Learn how to start, grow, and manage your small business this October. Sandhills Community College Small Business Center is committed to helping small businesses grow by providing high quality, readily accessible assistance, and support to increase the success rate and number of viable small businesses throughout North Carolina. Experts in the field will guide students through starting, financing, planning, and marketing their small businesses. Classes are free and will be held on the Pinehurst campus in Van Dusen Hall, room 102.
"Bookkeeping Basics" will teach you how to correctly record small business financial transactions. Discover the three most important financial reports and learn how to use these reports to make informed business decisions. Held on Tuesday, October 3, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
"Introduction to Marketing" will provide an overview of small business marketing principles and applications. Develop a focused and effective marketing plan to help comprehend strategic marketing and consumer behavior. Identify how consumers think, act, and engage. Held on Tuesday, October 10, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
In "Selling Made Simple— Identify Your Customer." you will learn how to identify and sell to your customers. Understand the concept and framework of the customer and the product and identify how consumers make decisions based on perceptions and experience. Held on Tuesday, October 17, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
"Get Ready to Employ" will teach small business owners, often responsible for serving as their own Human Resources department, how to understand obligations and laws governing employee rights and benefits. This seminar will introduce you to the foundational steps to get your business ready to hire, onboard, and manage employees and remain in compliance with rules and regulations. Held on Tuesday, October 24, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
"Contract with the Federal Government" is an introduction to doing business with the federal government. Topics include levels of federal purchasing; how the federal government buys products, construction and engineering, and non-personal services; marketing a business to the federal government; socio-economic small business programs; registering as a federal contractor; locating, identifying, and responding to federal business opportunities; and resources available to assist federal contractors in North Carolina. Held on Tuesday, October 31, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
"QuickBooks Online 101" is the first class in this two-part series, and attendees will be introduced to the cloud-based software QuickBooks Online. Discover how this popular online software can help small business owners save time, simplify bookkeeping, and avoid costly errors. Learn account setup and how to track business income and expenses. Held on Wednesday, October 4, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
"QuickBooks Online 102" is the second class in this two-part series and will teach you more about using the cloud-based software QuickBooks Online. Discover advanced topics on managing accounts receivable and accounts payable. Learn to reconcile small business bank accounts, manage inventory, and create financial reports. Held on Wednesday, October 11, from 6-8 pm, this class is free.
"ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited Budget" is a webinar that includes the legal basics, tips for low-cost marketing, funding suggestions, and more. These are the ABCs of how to start a small business combined with winning strategies from low-cost startups. Held on Thursday, October 5, from 6:30-7:30 pm, this class is free.
"Find Your Customers and Create a Marketing Plan" will teach you how to clearly describe your customers and create a plan to reach them. Learn four ways to describe your customer, discover how many there are in your market area, and discover five steps of a winning plan for your small business. Held on Thursday, October 12, from 6:30-7:30 pm, this class is free.
"Dynamite Marketing on a Firecracker Budget" will teach small businesses 50+ successful ways to market your business and easily reach customers. Held on Thursday, October 19, from 6:30-7:30 pm, this class is free.
In "Treasure Hunt: Finding Funding for Your Small Business," you will learn how to find funds to create your business. If you have a great idea, the money is out there somewhere. From coins-in-the-couch to loans, grants, and GoFundMe pages. This webinar shows you the colorful rainbow of funding sources. Held on Thursday, October 26, from 6:30-7:30 pm, this class is free.
Registration
To register online, visit, www.sandhills.edu/wce/sbc.html. Email Megan Barnett at barnettm@sandhills.edu for more information, place your name on a waiting list for full webinars, or sign up for email alerts. Check this website regularly: bit.ly/2H5VfAv for additional course offerings. Seminars may be added throughout the semester based on need and circumstances.
Next Session
Continuing Education classes begin throughout the semester. New and returning students do not need to apply to the College, simply register for class.
An eight-week session of fall semester curriculum classes begins on October 11. Offered online and in hybrid class formats, classes take only eight weeks to complete and award full credits. For all information, go to www.sandhills.edu/learn.
New students taking curriculum/college credit classes must apply before registering. Sandhills has an open-door policy, which means all applicants are accepted. On www.sandhills.edu, new students can find the application at the top right. Returning or current students can register by using Self-Service located on MySCC.
Boys & Girls Club
A Boys & Girls Club unit is offered on the Sandhills campus. It runs from 2:30 to 6:30 pm for kindergarten through fifth grade. The club is ideal for parents/guardians taking SCC afternoon or evening classes, those who need study time, need to utilize the computer lab, or work on projects. Club participants will receive homework assistance, and dinner is offered. The cost is $40 per child per year. The club provides transportation from McDeeds Creek, Farm Life, and Carthage Elementary schools.
In addition, drop-in services are available free of charge to Sandhills students from 6-9 pm. This is ideal for students taking afternoon or evening classes, working on group projects, or for other academic reasons. For more information or to register for the club or drop-in services, contact Edith-Ann Jackson at ejackson@sandhillsbgc.org or 910.638.6502.