Have you ever thought of starting a business? Have you already done so but feel like you need a crash course in business basics? Join Valley CDC staff to talk shop, learn the nuts and bolts, and fill your business toolbox with critical tools you need to succeed. Prerequisites: None. 2 hours. Gene Talsky, ValleyCDC.com, Wed. Sept. 24, 5:30-7:30 PM, Eastworks Valley CDC office, Suite 325, 116 Pleasant St.

Take your product line to market! Learn the history and current trends in the crafts market. Compare ad contrast wholesale & retail selling to determine the right marketing path, the right show and the right tools necessary for completing a competitive application. Understand differences among buyers and how to sell to each. Take away techniques for surviving the craft show circuit. Prerequisites: None. 6 hours. Donald Clark, MakingALivingInCrafts.com 2 Tuesdays, October 14 & 21, 5-8 PM, Eastworks Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St.

For pre-launch and existing businesses. This 3-part series steps you through the process of nailing down where your money comes from, where it goes to, and what you need to do/charge/change to make your existing or future business a success. Day 1 reviews basic Excel spreadsheet functions and features relevant to budgeting and financial tracking on Valley CDC PCs. Day 2 teaches complete cash-flow and business budgeting concepts. This lecture-only class teaches how to weed through all the numbers to help you get a grasp on your profitability. Day 3 you return with all the right papers, figures and statements to begin composing a snapshot of your current cash flow AND/OR future cash flow projections using Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheet software, Prerequisites: Basic Excel 2003 skills. 9 hours. Currently run or are planning to run a business. Don Lesser, PioneerTraining.com 3 Thursdays, October 16-30, 5-8 PM, Eastworks Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St

Learn the industry standard spreadsheet program. In this two-part workshop, you will learn how to navigate a basic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, format cells, columns, and rows, create formulas and worksheets, and develop spreadsheets for budgeting and projecting cash flow as well as multi-purpose spreadsheets. PC-based. Prerequisites: General MS Windows navigation skills. 6 hrs. Instructor: Don Lesser, PioneerTraining.com, 2 Mondays, Oct. 20 & 27, 5-8 PM Eastworks, Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St.

Have you ever thought of starting a business? Have you already done so but feel like you need a crash course in business basics? Join Valley CDC staff to talk shop, learn the nuts and bolts, and fill your business toolbox with critical tools you need to succeed. Prerequisites: None. 2 hours. Gene Talsky, ValleyCDC.com, Wed. Oct. 22, 5:30-7:30 PM, Eastworks Valley CDC office, Suite 325, 116 Pleasant St.

The most popular easy-to-use accounting program for non-accountants. Learn what you should know as a business owner, whether you keep your own books or someone keeps them for you. Set up your company books, create accounts and invoices, make and receive payments, and measure your financial performance. PC-based. Pre-requisites: General MS Windows navigation skills. 12 hrs. Instructor: Sara Gross. www.accountingtechsolutions.com 4 Mondays, Oct. 5-8 PM Eastworks, Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St.

Local CPA & attorney give you an overview of important issues your small business should consider Obtaining various licenses, EIN (federal tax ID), MA sales tax registration & re-sale certificate, income tax filing, sales & other tax matters, payroll filing & registration requirements, sub-contractor issues, insurance (including health & workers comp), retirement plans, intellectual property (patent/copyright/trademark) and other germane topics will be discussed in relationship to the various business entities; proprietorship, general partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership & for-profit vs. non-profit. This class is ideal for existing businesses that want to be sure all their T'sare crossed and I's dotted, as well as hobbyists and part time dabblers looking to upgrade their activities to full-fledge business activities. Prerequisites: None. 2 hours. Steve Harrington, CPA, Bova, Harrington & Associates, P.C. and Mikal Weiss, Esq., Burrows, Weiss & Bloomberg Wednesday, November 5, 5-7 PM, Eastworks Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St

Find out best practices and winning strategies in email marketing and how to get and keep quality subscribers, increase deliverability and open rates, tips for writing compelling content and more! Learn from valuable case studies of how other businesses have effectively used email marketing to boost their business and to help you formulate a customer communication strategy that really works! Prerequisites: none. 2 hours. Zak Barron, ConstantContact.com, Eastworks Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St. Nov. 6, 5-7 PM

Create outstanding marketing materials in Microsoft Word 2003 (75%) and Publisher 2003 (25%) using graphics, text boxes, line drawings, color, and fonts. Learn skills to produce business cards, fliers, posters, brochures, and ads in-house. Experiment with page set-up and ready-made templates. PC-based. Prerequisites: Familiarity with Microsoft Word; ability to create, open edit, save .doc files. This is an advanced beginner/intermediate-level course. 6 hours. Mannie White, PioneerTraining.com 2 Wednesdays, November 12 & 19 5-8 PM, Eastworks Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St.

