Veterans Business Summit Coming to West Virginia Sept. 14

    CLARKSBURG ─ The U.S. Small Business Administration in conjunction with its network of small business resource partners throughout West Virginia, will be hosting a Veterans Business Summit on Tuesday, Sept.14,  at the I-79 Technology Park Research Center in Fairmont.

    This free event will provide veterans and their spouses with training and resources on veteran-owned business financing; doing business with the federal government; strategic business planning; business legal structures; legal lessons for federal contractors; and free small business resources.

    The summit will feature speakers from SBA’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams, numerous veteran small business owners, local lenders, and small business resource partners.

    “According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 173,000 veterans reside in West Virginia making it a state with one of the highest number of veterans per capita in the nation,” said Judy McCauley, Director of SBA’s West Virginia District Office. “And veterans make great business owners. Because of their military background, they understand the importance of teamwork, have tremendous self-discipline, and often develop technical skills during their military service that serves them well as entrepreneurs.”

    Federal contracting officers are actively searching for veteran-owned and service disabled veteran-owned small businesses to fulfill various contracting opportunities. According to SBA’s Office of Advocacy, there are approximately 15,000 veteran-owned small businesses in West Virginia. However, only 229 are registered to do business with the federal government.

    “That number needs to be much higher,” stated McCauley. “The Veterans Business Summit is an excellent starting point for veteran-owned businesses to learn about doing business with the government. The agenda features several successful veteran small business owners who will be sharing their government contracting experience free of charge.”

    The event is free for all veterans and their spouses, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For registration information, visit www.wvscore.org or call 1-800-767-8052 ext. 8.

    Sponsors of the Summit include the West Virginia Small Business Development Center, the West Virginia Women’s Business and Training Center, and SCORE.

SBA, SCORE to host free business organization seminar in Charleston

    CHARLESTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration and Charleston SCORE will host the business clinic Taxes v. Liability: Business Legal Organizations Explained featuring Joetta Kuhn, CPA, on Thursday, June 17, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Area at 405 Capitol Street in Charleston, W.Va. 

    The clinic is free and open to the public. 

    Individuals can register online at www.wvscore.org or at (304) 347-5463. Registration is suggested but not required.

    Emma Wilson, manager of the SBA’s Charleston Branch Office, said, “How should I structure my business is one of the top questions we get. This clinic explains the advantages and disadvantages of sole proprietors, limited liability companies, and small business corporations and explores which type is right for you and your business.”

    This clinic is one in a series of free small business clinics and webinars for small business owners. Upcoming sessions include:

    · Facebook for Business webinar, featuring Kara Gray, New Horizon Consulting, on August 10, 2010

    Registration for the above clinic can be made online at www.wvscore.org .

SBA, SCORE to host free 'Facebook for Business' webinar

    CHARLESTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE will host a free webinar Facebook for Business featuring Kara Gray of New Horizon Consulting on May 11 at noon. Register at www.wvscore.org . Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. 

    According to Gray, “Facebook is a great way to grow your online relationships and promote your business. We’ll show you how to create a Fan Page and then how to integrate Facebook with other social media tools and develop a smart Facebook strategy.”

     Gray specializes in high-tech public relations and marketing copywriting, including news releases, case studies, web copy, newsletters and by-lined articles. Her work includes a variety of clients in the private and federal technology sector, including the NASA Commercial Technology Program.

    This clinic is one in a series of free small business clinics and webinars for small business owners. Upcoming sessions include:

·     LLC v. S-Corp: Which is Right for You? webinar, featuring Larry Ickes, CPA, May 18.

   · Small Business Loans: No Hype, Just the Facts clinic, featuring Christy Scott, Sun Trust Bank, May 20.

    · Deductible Business Expenses webinar, featuring Larry Ickes, CPA on June 15.

    · Taxes v. Liability: Business Legal Organizations Explained clinic, featuring Joetta Kuhn, CPA, June 17.

    Registration for all of the above clinics can be made online at www.wvscore.org .

Business Basics Workshop Set For South Charleston

    CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Chapter of SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Businesses) is taking reservations for “Start Up Basics and Business Concepts” on Saturday, April 17 at the South Charleston Public Library at 312 Fourth Avenue, South Charleston, WV, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The workshop is free but pre-registration is required. Register online at www.wvscore.org or call (304) 347-5463. 

    “If you want to succeed in business, you’ve got to take a hard-nosed look at your business idea first,” said Tommie Brown, instructor and SCORE volunteer. “Frankly, it could be the best idea in the world, but if you can’t pay your bills doing it, then you probably shouldn’t sink any of your time and money into it.”

    “This workshop is the first step in helping you to determine your next business steps,” Brown added.

The workshop is one of the four-part series Quick Start Your Business, which continues with:

• The Marketing Plan-- Saturday, May 1
• Financial Projections-- Saturday, May 15
• Funding Sources & Next Steps-- Saturday, June 5

    The Quick Start Your Business workshop series is sponsored by Charleston SCORE Chapter #256 and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA, SCORE to host free webinar on social media marketing

    CHARLESTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration and West Virginia SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Businesses, is sponsoring the free webinar “Social Media Marketing for Small Business” from Noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2010 and on Friday, April 9, 2010. Registration is available online at www.wvscore.org or by calling (304) 347-5220.

    Social media has exploded as an inexpensive and highly effective way for small businesses to reach out and interact with customers. This webinar provides participants with an overview of business uses for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogging.

    Kara Gray of New Horizon Consulting is the presenter. Interested business owners can participate in the training without leaving the comfort of their own office. All that is needed is a telephone and a computer.

SBA to host Business Structure and Taxes clinic Nov. 19 in Charleston

CHARLESTON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration and Charleston SCORE Chapter 256 will be conducting a free small business clinic entitled “Business Structure – Taxes vs. Liability” on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Room at 405 Capitol Street in Charleston.

CPA and SCORE member Joetta Kuhn along with Kimberly Donahue, business development specialist for the SBA, will be providing attendees with information to help them understand the balance between taxable income and liability in order to better determine which business structure is right for their business.

“If you’re going into business for yourself— then this is the first hurdle you face. The decision you make here will have long-term ramifications for your company,” said Kuhn. 

This clinic is one in a series of free small business clinics. Future clinics and dates are as follows:

 “Business Loans – No Hype, Just the Facts” - December 3

The clinic is open to the public and is offered at no cost. Registration is requested as seating is limited. Individuals can register online at www.wvscore.org or by calling (304) 347-5463 or (304) 347-5220.

SBA to hold Business Structure Clinic Oct. 15 in Charleston

CHARLESTON –  The U.S. Small Business Administration and Charleston SCORE Chapter 256 will be conducting a free small business clinic entitled “Business Structure – Taxes vs. Liability” on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Room at 405 Capitol Street in Charleston, W.Va.

CPA and SCORE member Joetta Kuhn and Kimberly Donahue, business development specialist for the SBA, will be providing attendees with information that will help them understand the balance between taxable income and liability in order to better determine which business structure is right for their business.

“If you’re going into business for yourself— then this is the first hurdle you face. The decision you make here will have long-term ramifications for your company,” said Kuhn.

This clinic is one in a series of free small business clinics. Future clinics and dates are as follows:

“Business Loans— No Hype, Just the Facts” Nov. 5.

“Business Legal Structure and Tax Liabilities” Nov. 19.

The clinic is open to the public and is offered at no cost. Registration is requested as seating is limited. Individuals can register online at www.wvscore.org or by calling (304) 347-5463 or (304) 347-5220.