About the SBDC

Contact Us

DBAs/Assumed Names

Financing

Find Us

Newsletter

Privacy

Resources

Seminars

Introduction to Business Ownership

Give yourself the best possible chance of success by attending our Introduction to Business Ownership workshop, a service provided several times each month.  You will learn about the best way to develop your business concept, determine a marketing strategy, organize your business operations and determine your legal structure.  All of this will keep you on the high road to success. Registrants are welcome to bring food and beverages.

Attendance at an Introduction to Business Ownership class is required before an appointment can be made at our office so sign up today!

Because these classes frequently sell out, advance registration and payment is preferred.

Online Marketing
What is it, how does it work and why do I need it?

So you have a small business. You don't need to be concerned with internet searches do you? Think again! Research indicates that only around 25% of the U.S. population ever turns to the phone book when looking for a business' information. Where does everyone else go? The internet. Google, Yahoo!, Bing and even Facebook. These are the new phone books of the 21st century and your business needs to be easily found on these sites when potential clients are looking for you.

Learn how these sites work, what the cost is to use them and how you can increase your searchability and better your client relations because of it.

Your instructor for the evening is Brad Botz, owner of local online marketing firm Conceptual Implementations.

Health Insurance for Small Businesses

Retha Fielding, Outreach Specialist with the Texas Department of Insurance, will be in Amarillo to give you more information on health insurance options available in Texas.

Finding affordable health insurance can be a daunting task when you're a small business owner or an entrepreneur, but we can help! Thanks to regulatory help from the Texas Department of Insurance there are now options available for AFFORDABLE full coverage health insurance. There are options for everyone from the self-employed with no employees to small business owners with 50 or fewer employees. Retha will give information on insurance options as well as a tax credit you may qualify for by providing health insurance for your employees.

Testing Your Market Worthiness
Do you target the right customer?

There are estimates that 85% of new businesses fail every year. Why? Because they don't sell their products/services to the right customer. This workshop will teach you to quickly identify your customer base before investing capital and time in the wrong market segment.

Lisa McDonald is a Commercialization Strategist who works in Chicago and Austin assisting entrepreneurs and established companies grow and develop their product lines via this proven market validation process.

Lunch is included in your registration fee and you'll be treated to the Amarillo Club's lunch buffet as well as dessert.

This event is limited to 15 people.

Financing Your Small Business

The second seminar of our three-part Business Health Series. The workshops can be completed alone, but it's recommended that attendees register for all three workshops; Real World Marketing, Financing Your Small Business and Writing Your Business plan.

One of the most vital aspects of a successful business is its financial health, but many business owners don't know how to properly monitor, record and analyze their financial data.

In this workshop, we'll show you how to grow your business by reviewing how to project your business' financial future and identify potential problems or opportunities. It will include money management, pricing, profit margin and markup, determining your break even point, understanding and using financial statements and a look at what banks want.

Contract Procurement Luncheon

This bi-monthly luncheon is open to the public and is a great opportunity to network with other business owners in the area and learn more about contracting.

Agenda TBA

Please contact Rick Palmer with the WT Contract Procurement Center to RSVP at rick@contractprocurementcenter.com or 372-5151. Luncheon is limited to the first 50 RSVP's.

State Sales Tax

Presented by the State Comptroller's office, this sales tax seminar is for all tax payers from the newest to the more experienced. Learn how much sales tax you need to collect, which forms to use and much more.

This is a great seminar for both first time tax payers as well as more seasoned tax payers. You'll receive copies of the actual forms needed to file your sales tax return with the state and your presenter will explain each form and help you decide whether or not it applies to your business.

Writing Your Business Plan

The third and final seminar of our three-part Business Health Series. The workshops can be completed alone, but it's recommended that attendees register for all three workshops; Real World Marketing, Financing Your Small Business and Writing Your Business plan.

Your business plan is the culmination of all your ideas and plans. It's required in order to receive a loan from a financial institution, but should be kept up to date for you to refer to throughout the life of your business.

In this workshop you'll learn how to write and put together the various parts of a business plan including your marketing plan and financial projections.

Finding Your Small Business Sales & Marketing Niche

Join us for a full day of local expert presentations sharing their knowledge and expertise in today’s ever changing business world. Presentations include marketing and sales tips, as well as a panel discussion with local professionals and successful business owners. Get your business on the fast track to success by attending.

Keynote speaker Ginger McCullough's presentation Courting the Female Consumer is full of information beneficial to anyone in sales and marketing. She has some fascinating data on what women buy, why they buy it and how they buy. Did you know.... Women purchase 65% of new cars and influence 80% of all vehicle purchases. Using certain color schemes for your store and products can greatly increase sales. Whether you offer a service or product, this presentation is certain to be of benefit to you and your sales and marketing staff.

Additional presentations include:

Sales 101 - Matty McLain, partner with LeadingEDG, a local consulting firm that provides services directly to small business owners through a partnership with local cities and economic development corporations.

Online Marketing for Small Business Success - David White, Web & Communications Specialist with Amarillo College

There will also be a panel of some of our best local marketing specialists during lunch to answer all of your marketing questions.

Lunch is included in your registration fee.

Intellectual Property & Computer Law for Business

Does your business have a website? Do you have brochures and other printed material? Are you a photographer or graphic designer? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is a seminar you cannot afford to miss.

Every business owner needs to know how to properly protect their material as well as themselves from liability. Chris Stewart, one of Amarillo's most respected attorneys who specializes in intellectual property, will be here to teach attendees all they need to know about trademark, copyright and computer law.

Those interested in patent law are also invited to attend. Chris will discuss patents and the patenting process.

As always, attendees are encouraged to bring their questions to be answered.

QuickBooks

This quick, one day course is great for beginners and current QuickBooks users who want to feel more confident about using QuickBooks many features. Attendees will learn how to use the program to manage not only financial transactions, but also information on customers, vendors and employees to help build a successful business.

Topics covered will include setting up a company, using lists and different types of accounts, handling sales and sales tax, making payments and deposits, entering and paying bills and analyzing financial data. Although not covered in the seminar materials will be included covering exercises on payroll, inventory, customizing invoices and letters.

If you register online for a seminar or workshop, you will be asked for the information necessary to complete your registration, including name, address, and contact information.  You should also be prepared to include a credit card number for payment, if required.  Your information and your transaction will be secure and no information will be released to any other parties without your approval.

We reserve the right to cancel any seminar or workshop which does not have sufficient enrollment. Scholarships are available to those who are unable to pay the required fee. The SBDC maintains registration through a third-party using a secure online server and is PCI compliant.