June 11, 2012
Free workshops planned for small businesses
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Operating a successful small business doesn’t just happen by chance.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center is offering a series of free workshops to help those planning to start a new business or enhance or expand an existing one.
The summer/fall workshop lineup includes several sessions of the popular “Starting a Business in Illinois” seminar. This two-hour presentation offers all of the ins and outs of starting a business including legal structure, start-up requirements, finding financing, and business planning basics.
The schedule of “Starting a Business in Illinois” workshops for summer and fall includes:
• July 18, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, East Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.
• Aug. 15, 9-11 a.m., Marion Man-Tra-Con office, 3000 W. DeYoung St., Illinois Star Centre in Marion. Man-Tra-Con is a co-sponsor.
• Sept. 20, 9-11 a.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, East Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.
• Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-noon, Randolph County Courthouse, 1 Taylor St., Chester. Randolph County Economic Development is co-sponsor.
• Oct. 16, 5-7 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, East Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.
• Nov. 12, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, East Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.
• Dec. 12, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, East Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.
• Jan. 8, 2013, 5-7 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, East Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.
There will be four additional workshops for new or expanding businesses.
“Finding Financing” is Sept. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150. This seminar offers information about the various financing options currently available for small businesses and how to secure funding for your business.
“Using Social Media in Business” is set for 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 10, also in Room 150 at Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. Participants will get the latest information about the different social networking platforms online, the benefits of incorporating social networking into your business marketing plan and how to do so.
If your business is up and running and you would like to expand into the international marketplace, there are two workshops you’ll want to check out. “International Trade: Are You Ready to Export?” is set for 3-4 p.m. on July 18 at Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. This seminar, for any company wanting to begin exporting, helps you assess the likelihood of success in foreign exporting.
“Navigating the Hidden Perils of International Distribution” will be Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center. One of the most frequent mistakes businesses make in international exporting is treating the relationship the same as domestic relationships. This workshop helps you identify international issues and distinctions so you’re aware of the differences that can have an adverse effect on international trade for your company before they become a problem. Jennifer Schwesig, partner in Armstrong Teasdale, LLP in St. Louis, will be the guest speaker and she will review the various pitfalls a supplier based in the U.S. can face and give advice and valuable information about selling products and services internationally.
All of the workshops are free and open to everyone. However, you must pre-register. To sign up, or for more information, call 618/536-2424, email sbdc@siu.edu or visit the website at www.siusbdc.com.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity fund the Illinois Small Business Center/International Trade Center and SIU Carbondale hosts the center. To learn more about the University’s entrepreneurship and business development programs and the services they offer, contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center at 618/536-2424, email sbdc@siu.edu or visit the website at www.siusbdc.com.