TRAINING
MI-SBTDC offers a wide range of free or low-cost training opportunities scheduled periodically throughout the year. The full Schedule & Registration is available online at: www.misbtdc.org/training. Seminars and workshops available may include:
Entrepreneurial Series
Fundamentals of Starting a Business: Designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting their business. Delivered in a workshop format, this introductory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.
Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan: Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, or business launch, this course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing, finance, legal, regulatory issues, operations, information based planning and management are key components of this workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included. Live examples of effective business plans are used as course material.
Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business: This course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to grow small businesses. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well planned approach to marketing is demonstrated, with examples of effective marketing techniques. Focus is on the business’s customers – creating and keeping them.
Fundamentals of Financial Management: This course introduces the basics of financial management, including accounting language and basic concepts, understanding and reading key financial statements and how to use that information to help you manage your business. Hands-on practice provided with financial tools.
Other topics and offerings:
FastTrac® Entrepreneurial Training: Whether you have always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, or just beginning to have thoughts about starting a business, the Kauffman Foundation training programs are designed to introduce entrepreneurs to the key elements of successful entrepreneurship, providing tools and information to evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning a business.
FastTrac® New Venture™ -- This comprehensive, multi-week licensed training has recently received new funding support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as part of the state’s commitment to increase the number of entrepreneurs who start new businesses and create new jobs here in Michigan. New funding support means that participants will now pay only $140 of the $700 course fee for FastTrac® New Venture™. This course is available statewide, and is offered in Flint through the I-69 Trade Corridor Region of the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC), as part of the statewide effort launched by MI-SBTDC in early 2009.
To participate in FastTrac® New Venture™, there are two pre-requisites that must be completed prior to starting the course: Attending one of MI-SBTDC’s “Fundamentals of Starting a Business” seminar or an equivalent and a FastTrac® New Venture™ Orientation class . Schedules and online registration for pre-requisite events as well as FastTrac® New Venture™, courses, all of which are offered on multiple dates and locations throughout the state, can be found at www.misbtdc.org/training.
FastTrac® TechVenture™ -- Also a comprehensive, multi-week licensed training, this course focuses on technology businesses and determining that it is the right time, the right technology, and building the right business foundation. In this class one will discover what is needed to consider in starting, operating, funding, or growing a technology or life sciences-based business, in a forum that allows one to determine market opportunities, business strategies, and how to pursue them successfully; define the target customers; develop a solid marketing plan; learn to assess and build a top management team; calculate the funding needed at each stage of the business and discover the best ways to access it; learn the importance of protecting your intellectual property through licenses, patents, trademarks, and copyrights; and create and polish an elevator pitch and investor presentation. This course is available statewide, and is offered in Flint through a collaboration of Kettering TechWorks and the I-69 Trade Corridor Region of Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC). Information, course dates and online registration is available at www.misbtdc.org/training
Retail Survival and Retail Inventory Management: Courses that target existing retailers, they are designed to demonstrate key financial indicators that can lead to improving operations and the bottom line: The courses include review pricing, gross profit, and mark up calculations, how to strengthen marketing and sales, inventory management, merchandising, and staff productivity in addition to capitalizing on holiday buying seasons.
Export Conference: This workshop explores the benefits, logistics, and financial issues related to exporting and features experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce, U. S. Commercial Service, and business speakers experienced various aspects of exporting.
Michigan Dept. of Treasury Tax Seminar: Designed for new businesses owners and anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of Michigan Sales, Use and Withholding taxes. The seminar will cover technical aspects of taxes as well as audits, assessments, collection procedures, appeal options, penalty waivers, and protection of confidential information.
Fiscal Fitness for the Growing Business: Fiscal management tools for the non-financial manager. This workshop is designed for businesses with at least 3 years of financial history. It provides the business owner or manager with an in-depth look at essential financial information for making effective performance decisions.
I-69 Trade Corridor Region Training Schedule and Registration
The full Schedule & Registration is available online at: www.misbtdc.org/training
Select:
1) Location - “In Area”
2) County - “Genesee, Lapeer, Shiawassee or St. Clair”
3) Topic - “All”
4) Time Range: “One Year”
Click Search and scroll down for the list of classes offered.
Most MI-SBTDC I-69 Corridor Region training is held on the Kettering University campus. On registering for a course or seminar, you will be sent a confirmation that includes a map and parking information for the training location.
