Exploring Entrepreneurship (7/8/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
This exciting new class discussing all aspects of considering the venture into entrepreneurship. This class provides an overview of the field of entrepreneurship and how you might potentially fit into it. This class will help you through many questions and many ways to assess whether or not entrepreneurship is an appropriate fit. Class offered as a part of BiGAUSTIN's Women's Business Center, which is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. This class is instructed by Bob Dehm, Personal Banker, Citibank.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Ultimate Marketing Challenge (7/9/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
3 Parts: Session: 8/9, 8/10 , & 9/13
Does your current marketing plan seem a little flabby or out of shape? If so, the BiGAUSTIN Ultimate Marketing Challenge is the fitness program tailored to put your marketing plan in tip top shape for 2010! From a marketing plan that needs just a little tweaking to one that requires a full-blown workout. The BiGAUSTIN Ultimate Marketing Challenge will take you through five important exercises tailored to trim the fat and build an impressive, strong marketing platform. This is a 3-part seminar. Register once for all sessions; investment includes three session dates.

Time:  6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location:  5407 N. IH 35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  $45
For Information:   928-8010     
Marketing Strategies To Jump Start Your Business (7/10/2010)
Sponsored by SCORE
Developing a practical and effective marketing plan. This workshop discusses traditional marketing issues; defining your target market and position, price, deliver, and promoting your product or service. The workshop works through many examples, but uses breakouts to have you discuss topics as they apply to your specific business idea.

Time:  9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location:  SCORE offices, 5524 Bee Caves, Bldg M, Austin, TX 78746
Fee:  $35 cash/check at the door.Credit card in advanc $15 for more of same team
For Information:   512-928-2425     
To Register:   512-928-2425   
Creating Spaces for Artist Communities (7/12/2010)
Sponsored by CoA Cultural Arts Division
This presentation focuses on the needs of arts organizations, artists, and cultural/community space developers. How should you think about the different types of space that can be created? What are the standard models from elsewhere? What are the keys in deciding the model that works for your stakeholders? How should they negotiate with development partners, organizational partners and collaborations, and the public sector? What are the basics of determining feasibility of their idea? What are the first steps in moving forward?

Time:  7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location:  Carver Museum & Cultural Center, Boyd Vance Theater (1165 Angelina Street)
Fee:  Free
For Information:   512-974-7860     
To Register:   512-974-7875   
Borrowing Basics (7/15/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Do you know what your lending officer is looking for in your loan package? Regardless of where you seek funding, applying for a loan can be an unsettling process. Borrowing Basics allows you to get an insider’s peek at the loan evaluating process.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  Free
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Business Basics (7/16/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
This class covers the legal forms of business, name registration & taxes, business licenses, permits and regulations. You will walk away with a resource packet, business plan checklist, top 10 reasons why businesses fail, and tips to get you started!

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Web Smarts for Small Business - Someone told me to get on the web: Starting your First Business Website (7/19/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Part 1 of 3
For most small businesses, the toughest part of picking your first website is simply knowing which questions to ask. Learn how to assess your needs objectively and find a reputable provider to build and host your business web site. We'll also leave time at the end to discuss other questions and issues related to websites and e-commerce.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 N IH 35, Suite 200
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010     
Contract Law for Texas Microentrepreneurs (7/20/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Need help deciphering legal jargon used in contracts? Join BiGAustin to learn how to harness the powerful language of contract to benefit your small business. Through this class you will: · Learn the basic principles of contract law · Determine how to implement and enforce contractual terms and conditions · Understand contract dispute resolution process · Review common contracts. After this class you will have a contract review checklist and industry specific contract guidelines.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Essentials of Writing a Business Plan (7/20/2010)
Sponsored by SCORE
Providing general and individual guidance to help prepare and evaluate a business plan. This workshop discusses the content of a business plan and why the sections are separated but linked. We also discuss ways and places to find the information needed to fill in the holes of the plan.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  SCORE offices, 5524 Bee Cave, Bldg M, Austin, TX 78746
Fee:  $35 cash or check at the door. $15 for addtl same team
For Information:   512-928-2425     
To Register:   512-928-2425   
Essentials of Starting a Business (7/21/2010)
Sponsored by SCORE
To help would-be entrepreneurs effectively evaluate the pros and cons of starting a small business and create a plan for small business success. The workshop discusses a wide range of subjects; financial considerations, planning, forms of business organization, financing alternatives, marketing, insurance, record keeping, and taxes. The workshop is ideal for people with ideas but still trying to figure out all the other things they need to consider about starting a business. Presented by 5 different professionals from the Austin Business Community, and augmented by SCORE counselors.

Time:  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location:  SCORE offices, 5524 Bee Cave, Bldg M, Austin, TX 78746
Fee:  $50 creditcard in advance, $50 cash/check at the door. $20 for addl team
For Information:   512-928-2425     
To Register:   512-928-2425   
Alternative Financing (7/22/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Maybe you or someone you know is having trouble getting financing for their businesses or commercial real estate projects from their local lender. Alternative Financing Options may be for you. You will learn about alternative financing options offered to businesses that provide more flexibility and creativity than other lending resources.

Time:  9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Understanding Your Market (7/23/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
This class offers entrepreneurs a true marketing checklist to make sure all components of the business are ready for the consumer to acknowledge and digest. During this class you will learn how to better define your own product/service, profile your consumer, and lastly gather the full scope of the marketplace. Facilitated by Alix Morrow, Alix Co. Consulting

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 N. IH 35, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78723
Fee:  
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Web Smarts for Small Business: 'Hello, World': Search Engine Submittal and Optimization Basics (7/26/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Part 2 of 3
You've got a website but you're not sure how to get listed in the search engines or achieve better rankings. Learn basic techniques for submitting your site to the search engines, how to optimize your site so that your target customers can find you, and some tips and tricks for better search results.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 N. IH 35, Suite 200
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010     
The Power of QuickBooks (2 PART COURSE) (7/27/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
2 Part: July 27th & 28th
Come to our QuickBooks Blitz and try the available capabilities that QuickBooks has to offer. This hands-on workshop will cover the basics to get you started! Find out how QuickBooks can help you organize your records and financial statements. First time athletes can rush into this blitz! This is a 2-part seminar. Register once for the two part session; investment includes both session dates.

Time:  6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location:  5407 N. IH 35, Suite 200
Fee:  $75
For Information:   928-8010     
Grow Your Business on the Web (7/31/2010)
Sponsored by SCORE
Limited to 50 people, please preregister
Purpose: How to use your website as a marketing tool by combining marketing concepts with web technologies, platforms and methods such as search engine optimization, search engine marketing, blogging for business, social networks and other web sites. Agenda: Overview of marketing objectives, getting started with online marketing, web design terminology, site promotion and examples of business social platforms in use. Provides basics for you to begin planning your web strategy.

Time:  9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location:  5524 Bee Caves Rd, Bldg M, Austin TX 78746
Fee:  $35 person cash or check at the dooror credit card in advance
For Information:   512-928-2425     
To Register:   512-928-2425