Small Business Development
Certificate of Completion

In partnership with
Small Business Development Center

The Program
This program provides participants with a business plan for both operating and financing purposes as well as the knowledge and skills to start a business.

What You Will Learn
Through a series of lectures, labs and counseling you will gain practical knowledge in operating, financing, marketing, and expanding business. Topics include writing a business plan, effective leadership, developing a marketing strategy, financing your start-up, basic accounting, and QuickBooks. This program is different from others in that each module includes specific one on one time with instructor to develop your business plan, marketing strategy, balance sheet, etc… Additional consulting with your instructor will be available at the SBDC or by phone or email.

Who Should Attend
• Entrepreneurs who want to start a business and become their own boss
• Individuals who have a new business idea
• Owners of start-ups who wish to be better prepared or need financing
• Existing business owners with no business plan
• Individuals who want to turn personal interests into a new business

Location
All classes are offered at California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson. Small Business Development classes are convenient for people living and working in or near Los Angeles, Torrance, Long Beach, Carson, Compton, El Segundo, Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lakewood, Paramount, Bellflower, Downey, Inglewood and other parts of the South Bay and Southern California.

Schedule/Costs

Eligibility Requirements
No prerequisites are required for the certificate.

Special Features
Professional experienced consultants from the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) and SBA (Small Business Administration) teach this program.
• Development of business plan specific to your own needs
• One on one consulting in developing your plan
• Access to a consultant from the SBDC
• Support in identifying financing sources

Certificate Requirements
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded upon the completion of the four required courses. Those who do not wish to pursue a certificate may take individual classes.

Courses

Strategic Marketing
This course will cover how to identify and select the appropriate target market and the 4Ps in the marketing mix to include pricing, product/service, promotion, and place/distribution channels. Learn the process and value of market research, define the types of information required for developing market strategies, and relate marketing research to the development of a strategic marketing plan. Lean how to position products/services in market in relationship to competitors as well as creating value propositions. This course also covers how to plan and execute promotional and advertising campaigns that will create excitement around products/services, generate first-time and repeat purchases, and communicating product value to capture attention of target market. Learn the differences among wholesale, retail, and direct channels of distribution, price products/services in relationship to product descriptions, channels of distribution, and competitors.

Effective Leadership and Influencing Others
This course will provide hiring supervisors with the knowledge and tools to attract and hire the most qualified candidates. The course will cover the best hiring practices to ensure fairness and excellence in all stages of the recruitment process. Learn how to develop an effective recruitment plan to evaluate applications, conduct interviews, perform reference checking, and determine the final selection for hire. Learn to distinguish between legal and illegal lines of questioning and formulate methods to identifying behaviors to hire and retain top talent. Motivational techniques focus on skills and practices that promote enthusiasm and optimism in the workplace and cover topics such as, communicating a vision, delineating objectives and duties, understanding the impact of management styles, tapping talent and enhancing or expanding duties, fostering positive communications, giving and receiving feedback, enhancing and rewarding performance, improving the physical environment, and dealing with de-motivation or negativity and turning situations around. Discover StrengthsQuest which uncovers individual talents that are inherit to every human being. Topics cover overall policy guidelines and service goals with training in communication issues that can influence service.

Introduction to Accounting and QuickBooks
This course covers a system that measures business activities, processes that information into reports and communicates these findings to decision-makers". The accounting system produces financial statements that report on an individual's or an organization's business in monetary amounts. Topics covered include basic accounting principles for small business, chart of accounts, basic bookkeeping entries and an overview of basic financial statements. Learn basic set-up functions of QuickBooks and how the process affects business operations. Setting up accounts, customers, vendors, general preferences along with navigating through QuickBooks will be demonstrated.

Writing a Winning Business Plan
This course will provide a working document that gives structure to your business. Topics covered include how to develop the four sections of the plan: 1) Business description, 2) Marketing section, 3) Management summary, and 4) Financial projections. This business plan will be especially useful for owners seeking funding. Learn the guidelines for developing the three financial statements that should be crucial for investors and determining the financial health of your business: 1) profit and loss statement, 2) cash flow, and 3) balance sheet. Learn which funding options are available to new and existing business owners. An evaluation of the different funding sources, an overview of the loan processes and the documentation required will be provided in this informative session. Upon completion of this session, business owners will have a checklist for completing a loan application.

Schedule/Costs

For further information:
jvogel@csudh.edu/310-243-3355

To register: 877-GO-HILLS or 310-243-3741