SCL Biz: Everything Business in Sonoma County

The 19th Annual Petaluma Business Expo provides the business community the opportunity and marketplace to exhibit and showcase a diversity of goods and services. The Expo includes over 100 exhibitors, food samples from Petaluma restaurants and caterers, promotional handouts.

October 16, 2008  • 4:00 - 7:30pm
Petaluma Community Center, 320 North McDowell Boulevard

For more information, call Kathy at 707-762-2785 or The Petaluma Chamber of Commerce

“First, we will explain the main concepts and the terminology of bookkeeping for a small business: what a balance sheet contains, the difference between cash and accrual basis, income statement (also called profit-loss), cash flow, and how these different aspects of recording and controlling your money interact.

In the second part, we will set up the chart of accounts for a fictitious small business in front of your very eyes: which information you need to get started, how to pay bills, how to enter accounts payable and receivable, and how to know whether you are making money or just moving monies around. ”

October 11, 2008 • 8:30am - 12:30pm
SRJC, 1596 Emeritus Hall, Santa Rosa campus

Information and registration

Sales: the name of the game for retail businesses and Topgrading for Sales: World-class Methods to Interview, Hire, and Coach Top Sales Representatives, by Bradford D.Smart and Greg Alexander [Portfolio, 2008] will help you - they “…boiled down the key Topgrading ideas to a pithy 112 pages while focusing on the unique needs of sales managers and sales directors. Great sales forces don’t just depend on strategies— they depend on hiring the best possible reps. But surveys show that about half of all hires and promotions put an under qualified person in the wrong job. No wonder the average tenure for sales managers is only nineteen months.“

Visit the SCL Biz Guide to Growing a Business for more.

The September 1, 2008 issue North Bay Business Journal, has a great article about the very active Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin County, which prompts SCL Biz to remind everyone that Sonoma and Solano Counties also have excellent Hispanic Chambers.

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County : The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County is here to promote the economic growth and development of Hispanic businesses throughout our region. Working together we provide partnership opportunities through programs and services designed to help our members meet their goals and succeed. To learn more about HCCSC, please contact us at (707) 575-3648.

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Marin County: Our Mission: To support, advance and promote the growth and success of Hispanic/Latino businesses and professionals through collaboration, networking opportunities, and access to resources. (415) 721-9686

Solano County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: The mission of the Solano County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen Hispanic businesses by providing tools, which advance development, prosperity and success in Solano County. (707) 421-9809

Presented by the North Bay Business Journal, the 2008 Going Green Conference: Building, Technology & Practices, is an “in-depth look at major trends and developments in the exploding green movement and how they are impacting the way business is conducted today.”

There will be two panels: ‘Building& Technology’ and ‘Green Business Practices’.

October 9, 2008 • 7:30 - 11:45am
Doubletree Hotel, 1 Doubletree Drive, Rohnert Park

Information & Reservations

Sponsored by the Mark West Area Chamber of Commerce, this free event showcases businesses while you enjoy complimentary food and Sonoma County wines and beverages.

October 9, 2008 • 4-8:00pm
Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road

Information and Reservations

SCL can remember the first PowerPoint Presentations - they were a leap forward in business presentations, but if you want to create really powerful presentations read Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft Office Powerpoint 2007 to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire, by Cliff Atkinson [Microsoft, 2008]. Atkinson “guides you, step by step, as you discover how to combine the tenets of classic storytelling with the power of projected media to create a rich, engaging experience. With easy-to-use templates, advanced tips, and plenty of illustrations and examples, you’ll learn techniques to help you clarify, visualize, and present your ideas so that your audience will remember your important message. This newly revised, popular guide now includes a CD with sample PowerPoint 2007 files and graphics.”

“Blogging is about the future–your future! This class is for small business owners and entrepreneurs who have heard about blogs, know there is something special going on, but aren’t quite sure what the big deal is. Join us and learn about:

• Visting blogs in your niche
• Subscribing to blogs in your niches
• Leaving comments on targeted blogs
• Guest posting on blogs
• Being interviewed on blogs
• Using blog directories
• Creating and maintaining your own blog

Learn how to use blogs to build trust and visibility with your clients!” Presented by Robin Matuk

October 4, 2008 • 1-4:00pm
2907 Maggini Hall, Santa Rosa Campus

Information & Reservations

“Reduce your taxes up to 50%! Learn legitimate strategies for tax savings through establishing or operating your own home-based business. If you file a Schedule C, you must attend this class. It will help you to understand more than 100 tax saving areas of the tax code and how to implement those that apply to you. After taking this class, many people find they are overpaying their income and/or self-employment taxes by hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year. You’ll learn how to pay the right amount of tax, how to use your tax savings to eliminate debt, how to audit proof your business, and how to be proactive in your tax planning.” Presented by Walt Woodard.

