Below you will find detailed descriptions of our core courses. Click on the
course key below for a guide to selecting these courses. Additionally, NYC
Business Solutions Centers offer other business courses on a variety of topics
each month.
Click here to
download this month's course catalog which details the full suite of course
offerings.
Start your own business now! Learn
the components involved in writing a good business plan in just three hours: how
to organize your business idea into a structured plan, identify your potential
customers, promote your business to your target customers, set up your own
accounting system, and evaluate the financial viability of your venture.
How you will benefit:
Identify different ways of starting your own business
Learn Business Planning Basics
Learn the different ways of incorporating a business and the legal
requirements for each
Develop a basic understanding of bookkeeping and accounting
Analyze cash flow and break even volume to understand how well your
business is doing
To register for Business Planning Basics by phone,
call 311 and ask for Small Business Classes and Seminars.
Entrepreneurship
Boot Camp is for prospective entrepreneurs and new business owners who want an
in-depth course on how to successfully launch and profitably operate their
business over the long-term. In just two hours a session for four sessions, you
will learn how to use basic business planning tools to write a comprehensive
business plan: identifying your target customers, reaching your target
customers, organizing your operations, setting a strategy to growing your
business, budgeting effectively, measuring your financial performance, and
finding financing for your business.
How you will benefit:
Understand what it takes to be an entrepreneur and a business owner
Identify different ways of starting your own business
Learn Business Planning Basics
Learn the different ways of incorporating a business and the legal
requirements for each
Learn how to protect your business through patents and trademarks
Develop a business strategy and establish a sustainable competitive
position
Please note: You must register for the entire four session
course. The coursework in this series builds on content from previous
sessions.
To register for Entrepreneurship
Boot Camp by phone, call 311 and ask for Small Business Classes
and Seminars.
The Locally-Based Enterprise (LBE) program works to ensure that New York's
construction firms get preference for subcontracting opportunities on
large-scale City Projects. That means more opportunities for certified LBE’s to
effectively contribute to the City's economy. The Department of Small Business
Services’ LBE Certification workshop are conducted by trained certification
analysts who will guide you through the certification process so you can get
your application right the first time!
How you will benefit:
Answers to all your certification application questions
Avoid common application mistake
Learn about other programs your business may qualify for
How your company will benefit from being certified:
FREE advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Companies
FREE assistance with bids and proposals
To register for Locally Based Enterprise
Certification Workshop by phone, call 311 and ask for Small
Business Classes and Seminars.
Register
online for Locally Based Enterprise
Certification Workshop
Make your business stand out! When you start a new business, you need to
become visible and attractive to your target customers. What do you do to catch
their attention? What do you need to tell them so they will want to try your
product or service? This four session course will provide an answer to your most
pressing marketing questions.
How you will benefit:
Understand the importance of marketing in an entrepreneurial
venture
Acquire the basic marketing skills, tools and techniques on how to set
your product apart from competition, price your product appropriately, create
promotions and advertise your business
Apply tools of marketing research to know and understand your customers
better
Prepare a creative brief that will inform your marketing strategies
Improve your marketing activities through techniques such as direct mail,
Internet marketing, publicity, and business to business marketing
Grow your business and acquire new accounts
Please note: You must register for the entire four session
course. The coursework in this series builds on content from previous
sessions.
To register for Mastering Marketing by phone, call 311 and
ask for Small Business Classes and Seminars.
Minority &
Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification Workshop
Thanks to Local Law 129, which was signed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2005, City
agencies aim to buy more goods and services from certified Minority- and
Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE). That means more opportunities for
certified M/WBEs to bid on public contracts, increase their capacity, and
effectively contribute to the City's economy. The Department of Small Business
Services’ Certification workshop is conducted by trained certification analysts
who will guide you through the certification process so you can get your
application right the first time!
How you will benefit:
Answers to all your certification application questions
Avoid common certification application mistakes
Learn about other programs your business may qualify for
How your company will benefit from being certified:
MORE opportunities to bid on contracts and subcontracts under $1
million
FREE advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Companies
FREE assistance with bids and proposals
To register for Minority & Women Business
Enterprise Certification Workshop by phone, call 311 and ask
for Small Business Classes and Seminars.
Register
online for Minority & Women Business
Enterprise Certification Workshop
Navigating
NYC Government: What Businesses Need to Know
In this 90 minute course, you will learn about the requirements
necessary to operate legally in New York City and the common violations that
businesses receive and how you can avoid them. You will also receive a
demonstration of NYC Business Express, a tool that can assist you with obtaining
general license, permit, tax, incentive, and other useful information
online.
To register for Navigating NYC Government by
phone, call 311 and ask for Small Business Classes and Seminars.
Cash flow is key to survival and
success in every business. To maintain a healthy cash flow, you need accurate
data and information in real time. In just two hours every week for five
sessions, you will learn how to use QuickBooks. This user-friendly accounting
software program will help you keep track of daily transactions and understand
and analyze financial reports such as Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and
Cash Flow Statements.
How you will benefit
Understand key accounting and financial terms and principles
Develop confidence in using QuickBooks to record important business
transactions such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, sales, purchases,
payroll, and inventory
Use financial reports such as Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash
Flow Statement to analyze your business's overall financial performance
Please note: You must register for the entire five session
course. The coursework in this series builds on content from previous
sessions.
To register for QuickBooks by phone, call 311 and
ask for Small Business Classes and Seminars.
Each and every day, the government buys from private and
non-profit entities to enable the delivery of vital goods and services. The
Department of Small Business Services’ Selling to Government workshop offers an
introduction to government contracting and prepares businesses to locate
opportunities in their area of expertise. Come learn how your business can begin
to pursue contracts at the city, state, and federal levels.
How you will benefit:
Develop an understanding of purchasing practices
Learn how to register with various government agencies
Identify your target market
Learn where to find procurement opportunities
Understand the bidding process from beginning to end
Assess your company’s potential for success in government
contracting
To register for Selling to Government by
phone, call 311 and ask for Small Business Classes and Seminars.
Visit NYC Industrial Business Solutions if you operate an industrial or manufacturing business. Get the license, permit, tax, incentive information and applications you need to start your business with NYC Business Express
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