TSBDC at Southwest Will Offer Start-up Classes to Help New Small Businesses Get Up and Running

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Southwest Tennessee Community College is launching a series of workshops to help individuals get their new businesses off to a running start, announced David Doyle, executive director of TSBDC. The Business Start-Up Workshop is designed to help individuals considering self-employment, or just beginning to start their businesses, and make wise choices in their decisions. The Business Plan Workshop will help individuals now developing plans make knowledgeable decisions to operate their businesses.

The Business Start-Up sessions will be delivered in a workshop format, and will help aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services. Seven sessions will be held at two different locations: five at the Memphis Public Library’s main location (Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library), 3030 Poplar Avenue; and two at the TSBDC satellite office at Southwest, the Memphis Renaissance Center, 555 Beale Street.

Dates and locations for the Business Start-up Workshops are:

January 28, 2010, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Memphis Public Library
February 4, 2010, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Memphis Renaissance Center
February 11, 2010, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Memphis Public Library
February 18, 2010, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Memphis Public Library
March 10, 2010, 9 to 11 a.m., Memphis Renaissance Center
March 18, 2010, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Memphis Public Library
April 8, 2010, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Memphis Public Library

The Business Plan Workshop is scheduled for one session, February 13, 2010, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Millington Public Library, 4858 Navy Road in Millington, TN. It is designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, covering business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing and finance, legal and regulatory issues, operations, and information-based planning and management are key components of the workshop.

For more information about the workshops, and to learn about other opportunities to build your business, contact Doyle at dhdoyle@southwest.tn.edu or call him at (901) 333-5085.