Category Archives: Tips

Education, Illinois, Tips

City of Chicago November 2019 Business Education Workshops

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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.

Designing Products and Services
Fri, November 1, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Kevin Smith, TEP Corporation
Have you ever wanted to start a business, but don’t know where to start? This workshop is designed to help entrepreneurs craft out their business, which will position their company for the next steps of launching a business. During this interactive workshop, participants will identify what business to start and products and services to compare to their competition in their respective industries. The outcome of this workshop will equip each participant with ways to discovering their unique value proposition and SWOT analysis.

Small Business Center on the Road
Sat, November 2
Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612
The Small Business Center on the Road Expo is free and open to the public. It provides new and existing entrepreneurs resources to start or grow their business here in Chicago.
For more information and to register go to
www.chismallbizexpo.com 

City Inspections – Ask Questions, Get Answers
Wed, November 6, 3:00 PM – 4:30 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.

Master Plan Workshop
Fri, November 8, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Vincent Williams, Director of Illinois SBDC at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago & Vice President of Economic Empowerment
In this workshop you will learn ways to navigate and create your Master Business Plan.

Contracts 101 and Negotiation Tips
Wed, November 13, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by Lauren Cichowski of 3BL, Law LLC
You were always told read everything before you sign it. But what are you supposed to be looking for? Learn about what makes a contract, how to spot red flags, and important terms every contract should have. Sometimes it takes some negotiation to get the best deal for your business. Pick up some tips on how to prepare for and tackle contract negotiations before, during, and after you get to the table.

Digital Mindset for Growth 101
Fri, November 15, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Google Digital Coaches with JinJa Birkenbeuel
Learn how to change your mindset from analog to digital by translating your entrepreneurial dreams into online action for your brand and your business. We will give guidance on how to create goal-based strategies for your business that will help it become more “discoverable” and recognized online so you can connect with customers. We will touch on creative branding, social media, YouTube and content strategies. Come ready with your mobile phone to work and learn!

How to Open a Concession at O’Hare or Midway Airport
Wed, November 20, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by the Chicago Department of Aviation – Concessions Department
Are you interested in operating a restaurant or shop at O’Hare or Midway International Airport, but don’t know where to begin? Come and learn about the Request for Proposals (RFP) process, how to operate a business at the airport, and a summary of the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program.

Get Capital for Your Small Business with Kiva and Accion
Fri, November 22, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Accion & Kiva
Hear from Kiva, a nonprofit that provides 0% interest loans of up to $10,000 to small business owners and entrepreneurs, and from Accion, a small business lender with loan ranges of up to $100,000 for small and existing businesses.

No Workshop Due to Holiday
Wed, November 27

No Workshop Due To Holiday
Fri, November 29

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

Illinois, Tips

2019 Illinois Tax Delinquency Amnesty Act

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If you have an existing Illinois tax liability, make full payments between October 1, 2019, and November 15, 2019 and your penalties and interest will be waived.

Eligible liabilities are taxes due from periods ending after June 30, 2011, and prior to July 1, 2018. If you failed to file a tax return or incorrectly reported the liability due on a previously filed return for these tax periods, now is the time to file returns, make corrections, and pay the tax. Eligible penalties and interest will be waived.

You must file an original return for non-filed periods or file an amended return to make corrections.

The Illinois Department of Revenue has a Bulletin on the topic here, and a related FAQ here.

Education, IRS, Tips

When An S-Corp Can’t Afford to Pay Reasonable Compensation

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Reasonable Compensation is defined by the IRS as: “The value that would ordinarily be paid for like services by like enterprises under like circumstances.” or the hypothetical “Replacement Cost” of the shareholder-employee.

Reasonable Compensation is derived from the value of the services provided, not the profit or loss of the business. While Reasonable Compensation has nothing to do with Profit and Loss, it does relate to Distributions. Why? Because the IRS guidelines for Reasonable Compensation state: The amount of reasonable compensation will never exceed the amounts received by the shareholder either directly or indirectly. It does not mention profit or loss at all but instead talks about ‘amounts received’ by the shareholder. It does not matter if the company is making or losing money; what matters is whether or not the S Corp owner is taking money (e.g. a distribution or other items of value) out of the S Corp.

Depending on the company’s financial condition and business strategy, a shareholder-employee may be able to take Reasonable Compensation plus a distribution, just Reasonable Compensation, or neither. What the shareholder-employee can’t do take a distribution instead of Reasonable Compensation.

This excerpts above create by far the most succinct explanation I’ve seen so far of how reasonable compensation is supposed to work. The original blog post goes on to offer a bunch of excellent example scenarios to help illustrate the concept.

