Free or low-cost business classes offered at Oakland Business Center

Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking for assistance are encouraged to attend high-value, low- or no-cost business workshops offered by experts at Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center.

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are held at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, in Waterford. For pre-registration and a location map, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/businessworkshops or call 248-858-0783.

Workshops will be:

WalkIn-StartUp Small Business Counseling in Novi
May 4 Novi, from 9:30 a.m. to Noon, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
June 1 Novi, from 9:30 a.m. to Noon, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Novi Civic Center - Community Development Center Room, 45175 Ten Mile Road, Novi.

Whether you opened a business or you’re thinking about it, the Oakland County One Stop Shop Business Center has resources to help you. This program provides you with confidential small business counseling. You receive one-on-one advice from an experienced business consultant to with no appointment necessary. Counselors offer direct answers to startup questions, suggest next steps and provide guidance on business planning tools. These high value services are free. Walk-in sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each session is limited to 15 minutes.

CEED Lending Small Business Loan Orientation

May 10, from 9-11 a.m.
June 14, from 9-11 a.m.

Have a need for alternative financing for your business? Is your business located in Oakland County? Consider learning more about the CEED Lending Small Business Loan Program. Discover how to apply for and obtain a small business loan. If you are interested in alternative financing for your Oakland County small business, then the CEED Lending Small Business Orientation is for you. CEED Lending is an initiative of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. Cost: free. Registration required.

Starting a Business
May 11, from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
June 15, from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Thinking about starting a business? This workshop is designed for individuals who are at the beginning stages of starting a business. It will help aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products and services. Topics like startup costs, financing options and business planning are introduced, along with the necessary steps to getting started. If you are ready to start your business this workshop is for you.
Cost: free. Registration required

Women’s Business Enterprise Certification Orientation (WBE)
May 24, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Attention Women Entrepreneurs: Consider becoming a Certified Women Owned Business. Learn about the process and benefits of joining the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). WBE certification benefits include: Access to procurement opportunities with major national companies who are looking to do business with women and minority owned companies. If you are ready to take your business to the next level, this workshop is for you.

Cost: $25 per person. Registration required

Team SBA Financing Roundtable
May 24, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Need the inside scoop on how to obtain a business loan? Attend the Team SBA Financing Roundtable to find out how banks evaluate your application. Learn how to improve your chances for a business loan and how SBA loan guarantee programs can help you get financing. This workshop is best suited to those with good credit, a solid business idea and funds of their own to invest in the business. If you want to improve your chances of obtaining a business loan, then this workshop is for you.

Note: Because the SBA does not provide loan guarantees to real estate investment firms, including purchasing and rehabbing houses for resale, this type of financing is not discussed at the roundtable.

Cost: free. Registration required

Market Research Basics
June 13, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Are you ready to grow your business? Our Market Research Basics workshop helps you discover ways to find your ideal customers, identify your competitors, perform competitive analysis, identify new site locations, target direct mail campaigns, reveal untapped markets and expand to new and appropriate markets. If you are ready to grow your business, the Market Research Basics workshop is for you.
Cost: free. Registration required.

Social Media for Business Growth
June 21, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are becoming essential tools for marketing your business in this post phonebook era. Instructor Terry Bean, founder of Networked Inc., and Motor City Connect, will take you through the tools and rules of marketing via social media. You will learn what works, what to avoid and how to utilize LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to grow your network, engage prospects and generate profit for your business. This workshop is designed to use social media tools for profit and will cover:

• Three Things You MUST do to Find Success on Each Platform
• How to Use Status Updates That Gain Attention
• Ways to Manage Priorities So You’re Not Stuck in an Endless Loop
• How to Make Posting Simpler
• The Fastest Way to Grow Your Audience
• Which 2-3 Platforms Should Are Best for You

Cost: $40 per person. Registration required