Everything you need to know to start your own business

Contact: Mia Purcell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: 207-739-6543 February 24, 2014

Email: mpurcell@community-concepts.org

Quick Start Workshop Series: Everything you need to know to start your own business

Quick Start Workshops are a series of FREE workshops that begin on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 @ 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Community Concepts’ conference room at 17 Market Square, S. Paris. These workshops are for anyone who is thinking of starting a new business. The workshops are designed to provide all of the essential information and material for starting a business from forms for registering your business name, forms for applying for an EIN number to marketing and financial information. To register for the workshops, please call 207-739-6543 or email: mpurcell@community-concepts.org.

The workshop series schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, March 26, @ 2:00 p.m. Overview of the workshops and materials

Wednesday, April 2, @ 2:00 p.m. Marketing information about branding and the
need for marketing materials

Wednesday, April 9, @ 2:00 p.m. Information on planning: the business plan, marketing plan, and a financial plan

Wednesday, April 16, @ 2:00 p.m. Information on legal aspects, such as business
entities

Wednesday, April 23, @ 2:00 p.m. Financial information about record keeping and tax obligations

Wednesday, April 30, @ 2:00 p.m. A resource panel for more technical assistance,
financing and more

The marketing workshop will provide an overview of marketing that covers the elements of a sound marketing strategy and brand-building as well as approaches to creating a website, working with social media and promotion and advertising.

The planning workshop is for those small businesses who are interested in business planning. Whether you need to write a business plan, a marketing plan or a strategic plan, this workshop is for you. This workshop will cover the elements of a business plan, provide guidance in writing a business plan and making it stand out.

A business plan is a document for detailing plans for a business. It is used to describe business goals and strategies. It is a path for financing and marketing. It provides detailed information about where a company is going and how it will get there.

A marketing plan is a roadmap that outlines specific actions that a business takes to market its product or service to potential customers. These actions work to persuade potential customers to buy the goods or service(s) the business is selling. The plan does not need to be lengthy, and it does not have to cost a lot of money.

A strategic plan helps plan for the future of your business. It takes into consideration where your business is right now and where you want your business to be in a certain period of time.

The fourth workshop will focus on entity selection and formation, business contracts, hiring employees and other important legal matters. In particular, it will cover similarities and differences between corporations and LLC’s and the necessary steps for business formation. The basics of business contracts will be covered as well as insurance issues and requirements. The hiring of employees versus independent contractors will also be discussed.

Federal income taxes, self-employment taxes, Maine business taxes, payroll and other compliances, and tax advantages for small businesses will be discussed in the fifth workshop.

The final Quick Start workshop is for small businesses that are looking for business resources to write a business plan, apply for a loan, get help with Quickbooks, find a computer system, or hire a lawyer. Representatives from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Joe Balchunas and Glen Holmes with Community Concepts Finance Corporation, Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center at AVCOG, Women, Work and Community, SCORE and other professionals in Oxford County who provide business services will be available to answer questions and provide assistance.

The Quick Start Workshop Series is brought to you by Community Concepts Finance Corporation and generously funded by a grant from the Oxford County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. Other sponsors include AVCOG, Women, Work and Community, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Fryeburg Business Association, Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Maine Small Business Development Centers and Oxford Hills SCORE.