Teaching startups and entrepreneurs the ropes for running a small business
Consolidated Credit and Comerica Bank will host a new virtual small business workshop series this spring. If you’re thinking of starting a small business or startup, this free workshop series is for you. The 6-part series will teach you everything you need to know to successfully start and grow a business. You will receive training from industry experts on how to take your business to the next level.
“We’re excited that we’ve been able to partner with Comerica Bank again to bring the small business workshop series back virutally,” says Maria Gaitan, Director of Community Development at Consolidated Credit. “The live workshops we’ve held over the past two years have been a resounding success. We want to give more small business owners the opportunity to attend and learn what they need to know to be successful in 2021. This virtual workshop gives us the opportunity to do so safely.”
Small business workshop dates and topics
| Webinar Session | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Business Planning Basics – What Every Startup Business Should Know | Tuesday, April 13, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
| Business Expert Panel: Legal, Accounting, Insurance and Banking | Tuesday, April 20, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
| Marketing and Social Media Strategies | Tuesday, April 27, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
| Contracting with Corporations and Government | Tuesday, May 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
| Credit as an Asset | Business Funding Alternatives | Tuesday, May 11, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
| Business Plan Review | Business Pitch Competition and Graduation Ceremony | Tuesday, May 18, 6:00-8:00 p.m. |
Past participants talk about their experience
Brewster Artisan Ales at the Small Business $ense Readiness Workshop
Jonathan Brewster, Owner of Brewster Artisan Ales in Plantation, Florida talks about his experience at the Small Business $ense Readiness Workshop in Plantation, Florida. Jonathan explains how the 6-week program him become business-ready.
[Jonathan Brewster, Brewster Artisan Ales Owner] This training brought a lot of loose ends together. There was a lot of questions and hesitancies that I had going into a business venture. There was a lot of questions they were able to answer from a lot of experts. The panels that they brought in were great. They gave us a lot of focus, a lot of attention, a lot of good information to walk away with.
[On-screen text] Join the Small Business Revolution! Contact us for upcoming events at [email protected], 954-377-9220
Da Boiz Coffee Explains How a Free Business Workshop Gave Them an Edge
Shawn Segal, Owner of Da Boiz Coffee in Plantation talks about the benefits of this free 6-week program versus other paid courses that cost thousands of dollars.
[Shawn Segal, Da Boiz Coffee Owner] The program has honestly really, really well put-together. It was very informative. They fit a lot of information in a short amount of time. Overall, the program was really phenomenal, especially for a free program. We know of seminars put together like this that cost thousands of dollars to participate in and for this being a free thing it was just really, really good. We really enjoyed it.
[On-screen text] Join the Small Business Revolution! Contact us for upcoming events at [email protected], 954-377-9220
Receiving small business readiness certification
At the end of the six-part webinar series, participants will receive a business readiness certificate.
“Many cities and counties have similar requirements and steps you must take to become an approved vendor,” Gaitan explains. “This small business workshop series will teach you those steps so you can get valuable contracts with local municipalities and counties. Anyone who attends all six parts of the workshop will receive a business readiness certificate. This can help you get the certification you need as a business operator.”
To receive the business readiness certification, you must attend all six virtual sessions of the workshop series. However, there is no requirement for attending all six sessions. In fact, Gaitan and her team encourage anyone who is interested but short on time to attend as many of the online sessions as they can fit in their schedule.
“We understand that attending webinars every week for six weeks may be a challenge for people working to start a small business,” Gaitan agrees. “However, even if you can only attend one or two sessions that focus on topics you need to learn, that will be invaluable on your journey to start a new venture. And you’re welcome to attend!”
