These two-to three-hour seminars are held on one evening and cover a wide range of small business topics. Most of these seminars are held at the Small Business Center located at the N.C. Mutual Building in downtown Durham or at the Orange County Skills Development Center in downtown Chapel Hill. Print out the registration form for these Small Business Seminars. You can mail or fax the registration form with payment to reserve your seat.

Get your business off on the right foot by complying with North Carolina tax laws from the start. Learn to properly register your business, how to handle complicated withholding challenges, and how to pay the right amount of property taxes. Obtain information on your state tax obligations and focus on growing the business. Taught by N.C. Dept of Revenue's Taxpayer Assistance Division.

Gain knowledge on how to identify, limit, and reduce risk and liability. Learn important information about incorporation, revising or drafting by-laws, the need to develop policies and procedures, and the need to conduct a safety audit by a certified risk management specialist. Taught by Sam Gore of Towards a Fruitful Ministry.

Starting your own business may seem like a daunting task, but it’s not so hard if you take it step by step. This seminar gives you an overall understanding of what it takes to make your dream become a reality. Our consultant has trained hundreds of entrepreneurs across the state in starting, marketing, and managing a business. Taught by Jess McLamb of the Roper Group.

This exciting session will show you the language, structure, and key components of a successful business plan. Learn research techniques to gain information about your industry and the competition. Showcase the services and concepts that differentiate your business, and highlight effective marketing strategies and financial plans that build your business credibility. Taught by Adrian Wright of WrightWay, Int’l.

Turn your business anxiety into business prosperity during a recession. Great businesses see recessions as opportunities to grow their revenues and gain market share. Learn how to prepare for and grow your business during an economic downturn, including the tangible tools and strategies “Great Businesses” use to THRIVE during recessions. Taught by Benjamin Quinn, MBA of ActionCOACH Business Coaching.

Profit from valuable tips from a local banker. Learn how your personal finances affect your business, the importance of having a solid banking relationship, and three key individuals every business owner should have in their "cabinet". Understand what factors are involved when bankers weigh business loan requests.
Taught by Latoyia Boria of RBC Centura Bank.

Learn new ideas and the right tools that create a positive and profitable environment for a business to grow and prosper. Understand the way business really works with strategic marketing tools that you can immediately put into use. Taught by Jim Baker of Lakota Group.

Learn the advantages, taxes, and costs of the different business entities. These include proprietorship versus"C" Corp vs. "S" Corp vs. "LLC." Get answers to your questions about commercial leases, business formation, insurance coverage, supplier, and customer contracts, and employment issues, as well as practical advice on minimizing business risks. Taught by Donna Ray Chmura, J.D., Sands, Anderson, Marks & Miller, P.C.

There’s more than one way to become an entrepreneur! Explore starting or buying a business, the steps you need to be successful, and pitfalls to avoid.Gain hands-on insights from two successful entrepreneurs. Decide the right path for you and learn the tools to get started. Taught by Dennis Schaecher of Business Ownership Strategies.

Ready to take your first steps into exporting? Learn about qualifying your company to export, market research, finding customers and selling abroad, arranging for the transportation of goods, international payment methods and market entry strategies. This class is ideal for companies looking to begin exporting or individuals interested in starting an exporting business. Taught by Richard Price, Aberdeen International.

This free session each month is the perfect place to bring all your startup questions. Get info on licenses, legal forms, taxes, and much more. Learn about community and online resources from veteran business instructors and from fellow entrepreneurs. Preregistration is requested at 919-686-3448.

Learn 18 key threats that impact a business owner’s long-term success. Use this opportunity to identify the one key threat that is your biggest business challenge. Avoid mistakes others have made, and develop a short action plan that you can implement tomorrow. Taught by Nanci Appleman-Vassil of AP Learning Solutions. 3 hours.

Being in debt and living from paycheck to paycheck does not have to be your way of life. Pay off your debt starting tomorrow. Find out why conventional financial strategies do not work for most people and how to build capital to start your own business or seriously save for retirement. Taught by Greg Frank, Financial Fitness Center.

Know your products or services? Do numbers scare you? What about accounting terms like cash versus accrual, debits and credits, depreciation, assets and liabilities, owner’s equity, liquidity, and more? Get handson experience in preparing a financial statement, including cash flow, income statements, and balance sheet. Taught by Jess McLamb of the Roper Group.

Today’s workplace demands that managers have adaptive skills to work across generational diversity, and understand how each age group differs but can also share values. Learn to identify potential workplace issues, and what motivates each generation to be effective while developing strategies for managing intergenerational teams. Taught by John Formica of JFEnterprises, LLC.

Would you rather eat live insects than market your small business? Come learn inexpensive, fun and creative approaches to marketing. Find out how to overcome five common obstacles that may be holding your back. Leave with new ideas to help you grow your business. Taught by Emily Balance, MEd.

Want 50 expensive, easy-to-use ways to grab new customers, reinforce current customers, and attract customers you don't even know about? Use big business strategies like targeted ads, letters, and phone calls to reach potential customers. Learn tactics that range from flyers and brochures to open houses and sales for special customers only. Taught by Mike Collins, Perfect Workday, Inc.

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