UMSL Offers Highly Recommended Workshops and Counseling for Entrepreneurs

Whether interested in starting a new business, or a seasoned entrepreneur, the Small Business & Technology Development Center helps people reach and maintain success
By: University of Missouri–St. Louis
 
Aug. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- St. Louis, MO – The Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at the University of Missouri–St. Louis offers entrepreneurial training workshops and counseling to assist businesses in reaching and maintaining success. Hosted by UMSL’s College of Business Administration and Division of Continuing Education, the Center offers a wide selection of seminars and workshops specifically designed to serve the needs of start-up and existing businesses. The Fall 2010 session kicks off on August 27 with Starting a Small Business: The First Steps.

Additional workshops for the Fall 2010 session include The Basics of Writing a Business Plan, Starting and Managing a Small Business in Missouri, Small Business Tax Workshop, Financing Your Business, Marketing Communications: Building Stronger Customer Relationships, and Pricing Products and Services. The SBTDC also offers a Financial Management Series that includes courses in Understanding Financial Statements, How to Control Cash Flow, and Predicting Your Future Cash Needs.

Alan Hauff, MBA, director of the SBTDC and lecturer in the College of Business Administration teaches the workshops and courses. Along with his university experience, Hauff has owned a marine repair and towing firm that he grew from startup to $1.5 million in sales in three years, and he enjoys passing his knowledge on to fellow entrepreneurs.

“Individuals interested in starting their own business usually have the technical skills necessary to sell their product or service for a fee but often lack the management expertise,” Hauff says. “Our workshops will help them navigate the legal and regulatory issues they will encounter in registering their business, keeping records, paying taxes and hiring workers. The workshops will also help them price their products and services to make a profit, improve their marketing efforts, obtain financing, read financial statements and manage their cash.”

From 2007–2009, the workshops have assisted more than 300 participants in achieving small business success. In June 2010, Shaniece Mahone enrolled in the Basics of Writing a Business Plan and said, “This was a great class, and I would suggest it to anyone interested in operating their own business.”

The SBTDC also offers confidential business counseling and business plan assistance, led by Hauff, as well as business financing, management and technical assistance to help small businesses compete successfully.

Hauff served nearly 300 clients during fiscal year 2009, and has received rave reviews for his time and expertise. In March 2010, Kathleen Schabelski, a specialized card designer, expressed her thanks for Hauff’s “continued support in assisting small business owners in making their businesses more viable and adding direction for those just starting up.”

With the down economy, many people are facing unemployment and thinking now may be the best time to take the step into entrepreneurship. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) July’s unemployment rates for the St. Louis metro area are at 9.6%. The state of Missouri is only slightly better at 9.1%, and the entire country is holding steady at 9.5%. While these numbers may seem dire, some laid-off workers are taking their future into their own hands.

“The best time to start a business is when you are ready to do it,” Hauff says. “A down economy actually offers many advantages. Labor is more readily available. Facilities and equipment can be acquired at more favorable costs. A down economy also makes new business owners more cost conscious, and they will work harder to establish customer relationships.”

And for those thinking of taking that step into entrepreneurship, UMSL’s training workshops are the perfect place to start. For descriptions, fees and specific workshop details, please visit UMSL’s Division of Continuing Education online course catalog at http://umslce.org/index.php/catalog/Small-Business-%26-Te.... For more information on the Small Business & Technology Development Center and no-cost business assistance counseling, please contact Alan Hauff at hauffa@umsl.edu or (314) 516-6121 or visit the Center’s website at http://umslce.org/index.php/centers-a-programs/small-busi....

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About UMSL CE:
The UMSL Division of Continuing Education provides programs that fulfill degree completion, professional development and personal enrichment goals for the lifelong learner. For more information, please visit http://umslce.org.
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Source:University of Missouri–St. Louis
Email:***@umsl.edu Email Verified
Zip:63121
Tags:Small Business, Technology, Training, Entrepreneur, Workshops, Tax, Finance, Managment, Pricing, Products, Services
Industry:Business, Education, Entrepreneurship
Location:St. Louis - Missouri - United States
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