Training
UPCOMING TRAINING
Business Plan Development Workshops
Registration will Open Feb. 1, 2021
Texas State Entrepreneurial Network has developed Business Plan Development workshops starting this spring semester 2021. Participants can do the self-paced online version and/or attend one of 3 all day workshops (March, May, June). These 1-day workshops will provide hands on development of business plans for businesses at any development stage.
For participants completing all Modules, in July, you will have the opportunity to present your business plan to experts in the field. These workshops are sponsored by the Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) and the Texas Workforce Commissions (TWC). Any resident of the State of Texas, that is 18 years or older, can attend these workshops tuition free due to the generous support of our sponsors. Participants just need to complete a pre-survey for the TWC.
SBDC Previous Recorded Workshops
Please email sbdc@txstate.edu for link to video.
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Analyzing and Managing Your Cash Flow
Is money controlling you? Or are you controlling your money?
Majority of small businesses fail within the first five years, but a recent study by U.S. Bank determined that 82% of the time, poor cash flowmanagement or poor understanding of cash flow contributes to the failure of a small business. Join TX State SBDC as we help you better understand how to maximize your cash flow and keep a steady flow moving in and out of your business.
Topics discussed:
- What is Cash Flow?
- Reasons for Cash Flow Problems
- Cash vs. Accrual Accounting
- Cash Flow Budgeting
- More tips to Manage Cash Flow
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DIY PR Project: Observe Media Trends (4 Part Series)
This four-week course helps small business owners learn how to land their brands the media attention it deserves. In this curriculum, special guest Rebekah Epstein will teach her signature four step OPEN Method, which helps get your emails opened by your dream publication.
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Employer Dilemma: Hiring During COVID
With high unemployment rates, hiring should be easy. People need to work right? Not necessarily. Workers may be afraid to return and unemployment benefits may pay more.
In this session, we will learn where to find and how hire employees during COVID. We will learn about budget-friendly tools for recruiting and small business resources. Learning objectives include:
• Where to find Job Seekers
• Do’s and Don’t during COVID
• Small Business Resources
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Knowing your numbers, managing the finances of your restaurant
Having accurate financial reports to work with has never been more important than it is today! Listen as Chris Tripoli and featured guest Jane Bennett of Keystone Business Services share their knowledge of the impact COVID 19 has had on the many independent restaurant owner-operators they work with. They will discuss the benefits from knowing your daily financial status and provide insights and recommendations for ways to increase your profit by better managing your finances. This program includes;
* What are prime costs and how to track key items daily
* What makes a good weekly summary report
* How to better understand your monthly profit and loss statement
* Why annual plans and quarterly budget reviews make you money -
Lunch & Learn: Workforce Vaccinations (HR Series)
Join us for our HR Series where CJ Petitt SPHR MBA & Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources. This free speaker lunch & learn workshop series explores a range of Human Resources topics while operating a business during COVID.
HR Series Topic: Vaccinations- COVID testing
Can the COVID vaccination be required for all employees? Attend this session and learn when and how to develop a vaccination strategy for your small business. Sample policies will be available for attendees.
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Marketing through Pictures: Instagram Tips and Tricks
Did you know that visuals increase people’s desire to read content by 80%?
As small business owners, that means the images you use in your marketing–specifically in social media–matter A LOT. Join us for a workshop focused on creating captivating visuals that speak to your target customer and strengthen your business’s message with every post. Instagram is an increasingly valuable tool for brands to utilize, and with over 130 million users shopping on the platform every month, it’s that much more important to create memorable online moments. Attendees will leave with a checklist of ideas, tips, and tricks to implement within your own business Instagram account.
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Move Your Brick-and-Mortar Business Online (4 Part Series)
exas State SBDC in conjunction San Marcos Chamber of Commerce welcome special guest Shane Barker as he discusses how to understand and audit your offline business, explain what the online lifecycle is and why it’s important. Also, he talks about the process of moving your business online through creating, hosting, and optimizing your ecommerce website.
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Small Business and CRE (4 Part Series)
COVID continues to impact the small business community and the commercial real estate industry. Business owners NEED to be proactive and stay steps ahead to survive.
In this 4-part series you'll learn from an experienced broker and commercial real estate attorney what the pandemic means for owners and tenants; how to respond to the changing real estate landscape; understand leasing vocabulary and how to reopen and operate your business during COVID.
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Startup U (Pre-Recorded)
Launch. Grow. Succeed.
This no-cost class will provide an overview to Texas State University SBDC while discussing the basics of starting a business, the pitfalls of startups, and common misconceptions. At the end of the overview we will open the floor for Q&A with one of our very own SBDC senior advisors to answer any remaining questions you may have. All those in attendance will have the chance to complete a brief one page assessment to help us determine your next step.
Please note this workshop is intended for the following counties: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Llano, San Saba, Travis, Williamson. If you county is not listed above, please contact your local SBDC to find out about startup workshops in your area.
*This course is intended for those who are looking to start their own business but not sure where to begin. If you have a question on whether this is the right class for you, please feel free to contact our office.
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Tough Conversations- Hiring, Firing and Managing Employees
Communicating those decisions is equally tough! In this session, we willl walk through a series of employment actions from hiring to firing and learn how to have difficult conversations with employees. We will also discuss legally defensible layoffs.