I subscribe to RCReports.com (the author of the blog and these excerpts) and advise my S-Corp clients to do a reasonable compensation interview with me (using the RC Reports tools) at least every three years; though preferably every-other year. And if their circumstances change significantly — hiring staff or investing in equipment, especially if it allows them to cut back on their own hours — then we do a re-evaluation mid-year. As the blog also points out:

Anything that compensates the S Corp owner can be re-characterized as wages, including personal expenses paid by the S Corp or loans to the S Corp owner. At the end of the day a distribution of any kind triggers the requirement to pay Reasonable Compensation for services provided. Best practice is to know what the value of those services are and pay that amount in Reasonable Compensation before taking a post-wages distribution of any kind.

With the new Sec 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction, the issue of reasonable compensation is bigger and more important than it’s ever been before — make sure you (or your clients) have a credible basis for this amount, and for goodness sake, please don’t take distributions until you’re sure you can pay out the full annual amount of salary or wages due to you.

RC Reports is offering an upcoming free continuing education class on Reasonable Compensation for S-Corp Shareholder-Employees that I encourage all tax professionals and S-Corp owners to attend.

For the record — I receive no discounts or commissions for their service; I’m simply promoting it because I love their continuing education, blog posts and products.

Source: What if an S Corp Owner can’t afford to pay Reasonable Compensation? – RCReports

Cooperatives, Tips

Why Client Board Meetings Matter

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I’ve avoided client board meetings for years because I enjoy neither the drama nor the bureaucracy, and the feeling of being beholden to so many people who disagree with each other — and sometimes with me — gives an unenviable feeling of being stuck in the middle.

However, I’ve recently come to realize that not attending board meetings does the client a disservice. As stated appropriately in this recent Accounting Web article:

There is a role for the CPA to play concerning the plans for certain agenda items the board may be considering and to properly document various decisions that have tax implications so they are part of the corporation’s tax records. Live attendance is encouraged, as your availability can only encourage questions and provide documented confirmation concerning tax planning.

Not only does attendance encourage questions, but the CPA can help boards determine which questions to ask, and to help teach them about financial literacy. It can also foster communication between management and the board when everyone is on the same page.

Your client is the entity, not the individual owners in this setting. If dissension should surface, “adviser” is the watchword, not “advocate.” The minority position could regard you as being allied with the majority, suggesting favoritism is at play more than professional regard for a given position or action. Make your positions clear, and by all means make a note to your file concerning any such discussion. Overall, participation in an annual meeting gives the practitioner an opportunity to shine. You will remind the client of your value to the entity.

Source: Why Client Board Meetings Matter | AccountingWEB

Education, Illinois, Site News, Tips

City of Chicago October 2019 Business Education Workshops

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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

Illinois, Tips

Employer Alert: Illinois Amends Equal Pay Act

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Just wanted to share a quick post regarding an important new Illinois law that goes into effect Sunday, September 29.

This year, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law House Bill 834, which amends the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 to prohibit employers from inquiring about a candidate’s compensation history. Failure to comply to the Illinois Equal Pay Act may result in legal action, audits and significant financial penalties. The law becomes effective on September 29, 2019.

For more information, see the Illinois General Assembly webpage.

The National Law Review provides the following recommended takeaways:

The 2019 IEPA amendments provide for increased penalties and damages for violations of the law, and applicants and employees have five years to bring a claim. With all of this in mind, employers are encouraged to do the following:

  • Promptly engage with external head hunters and internal talent acquisition teams to ensure that they understand the law and the limitations it will impose on the recruiting process;
  • Remove any wage and salary history inquiries from job applications;
  • Review and revise policies and practices relating to recruiting, interviewing and hiring, and ensure that employees who interview candidates are informed of what they cannot ask regarding pay history, and of how they should handle voluntary disclosures of pay history;
  • Review and revise policies and agreements which limit an employee’s ability to discuss compensation, including as may be found in confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements; and
  • Consider whether conducting gender and/or race based pay equity audits with legal counsel is appropriate in order to evaluate (and correct) potential disparities.

UPDATE — The Illinois Department of Labor released this FAQ on September 27th:

