Tag Archives: education

COVID-19 Financial Relief, Education, Illinois, Tips

June 2020 Chicago BACP Business Education Workshop Webinars

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Note: I’ll continue to add to this list as the City releases more dates.

Wednesday, 6/3 at 3:00 PM Webinar
Marketing Basics: What you need to know!
Presented by Donna R. Rockin, Managing Partner at Rockin Enterprises, Inc.
At this presentation, you’ll learn how to identify your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) as well as identify your target markets or ideal customers. The four cornerstones of marketing will also be reviewed and discussed: Product, Price, Promotion and Placement. Finally, learn 10 low-cost methods to promote your goods or services.
Click here to register for the Wednesday, 6/3 Webinar.

 Friday, 6/5 at 9:30 AM Webinar
COVID-19’s Impact on Employment Handbooks & Policies Going Forward
Presented by Charles Krugel, a Management Side Labor, Employment and Human Resource Attorney
An interactive discussion concerning the kinds of policies and practices employers will need to consider upon reopening.
Click here to register for the Friday, 6/5 Webinar.

Wednesday, 6/10 at 3:00 PM Webinar
Plan for A Successful Business
Presented by Score Chicago
A great Business Plan leads to success.  A thoughtful and well-executed business plan is the first step for every potential entrepreneur. Good planning increases the odds of success. This workshop covers the essential elements of business plan development. Topics include: setting goals and objectives, preparing marketing and financial plans and defining action steps to attain appropriate goals. With a good plan, build your road map to success.
•       Establish the information needed for a detailed business plan.
•       Create the Environment of the Company
•       Establish Pro Forma P&L Statements
•       Identify the Risks
•       Develop the Expected Cash Flow
•       Prioritize Your Action Steps
Click here to register for the Wednesday, 6/10 Webinar.

Friday, 6/12 at 9:30 AM Webinar
Introduction to Intellectual Property, Part I
Presented by Lema Khorshid, Fuksa Khorshid LLC
An introductory seminar for the savvy entrepreneur who wants to learn to identify the basic forms of intellectual property and formulate an effective intellectual property strategy for his/her business.
Click here to register for the Friday, 6/12 Webinar.

Tuesday, 6/16 at 2:00 pm Webinar
Labor Standards Records Requirements and Other Employer Obligations
Presented by Office of Labor Standards
Review of employer obligations including record requirements and notice/ posting.
Click here to register for the Tuesday, 6/16 Webinar.

Wednesday, 6/17 at 3:00 PM Webinar
Accounting in Quickbooks
Presented by Trak Patel, ARCC Consulting
Learn how to keep your financial recordkeeping books using QuickBooks. We will identify the differences between QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop and list the important features and benefits.
Click here to register for the Wednesday, 6/17 Webinar.

Wednesday, 6/17 at 2:00 PM & Thursday 6/18 at 10:00 AM Webinars
Outdoor Dining during Phase Three
Presented by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Join this webinar for an overview of all outdoor dining options during Phase Three of Chicago’s Reopening Plan. This webinar will cover rules and guidelines for outdoor dining, including how to obtain a sidewalk café permit or the new Expanded Outdoor Dining Permit.
Click here to register for the Wednesday, 6/17 2:00 pm webinar.
Click here to register for the Thursday, 6/18 10:00 am webinar. 

Thursday, 6/18 at 2:00 pm Webinar
Anti-Retaliation Ordinance
Presented by Office of Labor Standards
Overview of the new Anti-Retaliation Ordinance, designed to protect workers from retaliation during COVID-19.
Click here to register for the 6/18 Webinar.

Friday, 6/19 at 9:30 AM Webinar
How to Open a Concession at O’Hare and Midway International Airports
Presented by the Chicago Department of Aviation – Concessions Department and Unison Retail Management
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 and how to operate a business at the airport.  This workshop will also provide an overview of the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program.
Click here to register for the Friday, 6/19 Webinar.

Monday, June 22 at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM Webinars
Indoor Dining: Options for Restaurants and Bars
Presented by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
The City of Chicago has announced that bars and restaurants can begin indoor service under limited capacity and strict guidelines on Friday, June 26. Join this webinar for an overview of the guidelines for bars and restaurants to reopen indoors.
Click here to register for the 6/22, 10:00 AM Webinar
Click here to register for the 6/22, 1:00 PM Webinar

Phase Four Webinars
While the phase four start date has not been announced, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection will be holding webinars to help all industries prepare for the phase four guidelines.
Tuesday, June 23 at 9:00 AM: Hotels – click here to register
Tuesday, June 23 at 10:00 AM: Personal Services – click here to register
Tuesday, June 23 at 11:00 AM: Health and Fitness – click here to register
Wednesday, June 24 at 9:00 AM: Arts/Performance Venues and Museums – click here to register
Wednesday, June 24 at 10:00 AM: Retail – click here to register
Wednesday, June 24 at 11:00 AM: Restaurants and Bars – click here to register

Wednesday, 6/24 at 3:00 PM Webinar
The Power Is In Your Pivot: Series 2
Presented by ChiBizHub
This webinar, is the second in a series that will convene a panel of business owners and ChiBizHub resource providers to share insight on how they’ve pivoted their businesses during COVID-19. The webinar will provide an overview and tips on how these businesses have remained relevant, gained a new customer base and skills amidst the pandemic to keep their businesses alive.
Click here to register for the Wednesday, 6/24 Webinar.

