Training

The Small Business Center offers training in the form of seminars, workshops, and short courses to help you with business basics.  Most are offered at no charge.

Online Classes

No time to come to campus?  Investigate business related online classes you can take from your home or office.

Employee Training

Do you need specialized training for your employees?  Through Customized Training, you can find a variety of training opportunities to suit your needs. 

Upcoming Seminars

Following is a list of free seminars of interest to entrepreneurs and those who would like to start a small business.  These seminars make up the Small Business Development Series that is designed to instruct the entrepreneur in topics related to operating a small business.

• Use the easy online registration form to preregister for seminars by clicking the "Sign Me Up!" link for those of interest.
• Call 919-209-2015 to sign up for these seminars, space is limited so preregistration is preferred and encouraged.

or call 919-209-2591

10 Steps to Starting Your Own Business

This seminar will give you an overall understanding of the steps you need to take to make your dream venture a reality. It includes topics such as researching your market; defining your business structure; determining the needed local/state taxes, fees and licenses; developing a marketing strategy, setting up your record keeping system and writing your business plan.

Course Code: SBC 3601 03P
Dates/Days: April, 02, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Center 08
Instructor: McLamb
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None

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15 Common Mistakes That Will Undermine Any Business

We have all heard the old saying “learn from others mistakes.” The presenter, Bob Moore, created this seminar from his experiences of owning his own businesses and working for medium and large domestic and international corporations.

Opening and operating a small business normally involves a great deal of time and a substantial financial investment. During this two-hour seminar, you will learn the fifteen most common mistakes made by entrepreneurs and many corporations that ultimately undermine the business. Regardless of whether you are opening or operating a business, regardless of the size of your company, this seminar will prove to be invaluable in helping you form a legal, profitable, and growing business. Make a solid investment in the future survival of your business by planning to attend this informative seminar!

Course Code: SBC 3601 13P
Dates/Days: February, 13, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: JCC Main Campus - Public Safety Services Building J1510
Instructor: Moore
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Bob Moore, Small Business Director, Robeson Community College, Presenter

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Advertising and Marketing

Who is your customer? How do you sell your product or service to them? It doesn’t just happen! Develop a marketing plan for your business that works and does not break the bank doing so. Learn steps and tips to successful marketing.

Course Code: SBC 3601 09P
Dates/Days: March, 19, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: McLamb
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None

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Basic Bookkeeping for Your Small Business

Do you know the basic bookkeeping methods needed to run a business? Join this session to learn from an expert what it takes to effectively manage the finances of your business.

Course Code: SBC 3601 07P
Dates/Days: March, 05, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: McLamb
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Jess McLamb, The Roper Group, Inc., Presenter

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Common Website Problems - What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You!

You wake up one morning and your website
isn’t there! Your e-mail isn’t working either!
Guess what? This happens constantly and the
cause could be a minor interruption or a major
(and expensive) catastrophe for your business.

You’ve got a website, but it isn’t showing in the search engines. A few quick “fixes” could solve that problem and get you the attention you want from Google, while the wrong moves can get you banned from search engines!

Did you know you may be spending a lot of your time providing free advertising for Facebook and receiving NO benefit in return?

This seminar looks in detail at common problems that occur on a daily basis to websites and provides step-by-step information
on how to prevent or recover from them!

Some are mildly irritating while other issues can literally bring your online presence to a grinding halt. Attending this presentation will give you the tools needed to evaluate your own site, identify threats and solve them before they have a negative impact.
Delivered in a straight forward manner in “plain English”, your instructor will provide concrete examples and walk you through solutions.
Question and answer time will be provided.

Course Code: SBC 3601 19P
Dates/Days: February, 22, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Center 08
Instructor: Lippard
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None
Note: (You are welcome to bring your lunch.) This seminar is provided in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.

Sign Me Up!

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Course Code: SBC 3601 20P
Dates/Days: March, 21, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Lippard
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None
Note: (You are welcome to bring your lunch.)

Sign Me Up!

