Seminars & Workshops

Start Your Business

Presenters: Robin Suomi, Executive Director
                Loudoun Small Business Development Center

                Terry Corle, President of The Corle Group

Ms. Robin Suomi, a small business specialist, will lead participants through the essential steps for successfully starting a small business.  Mr. Terry Corle, a marketing and insurance specialist, will give 21 marketing tips and discuss the types of insurance needed for small businesses.  Highlights of the seminar will include:

• Taxes and licensing
• Accounting and record keeping
• Business plan development
• Sources of financing
• Marketing
• Insurance

Monday, September 15, 2008
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street, Lower Level
Leesburg, VA  20176

Please enter the library through its center rear door.  On-site parking is limited; additional parking is available on Market Street (metered and non-metered) and in the Town Parking Garage, 25 West Market Street (near Tally Ho Theatre), where the first hour is free with each additional hour charged at $.50.

There is no fee for the seminar.  However, pre-registration is required:  please call 703-430-7222, email sbdc@loudounsbdc.org or go online at www.loudounsbdc.org.  If you’d like to exchange business cards with other attendees, please bring a supply of yours.

Sharpen Your Sales Skills

Presenter: Cindy Gavelek, Vice President – C-Scape, Inc., Purcellville, VA;
               Sales Software Specialist and ACT! Certified Consultant
 
Aiming for but not yet achieving superior selling?  Hoping to gain confidence in the sales process?  Hone your techniques for getting to the person with purchasing power.  Polish your approach to politely but persistently pursuing and closing a sale.  With expertise gained from 25+ years in business-to-business sales, Cindy Gavelek will share her insights on:

• Getting past the Gatekeeper
• Turning “No” into “Yes”
• When to stop calling unresponsive prospects
• Using voicemail to your advantage
• Adding value to get in the door
• Managing the sales pipeline

Thursday, September 18, 2008
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street, Lower Level
Leesburg, VA  20176

Please enter the library through its center rear door.  On-site parking is limited; additional parking is available on Market Street (metered and non-metered) and in the Town Parking Garage, 25 West Market Street (near Tally Ho Theatre), where the first hour is free with each additional hour charged at $.50.

There is no fee for the seminar.  However, pre-registration is required:  please call 703-430-7222, email sbdc@loudounsbdc.org, or visit www.loudounsbdc.org.  If you’d like to exchange business cards with other attendees, please bring a supply of yours.

Start Your Business

Presenters: Robin Suomi, Executive Director
                Loudoun Small Business Development Center

                Terry Corle, President of The Corle Group

Ms. Robin Suomi, a small business specialist, will lead participants through the essential steps for successfully starting a small business.  Mr. Terry Corle, a marketing and insurance specialist, will give 21 marketing tips and discuss the types of insurance needed for small businesses.  Highlights of the seminar will include:

• Taxes and licensing
• Accounting and record keeping
• Business plan development
• Sources of financing
• Marketing
• Insurance 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Cascades Library
21030 Whitfield Place
Potomac Falls, VA  20165

There is no fee for the seminar.  However, pre-registration is required: please call 703-430-7222, email sbdc@loudounsbdc.org, or go online at www.loudounsbdc.org.  If you’d like to exchange business cards with other attendees, please bring a supply of yours.

Fundamentals of Franchising

Presenters: Regina B. Amolsch – Partner, Plave Koch PLC
                Michael R. Laidhold – Partner, Plave Koch PLC

Are you considering owning a franchised business or starting a franchise system?  If so, inform your decisions:  learn from Regina Amolsch and Michael Laidhold, legal experts on multiple facets of franchising in a wide range of industries.  They will address business, financial and legal aspects of franchising, including:

• What is franchising?  What are its advantages & disadvantages?
• What are the legal and regulatory issues in franchising?
• How do you select a franchise right for you and what are the financial considerations in purchasing a franchised business?
• When is an existing business ready to franchise and what is involved in starting a franchise system?
• How does a franchisor protect and best utilize its trademarks?

Thursday, September 25, 2008
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Cascades Library
21030 Whitfield Place
Potomac Falls, Virginia 20165

There is no fee for the seminar.  However, pre-registration is required: please call 703-430-7222, email sbdc@loudounsbdc.org, or go online at www.loudounsbdc.org.  If you’d like to exchange business cards with other attendees, please bring a supply of yours.