  1. Can employers ask for salary history or use salary history when determining whether to offer a job or when determining how much to pay the job applicant?
    No. It is unlawful for an employer to request or require a wage or salary history from a job applicant as a condition of being considered for employment or as a condition of employment.
  2. Can employers ask about employment benefits that have been provided in the past to a job applicant during the application process?
    No. It is also unlawful for an employer to request or require a job applicant to disclose benefits or other compensation received at any current or former employer as a condition of being considered for employment or as a condition of employment.
  3. Who is covered by the law?
    Illinois job applicants. This includes applicants to part-time and full-time positions, temporary or permanent, whether hourly or salary. The law however does not cover independent contractors.
  4. Can employers use recruiters to determine applicants’ salary histories?
    No. Recruiters, employment agencies, staffing agency or any other agent of an employer may not screen applicants based on their current or prior wages or salary histories, benefits or other compensation.
  5. Can an employer ask a current or former employer of the job applicant for the applicant’s wage history?
    No. It is unlawful for an employer or their agent to ask for a wage or salary history, benefits or other compensation from an applicant’s employer or former employers when conducting verification or reference checks.
  6. What if the employee already works for the company where he or she is applying?
    The prohibition does not apply if a job applicant’s salary history is a matter of public record or if the applicant is a current employee applying with the same employer.
  7. Can an employer prohibit employees from discussing their salaries?
    No. An employer cannot prohibit its employees from disclosing their own salaries, benefits or other compensation to other individuals.
  8. Can job applicants volunteer salary history information?
    Yes. Applicants may voluntarily disclose their prior wage or salary history including benefits or other compensation. The employer shall not consider or rely on the voluntary disclosures as a factor in determining whether to offer a job applicant employment, in making an offer of compensation, or determining future wages, salary or benefits.
  9. Can employers provide a salary range to an applicant or discuss with an applicant their salary and benefits expectations?
    Yes. An employer can provide information about the wages, benefits, compensation, or salary offered in relation to a position. The employer can also engage in discussions with an applicant about the applicant’s expectations with respect to wage or salary or benefits.
  10. Who do I contact if I have questions about the new law?
    You should call the Illinois Department of Labor at the Equal Pay Hotline 866-372-4365.

Source: Employer Alert: Illinois Amends Equal Pay Act

IRS, Tips

IRS Issuing Employer Mandate Penalty Letters for 2017

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Many of the news items I share on my blog come from the National Association of Tax Professionals’ regular e-newsletters or monthly magazine. They’re an amazing group of tax experts and I have found their education — especially at the annual National Conference — to be of excellent quality.

And now they are compiling their notices and articles into a blog, to make it easier to share with clients and colleagues. One gem I just came across was a short notice that the IRS has started reaching out to employers who may be responsible for a shared responsibility payment for their employees’ health insurance.

I recently had a client who was doing everything they could to not cross the 50-employee (or rather, full-time-employee-equivalent — FTE) mark, so as not to trigger the requirements of being an Applicable Large Employer (ALE). And it turns out that their benefit policy is such that they already contribute more than necessary to employee health insurance, and their benefits company has already made sure they were complying with the safe harbor rules.

So remember that being classified as an ALE is only an issue if you’re not pulling your weight as an employer, which many of our small business clients already are. If this is the case, don’t short-change your staffing policies out of fear that you might become an Applicable Large Employer… you have nothing to fear.

However — if you’re not sharing the financial burden of health insurance with your employees sufficiently, or are not meeting safe harbors and reporting requirements (which most benefits companies will handle for you), and you do have more than 50 FTEs… you may be getting a notice that needs a quick and thoughtful response.

Source: National Association of Tax Professionals Blog

Cooperatives, Education, Tips

NSAC Webinar 10/24: Co-op Internal Fraud Prevention

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A common thread I come up against in my work with small businesses and cooperatives is that my clients believe their companies are “too small” to be a victim of employee theft — or that their relationships with staff are “too tight” for anyone to do such a thing. However, and unfortunately, we see fraud committed just as, if not more frequently, at small businesses as we do large ones — often due to a lack of internal controls combined with the need for each employee and owner to wear many hats simultaneously (preventing division of labor and cross-checks that might otherwise exist).

In this upcoming National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives Co-op Learning Network webinar, Steve Dawson of the Dawson Forensic Group will explore first-person explanations of the why and how a fraud was committed, to help us all design appropriate internal controls to prevent these situations.

The majority of internal fraud is perpetrated by “truly decent people”, not evil people… and we all have decent people working at our cooperatives. Based on real interviews with “truly decent people” that have committed fraud, this session provides an eye-opening glimpse into the thought processes that can occur in the mind of the potential perpetrator from the identification of the “need”, to the devising of a “scheme”, to the “perpetration” of fraud. Most internal controls deal with dual authorizations and the like. However, armed with the knowledge of what goes on in the mind of the perpetrator, this session provides information regarding the implementation of specific cost-effective controls that actually speak to the mind of the perpetrator.

Register here: NSAC Cooperative Learning Network – The Golden Egg of Internal Fraud Prevention

Education, IRS, Tips

Reasonable Compensation for Shareholder-Employees of S-Corps Webinar, Aug 29

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At the most recent National Association of Tax Professionals annual conference, I noticed that although I was in seminars with seasoned professionals — many of whom know a lot more than I do in certain areas of tax law — there was an overall lack of understanding of the topic of Reasonable Compensation for S-Corp shareholders. Misinformation abounded, with “tips and tricks” rather than legal precedent guiding the way.