Thursday,  6/25 at 10:00 AM Webinar
COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses
Presented by: An SBA Illinois District Representative
Join us for an update on the Small Business Administration’s programs to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, the Paycheck Protection Program, and more. We’ll discuss eligibility requirements, applying for forgiveness, and other sources of funding. Bring your questions!
Click here to register for the Thursday, 6/25 Webinar.

Friday, 6/26 at 9:30 AM Webinar
Tips & Tricks for Networking in a Pandemic World
Presented by Anna Maria Viti-Welch, President of the Viti Companies
Anna Maria Viti-Welch, President of The Viti Companies, will discuss strategies for building business through networking in unusual global circumstances – business might be on pause, but networking is still going strong. Bring your questions!
Click here to register for the Friday, 6/26 Webinar.

Email BACPoutreach@cityofchicago.org with any webinar questions.

And please — also take a look at the additional industry-specific webinar series for the re-opening framework for Chicago during Phase 3, also available on the BACP Business Re-Opening Portal —

To view Reopening Chicago: Retail Service, click here.
To view Reopening Chicago: Food Service, click here.
To view Reopening Chicago: Health and Fitness, click here.
To view Reopening Chicago: Personal Services, click here.
To view Overview of Chicago’s Reopening Plan for Businesses (Spanish), click here.
To view Overview of Chicago’s Reopening Plan for Businesses, click here.

And get ready for the upcoming Phase 4 with Phase Four Webinars:
The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is holding webinars to help all industries prepare for the Phase 4 guidelines.

If this or any other posts on the website were useful to you, and your financial situation permits it, please consider contributing to my tip jar. This allows me to continue to provide free accounting resources to small businesses who do not have the funds available to hire a CPA.

Education, Site News, Tips

The Dancing Accountant: In The News

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One of my favorite aspects of the work I do is engaging with people and sharing knowledge. With so much confusion in the current climate, especially surrounding small business survival, I’ve been pleased to have opportunities to dispel some of the misinformation out there and bring clarity to extremely challenging topics.

Among the most recent appearances were ABC 7 Chicago, WRLR Radio, and Q&A sessions with State Representative Will Guzzardi — at his most recent Town Hall — as well as professional organizations Bookkeeping Buds and the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce. (See the Speaking Engagements section of my Services page for links to all the above and more.) My interview with Block Club Chicago went on to inspire a favorite recent blog post.

And at times I’ve even been so lucky as to share the stage with clients, most recently Chris Busse of Penguin Foot Pottery and Dinah Grossman of Spinning J Cafe & Bakery. These folks inspire me daily and are one of the reasons I do what I do (well, two of the reasons). Their companies have focused on taking care of employees above all else — not only their safety, but also their financial well-being and health benefits. And they have harnessed their own creativity, resiliency, and flexibility as true entrepreneurs to carve out a new space for their offerings in a vastly different world, redefining themselves in the process.

Penguin Foot is offering virtual classes, as well as shipping at-home “project packs”, producing instructional videos, and providing wheel rental. Their teachers continue to be employed working remotely on instruction and special projects, and they will soon provide kiln firing drop-off and pick-up for customers and students.

Spinning J is offering homemade comfort food and groceries — full dinners available for pick-up or delivery, along with take-and-bake rolls and their famous pies. The decision to stretch their prep time so that staff work 24-hours-a-day in shifts, and to have their own employees run deliveries, allows them to maintain social distancing while keeping the paychecks coming. And by offering grocery staples, they are helping their vendors and maintaining supply chains as well.

If you are a small business owner looking for ways to pivot your business and re-imagine yourself, see my recent blog post on Small Business Advice. If you run a professional or public organization and are looking for an impassioned speaker full of knowledge on small business relief options, reach out to me to see if we’re a good fit. And if you want to learn pottery or eat comfort food from the safety of your home — or any number of other amazing offerings — check out my awesome clients.

Education, Illinois, IRS, Tips

Chicago Feb 2020 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, February 5, 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.

