LEWISTON, Idaho – The North Central Idaho Small Business Development Center at Lewis-Clark State College will have a busy October with eight workshop offerings throughout the region.
Topics for workshops during the month include resources to start a business, Google optimization, Google Livestream, QuickBooks, risk reductions, exploring business evaluation, and feasibility and financing.
Pre-registration is required for all workshops. To pre-register or for more information for any of the workshops call 208-792-2465, [email protected], or visit the website www.lcsc.edu/sbdc.
The first workshop is on general resources to start or expand a business. It will be held on Oct. 4 at the Riggins City Council Chambers, located at 126 Main St. in Riggins. The workshop runs 6-7 p.m., MDT, and will help give direction on how to start or expand a business, and how to avoid common pitfalls. There is a $5 registration fee and the workshop will be taught by John Lane and Gavin Lewis.
Also on Oct. 4 in Lewiston will be a Google optimization workshop at the SBDC office, located at 406 Main St. The workshop runs 5:30-8 p.m., has a $20 fee, and will be taught by Barbara Leachman, Region II director of the SBDC. Participants will learn how to get the most out of search engine optimization for online marketing.
The next workshop is on QuickBooks basics and will be held on two days. Part 1 is on Oct. 16 and the second part is on Oct. 23. Both sessions will be at 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the SDBC office in Lewiston. The total fee for the two workshops is $90. The workshop will cover how to keep accurate and timely accounting records by learning the fundamentals of how to utilize QuickBooks. Both sessions will be held in a computer lab and participants will complete training exercises along with the instructor, Judy Schumacher.
Google Livestream will be the topic for the Oct. 17 workshop at the SDBC office in Lewiston. This free workshop runs 9-10 a.m. and will be taught by Google’s Get Your Business Online team. The workshop will be geared to driving holiday shoppers to a business by marketing that business online through Google My Business, Google Ads and more.
Also on Oct. 17, the risk reduction for small businesses workshop will be held in Grangeville at the Grangeville Adult Learning Center, located at 158 E. Main, Suite 4. The workshop runs 1-4:45 p.m. and has a $25 fee. Leachman will be joined by attorney Joe Wright and insurance agent Cathy Jo Witters as the instructors. Participants will learn how to work with an attorney on risk control, how an insurance agent can help with risk reduction, and how good accounting reports can help reduce risk.
Exploring business valuation will be the topic for a workshop on Oct. 18 at 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Lewiston SBDC office. The fee is $20 and the instructor will be Leachman. The workshop will examine elements of valuation, valuing the operation, preparing the business, and marketing.
A business feasibility and financing workshop is set for Oct. 25 at 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Lewiston SDBC office. The fee is $20 and the instructor is Leachman. Topics that will be covered in this workshop include cash projections, breaking even, feasibility, types of financing, and what lenders want.
The final workshop of the month will be a two-part session on QuickBooks payroll. The first session is on Oct. 30 and the second is Nov. 6. Both sessions are at 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Lewiston SBDC office. There is a $60 fee for both sessions and the instructor is Janice Gobbi. In the two-part workshop, participants will learn how to use the payroll functions of QuickBooks. Topics include how to set up employees correctly, adding payroll items, taxes, and deductions. Both Idaho and Washington payroll requirements will be covered.