Most small business owners know about SCORE’s mentoring program, but there are also many free educational offerings available. Depending on how you learn best, you can register for live online workshops or watch recorded webinars at your convenience. All are listed at www.score.org or you can sign up for our newsletter at nemassachusetts.score.org
If you have the time to attend a live presentation at The Enterprise Center at Salem State, here’s the fall schedule:
September 10: Developing Your Pitch
The best way to test the feasibility of your business idea is through research. You can start with industry data, customer data, financial projections, possible funding sources, and other information. But to prove your concept, and convince others to invest, you’ll need a pitch. This workshop will help you develop yours.
October 8: Marketing Your Business
Marketing educates prospective customers about what your business does and how it serves a need they have. It also creates a lasting image of your business that stays in their minds after the transaction is over. By doing so, marketing builds your brand.
You’ll identify potential customers and create a plan for finding your first customers. You’ll also develop a brand identity, including a logo, marketing materials, a website, and your social media accounts. At its most basic level, marketing means attracting attention to what you sell. If they don’t know what you’re selling, customers can’t buy it.
November 12: Managing Your Financials
Putting the necessary processes and procedures in place at the beginning of your business helps ensure that your startup runs effectively and efficiently. This includes choosing an accounting system, planning for taxes and setting up payment systems. You’ll also protect your new business by purchasing insurance, creating legal contracts and implementing proper record-keeping procedures.
Once all that’s in place, you’ll need to regularly review your financials and learn how to use them to manage growth, make projections and attract funding.