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ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION SERIES

Education Series

The Entrepreneur and Small Business Education Series is a partnership between the Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Long Beach State University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The education series is focused on providing the tools and skills needed to start and run a successful business. The Entrepreneur and Small Business Education Series is a six-week program. Long Beach State University will provide a certificate of accomplishment to those who complete the entire program.

Sponsors

Curriculum schedule

The series is focused on providing the tools and skills needed to start and run a successful business.

 

Week 1 (April 15 & 19): The Value of a Business Plan

Module 1: Creating a Business Model Canvas (Isabelle Bart)

  • Structure of a BMC
  • Defining your Value Proposition
  • Who is your customer
  • Generating Revenue
  • “Producing” your product or service
  • Cost projections

 

Module 2: What is a Business Plan (Isabelle Bart)

    • Elements of a business plan
      • Organizational plan
      • Marketing plan
      • Financial Projections
      • Competitive Analysis
    • Putting it all together
Week 2 (April 22 & 26): Digital Marketing 101

Module 1:         Writing your Marketing Plan (Darilyn O’Brien)

  • Assessing your Business Idea
  • Competitive analysis
  • Who are my target customers?
  • How do I reach them?
  • What channels do I use to reach them?
  • How do I price my products/services?
  • Putting it all together

 

Module 2:         How to do digital marketing (Aleks Lason)

    • Design and construct your website
    • Types of social and digital media
    • Email marketing
    • Putting it all together
Week Three (April 29 & May 3): Financial Aspects of your Business

Module 1: Accounting Basics (Sabrina Landa)

  • Financial Literacy
  • Basic accounting principles
  • Types of accounting platforms
  • Financial statements
  • Putting it all together

Module 2: Funding Opportunities – Becoming Bankable! (Dean Heiss/Wade Martin)

    • Traditional types of funding opportunities
    • Non-traditional types of funding opportunities
    • Applying for funding
    • How to choose the right bank
    • Access to Capital
Week Four (May 6 & May 10): Where to Locate your Business

Module 1: Site selection (Austin Metoyer)

  • Appropriately zoned site for your business
  • Foot traffic and parking requirements
  • Office specific requirements/suggestions
  • Retail specific requirements/suggestions
  • Restaurant specific requirements/suggestions
  • Putting it all together

Module 2: Negotiate a lease (Karie Armstrong)

  • Understand lease options
  • Do I need a broker?
  • Who pays for tenant improvements
  • What can I negotiate?
  • Research the area prior to lease negotiations
  • Putting it all together
Week Five (May 13 & May 17): HR Basics & Putting it All Together

Module 1: Business Plan & Pitch Deck Assembly (Isabelle Bart)

  • Putting it all together

 

Module 2: Human Resource Basics (Kerri Cissna)

  • Hiring employees (EEOC and discrimination questions)
  • W-2 vs. Independent contractors
  • Employee handbook
  • Building teams
  • Putting it all together
Week 6 (May 20): Pitchfest Competition

Businesses that have completed all modules will be eligible to pitch to a panel of judges to compete for prize money.  Prize money from F&M Bank totaling $20,000 will be awarded based on recommendations from the DLBA Economic Advisory Board, F&M Bank, and CSULB IIE.  Participants will also be awarded a Certificate of Completion from the CSULB Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Register for the Education Series

Date: April 15 – May 20, 2023
Time: Saturday Mornings (in-person), 9:00 am to 10:30 am & Wednesday Evenings (remote) 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm; 2 modules/week, 2 hours each.
Location: Studio One Eleven (245 E. 3rd Street, Long Beach CA 90802)
Cost to Attend: FREE to attend for Existing and Potential Downtown Business Owners and CSULB Students (Value of $1,350)