San Diego SBDC

Tuesday, December 10 - Two great workshops, one great day! Part I -- Steps to Start a Business: 1-2:30 pm (Trainer Carol Wiley, San Diego SBDC) Learn the essential Steps of taking your business idea ... and building it into a profitable venture. Start-up business planning essentials will be shared including the need for a business plan, what it takes to obtain a business license and how to qualify for financing. New or starting business owners should attend. To register, follow the link below!

Tomorrow (Thursday) - 9 am - noon Build a Website Tonight! workshop at San Diego SBDC, 880 National City Blvd, Ste. 103, National City. Most businesses will benefit immediately by having an online presence. But don't worry -- you don't need to be a "techie" to build one yourself. Come to this session and learn about some great free and low-cost tools that will help you build your website right away. ... Your Trainer: Michele Engel, President/CEO of Insightrak This is a free workshop!

It's not too late! With the deepest apologies to Steely Dan, "When Black Friday comes, I'm gonna dig my self a hole." Without a doubt, Black Friday has become the major shopping day for Big Box stores. But do you know that every time you shop at Big Buy, or S-Mart, or Wallyworld, you send your holiday shopping dollars straight on to Big Box HQ? ... Please consider spending your money one day later -- on Small Business Saturday. Did you know that 2/3 of each of your hard-earned dollars stays in your community? Small businesses are the engine that drives the economy, and that drive starts right here, in your city or town. Spend that money at home. Support Small Business Saturday. Businesses! It's not too late! Join the Shop Small movement.

To help get your business ready for the big day and the even bigger season to come, Small Business Owners should check out the SBA's "Small Business Matters" blog. Today -- "6 Ways to Maximize your Return on Sponsoring or Hosting Holiday Events"

Black Friday -- the most important shopping day of the year -- is just around the corner! But for many Small Business Owners, it's one day later -- Small Business Saturday! Shoppers, find out how you can help your fellow entrepreneurs and your communities... visit https://www.americanexpress.com//small-business/shop-small/

November is a time to celebrate and commemorate events, things, and people that matter to us. In the US, we have Thanksgiving, Election Day, Veterans' Day, American Education Week, The Great American Smoke-Out, America Recycles Day, Diabetes Month, Alzheimer's Disease Month, Home Care Month, and Hospice Month. This month, why don't we all spend a few minutes each week being thankful not only for the millions of small businesses that fuel our economy, but the political process in which we may each participate, the veterans -- here and gone -- who made it happen, and for those near and dear to us who are among the afflicted? Coming into the end of the year, small business owners know that literally every moment is important. But these moments of thanksgiving can be even more.

October is National Women's Small Business Month! Let San Diego SBDC help you prepare yourself for business growth and financial success! We're offering two different free workshops this month to help address your start-up questions.... STEPS TO STARTING A BUSINESS and PLANNING FOR SUCCESS & FINANCING Learn the essential Steps to Starting a Business and building it into a profitable venture, building a plan of action, where to get a business license, and considerations before taking that final step. As a business owner, you need a strategy for Planning for Success & Financing. Profit comes from a well laid out plan. A defined financial strategy is vital for sharing with partners, employees, and financial institutions. In partnership with Accion, the San Diego SBDC will guide you through developing those key strategies. On October 29, for the benefit of many local new small business owners, we will present these workshops in Spanish! Day One: Thursday, Oct. 10 San Diego SBDC, 880 National City Blvd, Ste. 103, National City, CA Steps to Starting a Business: 8:30-10:00 am Planning for Success & Financing: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Day Two: Wednesday, Oct. 23 East County Career Center, 924 E. Main Street, El Cajon, CA Steps to Starting a Business: 12:30-2:00 pm Planning for Success & Financing: 2:30-4:00 pm Day Three (en Espanol): Tuesday, Oct. 29 Southwestern College Main Campus, Room 214 - 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA Steps to Starting a Business: 8:30-10:00 am Planning for Success & Financing: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm For more information and to register, visit us at www.growmybiz.org and click "workshops and events."

It's doubtful that *any* group of people will make as real impression as this country's small business owners. Make your voice heard! Contact your Congressman and tell them to get busy on the business of business.

Is your business financially fit?

The Cottage Laws in San Diego County changed this year making it easier to sell food prepared from your home. More details at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/food/publications.html Expanding your operations, call the SBDC-we can help!

The Reuters story is from 2009. The information is timeless.

Starting a business? Try these!

Small business owners are among the most ethical business persons working today. How did you get where you are? If you're just starting out... something to know.