training is offered in cooperation with the Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center. Classes will be held at the RCC SBDC location at 214 SW 4th Street, Grants Pass, in the 2nd floor conference room. Preregistration is required, and space is limited. Son't wait to register your seat today!
Click here for Registration
or call GCAP at (541) 736-1088
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Networking Share Fair:
WESO is celebrating the 12th anniversary of our annual Networking Share Fair on March 6th and you can be part of it! Both members AND non-members can be exhibitors at the fair. Any business can have a table space and ANYONE can attend. Be sure to sign your business up by February 20 for the early bird discount!
What's the Networking Share Fair, you ask? Only the most fun networking event you'll attend in all year!
To sign up and for further details, Click Here.
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Cover Oregon and your Oregon Small Business FREE WEBINAR SERIES:
Join Small Business Majority and the Oregon Microenterprise Network to learn what the new healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, means for Oregon small businesses. This webinar will focus on both federal and state provisions to help local small business owners understand how the law will affect them. Topics being discussed include:
- Small business tax credits (available to businesses and tax-exempt non-profits)- who's eligible for them and how to claim them
- Cover Oregon marketplace update
- Shared responsibility
- Cost containment
- Tools and resources available for small businesses interested in learning more about the law
- A question and answer period will follow.
Click Here for more information.
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How to Attract Customers Through Social Media:
When: February 13, 2014 5:30-8:00 PM
Where: Rogue Regency Inn, 2300 Biddle Rd, Medford (lower level)
Businesses and entrepreneurs everywhere are jumping onto the social media bandwagon, eagerly expecting to instantly attract customers. What many forget, however, is that social media networks aren't "just another" broadcast forum. The social in social media means listening, two-way conversation, building trust before selling. It means building valuable, long-term relationships instead of one-time transactions.
We'll discuss several tactics for developing these relationships, such as:
- Identifying the social media platforms that your ideal customers use,
- Identifying the social media platforms that best suit your product or service,
- Spending 80% of your time becoming a helpful, trustworthy source and only 20% selling.
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February 2014 SBDC Workshops:
February 6, 2014
5:30 PM to 8:30 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
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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BizCenter Dashboard
 Have you accessed your dashboard on BizCenter.org?
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Hispano Resources
 The OSBDCN Hispano Web Resources website provides Hispanic small businesses with business development services, business tools and access to partners also interested in the development and support of the Hispanic business community.
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Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO)
 WESO is a not-for-profit association dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs and business owners. Whether you are a business owner, commissioned salesperson, franchisee, or other entrepreneur, your success depends on YOU and WESO can help! WESO offers ongoing support, networking and education in a dynamic monthly forum.
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U.S. Bank Connect
 Connect from U.S. Bank provides business owners with the tools and resources they need to help start, run and grow their businesses. We strive to demystify the whole range of financial issues business owners face, and offer real, practical solutions that entrepreneurs at any stage can use.
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AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , otherwise known as the ACA, enacted comprehensive health insurance reforms designed to improve Americans access to affordable health insurance. Will these new laws and mandates affect your small business?
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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. |
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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The Gift of College Education
By Rick Holcom, Tax Partner Moss Adams, LLP & Barbara Meuse, Tax Manager
Contributions to a 529 college savings plan are a great way to save for college expenses. These amounts can be made for your child, grandchild, or any other young person you want to help. You can give up to $14,000 - the annual gift tax exclusion for 2014 - to as many people as you want each year without filing gift tax returns. With a 529 plan you can give up to five (5) times that amount in a single year by applying the annual gift tax exclusion to a portion of our 529 plan contribution in each of five years. In other words, you can contribute up to $70,000 per 529 plan beneficiary in a single year. If you are married and file a joint tax return you can double this amount to up to $140,000 per beneficiary. Investments in a 529 plan grow tax-free and can be withdrawn free from tax if used for qualified higher education expenses. These include tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and room and board for students who are least half-time. The contributions to a 529 plan are not deductible for federal income tax. If the contributions are made to and Oregon 529 College Savings Network you can subtract from Oregon income up to $4,455. This deduction can be claimed for 2013 if made before you file your tax return, without extensions.
Other programs available are contributions to a Coverdell Education Savings account but the contributions are limited to $2,000 and there are income restrictions on who qualifies. The advantage however are distributions can be used not only for higher education expenses but also elementary and secondary tuitions.
If you pay the tuition directly to an educational institution it is not subject to the federal gift tax even if the amount exceeds $14,000.
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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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