Durango Leading Edge Entrepreneurial Training to start September 1, 2011

DURANGO – The Small Business Development Center located at Fort Lewis College is offering an NxLevel^TM for Entrepreneurs course in September. This 12-session intensive training program is designed to encourage business expansion in a community. The course focuses on teaching the art of better business practices, while producing a comprehensive business plan. Sections of the business plan are then evaluated throughout the course. This coordinated process provides a method for alerting participants to any weaknesses in his or her business plan development, and ultimately moves toward keeping and growing a successful venture.

Classes will start Thursday, September 1 and will be held from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Fort Lewis College Education Business Hall, Room 110. Tuition is $280 for the 12-week class and $420 for the class plus college credit. Individual sessions can be attended for $50 per session.

To register, download the form at http://sbdcfortlewis.org/calendar/?entry=10&display=month and return, mail or fax it to the Small Business Development Center, 1000 Rim Drive, Education Business Building, Rm. 140, Durango, CO 81301; Phone: 970-247-7009; Fax: 970-247-7205; Email: [email protected].

“12-Session Training Outline”

Sept. 1-Introduction, Overview & Entrepreneurship: gain under-standing of the NxLevel^TM Business Plan and start developing the business mission statement, goals, and objective.

2. Sept. 8-Planning & Research: Entrepreneurial Essentials: begin market/industry research through identification and usage of research resources.

3. Sept. 15 -Organizational Matters: Management & Legal Structure: explore legal and organizational topics including: legal structures, government taxes and regulations, risk management and employee issues.

4. Sept. 22-Marketing-“Behind the Scenes”: Analysis & Understanding: learn key concepts of analyzing your market including customer profiling and competitive analysis.

5. Sept. 29-Marketing-“On Stage”: Strategies, Tactics & Implementation: develop marketing strategies around the product, pricing, promotion and distribution elements of your business.

6. Oct. 6-Financial Overview: Books, Records & Controls: understand basic financial statements and their uses.

7. Oct. 13-Managing Your Money: Financial Planning, Budgets & Assumptions: understand how to develop and derive feedback from budgets.

8. Oct. 20-Managing Your Money: Developing and Using Cash Flow Projections: learn to prepare and use the ultimate -management tool‖-cash flow projections.

9. Oct. 27-Understanding and Using Your Financial Statements: take the mystery out of the income statement, balance sheet, and other financial statements by learning how to use the numbers

10. Nov. 3-Financing Your Business: Alternative Sources of Money: evaluate financing options and determine which are best for you.

11. Nov. 10-Green Business Opportunities: Environmental Solutions- Green Branding and Marketplace. Managing Green.

12. Nov. 17-Your Business Future: Managing Growth and Plan Completion: what’s next? Growth? Expansion? What’s your business’ future?