Jumpstart your email marketing efforts with Constant Contact. Quickly and easily get your Constant Contact broadcast email marketing account ready to use. Learn account set up, choosing and modifying an email template, uploading your list, adding a sign-up box to your website, and branding with your logo and colors. This class is a product walk through and not a computer-based hands-on workshop. Prerequisites: None, but best for Trial Customers and New Users. You do not need to attend E1: Power of Email Marketing on November 6 to attend this class but it is recommended you do so. 2 hours. Zak Barron, ConstantContact.com November 13, 5-7 PM, Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St.

Have you ever thought of starting a business? Have you already done so but feel like you need a crash course in business basics? Join Valley CDC staff to talk shop, learn the nuts and bolts, and fill your business toolbox with critical tools you need to succeed. Prerequisites: None. 2 hours. Gene Talsky, ValleyCDC.com, Wed. Nov. 19, 5:30-7:30 PM, Eastworks Valley CDC office, Suite 335, 116 Pleasant St.

Learn how to: measure and evaluate website performance, confirm your site's search engine friendliness, read and interpret web traffic statistics, uncover your competitors secrets and strategies, use powerful free tools from Google, and market your website on a "shoestring budget". Prerequisites: None. 6 hrs. Instructor: Derek Allard, Tunnel7.com 2 Wednesdays, Dec. 3 & 10, 5-8 PM Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St.

Learn about technologies to accept payments online for products and services (like eBooks, tickets, music, etc.). An overview of merchant accounts and credit card processing leads to discussion about Pay Pal, Google Checkout, eBay, online event registration and reservations, Etsy (for artists & craftspeople), Guru, Craigslist. and others.Prerequisites: Basic internet browsing. 4 hours. Jason Turcotte, TurcotteData.com 2 Thursdays, December 4 & 11, Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St.

Learn how to improve sales without spending money on advertising. Write your entire guerrilla marketing plan in seven sentences so that you can achieve maximum results from minimal resources. This program includes a 30 page workbook designed to help you implement a 30, 60 and 90 day action plan to boost profits in a manner consistent with your business and personal readiness. This program is not for startups, but rather for business owners whose revenue has plateaued, or are frustrated by lackluster results from their traditional marketing. Prerequisites: None. 3 hours.Sheldon Snodgrass, MBA, SteadySales.com Monday Dec. 8, 5-8 PM, Easthampton Fire & Safety Complex, 32 Payson Ave.

Have you ever thought of starting a business? Have you already done so but feel like you need a crash course in business basics? Join Valley CDC staff to talk shop, learn the nuts and bolts, and fill your business toolbox with critical tools you need to succeed. Prerequisites: None. 2 hours. Gene Talsky, ValleyCDC.com, Wed. Dec. 17, 5:30-7:30 PM, Eastworks Valley CDC office, Suite 325, 116 Pleasant St.

Artists and craftspeople learn specific information about approaching working with all forms of galleries. Market trends and an introduction to the gallery business lead to personal goal setting and action plans including specific task lists necessary to present work to a gallery. Prerequisites: None. 6 hours. Donald Clark, MakingALivingInCrafts.com 2 Tuesdays, January 6 & 13, 5-8 PM, Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St.

Look at the risks and rewards of business ownership. Determine your business and personal goals and assess your resources for starting a business. Begin exploring the market potential of your proposed venture and create an action plan for next steps. This workshop series is appropriate for anyone thinking about starting a business, whether full-time or part-time. Prerequisites: None. 9 hrs. Instructor: Howard Bronstein. www.odtmaps.com 3 Wednesdays Jan. 7-12, 5-8 PM, Easthampton Fire & Safety Copley, 32 Payson Ave.

Everyone knows it is important to have an effective website if a business is to succeed in today’s market. There are other powerful online tools a business of any size and budget can use to find customers locally and globally. Some argue these tools are more powerful than a website alone! Whether you have a website or not, come explore inexpensive ways to network your business through the virtual “grapevine” using online publishing and business profiling sites & directories like Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, Constant Contact, Wordpress, and others. Prerequisites: Familiar with internet web browsing. 6 hours. Tish Grier, http://spap-oop.blogspot.com 2 Thursdays, January 8 & 15, Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, 33 Union St.,

Have you ever thought of starting a business? Have you already done so but feel like you need a crash course in business basics? Join Valley CDC staff to talk shop, learn the nuts and bolts, and fill your business toolbox with critical tools you need to succeed. Prerequisites: None. 2 hours. Gene Talsky, ValleyCDC.com, Wed. Jan. 21, 5:30-7:30 PM, Eastworks Valley CDC office, Suite 325, 116 Pleasant St.