“What’s Your Plan?” course offered through the Small Business Development Center starting in January, Dec. 11

Are you looking for a way to be more effective as a business owner? Are you trying to finance your business? Want to plan for business expansion, retirement or selling your business? Beginning Monday, January 11, 2016, the Southwestern Oregon Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a 4-session workshop that focuses on building a business on solid ground using a business plan. Participants save time and avoid costly mistakes by learning how to grow a successful business and how to write a business plan. Participants learn why a business plan is important, how to use one and how to write an effective business plan that will get results. Participants also get free access for two months to the popular online business plan template LivePlan. This valuable series of classes provides an opportunity to share ideas with other entrepreneurs, learn business planning techniques, and locate resources helpful for business owners. A previous participant commented, “This class is well worth the time and dollars. I’d forgotten some of these concepts over the years and I look forward to putting this information to work in my business.” The program’s format includes classroom meetings on Monday January 11, Monday January 25, Monday February 8 and Monday February 22, 2016. Class starts at 6:00 pm and ends at 8:00 pm at The Business Center, 2455 Maple Leaf, North Bend. The presenter for this course is Arlene Soto, Small Business Development Center Director. Arlene M. Soto became the Southwestern Oregon Community College Small Business Development Center Director in 2007. From October 1994 until July 2007 she was the Region 4 Director for the Wyoming Small Business Development Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. From 1988 through October 1994 she was the president of Oasis Group, Inc. a consulting firm in Portland, Oregon. She is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) has a Masters Degree in management from Marylhurst University and a Bachelors Degree in accounting from Portland State University. She has been working with businesses in the accounting field since 1976 and in management since 1988. In addition to the classroom time in the course, free one-to-one business advising, as well as access to other SBDC resources, is available and is included in the cost of the training. This course is required for participants in the Neighborworks Umpqua Dream$avers program for business ownership and for those interested in the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce New Business Challenge grant. What’s Your Plan will be offered in North Bend four times per year. Preregistration is required. The cost of the training is $125. Bay Area Chamber Members and Tribal Businesses receive a $15 discount. The cost covers the complete program, as well as materials. Those interested in attending can contact the SBDC at 541-756-6866 for more information or register online at http://www.socc.edu/sbdc. Payment for the class can be mailed to the Small Business Development Center, 2455 Maple Leaf, North Bend, OR 97459.