Are You Ready to Start A Small Business?

Have you dreamed of starting your own business? Are you wondering if you’re ready to make it happen?  Confused about where to begin? 

If this sounds like you, head on down to the Main Library next Tuesday, February 28th from 6-7:30 P.M. for our joint program with SCORE called “Are You Ready to Start A Small Business?”  Hank Cardarelli and I will share information that can help you figure out if you’re ready to break out on your own.

Registration isn’t required for this free event.  If you have questions, give us a call at 805-6930 or contact us via our Ask-A-Question service.

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SCORE Counseling in July 2011

SCORE is a great source of confidential counseling for your start-up idea or existing business. Counselors from the Charleston Coastal SCORE Chapter are available each month in the CCPL Business Center.

Counselors will be available on the 2nd floor of the Main Library from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, July 13th and July 27th.

For SCORE’s full counseling schedule or to ask SCORE a question, head over to their website or call (843) 727-4778.

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The Small Business Resource Fair Is Here!

Own your own business or thinking of starting one?  We’ve got everything you need at the 5th Annual Small Business Resource Fair!  Representatives of fifteen local small business assistance organizations such as the Small Business Development Center, City of Charleston Division of Business Services, and Governor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance will be available in the Exhibit Hall from 10 – 1:00.  SCORE Counseling will be available on a first come first served basis from 10-2.  Workshops will be held throughout the day, including: 

• Doing Business with Charleston County presented by Barrett Tolbert of the Charleston County Procurement Department
• Top HR Tips for Small Business presented by Pat Eardley, Human Resources Advisor
• Do-It-Yourself Online Marketing Research presented by the CCPL Business Center (that’s me!)
• Money Matters! Funding Your Small Business, presented by Mary Dickerson, FastTracSC Director and Cindi Rourk, Loan Officer with the Charleston Local Development Corporation.

All the fabulousness you want for your business can be yours on Thursday, March 18 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Registration is not required and did I mention that all of this is free???

Hope to see you there!

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What We’re Up To In January

Hope you had a great holiday season this go around!  We had a bit of a busy time here at the Business Center planning what we’ll be doing this year. 

First up will be the monthly Networking Night for Entrepreneurs here at the Main Library Auditorium.  If you haven’t tried networking to grow your business, this is a great, low-key place to give it a try!  Be sure to bring your business cards and be ready to talk about what you do.  This month’s meeting will be held on Thursday, January 15th from 6 – 7:30 here at Main.  If you can’t make it, don’t worry!  We’ll be doing it again on February 12th!

Thanks to the efforts of a fellow library blogger, Steven Schwengel, we have not one but two speakers for business coming to the Main Library in January!  Steven’s specialty is all things computer, so he’s arranged a great program for us, Choosing E-Commerce Solutions for Small Business.  Tina McDuffie, of WebWoman, LLC will talk about what you need to know to set up a e-commerce website, from choosing the right software to selecting a cost-effective e-payment system and picking a reliable web hosting service provider.  The presentation is on Wednesday, January 21st from 7 – 8:30 P.M. in the Main Library Auditorium.

If you’re like me, sometimes you look at the piles of stuff on your desk and sigh.  The piles change shape and size, but never seem to disappear completely.  There is a better way!  Start your work year off right by Getting Organized At Work!  Join us as professional business organizer Hillary Hutchinson of Fromchaos2order.com shares tips on how you can get & stay organized at your business.  She’ll answer some of your most pressing organization questions after the presentation.  Mark your calendar for Monday, January 26th from 6:30 – 7:45 P.M. here at the Main Library Auditorium.

We’re pleased that SCORE will be back this month, and almost every month, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.  Meet with a counselor here in the Business Center on the 2nd floor of the Main Library.  No appointment is needed.  If you can’t make it downtown, check out SCORE’s other conseling locations in the tri-county area.

And that’s just the start for 2009!  We’ll talk more in the coming weeks about what’s going on throughout the year, including the Small Business Resource Fair that’s coming our way on March 19th.

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Networking & Other Events for November & December

Can you believe it’s already November?  I’m having a hard time thinking that 2008 is just about over!  I know that the holidays are a crazy time for most people, so here is some advance warning for our events through the end of the year here at the Business Center.  We hope you can join us for one or more of them!

Networking Nights in November & December

Grow your business network for free @ your library.  Bring your business cards & best elevator speech.  Thanks to the Friends of the Library, we will have refreshments for this event in November and December.  Thanks, Friends!

When: Thursday November 6th AND Thursday December 4th, 6-7:30 PM

Where: Charleston County Main Library – Auditorium, 68 Calhoun St.

Cost: Free!

 

Start Your Business, Step By Step

Consistently one of our most popular programs, this presentation by Mimi Scharf of the SC Women’s Business Centerwill teach attendees how to write a business plan & start the business of your dreams in South Carolina.  I’m happy to welcome Mimi for her first presentation for the Business Center.  She took over the reins of the local SCWBC office earlier this year.  She’s worked in the business world and volunteered with SCORE, so she’s an excellent choice to provide expert help to people who want to start or grow their small business.

When: Monday, November 17th, 2008 from 6:30 – 8 PM

Where: Charleston County Main Library – Auditorium, 68 Calhoun St.

Cost: Free!

 

SCORE Counseling

Need help starting a small business?  Or are you looking for advice on the business you already own?  SCORE is here to help.  Confidential SCORE counseling will be available at the Business Center on the 2nd floor of the Main Library in November and December.

When: Wed. November 12th  AND Wed. December 10th, 10 AM – 2 PM

Where: CCPL Business Center @ the Main Library –  68 Calhoun Street, 2nd Floor

Cost: Free!

Business Center Tour

Find out about the hundreds of great print & online resources for entrepreneurs available via the CCPL’s Business Center.  Tour meets at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor.  Come take a walk on the library’s business side.

When: Monday, November 24th from 6-6:45 PM

Where: Reference Desk @ the Main Library –  68 Calhoun Street, 2nd Floor

Cost: Free!

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