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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 April!
 Hello, everyone, Please enjoy our current Monthly Update. Lots going on in the Rogue Valley and many opportunities for learning how to grow or start your business.Take a look at the many workshop, webinar, and networking opportunities. Enjoy!
Jack
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Client Spotlight
Michael Antonopoulos
TonTon's Artisan Affections
TonTon's Artisan Affections is a family-owned business located in Ashland, Oregon. They are known for amazing homemade hummus and delicious gluten-free cookies and are dedicated to using the highest quality, healthiest ingredients available locally, which supports sustainable agriculture and local farmers. TonTon's is also committed to environmentally friendly packaging and ethical, compassionate business principals with a mission to create jobs with fair pay and growth opportunities.
Michael Antonopoulos (friends call him "TonTon") started production in September 2012. During these first few months of research and development, Michael sought advice from the Southern Oregon University Small Business Development Center. Michael worked with an SOU SBDC advisor to create a solid financial plan for his business which enabled him to secure a $2,500 loan from a friend in order to purchase his first round of ingredients. Since then SOU SBDC has been a sounding board and supporter for TonTon's, providing advice and suggestions to grow his business and assist with revisions in Michael's business plan as the business continues to grow.
TonTon's has quickly gained a reputation for quality foods throughout the Rogue Valley. The business now supports two employees and several contracted services. TonTon's Artisan Affections can be found at the local growers markets and over 12 local stores from Shasta, CA to Gresham, OR. Soon customers will even be able to order online and have them shipped to their door. Michael's immediate vision is to purchase a fill-and-seal machine to meet the growing demand for product. Pick up some of TonTon's delicious Artisan Affections today!
TonTon's
P.O. Box 813
Talent, OR 97540
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SOU Small Business Development Center
KOBI Five on 5 interview
The SOU Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides in-depth, one-on-one guidance to businesses and prospective entrepreneurs at no fee. The SBDC business advisors have expertise in a broad spectrum of business issues. Click here to meet our staff. We can help you gather information, evaluate, plan, and create systems for your business that lead to greater profit, job creation, and job retention. Team counseling and on-site visits are available, as well as customized business assistance focused on your business needs. You can get more information by visiting our website at www.sou.edu/sbdc.
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Oregon OSHA FREE safety and health education:
Oregon OSHA offers
FREE safety and health education Online and in-person. The Public Education Section offers a growing catalog of online and in-person workshops throughout the state. Our instructors introduce the values of safety and health management to anyone responsible for occupational safety and health in their workplace.
Many organizations recognize these workshops for continuing education credits. These include: Building Codes Division; the Construction and Landscape Contractors Boards; Associated Oregon Loggers; Water Resources Department; and the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Visit our website for the current list.
Go to www.orosha.org and click on the "Education" link.
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How to Create Marketing Messages with Integrity:
April 10, 2014 5:30 PM
Rogue Regency Inn, 2300 Biddle Rd, Medford (lower level)
Consumers and marketers alike have become increasingly frustrated with antiquated, manipulative marketing and copywriting techniques. Lisa Manyon has created The
New Marketing Model for Success to help create marketing messages with integrity. Mission-driven entrepreneurs and business owners are breathing a collective sigh of relief that there is now a way to market that feels right, comes from a place of true service, and gets results.
To sign up and for further details, Click Here.
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Leave Laws in Oregon:
Advanced OFLA, FMLA and Other Leave Laws
Date: April 3rd, 2014
Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: Smullin Center
Presented by Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)
This training is intended for people with a basic understanding of leave laws in Oregon. The training will cover employers with 25 or more employees in Oregon that are required to comply with the provisions of the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA). If your company has 50 or more employees in the United States, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) also applies. There are significant differences between OFLA and FMLA, and Oregon employers must understand these differences in order to effectively and lawfully administer their leave program. This session covers complex leave laws including the Oregon Family Leave Act, Federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Oregon Military Family Leave Act, leave for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault or Stalking are all covered in depth, including the impact of injured worker and disability laws. In addition, complex leave tracking scenarios will be covered.
Click Here for more information.
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Join SOBA for FREE educational presentation:
Date: April 9th, 2014
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Higher Education Center
The small business owner is the most vulnerable target when it comes to internal fraud. The reason for this is that they generally love what they do, but find that the day to day bookkeeping is often time consuming and tedious, especially compared to the work they love.
While it's a smart move to hire someone who is an expert at bookkeeping, it is extremely important to have certain security measures in place. An honest bookkeeper (which most are) welcomes such procedures, and often recommends them. These processes, and other preventative steps, will be the focus of Southern Oregon Bookkeepers Association's (SOBA) community meeting in April.
Click Here for more information.
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The Pacific Northwest Government Contracting Conference:
Date: April 16th, 2014
Time: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm
The Government Contract Assistance Program (GCAP) and Pacific NW Defense Coalition (PNDC) cordially invite you to attend The Pacific NW Government Contracting Conference.
The 2014 Conference offers a full day of unparalleled training and networking opportunities. Attendees will learn from various seasoned professionals and receive training on business requirements specifically tailored to companies that are in all stages of business growth, who are trying to meet the needs of the government.
Click Here for more information.
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April 
2014 SBDC Workshops:
April 10,2014
5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
April 18, 2014
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
Every Friday,
8:15-9:30 am
Medford Chamber Greeters
Every Thursday,
8:00-9:00 am
Phoenix & Talent Chamber Greeters
Metro Medford Downtown 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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Cover Oregon Free Webinar
 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.
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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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 Accounting Alternatives to Private Companies for Goodwill and Interest Rate Swaps
By Amanda Moore, MOSS ADAMS LLP
The Financial Accounting Standards Board, the organization responsible for establishing accounting standards in the United States, has issued two updates to generally accepted accounting principles intended to reduce the cost and complexity of financial statement preparation for private companies that elect either or both of the alternatives. As outlined in the relevant Accounting Standards Updates, the alternatives streamline the method for accounting for goodwill impairment and make it easier for certain interest rate swaps to qualify for hedge accounting. Both of these new alternatives will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and for interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted and may be desirable for your organization. If you have questions about how these updates will affect the preparation of your financial statements, or for help determining whether you should adopt either of the new alternatives, contact your Moss Adams professional. For the full article, go to:
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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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