Seminars & Workshops

Start Your Business

Presenters: Robin Suomi, Executive Director
                Loudoun Small Business Development Center

                Terry Corle, President of The Corle Group


Ms. Robin Suomi, a small business specialist, will lead participants through the essential steps for starting a successful small business.  Mr. Terry Corle, a marketing and insurance specialist, will give 21 marketing tips and discuss the types of insurance needed for small businesses.  Highlights of the seminar will include:

• Taxes and licensing
• Accounting and record keeping
• Business plan development
• Sources of financing
• Marketing
• Insurance

An open discussion period will follow the presentation to address specific questions. 

Thursday, May 3, 2007
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street, Lower Level
Leesburg, VA  20176

Please enter the library through its center rear door.  On-site parking is limited; additional parking is available on Market Street (metered and non-metered) and in the Town Parking Garage, 25 West Market Street (near Tally Ho Theatre), where the first hour is free with each additional hour charged at $.50.

There is no fee for the seminar.  However, pre-registration is required:  please call 703-430-7222, email sbdc@loudounsbdc.org or go online at www.loudounsbdc.org.  If you’d like to exchange business cards with other attendees, please bring a supply of yours.

Loudoun SBDC Peer Advisory Counseling

Group Counseling Service – 12 Spaces Available

MONDAY, MAY 7, 2007    4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Loudoun SBDC Office:  21145 Whitfield Place, Suite 104
Sterling, VA 20165

Low Stress Environment – High Impact Results!!

PROBLEM:

• Are you having trouble reaching a business goal?
• Do you have a specific business challenge?
• Are you simply overwhelmed and don’t know what to do next to grow your dream?

SOLUTION:

Meet with a group of up to six of your peers—other small business owners who know your pain!—in a friendly, supportive environment.  All participants will bring a wealth of life experience and knowledge to the table…and at one point will concentrate exclusively on YOUR problem.  At other times you will concentrate exclusively on THEIR problem.  You are both a student and a teacher!

FORMAT: 

• Two groups, six maximum per group
• Each group moderated by a Loudoun SBDC small business consultant (MBA / MPA)
• Meet as large group to go over ground rules
• Break into small groups for peer counseling
• Meet as large group to “report out” your small group’s activities
• Light refreshments served

REQUIREMENTS:

· Must be a prior Loudoun SBDC client (i.e., must have attended at least one counseling session)
· Due to limited seating, once you register, you are expected to attend.  No cancellations please.

TIME LINE: 

4:00 to 4:15 – Greet, ground rules, break into groups
4:15 to 5:30 – Peer to Peer
5:30 to 5:50 – Report out
5:50 to 6:00 – Concluding remarks, refreshments

REGISTER BY PHONING 703-430-7222

Presenter: Ms. Freddie Biddle, Commercial Loan Specialist –
               U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)


If you lack the financial resources to start or expand a small business, an SBA-guaranteed loan may be a viable option for you.  Familiarizing yourself with the types of SBA loan programs available as well as the “rules” and processes for them will help you make loan decisions most appropriate for your situation.  Ms. Freddie Biddle is a twenty-year veteran of the U.S. Small Business Administration and is currently a Commercial Loan Specialist there.  Ms. Biddle will explain:

• How the SBA loan process works
• What the SBA and banks look for in loan applications
• Types of SBA loan programs

Thursday, May 10, 2007
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street, Lower Level
Leesburg, VA  20176

Office & Retail Space:
Zoning, Leasing & Design Considerations

Presenters: Marsha Keim, Zoning Permit Manager –
                    Loudoun County Dept. of Building and Development

                David Williams, Vice President –
                    PM Realty Group, Eastern Division

                Michael Purcell, Owner – Purcell Design Ltd.
  

Locating, securing and building out space for a small business is a daunting, multi-step process.  Expert advise can save you time, money and frustration along the way!  Marsha Keim, David Williams and Michael Purcell are experts who will answer questions such as:

Zoning—

• What kind of business can go where?
• What can I do if I have a home occupation?
• When must I move the business out of my home?
• What do all those zoning designations mean and how do I get a zoning permit?

Leasing—

• How and when should I move from a home office?
• Is a condo or typical office building better for me, and should I lease or purchase?
• How do I find a good realtor?  What should I ask about qualifications and services?

Design—

• How do I determine space needs and the type of space best for my business?
• What are the design and cost implications of my workplace?
• Does a “healthy” workplace matter?

Thursday, May 24, 2007
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Cascades Library
21030 Whitfield Place
Potomac Falls, VA  20165

There is no fee for the seminar.  However, pre-registration is required: please call 703-430-7222, email sbdc@loudounsbdc.org, or go online at www.loudounsbdc.org.  If you’d like to exchange business cards with other attendees, please bring a supply of yours.