Government Contracting 101 -- Workshop July 20th

WANT THE ABILITY TO BID ON GOVERNMENT

CONTRACTS FOR YOUR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES?

Federal Contracting 101 Workshop DATE: July 20, 2016, 9 am EDT - 12 Noon
Hosted by the Winthrop Region SBDC, Rock Hill, SC

Sponsored by the Small Business Administration

Registration Required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/federal-contracting-101-rock-h…

Location Name:
Winthrop University (Thurmond Building - Room 415)

Address:
1708 Memorial Circle, (at intersection of Park Avenue and Memorial Circle on campus), Rock Hill, SC,29733

Parking: Registrants may park in any green-striped Visitor spaces. Several are available in the parking lot on Ebenezer Avenue around the exit of Memorial Circle, across from Carroll Hall.

Fee:
This is a free event.

Email: michael.corp@sba.gov

Map to this event can be found here. 

Registration required on the SBAs EventBrite page at  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/federal-contracting-101-rock-hillsc-tickets-26279601997?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Do You Know Your Return on Investment?

Return on Investment (ROI) ..... Do you know your company's ROI on your marketing expense? Human Resources expense? Equipment expense? Or in general? Watch this 1-hour long video Webinar to truly understand benefits vs cost and be able to evaluate and correct where necessary.

Have an Agricultural Business? Enter the Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge!

This is a competition (which ends June 30^th, so you need to hurry) to win $30,000 from the Farm Bureau “Strengthening Rural America 2017 Challenge” …… you would have to join the Farm Bureau  
(http://www.scfb.org/ ) in order to enter if you’re not already a member, and then fill out the application online for the competition.   http://www.strongruralamerica.com 

Understanding Credit & How to Manage Yours

Nothing holds a person back more than a bad credit score, but unfortunately, most people don't understand how credit works, what their score and their credit ratio is, how to improve a bad credit score, or how personal credit can affect business credit. 

This workshop will help you understand your own credit score and what you need to do to fix it, or if it's already a reasonably good score, how to make it even higher. You'll also learn what a banker looks for when considering a loan application, and how personal credit issues and decisions carry over into your business life.

This workshop will be taught by Felicia Pope, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at ArrowPointe Federal Credit Union, and a popular speaker in her own right.

June 7, 2016 - 6 pm - 7:30 pm, $15 Workshop fee.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-credit-and-how-to-manage-yours-tickets-23109319597 

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

SBDC Hosting Business Success Extravaganza 2016

Winthrop Region SBDC 

wishes to invite you to attend its

Business Success Extravaganza 2016 ..... undoubtedly the

best value in a small business seminar you'll find!

Great speakers .... great topics .... great ideas!

And we'll even feed you! 

Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-business-success-extravaganza-tickets-15949132284 

To see the great reviews on last year's Extravaganza, visit our reviews page

14 Reasons We’re Sweet on Small Business

The Small Business Administration sent us a Valentine this weekend to let us know why we should all love small businesses .... we thought you'd enjoy it too ..... isn't it nice to know that someone notices all you do?

14 Reasons We’re Sweet on Small Business

By ngoriel, SBA Official

 Published: February 12, 2016

Small businesses are the heart of America’s economy. This Valentine’s Day, the SBA is sending small business owners this valentine with 14 reasons why we love small business. Small businesses in the United States:


1) Care about their communities – The 28 million small businesses in the U.S. contribute directly to local communities.
2) Provide opportunities – Small businesses make up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms.
3) Create jobs – Two out of every three net new jobs created in the U.S. are from small businesses.
4) Grow the global economy – 97.7 percent of exporters are small firms.
5) Represent the diversity of America – Last year, SBA achieved record lending of $23.5 billion under our flagship 7(a) loan program, with loans up 23 percent to minorities.
6) Value military experience – One out of every 10 small business owners is a veteran.
7) Contribute to sales – Small businesses account for 54 percent of all U.S. sales.
8) Employ about half of the workforce – Small businesses employ about 56.1 million of the nation’s private workforce.
9) Produce goods and services for our government– In fiscal year 2014, $91.7 billion were awarded to small business contractors, resulting in the support of approximately 550,000 total jobs.
10) Lead the way for female entrepreneurs –According to Census data from December 2015, women’s ownership rates are up 27 percent, employing 8 million workers.
11) Direct local industries – Health care and social assistance; accommodation and food services; and retail trade were the three industries with the most small business employment.
12) Drive innovation – Small patenting firms produce 16 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms.
13) Create opportunities for flexible work and lifestyles – Home-based businesses account for 52 percent of all small businesses.
14) Inspire us – Small business owners work countless hours, sacrifice their personal time, improve their communities and follow their dreams.