Web Smarts for Small Business - Web Advertising on the Cheap: Pay-per-click for Small Business (8/2/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Part 3 of 3
Dip your toes into the pool of web advertising without drowning. Learn how to set up keywords and budgets and how to optimize your advertising once it's running. Discover the uniqueness in your business and drive customers to your site.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 N. IH 35, Suite 200
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   512-928-8010     
Business Basics (8/13/2010)
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   
Public Art from A to Z (8/14/2010)
Sponsored by CoA Cultural Arts Division
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn everything you need to know about establishing a public art practice from artist Lynn Basa, author of "The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions," and public art consultant Joel Straus, whose projects include the Washington, D.C. Convention Center and McCormick Place Convention Complex art collections. With over 40 years of combined experience in public art, Lynn and Joel offer customized information for artists at any stage in their careers. They will lend insight from their own successes and challenges and address questions and concerns at this hands-on workshop. Topics will include: where to find public art commission opportunities, how to effectively read calls-to-artists, what goes into writing a winning letter of interest, translating studio work into art for public spaces, effective budgeting and time management for public art projects, and strategies for effectively reading and negotiating contracts. Lynn Basa’s book will be available for purchase at the workshop.

Time:  9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location:  Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Classrooms A-B (4801 Lacrosse Avenue, Austin, 78739)
Fee:  $15 includes a boxed lunch, parking , and all workshop materials.
For Information:   512-974-9314     
To Register:   512-974-7875   
Essentials of Writing a Business Plan (8/17/2010)
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   
Multicultural Marketing (8/17/2010)
Sponsored by CoA Cultural Arts Division
Are you interested in engaging new or more diverse populations? Do you want to learn how to create authentic messages that resonate with a multicultural America? If so, then you are ready for multicultural marketing, an inclusive and culturally relevant approach that not only reaches diverse populations but creates trust and builds advocates for people and organizations. Learn the basic tools to engage multicultural communities by understanding population changes, cultural insights and motivations; and ways your organization can start to engage and market to diverse populations. This workshop is presented as part of the Next Level program by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division.

Time:  11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location:  Austin City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room 1101 (301 W. 2nd St. Austin 78701)
Fee:  Free
For Information:   512-974-7860     
To Register:   512-974-7875   
Business Plan Class (8/18/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Put a plan behind your business dreams! It is hard to take a business seriously when there is little or nothing in writing about its structure, future direction, or position in the marketplace. That is why a business plan may be the most important document you will ever write for your business.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010     
Creating a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit (8/18/2010)
Sponsored by CoA Cultural Arts Division
This workshop is a step-by-step guide to creating a new nonprofit tax-exempt corporation in Texas. Discussion will include choice of entity and alternatives to forming a new nonprofit. This workshop is presented as part of the Next Level program by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division.

Time:  1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location:  Austin City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room 1101 (301 W. 2nd St., Austin, 78701)
Fee:  Free
For Information:   512-974-7860     
To Register:   512-974-7875   
Essentials of Starting a Business (8/18/2010)
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   
Customer Communications Class (8/19/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Attendees will gain some basic tools to build stronger relationships more quickly and effectively with prospects and customers. Additionally, we'll offer some tools and skills to get customers and prospects to open up and discuss the "real" issues. This will allow the seller to overcome stalls, objections or problems that are encountered with prospects and customers.

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   
Financial Foundations I - Understanding Financial Statements (8/23/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Part 1 of 2
If you need help understanding the various financial statements associated with running a business then, come to BiGAUSTIN for “Understanding Financial Statements” and get in-depth information on these topics and much more! What you will learn: • How a balance sheet differs from the profit and lost statement • How to calculate your cash flow statement and break-even point • Key items to look for when reviewing financial statements • How understanding financial statements help you make informed business decisions • How to look at financial ratios, and • How to determine your company’s cash needs. Prerequisites: Business Start-up Basics recommended, unless already in business.

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   
Building a Better Credit Portfolio (8/24/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Searching for ways to raise your credit score? This workshop will teach you how to read and interpret a credit report, increase your credit score, and dispute errors on your report. You'll have a better understanding of how to improve your credit report and score. Instructor: Norma Kunze, Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, Budget & Credit Solutions. Norma Kunze has worked in credit counseling in Austin since 1990. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Texas State University. She is currently a National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) certified credit counselor and HUD certified housing counselor for Budget & Credit Solutions, the Austin branch of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater San Antonio.

Time:  12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location:  1050 E. 11th St., Ste 350
Fee:  Free
For Information:   928-8010
To Register:   928-8010   
Market Research Lab (8/25/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Seating is limited
Want to succeed in tracking down your potential customers? Seeking information on the health of your industry? Interested in obtaining market research reports? By attending this workshop, you'll learn to determine target markets, obtain market share data, retrieve industry overviews, and locate market research reports.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   512-928-8010     
The Art of the Proposal - Lessons in Advanced Grantwriting (8/25/2010)
Sponsored by CoA Cultural Arts Division
This course is designed to help expand participants’ knowledge of the overall fund-seeking process – from identifying a broader funding base to creating stronger models for their programs and projects, including competitive sets of objectives and outcomes matched with evaluation strategies that funders of all types increasingly require. The course will provide participants with opportunities to practice creating logic models, sets of correlated goals and objectives, and evaluation strategies for one or more of their current programs or projects, which they can utilize in making funding applications after the training session has concluded. The course focuses on best practices in approaching funding sources, including how to frame winning Letters of Intent and pre-proposals; as well as discusses the challenges and opportunities of funding from federal, state and local governments; and utilizing online resources – including the Foundation Center, guidestar.com, and other portals. Presenter: Holly C. VanScoy, Ph.D, Academic Research Associates. Dr. VanScoy has been writing grants and teaching grant writing since earning her Ph.D. from the University of Texas-Austin in 1986. As of May 2010, she has written proposals across all sectors that have been funded for more than $44 million, including more than 50 successful proposals to federal agencies. Dr. VanScoy is the founder and CEO of Academic Research Associates, a Texas HUB-certified small business located in Taylor, Texas that provides full-service evaluation support in addition to grant writing services to nonprofit organizations, businesses and government entities in the U.S. and abroad.

Time:  1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location:  Austin City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room (301 W. 2nd Street)
Fee:  Free
For Information:   512-974-7860     
To Register:   512-974-7875   
Financial Foundations II - Understanding Cash Flow (8/30/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Part 2 of 2
Everything you need to know about preparing a cash flow statement, but were afraid to ask. Join BiGAUSTIN for “Financial Foundations II-Understanding Cash Flow" and get answers to these questions and learn how to determine your business’s cash flow. What you will learn: • How to identify all major sources and uses of cash flow • Why and how to prepare a cash flow statement • How profit and loss statements and balance sheets tie together, and • Probable causes for business failure. Prerequisites: Financial Foundations I.

Time:  11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location:  5407 North IH-35, Suite 200, Austin TX 78723
Fee:  FREE
For Information:   928-8010     
Tax Responsilibities and Small Businesses (8/31/2010)
Sponsored by Business Investment Growth
Business Owners and Entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend this workshop, which will provide an overview of tax responsibilities for business owners. The attendees set the pace of the seminars so bring all of your questions concerning tax rules, updates, forms, and procedures.

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