With the weather taking a turn for the chilly, November represents the perfect time to polish your holiday season strategy or get your small business off the ground.
This month, our educational calendar is stacked with a mix of 30 new and returning seminars, Talk to an Expert consultations and much more. On November 22, we welcome the return of our Waterfront Chats Meetup Series. This month, in conjunction with the freshly launched Bizmap website, we’ll be discussing how to find the right space for your business. Join us for this evening of networking, education and expert speakers.
Elsewhere, nominations remain open for the 2019 Small Business BC Awards. Nominate your business, or a business you love, in one of our ten award categories. No matter what stage of business you’re at, there’s a category that fits the bill! Is your community a champion for small business development? Nominate them for an Open for Business Award. Managed and delivered by the Small Business Roundtable Secretariat, these awards are a great way for communities to celebrate their achievements and gain extensive media exposure.
Without further delay, here are the educational highlights for November 2018 at Small Business BC.
Start-Up Education
Focused Business Planning
Tuesday, November 13 to Tuesday, December 4
$419
This program focuses on teaching you how to turn a good business idea into a successful business venture. Register today and learn about the most important operational areas for new businesses and how to evaluate them across 30+ hours of education, delivered by industry experts. Booking this package also saves you $132 on the cost of booking each seminar individually.
Buying a Business
Thursday, November 15
10:30AM to 12:00PM
$39
Thinking of buying an existing business? Come discover how to assess the business, what the purchasing process looks like, and the key steps you need to take.
Early Stage Financing and Resources for Entrepreneurs
Thursday, November 15
1:00PM to 2:30PM
FREE
Starting a business or recently started one? Looking for financing and support? Getting financing and the right support are critical to the success of your business when first starting out. In this seminar, representatives from Vancity Microfinance and Futurpreneur Canada will walk you through the steps of accessing early stage financing.
Business Planning for Developing Businesses
Friday, November 16
9:00AM to 12:00PM
$69
Starting a business is tough, but growing a business is tougher. Develop your growth plan and transition successfully into the next stage of business.
Building the right strategy will help you avoid the pitfalls of growing too quickly or too slowly. Learn how your current business activities are affecting growth and concentrate on removing the barriers.
Getting Incorporated: Legal and Tax Tips
Monday, November 19
1:00PM to 4:00PM
$59
Attend this seminar to learn about the benefits of corporations, how to incorporate your business and legal tips that will help you with “life after incorporation”. This seminar is ideal for anyone who wants to get incorporated properly and learn how to carry on business as a corporate entity!
Building Your Brand
Optimize Your Landing Pages and Convert More Customers
Tuesday, November 6
1:00PM to 4:00PM
$49
As a small business owner, your website offers a digital shop window for you to promote and sell your goods or services. You may have heard of landing page optimization as a way to enhance your sales funnel, but you’re unsure about the terminology or where to start. Learn from John Chan, Principal of 2x Conversion Design, and arm yourself with an understanding of key concepts, design best practices, and ways to test the effectiveness of your online presence.
Retail Success: How to Get Your Product into Stores
Wednesday, November 7
1:00PM to 4:00PM
$59
Congratulations! You’ve developed your product, it’s ready for consumers, and now it’s time to get it into stores. But where do you start? With over 40 years retail and supply chain experience, let Gerry Spitzner help you plan your sales strategy with potential retailers.
Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents and More
Thursday, November 8
1:00PM to 4:00PM
$39
Do you know if the work you create belongs to you? Or how to prevent others from copying your ideas? Attend this seminar and hear from an intellectual property lawyer on the various forms of intellectual property protection and how they can safeguard your business.
Expanding into New Markets
Funding Programs for Reaching New Markets
Monday, November 26
9:30AM to 11:00AM
FREE
Are you interested in attending trade events outside Canada? Are you contemplating market research to find new international customers for your products or services? Join us to learn about the Government of Canada’s funding programs to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) diversify sales and succeed in the global marketplace.
Understanding Regulations for Importing
Friday, November 23
9:30AM to 12:45PM
$49
As an importer, you need to know which regulations, standards and licenses apply to your products. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of which regulatory agencies are responsible for your industry, and how to manage pre-entry requirements, such as testing and labelling – before you start importing. This interactive session will bring together representatives from Small Business BC, Health Canada, the Competition Bureau and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.