July 01, 2014
Workshops planned for small businesses
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- If you are considering starting or expanding your own business, there are several summer and fall workshop offerings by Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center.
The lineup includes several sessions of the popular “Starting a Business in Illinois” seminar between July 16 and Dec. 17. The presentations will cover the basic requirements of starting a business including legal structure, start-up requirements, finding financing and business planning basics.
Participants will also receive a business start-up kit, available in print or electronic formats, that includes a checklist, presentation slides, a package of financing questions and answers, a sample business plan and federal and state tax identification applications.
The cost for the workshop and kit is $15 per person.
The schedule of “Starting a Business in Illinois” workshops for summer and fall includes:
- July 16, 9-11 a.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Aug. 22, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Sept. 23, 5-7 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to noon, Randolph County Courthouse, 1 Taylor St., Chester.
- Nov. 6, 9-11 a.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Dec. 17, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
To register for any of the seminars, go online to sbdc.siu.edu or call 618/536-2424. Pre-registration is required.
More in-depth, one-on-one counseling will also be available to participants after the workshop. The counseling sessions are offered at no cost but appointments are necessary. The SBDC has numerous counselors, each with different specializations, available to help with specific business development needs.
The center will also host a special free workshop for entrepreneurs who want to export internationally. “Export Documentation: Succeeding in the International Trade Business” is Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center.
Ric Frantz, CEO and co-founder of LR International Inc., an international logistics and consulting firm based in Franklin Park, will be the guest speaker. He will discuss the documentation commonly required when exporting from the United States and the ramifications of inaccurate paperwork.
Although there is no cost for this workshop, participants must register no later than Oct. 20. Lunch is provided. Register online at sbdc.siu.edu or call 618/536-2424.
“These interactive workshops provide aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the answers they are searching for and the information they need to be successful,” Robyn Laur Russell, director of business development and international trade, said. “If you are starting or growing a business or even if you need to troubleshoot internal business issues, make an appointment and meet with one of our counselors today.”
The Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
To find out more about the university’s entrepreneurship and business development programs and the many services they offer, call 618/536-2424, email sbdc@siu.edu or visit the website at sbdc.siu.edu.