Starting a new business is a challenging endeavor that can easily overwhelm entrepreneurs. However, Arkansas offers a wealth of resources to prepare entrepreneurs for the challenges that they will face.
One of the organizations that offers small business resources is the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC). This university-based economic development program works with entrepreneurs to help them create their companies and make their business succeed.
This June, ASBTDC will be offering a range of classes and seminars on topics from marketing, social media and more.
Check out the full list:
Tuesday, June 4- Plan Now or Pay Later: The Cost of Common Mistakes Business Owners Make
Location: Little Rock
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Cost: Free
Sarah Cotton Patterson, estate planner with the Friday Firm will guide you through identifying issues and minimizing risks that are often caused by legal and financial mistakes commonly made by business owners.
Wednesday, June 5- Design Marketing Materials with Canva
Location: Little Rock
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Cost: Free
Explore Canva, a free, web-based tool, and learn how to use it to create attractive promotional materials for your small business.
Thursday, June 6- Small Talk: Entrepreneurs Sharing Stories
Location: Hot Springs
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Cost: Free
A panel of entrepreneurs will share their stories from startup to success, helping you to find motivation through their accomplishments.
Saturday, June 8- Social Media Strategies
Location: Perryville
Time: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Learn how a social media presence can add to your existing marketing ideas and gain knowledge in creating a social media marketing plan.
Tuesday, June 11- Starting a Business in Arkansas
Location: Little Rock
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Free
A must for first-time business owners, this seminar discusses steps in creating a startup, business structures, regulations and common setbacks entrepreneurs face.
Wednesday, June 12- QuickBooks Desktop
Location: Little Rock
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: $70
This hands-on workshop is perfect for helping businesses learn the Desktop version of QuickBooks. Employees will learn navigation, transactions, invoices, payments and more.
Wednesday, June 12- Market Research Brown Bag: The More You Know
Location: Little Rock
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
You will discuss why, when and how to use market research to your advantage and learn how to apply that research to your business decisions in a practical way.
Wednesday, June 12- QuickBooks Online
Location: Little Rock
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cost: $70
This workshop will go through how to use the cloud-based version of QuickBooks, and you will learn how to navigate the program, set up your company, invoices, payments, bills and more.
Thursday, June 13- QuickBooks Online Basics & Beyond
Location: Fort Smith
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $130
Using the cloud-based version of QuickBooks, you will learn reconciling accounts, handling revenue, accounts receivable and payable, inventory and more.
Tuesday, June 18- Reach Customers Online with Google
Location: Fort Smith
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: Free
Discover how customers find your business online and how promoting your online presence can benefit your business. You will learn how to make a Google My Business listing, improve your website’s visibility and advertise on Google.
Tuesday, June 18- Empezando un Negocio en Arkansas (Starting a Business in Arkansas)
Location: Rogers
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Free
This course in Spanish will teach you the steps in creating a startup, business structures, regulations and common setbacks entrepreneurs face.
Wednesday, June 19- Social Media Success Strategies
Location: Mountain View
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: Free
Learn how to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to promote your business.
Thursday, June 20- Reach Customers Online with Google
Location: Mountain Home
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: $10
Discover how customers find your business online and how promoting your online presence can benefit your business. You will learn how to make a Google My Business listing, improve your website’s visibility and advertise on Google.
Thursday, June 20- Basic LinkedIn Tools for Business Marketing and Lead Generation
Location: Rogers
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
LinkedIn is one of the fastest growing online platforms. Learn tools for making your profile most effective using free LinkedIn features to research prospects in your area.
Thursday, June 20- Identifying your Best Customer for Growth- Marketing Academy Part 2
Location: Hot Springs
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Cost: $40
Learn what it means to become “customer obsessed,” and how to use a relationship with customers to market your business.
Tuesday, June 25- CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event)
Location: Little Rock
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cost: Free
This class will help you and your business formulate a plan of action for surviving an active shooter event.
Wednesday, June 26- Grow Your Profit
Location: Gurdon
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Cost: Free
Maintaining a profit is always necessary; learn about what is impacting profits and new ways to manage revenue and expenses.
Thursday, June 27- Get Started with SAM (System for Award Management)
Location: Little Rock
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: Free
This hands-on workshop will lead you through registering or renewing your business in the System for Award Management (SAM) primary supplier database for the federal government.
Thursday, June 27- Small Business Startup Summit
Location: Hot Springs
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Cost: Free
This event combines “Starting a Business in Arkansas” and “How to Write a Business Plan” to create an outline of the essential steps in starting and financing a new business.
READ MORE: Startups, Small Business Keep Arkansas Economy Strong