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Effective Public Speaking to Market your Business

Sherry Harris, Sherdan Venture Group, LLC, Presenter
Effective public speaking is important for any business owner as part of a marketing strategy and in leading and managing the business. Whether it is informal conversation with the public sharing your “elevator speech” about your business, leading discussions and meetings within and outside of the business, or using your expertise in more formal presentations, everything you say has the potential to influence your business. Join this session designed specifically for business owners and potential business owners to gain hands-on, practical information to help you become more effective at networking events and in other public relations and speaking activities. Your business will certainly benefit!
This seminar series is a partnership with the Town of Benson and the Benson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Course Code: SBC 3601 21P
Dates/Days: March, 13, 2012 - March, 27, 2012 (T)
Course Times: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Benson Civic Center Conference Room
Instructor: Harris
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None

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Financing Your Small Business

Are you exploring financial options for starting or maintaining a small business? If so, this is a seminar that you don’t want to miss! Learn from a lender important information on what it takes to get funding for your business. Topics to be explored include the importance of a strong business plan, lender financing options, SBA loan processes, and tips for grant research and writing. This seminar is a must for the savvy business owner!

Course Code: SBC 3601 06P
Dates/Days: February, 27, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Cockrell and Andrews
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Doug Cockrell, KS Bank and Rosa Andrews, Small Business Center, JCC

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Guerrilla Marketing

Market your business for LOW, OR NO DOLLARS! Guerrilla Marketing revolutionized small business marketing. Using low-cost tools, targeted information, and imagination Guerrilla Marketing helps you find conventional rewards (sales and profits) using unconventional methods (cheap stuff!!). Program presenter, Mike Collins, is a certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach. In the program, Guerrilla Marketing, you will learn: The one key to marketing that you MUST use; How to do cheap market research; Secrets to saving marketing dollars; How to use mini-media marketing; How to get into Maxi-Media (television, radio, newspaper, Internet) for free; and How to create Guerrilla Marketing tools that can easily be used in any marketplace. Guerrilla Marketing can help you save money, make money, and position your business to grow dramatically.

Course Code: SBC 3601 11P
Dates/Days: April, 30, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Perfect Workday Co.
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Mike Collins, The Perfect Workday Co., Presenter

Sign Me Up!

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Hire Smart, Save Money!

As a business owner, have you ever stopped to
think about the cost to hire a new employee?

Time to prepare the job description, advertise
the position, interview candidates, select and
train...the list goes on and on.
You hope the new employee will stay, work hard and love your company. If that doesn’t happen, you are back to square one.

Join this session as Deb Pattison, Director of Human Resources for KS Bank, shares tips for hiring smart to gain valuable employees who will grow with your company.
Hiring wisely is an investment that will, in the long run, increase your bottom line.

This seminar is provided in partnership with the Greater Smithfield Selma Area Chamber of Commerce and KS Bank.

Course Code: SBC 3601 23P
Dates/Days: March, 28, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Location: Smithfield Selma Chamber of Commerce Conference Room
Instructor: Pattison
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None

Sign Me Up!

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Home-Based Business: How To Start One That Works

Do you want to run a home-based business? What type of business will you start? How will you market it? How will it affect your taxes? How will it affect your home life? Can you really make the kind of money you see in the ads? In this seminar, home-based entrepreneur, Mike Collins, will show you how to: choose the business that FITS you; plan your start up; find the permits, handle the legal issues and incorporate if necessary; create a business plan; find money for your business (it may be hiding close by); market your home-based business; handle the stress of a business that works too well, or doesn’t work well enough; and get out when it’s time.

Course Code: SBC 3601 10P
Dates/Days: April, 23, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Perfect Workday Co.
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Mike Collins, The Perfect Workday Co., Presenter

Sign Me Up!

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How to Rent Your Own Property Without Going Broke or Going to Jail!

Do you own property that you want to rent? Do you know how to stay out of trouble with the tenants and with law enforcement. Join this seminar to learn techniques for establishing rental agreements, collecting rent, avoiding evictions, protecting your property from vandalism and ultimately helping you make money. This seminar will be taught by local REALTOR and property manager, Rose Hammond, ABR,GRI, REALTOR. Rose has owned & operated Rose’s Realty, Inc. full time since 1995 and been a full time REALTOR since 1987 in Johnston County.