Some years ago, I took a series of classes presented by Paul Hamann, President of RCReports Inc., and learned all about the court cases that have defined the issue of Reasonable Compensation over the years. I chose to subscribe to their annual service (no, I do not get any special favors or payment for promoting their product — I’m just a fan)… but even if I hadn’t, the education I received on the topic helped inform my client advisory practice and it made me a better tax preparer and CPA.

Turns out that he’s got another class coming up with CPA Academy in a couple of days, and I wanted to encourage you to take it, and to spread the word (this advice holds whether you’re an S-Corp owner or a CPA/ EA/ Accountant/ Tax Preparer/ Bookkeeper).

Thursday, August 29, 2019
12:00 PM ET – 11:00 AM CT – 10:00 AM MT – 9:00 AM PT
FREE – 2.0 hours CPE / 2 CE

Between 2010 and 2013 a flurry of court cases and IRS enforcement brought the issue of ‘What is Reasonable Compensation for a Shareholder-Employee of an S Corp’ out of the shadows and placed it forefront as a priority issue for CPA’s, Tax and Financial advisors to cover with their clients. There are tools today that take the guesswork out of determining Reasonable Compensation, and help build rapport and trust with your clients.

– Review why Reasonable Compensation has become a priority for the SB/SE division of the IRS
– Demonstrate the basic advantages of Distributions vs. Salary/Wages
– Identify options for determining Reasonable Compensation

Education, Illinois, Tips

City of Chicago September 2019 Business Education Workshops

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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, September 4, 3:00 PM – 4:30 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.

Side Hustle Success
Fri, September 6, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Moderated by Kenya Merritt, Chicago Chief Small Business Officer
In this workshop you will hear from entrepreneurs who have turned their passion into a profit. This workshop is targeted for entrepreneurs looking to establish a business within the creative or arts sector. Our panelists will share their strategies on how they moved from side hustle to success.

Small Business Center on the Road Expo
2019-09-07
Harry S Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave – McKeon Lobby
The Small Business Center on the Road Expo is free and open to the public. It provides new and existing entrepreneurs resources to start or grow their business here in Chicago.
For more information and to register go to
www.chismallbizexpo.com 

Social Media Workplace Policies & the Law
Wed, September 11, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by Charles Krugel, a Management Side Labor, Employment and Human Resource Attorney
This is an open discussion with human resources lawyer Charles Krugel concerning: what courts and government regulators are saying about workplace social media policies, employee content & account ownership (who owns what); how a business can protect its social media image; what should a business do if an employee discusses something inappropriate; what businesses should do to control how & who uses its social media & related hardware or equipment; & what are the areas of liability for businesses and how to avoid or minimize liability. 

Access to Capital and Avoiding Predatory Financing
Fri, September 13, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. La Salle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Geri Aglipay, The Small Business Majority
Learn about how to navigate safe financing options in Chicago to start and grow your business. Understand how to avoid predatory small business funding and where to go for free assistance. An overview of crowdfunding will also be provided.

Como Lanzar Su Negocio En Chicago
Wed, September 18, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presentado por ESDC – Economic Strategies Development Corporation
(Workshop will be presented in Spanish)
Exploramos los primeros pasos para empezar su negocio, incluyendo: primeros pasos, investigación de mercado, plan de negocio y recursos estatales gratis, ademas aprenda acerca del tipo de licencia que necesitará y los tipos de estructura legal que existen.

How To Be A “YouTuber” For Your Business, Video Marketing 101
Fri, September 20, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by JinJa Birkenbeuel, Founder, The Honest Field Guide Podcast and CEO, Birk Creative
This YouTube workshop is for small business owners with a working website who want to learn how to create custom content and also create YouTube ads for your business. Learn how to create a business YouTube channel, understand the anatomy of a YouTube channel, learn how to use tags, and best practices for shooting a basic video. You will also learn how to promote your video on YouTube and other channels.

Everything You Need To Know About Business Insurance
Wed, September 25, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by Sandra Cavato Insurance Agency
In this session, attendees will learn the coverages needed for their business. We’ll discuss the right questions to ask your insurance professional and how to protect yourself and your business against lawsuits.

Buying and Selling a Business: Find, Evaluate and Negotiate
Fri, September 27, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Lema Khorshid, Fuksa Khorshid, LLC
Do you want to buy a business and don’t know where to start? In this step-by-step seminar learn how buying a business can be an alternative to starting up a new business. Also, learn how to effectively analyze new business opportunities and understand a business purchase contract so that you can quickly close the deal.

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