Construction Project Management
Fri, February 7, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) and Department of Planning & Development (DPD)
Working with design and construction professionals to make your business dream a reality takes smart planning and organization. Learn the best practices for establishing your schedule and budget, hiring the right professionals and dealing with unforeseen challenges to ensure your project is completed on-time and on-budget.    

NO WORKSHOP DUE TO HOLIDAY
2020-02-12

Speak Up and Speak Out: Public Speaking Training for Small Business Owners
Fri, February 14, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Michele Williams MSW, MA, Public Speaking Consultant and Columbia College Speech Instructor
You have started or plan to start your own business. You know you have something special to offer but does the rest of the world? Whether it’s giving an elevator pitch, hiring staff, giving a community lecture, talking to a loan officer, or speaking at a National Conference knowing the basics of public speaking will enhance your ability to confidently speak up and speak out. Your speaker Michele Williams has been adjunct faculty at Columbia College for over 32 years and is a public speaking consultant. She has helped over 1,000 people become more confident public speakers. Topics include: choosing topics, types of speeches, organizing the speech, dealing with fear, relaxation, non verbal communication, relating to the audience, use of language and creating new opportunities. 

How to Obtain a Sidewalk Café Permit
Wed, February 19, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP), Public Way Use (PWU) Unit, Anthony Bertuca
Come learn about the Sidewalk Café Permit Application process by attending this informative workshop.  We will explain the application process, inform you of all the requirements, and help you get prepared to submit an application.  The entire application process may take up to 30 days and the 2020 Sidewalk Cafés Season begins on March 1st.

Choosing the Right Legal Entity: A Small Business Entity Workshop
Fri, February 21, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (CLC)
As an entrepreneur starting a new business, you will be faced with many important decisions; one of the first and most important decisions will be selecting the right legal structure for your business. The legal entity you choose will impact many critical aspects of your business, such as your ability to raise capital, how your company will be managed, its tax treatment, liability protection for managers and more. At “Choosing the Right Legal Entity: A Small Business Entity Workshop”, CLC equitable development and small business attorney, Akele Parnell, will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various business structures including the Sole Proprietorship, C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, Benefit Corporation, Cooperative Association and more.  

What You Need to Know About Your Business & Taxes
Wed, February 26, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805
Presented by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Ladder Up
This workshop will answer important tax questions for your business including: Are you required to file a tax return? Is your worker an independent contractor or an employee? What will the IRS request during an audit? Are you required to make estimated tax payments? What resources does the IRS have for small business owners?

Digital Mindset for Growth 101
Fri, February 28, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103
Presented by Grow With Google #GoogleDigitalCoaches 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!

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

Education, Illinois, QuickBooks Software, Software, Tips

Chicago Jan 2020 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, January 8, 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.

Business Licensing 101
Fri, January 10, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 11th Floor, Room 1103

Presented by the City of Chicago Departmentof Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)   

Attendees will learn the 3 steps to obtain a business license and access free business resources to start or expand their business. 

Accounting in Quickbooks
Wed, January 15, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St – 8th Floor, Room 805

Presented by Trak Patel, ARCC Consulting

Learn how to keep your financial record-keeping books using QuickBooks. We will identify the differences between QuickBooks Online vs. QuickBooks Desktop and list the important features and benefits.

Credit and Your Business
Fri, January 17, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103

Presented by AnnetteVega, CIBC Bank

This workshop will help the attendees understand the importance of credit,calculating their global cash flow, collateral and capitalization.

How To Really Start Your Own Business
Wed, January 22, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805

Presented by Score Chicago

Do you have what it takes to start and run a successful business? If so, what first steps should you take? This workshop will help you assess your prospects, give you the initial direction you need, and inspire you to move forward to realize your dream.  Workshop topics include myths, business opportunities, assessing your journey, organization, insurance, regulations, funding and cash management, business and marketing plan.

Facebook and Instagram Posts: Take Your Posts to the Next Level
Fri, January 24, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street – 11th Floor, Room 1103

Presented by Francisco Ramirez, Chimbly Consultants, LLC

Have you been posting for some time, but struggling to reach or engage your audience? Are you confused by how the algorithms decide whether or not to show your posts? Participants of this workshop will examine Facebook and Instagram posts and compare what makes a post rise to the top and what knocks a post off news feeds. Participants will leave with tools to take their posts to the next level.

Resources for Women Entrepreneurs, by Women Entrepreneurs
Wed, January 29, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. – 8th Floor, Room 805

Presented by the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and Bossy Chicago

Are you a business owner tired of trying to search through all the resources that might benefit your business growth? There’s a lot of support out there for women-owned businesses, but it can be hard to find the right resources and community for your business. Join Bossy Chicago and the Women’s Business Development Center as they discuss the vast ecosystem of support services for women entrepreneurs. Participants will leave with a plan of action to start and grow their women-owned business.   

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