Course Code: SBC 3601 18P
Dates/Days: February, 15, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Hammond
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Rose Hammond ABR,GRI, REALTOR, Rose's Realty, Inc., Presenter (You are welcome to bring your lunch.)

Sign Me Up!

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How to Sell Without Selling

The word “Salesperson” usually instills negative thoughts and feelings within us. Is it any wonder that as small business owners we find it difficult to sell our services? Stop chasing your prospects! Learn how to sell ethically by drawing your perfect prospect to you.
You will see sales in a whole new light!

Course Code: SBC 3601 22P
Dates/Days: March, 14, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Hughey
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None
Note: (You are welcome to bring your lunch.)

Sign Me Up!

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How to Write a Business Plan

A strong business plan is a critical part of business success. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This workshop covers the basics you need to put together a business plan that will assist you with start up and funding your business.

Course Code: SBC 3601 04P
Dates/Days: February, 20, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: McLamb
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None

Sign Me Up!

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Course Code: SBC 3601 04P
Dates/Days: April, 16, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland Center 08
Instructor: McLamb
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None

Sign Me Up!

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Internet Marketing for Business - Make it Work for You!

What's worse than hearing every day that you should be blogging, tweeting, social media marketing, etc., etc? How about the endless acronyms and technical jargon that makes the entire process seem impossible to even get started! This seminar is designed to cut through all the "techno speak" and clearly explain the concepts behind Internet Marketing. How does it compare with traditional newspaper, radio, direct mail and TV? What are the differences between Google and Facebook ads? How do you create a successful online campaign? How can I tell if my marketing is working? Can social sites hurt as well as help my business? Should I use a PPC (pay per click) campaign? What's a reasonable budget? Do I REALLY need a Facebook page for my business...and how do I create it? What should I know about the new Google+ social network? What benefits can YouTube provide? In short, this seminar is designed to make you comfortable with the basics of online marketing, and equip you to begin making informed decisions that will benefit your business. Attendees will learn from real world examples and have plenty of opportunities to ask questions. Limited to 20 participants so register early!

Course Code: SBC 3601 25P
Dates/Days: February, 08, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 10am-12noon
Location: Smithfield Selma Chamber of Commerce Conference Room
Instructor: Lippard
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A

Sign Me Up!

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Introduction to Quickbooks

So you are starting a business and need a bookkeeping system?
Or are you already in business but need to better manage your financial system?
This 6-hour Quickbooks overview will show you how to:
1) setup a company file;
2) establish a chart of accounts;
3) add and edit accounts;
4) set up vendors and customers;
5) link Quickbooks to your bank account; and
6) how to use the register.

This just might be the software you are looking for!

Course Code: SBC 3601 15P
Dates/Days: May, 08, 2012 - May, 10, 2012 (T/Th)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 2012
Instructor: Harrell
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A

Sign Me Up!

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Networking 101

Studies show that a majority of people don’t enjoy networking even though building and maintaining relationships is absolutely essential to business success and yes, even personal happiness. Networking expert, Deidre Hughey, will introduce you to the art of Positive Networking and answer the following questions: How do I know which networking functions to attend? How do I break into a closed circle of networkers? How do I get out of conversations that are going nowhere? How do I know that my handshake is leaving a positive impression? How can I make any conversation catch fire? How can I introduce myself in a way that’s memorable?

Course Code: SBC 3601 24P
Dates/Days: April, 18, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Hughey
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: None
Note: (You are welcome to bring your lunch.)

Sign Me Up!

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Organizing For Success: What to Toss and How to Find the Rest!

Are you overwhelmed with paper or electronic information? Is your office crowded or cluttered? Do you feel frustrated by too much to do and not enough time to do it? Research shows that 80% of what we keep we never use, but determining what 20% to keep, and how to find it when you need it, proves challenging for most people -- at work and at home. A study by Brother International indicates collective messy desks and time spent looking for misplaced items costs corporate America $177 billion annually. An OfficeMax study found 87% of workers admit that when their space is cluttered they "feel less productive" and one in five employees admit having trouble prioritizing what they should throw away.

