Northern Illinois SCORE serves Rockford and the Stateline Area with Expert Small Business Counseling and Informative, Educational Small Business Workshops!

Overview of Business Workshops and Events

Northern Illinois SCORE maintains an active workshop schedule directed at businesses just starting up, as well as businesses desiring to branch out more.  Please review the details of each workshop carefully.  We encourage you to register early, as some workshops reach capacity quickly.  Workshops times, locations, and fees are noted on the detailed workshop pages.  Click on the link in the far right column to be taken to that registration page.

Workshops Facilitated by SCORE Volunteers
Workshop	Description	Next Offered	Details & Registration
Are You An Entrepreneur?	This workshop is an overview for anyone thinking of starting a new business.  Topics include: assessing your entrepreneurial readiness, common myths, types of business opportunities, business planning, marketing, funding your business, cash management and more.  You will receive instructions and templates to further define your vision and your business. This workshop is a must workshop for attending many of Northern IL SCORE's detail workshops.	September 9, 2010; see detail workshop page	Are You An Entrepreneur?
Business Basics	This workshop covers the basic fundamentals of starting your own business.  Topics include business formation (the 3 main types of business entities to consider), business licensing, business registration, introduction to a business plan, and the beginning steps of writing a business plan.	Spring 2011; see detail workshop page	Business Basics Workshop Details
Controlling Company Cash	The cash flow statement is the most important financial planning tool available to the business owner.  It allows the owner to see when cash comes in to the business and when it goes out.  It is a tool for projecting future cash flows, and should be an integral part of any new business plan.  Sadly, the cash flow statement is often under-utilized in existing businesses.  This workshop instructs on how to understand cash flow, and how to make cash flow management part of your operations.	Nov 18, 2010; see detail workshop page	Controlling Cash Details
Create & Improve Your Business Web Site	It's unlikely your business can be hughly successful without an effective web presence.  Yellow page usage has given way to Internet searches; savvy consumers are researching products and services online, and then going offline locally to purchase them.  Mobil messaging and social media has put the customer in the "drivers seat". You know you need a great web site, but frankly you don't like all the technical stuff.  You're not sure where to being.  This workshop will help you determine what you need in a web presence and will provide tips on sourcing the work.	Oct 7, 2010; see detail workshop page	Create/Improve Web Site Details
Funding Your Business	Where is the money?  This workshop will introduce you to the financial lifecycle, provide sources of capital to pursue, and will provide tips on what you need to know to approach lenders.  A bank representative is available to help answer questions.	Dec 2, 2010; see detail workshop page	Funding Business Details
Is Franchising For You?	The decision to buy a franchise involves both buying a business and a future job.  Many factors need to researched, analyzed, and evaluated before a franchise business can be decided upon.  This workshop helds prospective sort through many of those factors to see if franchising is "right" for them.	To Be Determined; Not Scheduled at This Time	Franchising Details
Start Your Business With a Winning Business Plan	The business plan is an important working tool and a roadmap for your business.  Rarely can a business be financed without a carefully written and comprehensive business plan.  Often times existing businesses could add vision and clarity to their business by "redoing" their business plan.  This workshop instructs on how to incorporate a winning business plan into your new business or into your existing business.	Sept 30, 2010; see detail workshop page	Winning Business Plan Details

 

Events Held in Cooperation with Local Businesses and Chambers of Commerce
Event	Description	Date Scheduled	Details & Registration
Hiring Laws; What the Small Business Owner Needs to Know!	In this collaborative event between Northern Illinois SCORE, the Rockford Chamber, and the Illinois Dept. of Health Care & Family Services you'll learn about recent changes in hiring laws that may impact your business operations.	Tentatively October 2010	Coming Soon
Preparing for the Post Recession Boom	In this collaborative breakfast event with the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce, SCORE will present several topics designed to help local businesses market themselves out of this recession and prepare for the post recession boom.  Tips will be provided on:  the new rules of marketing and public relations, communicating your value proposition via your web site, managing your receivables, controlling cash, fine tuning your business plan, and selling into a new buyer's protocol. Download Event PDF:  Not Available View Flyer in JPG Image:  Event Flyer	August 4, 2010	Register by calling the Belvidere Chamber at 815-544-4357 Event Details
SMART Money Week	Northern Illinois SCORE and the Rockford Public Library are trying to help you be more optimistic in this "down" economy.  To kick-off the week, complimentary counseling will be held at the Rockford Library on East State from 11am until 3pm on April 17. Join SCORE volunteers and sponsors and get your questions answered on starting that new "dream" business, or expanding your current business. A free workshop titled "Business Basics" is being offered at the EIGERLab on April 20. See details at right.	Held April 20, 2010 Next Offered in Spring 2011	Business Basics Workshop Details

If you are encouraged by, and wish to help support SCORE at no cost to you - then consider adding a link from your web site back to the Northern Illinois SCORE web site.  For instructions, go to our link-back-to-SCORE page.