Workshops for entrepreneurs and small businesses

The Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering the following workshops during the month of December to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners with starting and/or growing their businesses:

How to Start a Business Workshop

Through this workshop, individuals who are thinking about opening a business will gain an overview of the critical elements of starting a business. The format will be lecture-based with participatory activities. Topics include: defining and assessing the business idea, requirements for operating a business, creating a business plan, legal issues, and types of financing and financial strategies.

• Wednesday, December 8, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Fort Wayne (N.E. Indiana SBDC, 4312-B Hobson Road)
• Tuesday, December 14, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Trine University Library in Angola;
• Friday, December 17, 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce in Columbia City

$25 fee includes handouts and business feasibility software. Register through www.isbdc.org; go to Northeast Indiana Workshops.

Basics of a Winning Business Plan

This workshop will present tips and tricks for writing a successful business plan. Information presented includes the need for and the basic elements of a winning plan, including what lending institutions require, and the format is a mixture of discussion and exercises. Fee includes handouts and business planning software.

• Tuesday, December 7, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Decatur Chamber of Commerce
• Monday, December 20, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Fort Wayne (N.E. Indiana SBDC, 4312-B Hobson Road)
• Tuesday, December 21, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce

$59 fee includes Navigator business plan software. Register through www.isbdc.org; go to Northeast Indiana Workshops.

To learn more about the services of the Northeast Indiana SBDC, which is hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, call (260) 481-0500 or visit www.isbdc.org.