Without an understanding of what to keep, how to keep it, where to keep it, and most importantly, how to find it, clutter continually increases, and productivity decreases. This presentation offers time-tested Productive Environment™ principles and practices developed by Barbara Hemphill over 30 years and implemented by thousands of clients in offices around the world, including:
• Clutter is Postponed Decisions®
• The Art of Wastebasketry®
• The File-Act-Toss SYSTEM™
• The Productive Environment Process™
• Hemphill’s Principle
• Almost Paperless™
• The 6 Information Management Questions
• The Magic 6™: Six Components of a Productive Office

Seminar attendees will:
• Unlock the secret to deciding what to keep, and what can safely be tossed;
• Avoid the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to eliminating clutter;
• Boost their productivity with a proven system for establishing priorities in 60 seconds or less;
• Learn effective strategies for managing their In Box (paper and electronic);
• Protect their valuable information by eliminating the fatal flaw in most filing systems, once and for all.
• Be prepared to move from paper to ‘almost paperless’ when desirable and appropriate.

Course Code: SBC 3601 26P
Dates/Days: February, 29, 2012 (W)
Course Times: 11am-2pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Hemphill
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A

Sign Me Up!

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Raise Your Credit Score to over 740 Points: Receive that Personal or Business Loan

Bob Moore, Small Business Director, Robeson Community College, Presenter
A good credit score is now considered to be 740 points or higher. Should you have one credit card or four? Should you pay off your balances every month or carry a balance? Should you carry a credit card even though you have not used it in years? The answers to these questions may surprise you when it comes to increasing your credit score. Now more than ever, having good credit is important in being able to obtain a personal or business loan. Your credit score is also important in determining the interest rate of your loans, your insurance premiums and deposits required for phone and utility services for your business. As of October 1, 2005, every adult in North Carolina has been able to receive a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. Do you understand these reports and how to read them? In this three-hour seminar we will discuss the history of credit scoring, how to read a credit report and what factors are used in calculating your FICO or Beacon score. You will learn the legal tricks credit bureaus do not reveal on how to raise your score simply by the way you use your credit cards, treat inquiries, make your payments and carry balances. This seminar will also include information about the importance of maintaining good credit and the positive financial consequences it produces. Using several proven methods, your credit score could increase by 50-100 points or more within 60 days. Make plans to attend now!

Course Code: SBC 3601 17P
Dates/Days: March, 26, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: JCC Main Campus - Public Safety Services Building J1510
Instructor: Moore
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Bob Moore, Small Business Director, Robeson Community College, Presenter

Sign Me Up!

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Safety and Health Management Systems for Small Business

Jackie Seare, Instructor
This course assists small business owners in developing and implementing an effective safety and health management system (SHMS) in the workplace. Companies that have an SHMS in place greatly reduce the number and severity of work-related illnesses and accidents. Additional benefits include fewer lost work days, lower workers’ compensation costs, and higher employee morale and productivity. The course is based on a four-part model which includes Management Leadership, Worksite Analysis, Hazard Prevention, and Safety & Health Training. Implementation of an SHMs promotes a workplace culture of employee ownership of safety and health, and continuous improvement.

Course Code: SBC 3601 16P
Dates/Days: March, 20, 2012 (T)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Seare
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Jackie Seare, Instructor

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The ABC’s of Starting a Business

Starting your own business may seem like an overwhelming task, but it really is not that hard if you take it step by step. This workshop is an in-depth walk through on the mechanics of developing a business concept, feasibility, licensing, and the written plan, plus the financial projections by line item. This workshop is a must for those starting their own business.

Course Code: SBC 3601 08P
Dates/Days: March, 12, 2012 (M)
Course Times: 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Location: JCC Main Campus - Public Safety Services Building J1510
Instructor: Killette
Registration Fee: FREE
Book: N/A
Note: Pat Killette, Small Business Center Director, Wilson Community College, Presenter

Sign Me Up!

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or call 919-209-2591