SCORE Portland

This is a fast-paced, interactive workshop for those who have been in business at least two years. You will leave with several tools that will help your new business right now and on an on-going basis.

Learn: Why should anyone buy from your new business? What will make you special? How do you determine that? How will you describe your product or service in a way that compels people to want it?

Learn about the secret of the product (service) experience. Determine the best product/service description - from the customer's perspective.

This workshop will provide you tools to help you answer questions such as: * What is the dominant paradigm for your target market and how you leverage the positives and overcome the negatives? * Just what do customers really need? * How do I position my product/service in the market? * What drives buyer behavior? * How does an understanding of customer needs and solutions help drive compelling benefits?

You're Open For Business. Now Let's Sell

Everybody is a small business is in sales! What does that mean to you?

In this workshop you will develop your "elevator speech" - the powerful ability to explain what business you are in and what value you deliver.

You will learn how to listen for the ways the prospect is buying and what to do about it.

Learn how to ask the right questions. * Discover the power of walking in the shoes of your customer. * Discover your active listening habits and leverage the good ones and change the bad ones * Learn the secrets of building successful business relationships. * Find out how to establish instant rapport with a stranger.

This workshop is designed for those who are ready to start their business plan or who are in business but need to build a business plan. It covers all aspects of building a business plan including: how to get yourself organized, avoiding writers block, required content, focusing on what is important and tips on how to make your plan represent you in the best light.

Although there is no one way to write a business plan, attendees will be taken through a simple structure for building their plan. In addition, participants will be exposed to business planning software that will assist them in completing the financial portions of the plan.

This full day workshop is designed for those who have made the decision to go into business and need an overview on topics such as: understanding the ramifications of selecting a legal structure for the business; payroll, accounting, record keeping and taxes; alternatives for securing financing; business risks and insurance requirements; developing a business plan that will sell the entrepreneur's idea; and developing and implementing a successful marketing plan.

The presenters for this workshop come from the local business community. They are practicing attorneys, accountants and insurance brokers.

This is one of the most important days that the beginning entrepreneur can spend in a workshop.

Sample Content: * Learn to move a business from concept to profitable operation * Simple record keeping and controls * Managing your people and resources * Choosing the right tax-saving legal form of business * Researching your customers and markets * What kind and how much insurance do you need * Where and how to find financing * Introduction to creating a business plan

Attend a FREE SBA Loan Briefing on Thursday, January 15, 2009 from 11:30am - 12:30pm at the ODS Building, 601 SW Second Avenue, Portland, OR. The briefing will be held by an SBA Loan Specialist. If you are seeking financing to start a business or grow an existing business, you should attend. You will learn about the SBA Guaranteee Loan Program, credit requirements, use of proceeds, how to approach a lender, where to find loan proposal assistance. Pre-registration is not required.

For additional information, contact the Portland District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration at (503) 326-2682.

The Internet is being used more and more to provide better, faster customer service and communication as well as give you another outlet through which to move your products and services.

This workshop will cover Internet basics and how your small business can benefit by using the Internet. We'll look at how to perform searches, use of your browser and bookmarks, handling e-mail and why your small business should develop a web site. We also cover the basics of web site design.

Discover how to lessen the disadvantage that your small business faces when competing with larger businesses. Your small business web site can be effective virtual marketing collateral that you can update on demand with little or no cost. Your presence on the Internet can be a useful marketing tool by providing richer pre-sale information or post-sale support and service. This can differentiate your product or service from the competition.

Sample Content: * Electronic Media * Introduction to the Internet * The basics of Web Site design * Introduction to Internet Marketing * Search Engine Basics * E-mail basics

In this four-hour workshop you will learn: * Understanding the transition of paper bookkeeping into an automated one and using the same modus operandi for QUICKBOOKS. * Understanding the basic accounting terms keeping a focus on common sense in terms of debits and credits. * Understanding the Chart of Accounts which are established ... and often are specialized for the specific business type. * Starting off with bank accounts, real property, inventory and client listings. * Learning some tip and tricks for setting it up and going forth in day-to-day bookkeeping. * Where to seek out help that is FREE from SCORE in refreshing your memory or when you find a roadblock.

This workshop answers three fundamental questions: 1. What is Marketing? 2. Why is it important? 3. How do you make it work for you?

Discover the change in the business environment that makes marketing vital to business success. Learn the power of the brand - and why you are the brand.

Discover how analysis of the market, customers, your offering, your distribution, pricing and sales program will lead to developing a powerful marketing plan. Learn about marketing communication vehicles and the pros and cons of each.

This dynamic, interactive, half day seminar will answer some fundamental questions about marketing: * What specifically do I need to do to effectively market my business? * Do I need a big budget to do marketing? * How do I compete with others who are doing what I'm doing? * Why do I need a marketing plan? * Discover some essentials that will help you start thinking and acting like a marketing expert.

This workshop answers three fundamental questions: 1. What is Marketing? 2. Why is it important? 3. How do you make it work for you?

Discover the change in the business environment that makes marketing vital to business success. Learn the power of the brand - and why you are the brand.

Discover how analysis of the market, customers, your offering, your distribution, pricing and sales program will lead to developing a powerful marketing plan. Learn about marketing communication vehicles and the pros and cons of each.

This dynamic, interactive, half day seminar will answer some fundamental questions about marketing: * What specifically do I need to do to effectively market my business? * Do I need a big budget to do marketing? * How do I compete with others who are doing what I'm doing? * Why do I need a marketing plan? * Discover some essentials that will help you start thinking and acting like a marketing expert.