Our Learning Objectives include:
· Decision making tools
· Diverse communication skills
· Difficult personalities
Microsoft Training
Community Calendar
- Location:
- Online
- Cost:
- Free
- Contact:
- Small Business Program at smallbiz@austintexas.gov
- Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
This course provides practical, step-by-step instruction on how to develop a business plan for a small start-up business or the expansion of an existing business. A business plan can be submitted to a financial institution or private investor for funding or used for implementation. Emphasis will be placed on a plan's components, format, marketing, and financial projections and analysis. This class will teach you how to review all the various components of a business plan and apply learned concepts in developing a plan for your own business.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification. Click here for more information
- Cost:
- Free
- Contact:
- Small Business Program at smallbiz@austintexas.gov
- Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
Of all the decisions business owners make, none impacts the effectiveness of their business more profoundly than hiring. Understanding how to interview a potential employee and hire for the right fit is necessary for any small business owner. This course will teach you how to develop your own structured interviewing techniques, help you to differentiate between behaviors and traits, and show you how to write effective behavioral-based questions so that you can prepare to ask the right questions when interviewing a potential employee. This class also looks at the legal environment of hiring and will help you to create a defendable hiring process.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification. Click here for more information
- Cost:
- See link for details
- Contact:
- City Of Austin Small Business Program
www.smallbizaustin.org - Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
- Location:
- Online
- Cost:
- See link for details
- Contact:
- City Of Austin Small Business Program
www.smallbizaustin.org - Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
The material will cover the following: Development Assessment, Land Use, and Zoning, Site Plan Review, Building Plans and Permits, and Inspections and Certificate of Occupancy.
This virtual meeting will be on the Zoom platform. Click here for more information
- Location:
- Online
- Cost:
- See link for details
- Contact:
- Small Business Program
smallbiz@austintexas.gov - Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
Social media like Facebook and Twitter are not only great ways for people to stay in touch with one another; they are also great marketing tools when implemented well. Businesses throughout the world want to use social media to increase their brand image and awareness, develop stronger customer relations, and improve ROI. This class will familiarize you with social media, the do's and don'ts, and best practices for your business.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification. Click here for more information
- Cost:
- See link for details
- Contact:
- Phone:
5122187018
Email:
ghalley@roundrocktexas.gov
Website:
www.roundrocktexas.gov/library - Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
The City of Round Rock’s Geospatial Services Division assists City departments to create, store, display, and analyze data—parcels, zoning, streets, utilities, etc.—for critical decision-making. Gain actionable intelligence from all types of reliable Geographic Information System (GIS) data. This session will highlight all the resources that the City of Round Rock has available for business owners, citizens, and the general public. Knowing what geospatial data is available for small business owners is essential to conducting analytical research to make the right decisions to grow your business. Click here for more information
- Location:
- Online
- Cost:
- Free
- Contact:
- Small Business Program at smallbiz@austintexas.gov
- Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
This a virtual instructor led webinar and will be on the Zoom platform. You must have a Zoom account in order to enter this webinar.
Whether you are a brand new user looking to master the fundamentals of QuickBooks, or an existing user wishing to take your QuickBooks knowledge to another level, the Introduction to QuickBooks Desktop can help you improve the way you use QuickBooks accounting software to manage your business. This class covers accounting basics, tracking revenue and expenses, bank reconciliation and file setup using QuickBooks Pro accounting software. Don't waste time through trial and error learning. If you want to reduce frustration and increase accuracy in your business, this training is for you.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification. Click here for more information
- Cost:
- See link for details
- Contact:
- Phone:
5122187018
Email:
ghalley@roundrocktexas.gov
Website:
www.roundrocktexas.gov/library - Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
For this important (and sometimes expensive) information, turn to Round Rock Public Library. This workshop will introduce small business owners to some powerful business resources available at the Round Rock Public Library. In addition, this workshop will also take an in-depth look at one of these resources, Gale Business—
Demographics Now, which connects users to a wealth of highly detailed demographic data making it ideal for gaining consumer and market insight.
Gale Business—Demographics Now can help you:
• Choose a business location
• Research competitors
• Analyze market size
• Build direct marketing lists
• Profile current and potential customers
• Forecast trends
• Uncover consumer buying patterns
• And more Click here for more information
- Cost:
- Free
- Contact:
- Small Business Program at smallbiz@austintexas.gov
- Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
Accounting provides the framework to evaluate the financial health and success of a business. Small Business Accounting is a practical introduction to basic accounting concepts and primary financial statements. Gain some basic accounting knowledge and skills so you can better manage current operations, ensure timely and accurate tax compliance, evaluate new opportunities, and attract new partners or investors.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification.
Click here for more information
- Cost:
- Free
- Contact:
- Small Business Program at smallbiz@austintexas.gov
- Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
This course will provide you with enough information about the following: Introduction to Business Entities; Business Entities in Texas and description of Focus on LLC; establishing and know the benefits of the LLC. You will absorb enough information about business entities and business law to know when to retain an attorney. A key objective of the class is to give the attendees a general comfort level with the concept of business entities, business law, CPAs and accountants, and business attorneys. Knowing when to solicit professional advice is a critical component in controlling cash outflows of a young business while maintaining appropriate protections for the business owner.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification. Click here for more information
- Cost:
- Free
- Contact:
- Small Business Program at smallbiz@austintexas.gov
- Campus Sponsor:
- SBDC
Starting a new business? Expanding operations of an existing one? You will always need capital. This class explores a wide spectrum of opportunities in seeking venture capital or risk capital investors. All potential sources of capital - friends, family, professionally managed venture capital funds, and more - are reviewed and considered. This course explains the processes of determining capital needs for small businesses and will help you to understand the difference between equity investors and business partners. You will learn the different methods of finding and raising capital and how to research and contact potential business investors.
This class is taught by a University of Texas Instructor and counts toward the 6-course requirement needed to earn your Business Skills Certification. Click here for more information
Funded in part through the State of Texas and a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of any of the cosponsors’ or participants’ opinions, findings, conclusions, recommendations, products or services. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Texas State University SBDC by phone at 512.420.9379 or via email at sbdc@txstate.edu.