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

Overview of Small Business Workshops and Events

Northern Illinois SCORE maintains an active workshop schedule directed at small 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
eBusiness Now Technology	In this 5 week series, SCORE clients will learn how to 1) Adopt Technology, 2) Create a Roadmap for Their Technology, 3) Build An Effective Web Presence, 4) Grow More Sales by Using Technology, and 5) Improve Cash Flow Using Technology	5 Weeks beginning Wednesday February 1, 2012 and ending  Wednesday March 7, 2012.  See detailed page for all session dates.	For FREE Session #1, register online here, or email us at address below, or call 815-962-0122.   For Sessions #2 through #5,  register and pay online here,
Accounting Basics for the Small Business	In this workshop, Dave Rumple of Rumple's Tax Accounting will cover a host of accounting concerns and issues important for the small business.	Saturday January 21, 2012	FREE, register at Accounting Basics for the Small Business page
RUReady to Be An Entrepreneur	If you have ever dreamed of starting or owning your own business, now might be the time to take action!  Join Northern Illinois SCORE and several Northern Illinois local libraries to find out what it takes to become an entrepreneur, and what steps you need to take to pursue that dream. In this 1 hour presentation at the dates and times listed below, we will explore:  * What it takes to be an entrepreneur  * Common myths and realities of entrepreneurship  * The basic critical steps you need to take to get started  * Where you can get help and resources available to you	Dates and Locations in January and February 2012; See details page	FREE, register at RU Ready to Be An Entrepreneur page
Simple Steps To Starting Your Business Series of 5 Workshops	This 5 series workshop is an "must attend" for anyone thinking of starting a new business.  Topics include: assessing your entrepreneurial readiness, business concepts, marketing planning, financial projections, and funding your business. This 5 series workshop is offered multiple times per year.  See Simple Steps To Starting Your Business details here.	2nd Quarter 2012; Session #1 March 29, 2012; Session #5 May 17, 2012 See detail workshop page for all session dates	For FREE Session #1, email us at address below, or call 815-962-0122.   For Sessions #2-#5, go to Simple Steps To Starting Your Business page.
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 2012; To Be Announced at a Later Date	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.	To Be Determined; Not Scheduled at This Time	Controlling Cash Details
Create & Improve Your Business Web Site	It's unlikely your business can be 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.	To Be Determined; Not Scheduled at This Time	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.	To Be Determined; Not Scheduled at This Time	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 helps prospective franchiser owners sort through many of those factors to see if franchising is "right" for them.	To Be Determined; Not Scheduled at This Time	Franchising Details
Social Media Made Simple (SMMMS)	This seminar will review the essential strategies and best practices a business organization should understand in order to successfully get started with social media marketing. This seminar is facilitated by Steve Robinson of Constant Contact and hosted by Northern Illinois SCORE.	Spring 2012; To Be Announced at a Later Date	SMMMS Details
Steps to Setting Up Your Social Media Business Pages (SYSMBP)	This workshop will consist of a walk-through of how to set up your business page or organization page on 3 popular social media sites, and the popular video sharing site YouTube.  This workshop is facilitated by Vernon Wanner of First Webs, Inc. and hosted by Northern Illinois SCORE.	Spring 2012; To Be Announced at a Later Date	SYSMBP 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.	Not Scheduled at This Time	Winning Business Plan Details
Using Quickbooks; the Basics	In this 2.5 hour workshop, Rockford Datacraft's Monica Glenny facilitates a workshop on how the small business can use Quickbooks.	To Be Determined; Not Scheduled at This Time	FREE, register at Using Quickbooks; the Basics page.

 

Events Held in Cooperation with Local Businesses and Chambers of Commerce
Event	Description	Date Scheduled	Details & Registration
Preparing for the Post Recession Marketing Boom	In this breakfast networking workshop event, SCORE presents 4 topics that will help small businesses market their way out of the 2008/ongoing recession.  This workshop is open to any chamber of commerce in the NI SCORE area served.	Call 815-332-8062 to schedule.	Event Details
About SBA Loans and What the SB Needs to Know RE IL Hiring Laws	In this event sponsored by SCORE in cooperation with the Northwest Bank and IL Department of Family Services, you'll learn: 1) about the process of securing SBA funding for your new or expanding business, and 2) about recent changes you must be aware of if you are hiring employees for an Illinois business.	Call 815-332-8062 to schedule.	Event 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.