Yesterday, I attended a workshop called “Basics of Going into Business” at the SCORE-Chicago office (located in the Citicorp Center above the Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago). If you aren’t already familiar with SCORE SCORE, then check out their website. SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a volunteer resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration that provides counseling and guidance to America’s small businesses. They offer free and confidential counseling and very low-cost workshops such as the one I attended. You can either make an appointment, drop-in, call, or email them with questions.
The “Basics” workshop I attended was $50 and it went from 9am to 4pm. The class had pretty good attendance - probably about 30 aspiring entrepreneurs, ranging from knitting to web design to construction. The topics were taught either by SCORE counselors or local professionals who volunteer their services. Here are the items that were covered:
- Intro: What is SCORE? The secrets to a successful business - Henderson Feagin, SCORE counselor
- Legal: How to select the legal structure of your business and how to pick an attorney - Ms. Daliah Saper, Attorney
- Insurance: How to protect you and your business - Larry Hyman, Insurance Industry Specialist
- Financial Basics: Determining funding needs and different sources - Bob Leventry, SCORE counselor
- Accounting and Taxes: Basics of tracking revenue and expenses along with how to file the appropriate tax forms - Tom Redler, SCORE counselor
- Marketing and Business Plan: How to develop and marketing and financial business plan - Elliot Shear, SCORE counselor
Overall, I was very pleased with the class (which included handouts: templates, IRS forms, guides, etc.). It was definitely a whirlwind of everything, but the instructors/counselors were very knowledgeable with many of them very experienced industry veterans and owners of their own small businesses (with plenty of entertaining stories :)). The class environment was also comforting because you see all the other normal folk out there who are trying to do the same thing as you - follow their dreams and achieve financial independence - and that alone makes the whole process less intimidating.
Fun fact: According to the SBA, small businesses represent 99.7% of all employers in the US. More Info.
-JC
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on Mar 13th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Hey John - your link to the main “Score” site points to a Navy test firing range in Southern Cali. Is that where you go if the other “Score”’s advice doesn’t pan out?