Free Webinars for National Small Business Week

In recognition of National Small Business Week, the Small Business Administration offers the following free Webinars throughout this first week of May.  Register to learn more about what you need to know this year!

Webinar: The Decline of Magstripe Cards—and What That Means for Your Business
Sponsor: Square, Inc.
Webinar Date/Time: Monday, May 2, 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT
Description: The payments landscape is changing. New security measures, a decline in the use of traditional magstripe cards, the switch to EMV chip cards and emerging technologies like contactless payments, are forcing a monumental shift in the way people pay. These changes have major implications for businesses of all sizes. Is your business prepared? Join Square’s Head of Business Intelligence Owen Britton Jennings and Head of Seller Education Erin Renzas for this can’t-miss webinar. They’ll break down all of the major changes in payments and what you need to do to ensure you’re ahead of the curve. In this webinar:

• Get need-to-know information on all the major payment changes
• Understand how consumer behavior is shifting and how to address their new needs
• Learn how to ensure your business is prepared for upcoming trends

Register: http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1166555/BC3DA14B3572C0BB9EF0A8813FA76CB3?partnerref=sba

Webinar: Cloud, Mobile, and Social: Great Apps and Services That Will Grow Your Business
Sponsor: YP
Webinar Date/Time: Tuesday, May 3, 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT
Description: Watch and learn from small business experts, Gene Marks and Ramon Ray, as they discuss the latest trends, tips, and services to help you grow, manage, and increase your profits. You’ll discover how to leverage cloud, mobile, and social technologies that will allow you to stand out from your competition.

Register: http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1166576/38AB60D7BBD7E48535F7C8FCEC57A6D9?partnerref=sba

Webinar: Access to Capital and Business Loans: Best Practices
Sponsor: Sam’s Club
Webinar Date/Time: Wednesday, May 4, 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PT
Description: Cash is the lifeblood of any business yet access to capital, managing business finances, and navigating sources of finance are some of the most challenging areas for business owners and can make or break any enterprise. Sam’s Club has teamed up with Small Business Majority’s Rhea Aguinaldo to help entrepreneurs and small business owners bring finance into focus for long term success. Participants will learn background on the small business loan market and providers as well as how to identify the right type of financial product for the business need.

Register: http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1166578/B65100047A3C6461EE4781F1A49D949E?partnerref=sba

Webinar: Tips for Getting Your Business Financially Fit
Sponsor: Intuit Quickbooks
Webinar Date/Time: Thursday, May 5, 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT
Description: Understanding the fiscal condition of your business is critical when managing daily duties, planning for the longterm and making consequential decisions. But that means more than simply knowing what’s in your bank account. Join Intuit QuickBooks in this interactive webinar, where you’ll learn practical, actionable tips for improving the financial fitness of your small business.

Register: http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1166582/18C9865EF65B5576ED73B89A75D5F9B3?partnerref=sba

Coastal SC Area Small Business Forum

Location: Wall College of Business, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC

Date: June 22, 2011

Time: 8am - 5pm

Fee: $75 - Registration ends June 17, 2011 - Someone from the Conway SBDC office will be contacting you with payment processing within 1-2 business days

Details: Interactive workshops for current and potential small business owners - Business Plan Basics - Business Financing - SBA Loan Products – including Women-Owned Small Business set-asides, USDA Loan Products - Using Google to Enhance Web Presence - Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Intellectual Property - Using QuickBooks - Grants - Going Green (4-hour session) - Doing Business with CCU - Social Media Marketing - Search Engine Optimization - 8 (a) Certification, incentives for Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB)

Don't wait -- 6/17 registration deadline is fast approaching!

REGISTER NOW!

SBA Introduces New Mobile Application for Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs

New SBA mobile application brings enhanced access to
information and resources . . .


WASHINGTON – Smart phone users interested in starting or growing a small business can now find helpful resources at their fingertips via a new SBA mobile application from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Increasingly, smart phones are the vehicle through which Americans access information. This is certainly true of many entrepreneurs and small business owners and this new application ensures they will have access to SBA’s resources and programs – literally at their fingertips,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “Greater mobility fits with the new user-focused SBA.gov launched recently, and is another example of the steps we are taking to do a better job of connecting entrepreneurs and small business owners with the tools to help them start or grow their businesses and create jobs.”

Developed and donated as a gift by Palo Alto Software, Inc., the SBA mobile app will make the search for extensive resources more efficient, whether users are starting a new business or taking an existing business to a new level. The app will first be available for the Apple iPhone®, with future versions for other smart phone platforms.

“Palo Alto Software’s mission is to help small businesses succeed. We’ve developed this mobile application for the SBA because we understand the importance of having the right tools and resources when starting or growing a business,” said Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software. “Ideas can strike entrepreneurs at any moment, and having useful resources available through mobile devices could be the impetus that begins the next big company.”

The mobile app will help users connect with SBA district office staff and SBA-affiliated counselors and mentors who can provide free, personalized small business assistance. The user-friendly format of the app will help answer questions such as: How do I start a business? Where can I go in my area to get free help with writing a business plan? And where do I begin finding funding for my business?

The SBA mobile app also features a built-in startup cost calculator to help estimate the costs associated with getting a business off the ground, plus an SBA partner locator to help users find SBA offices, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and SCORE.

Users will also have mobile access to SBA video content and social media alerts to provide them with tips on the go. This will include live updates from the SBA’s YouTube channel and from SBA’s Twitter feeds. The free mobile app can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/content/sba-mobile-app.