October 4, 2008 • 1-4:00pm
2801 Maggini Hall, Santa Rosa Campus

Information & Reservations

“This Internet Marketing Workshop, hosted by the eWomenNetwork, will teach you how to ‘Thrive Online.’ At this powerful event, presented by Mark Kitcart and Nancy Tierney, you’ll learn:

• Quick & cost effective ways to use Web 2.0 tactics in your online marketing efforts
• What does social networking mean and how do you use it to move clients through your door
• How to create a focused online and offline marketing campaign utilizing the newest marketing techniques
• 7 Secrets of Creating a Sticky Website essential in earning customers through your online marketing efforts
• How to keep your internet traffic, build solid relationships and turn them into long lasting customers”

October 3, 2008 • Noon - 4:00pm
McInnis Golf Park, 350 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael

Information & Reservations

The Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center wants to know: Did you “put your website up and no one came? You can’t find your web site on Google? Your web developer talks to you in a language you don’t understand? Your web site can be a major component of your business success. You need to understand how it works, even if you use a professional web developer. This workshop is designed for beginning web site owners who need to understand their web sites. This is a four-part series, you can register for one workshop or the entire series.”

All sessions are  9:30 am - 11:00 am

• Part 1: 10/01/08 Understanding how your web site works
• Part 2: 10/15/08 How to make your site people friendly
• Part 3: 10/29/08 How to make your site search engine friendly
• Part 4: 11/12/08 How to monitor traffic to your site

Redwood Empire SBDC Conference Room, 421 Tenth Street, Santa Rosa

Information & Reservations or call 1-888-346-SBDC

SCL Apologies - this workshop is October 25, not September 25 as originally posted.

[Co-sponsored by the Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center]

Learn how you can become an importer in this one-day seminar highly rated for the instructor’s experience, pace, candor and humor. You will be guided through licensing; selecting products; finding suppliers; working with governments, bankers, brokers, carriers; financing, costing and pricing; and gaining orders for your products. This knowledge becomes the basis for an export business as well.” Presented by John Spiers.

October 25, 2008 • 9:00 am - 5:00pm
1288 Barnett Hall, Santa Rosa Campus

Information & Reservations

[Co-sponsored by the Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center.]

Have you been moved out of a career through layoffs or mergers? Longing to be your own boss and follow your dream? Times have changed, and one-person businesses are a permanent part of our new economy. Are you ready to become ‘your business’ and join this fast growing group of entrepreneurs? Let’s enjoy discussing:

• Learning from others’ successes (books/tapes, workshops, Internet, etc.)
• Doing your homework/research (markets/competition)
• Self-assessment (skills, expertise, business idea)
• Lifestyle changes (working alone, no paycheck, family support, freedom)
• Legal form of business, licenses, zoning, ID, taxes, write-offs, contracts, etc.
• Business plan, seed money, working capital, budgets
• Market research, and target markets
• Sales/Marketing, cards, Web pages, brochures, networking
• Setting up shop (supplies, equipment, accounting, etc.)
• Seven reasons businesses could fail
• Personal/Professional well-being (support, inspiration, continued learning, time out)”

Presented by Danni Burton.
September 27, 2008 • 9:30am - 4:30pm
2714 Maggini Hall, Santa Rosa Campus

Information & Reservations

[Co-sponsored by the Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center]

Learn how you can become an importer in this one-day seminar highly rated for the instructor’s experience, pace, candor and humor. You will be guided through licensing; selecting products; finding suppliers; working with governments, bankers, brokers, carriers; financing, costing and pricing; and gaining orders for your products. This knowledge becomes the basis for an export business as well.” Presented by John Spiers.

October 25, 2008 • 9:00 am - 5:00pm
1288 Barnett Hall, Santa Rosa Campus

Information & Reservations