Spotlight:
Success StorySign
up for one or all informative Business Basics workshops. Pick the topics and
times that work for your busy schedule!
First Steps to Starting Your
Business
This workshop is designed for new
entrepreneurs. In a small group setting, you will review the basics of going
into business and identifying your next steps. This three-hour workshop allows
time for questions and answers. Jan Gallagher, director of the
Spring 2008 schedule:
• Tuesday,
January 22 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday,
February 19 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday,
March 27 • 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
• Wednesday,
April 30 • 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
• Thursday,
May 29 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Planning Basics for Business
Writing a business plan is more
than a document, it is a planning process that will help your business be more
successful! This three-hour class gives an introduction to what goes into a
business plan, what resources are available, and how to get started. The class
includes worksheets and exercises, a discussion of software programs and a look
at sample plans. The facilitator for
this workshop is Carol Jensen.
Spring 2008 schedule:
• Thursday,
February 21 • 9 a.m. to 12 noon
• Wednesday,
March 26 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday,
April 29 • 9 a.m. to 12 noon
• Wednesday,
May 28 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Marketing Basics for
Business
Understanding marketing is a
crucial step in getting your business off the ground and running. Determine
target markets, analyze the competition, build your promotion calendars and
evaluate your activities to keep your business on the right path. Begin to plan
your marketing efforts. Joe Chilsen is the facilitator of this workshop.
Spring 2008 schedule:
• Thursday,
February 7 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday,
April 24 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Financial Basics for
Business
Financial statements are a tool
to help you make key decisions for your business. This three-hour workshop
provides an introduction to three basic financial statements used by business
owners: income statement, cash flow statements, and the balance sheet. Not only
will you learn how to read these financial statements, but you will also begin
to see how to use them for better management control. Kathy Gresens is the
facilitator for this workshop.
Spring 2008 schedule:
• Tuesday,
March 25 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday,
May 27 • 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Spotlight:
Success Story
Developing a business plan helped
Bob & Tracy Koch grow their small job shop into Custom Metal Fabricating
Inc. (CMF). CMF has 17 employees and is building a new $2.1
million manufacturing facility!
A recent study by
• Raised more money (average of
$408,216) before the company was 12 months old than those without a plan
(average of $196,988)
• generated more revenue
(average of $2.52 million versus an average of $2.18 million)
• Achieved higher net income
(average of $371,086 versus an average of $272,952)
• Hired more employees (average
of 31.80 employees versus an average of 9.59)
Source: http://blog.guykawasaki.com//Bygrave.doc
Bottom line:
companies with business plans raised more money enabling them to hire more
employees, generate more revenue, and earn more profit!
BUSINESSBASICS
is sponsored by:
Merchants Bank, your partner
in small business.
Merchants Bank specializes in helping local
business people meet the demanding challenges of business startup and ownership,
which is one of the reasons Merchants Bank recently launched BizToolkit.
Visit Merchantsbank.com, click on your city,
and then click on the BizToolkit icon.
Or contact any
Merchants Bank location for a
personalized BizToolkit tour:
608.779.8200
Matt Watson • 608.779.8215
507.457.1100
Dave Grewe
(SBA Specialist)
• 507.494.0534
507.895.4486
John Poling • 507.895.9702
507.725.3331
Craig Schroeder • 507.725.3331