Each month the City of Chicago offers twice-weekly (Wed & Fri) FREE business education workshops presented by experts in private practice as well as representatives from various city departments. There are quite a few good ones this month — see the list below — and they’re all offered at City Hall (right downtown and near public transit). To register for any of them, email BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org or call 312.744.2086.
City Inspections – Ask Questions, Get Answers
Wed, October 2, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by the City of Chicago
To operate a successful business in Chicago you need to know what it takes to maintain compliance. Officials from several City departments will provide insight on how to operate safely, stay compliant, help prepare for inspections and highlight the do’s and don’ts of operating a business.
The Nuts and Bolts of Small Business Funding
Fri, October 4, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – Room 1103
Presented by Hannah Fernandez, ROI Business Funding
Access to capital continues to be a pressing challenge among small business owners. In this workshop, you will have a better understanding of the spectrum of funding options that exist for small businesses in the “missing middle” gap, where the capital amount the business owner is looking for is too small for a traditional bank or too big for a microfinance institution or nonprofit lender (typically between $50K-$2MM). You will learn how to identify which funding option(s) is most appropriate for your business and know what it takes to become fundable.
Negotiation Skills Workshop
Wed, October 9, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by Awatif Yahya, Founder, Awe Horizons LLC
Think about the last time you bought a car, negotiated your pay, agreed with a customer on a price, or got consensus with your kids on where to dine. How did it go? Were you happy with the outcome? Did you get what you wanted? There is science behind a good negotiation. It is a skill that can be learned and mastered over time. The aim of this workshop is to develop and enhance your negotiation skills, be it in a business environment or a personal setting, to get to a win-win situation. This workshop will address what makes up a good negotiator, cover negotiation myths and mistakes, negotiation satisfies and dig into 5 negotiation tactics. We will close with practicing tips to help you master your negotiations.
Lending Tools for Small Businesses in Growth Mode
Fri, October 11, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Jake Stern, SVP & Director of Economic Development at SomerCor
Interested in taking the next step to expand your business? Learn about powerful lending tools that meet the capital needs of existing businesses in growth mode. Topics include SBA 504 loans, Small Business Improve Fund (SBIF) grants and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) grants.
Forming Your Business: Choosing a Legal Entity
Wed, October 16, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by Agostino Filippone, Partner, Chokshi Filippone Law, LLC
Whether LLC, Corp, or another legal entity, when starting a business, organizing your company the right way can significantly limit risk. Agostino Filippone, a Partner at Chokshi Filippone Law, LLC, will present on entity options, as well as provide information and material to help you navigate around common pitfalls faced by business-owners.
How to Use Networking to Build Your Business
Fri, October 18, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Anna Maria Viti-Welch, The Viti Companies
Anna Maria will discuss different ways to network, as well as how to begin networking, where to find the best networking opportunities for your business and how to make the most of your networking efforts.
How to Write a Business Plan – What you need to know!
Wed, October 23, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by Donna R. Rockin, Managing Partner at Rockin Enterprises, Inc.
Learn how to create a comprehensive business plan. It’s easier than you think when you understand all the components that get included. You’ll receive a complete list of what to include to demystify the process. Writing a solid business plan is your roadmap to business success.
Identifying Your Optimal Marketing Tactics
Fri, October 25, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Rainier de Ocampo, MBA (Adjunct Marketing Professor at UCLA Extension and Cal State University, Los Angeles)
There are many digital channels and marketing tactics to choose from that it can be overwhelming and difficult to know which ones will work best for your business or brand. This session will unpack and help integrate the following marketing tactics: Social media; Email marketing; Digital advertising; PR & media outreach; Blog content; And more!
Fighting Cybercrime and Meeting Your Cyber Security Challenges in 5 Steps
Wed, October 30, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Cyber crime targeting businesses is on- going and continues to be a major concern. Learn how five steps can build awareness and an action plan to deter cyber criminals and help avoid the problems that could destroy a business. This presentation uses the latest information about hackers and data breaches to educate businesses how to protect themselves. Better Business Bureau teamed with National Cyber Security Alliance and National Institute for Science & Technology, along with local cyber security experts to create a scale-able program that any size company can use to create an individualized cyber security program. This workshop is in recognition of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
To register for a workshop, email BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org or call 312.744.2086.
Also, in case you weren’t aware, BACP offers a Business Start-Up Certificate Program, designed to give business owners the essential elements in starting and growing a business. Attend nine workshops at BACP and learn the essentials of business planning, financing, marketing, legal issues, technology and more. Complete the program workshops within six months and earn your certificate, as well as get free advice on your business plan. You can register for the Business Start-Up Certificate Program at any BACP workshop. Learn about the full set of BACP offerings here.
And visit their Business Video Library here.
Source: City of Chicago :: Business Education Workshop Calendar