The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Rhode Island District Office and the Rhode Island chapter of AARP are pleased to present two Encore Entrepreneur Month Events!

Learn to Read the Story Your Financial Statements Are Telling You
Tuesday, April 15th – 9:30am – 11:30am
Warwick Public Library
600 Sandy Lane, Small Meeting Room
Warwick, RI  02889

Being able to understand what the numbers in your cash flow statement, and on your balance sheet are telling you is a critical component to understanding just how financially healthy your small business is. Participants will learn the tricks of the trade when it comes to deciphering what your financial statements are really telling you about your business.

Make a Business Plan Part of Your Retirement Plan
Thursday, April 17th – 9:30am – 11:30am
SBA District Office Training Facility
380 Westminster Street, 5th Floor, Room 511
Providence, RI  02903

Many people celebrate retirement by starting their own business. At the core of every successful business is a solid business plan.  Join us as our small business experts show you the building blocks for your successful small business.

Both seminars are presented FREE of charge.  For more information or to register, please call or email Matthew Spoehr at the RI District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (401) 528-4561 or matthew.spoehr@sba.gov

With one in four individuals ages 44 to 70 interested in becoming entrepreneurs, and 63 percent of Americans planning to work during retirement, small business ownership has never been a more viable option.  SBA and AARP will offer training and mentoring services older entrepreneurs need to successfully start and grow businesses in order to create jobs.

Starting a business at any age can be a life changing event.  This SBA and AARP initiative will help potential business owners be confident they have addressed important questions as they prepare to pursue their dream of business ownership.  Questions about finance, planning and market analysis should be addressed before men and women invest their time, energy and personal funds to their business.

Join us to learn how to register your business in the System for Award Management (SAM).

If you would like to certify with the SBA for federal contracting for your business, you first need to register in the SAM System.

This class will walk you through how register in SAM to set up your account for SBA contracting certifications.

Please bring your Wi-Fi capable laptop to work alongside the instructor. By the time you leave you will be registered!!

Please read all of the mandatory prerequisites below before you register.  Thank you.  

MANDATORY Prerequisite Requirements for SAM Registration

1. Get your DUNS Number. The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number is a unique nine-character identification number provided by the commercial company Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) at no cost:

·         To request via the web go to http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or call 866-705-5711.

·         This can take up to a week to obtain in some cases, but typically takes 24 hours.

2. Identify your Northern American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code(s). NAICS Codes are a method for classifying business establishments.

·         You may search for your NAICS Code(s) at http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/.

·         You must supply at least one for your registration to be complete, but you can provide as many as your firm is capable of performing.

·         You can add or change NAICS Codes at any time.

3. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) – Bank Information. You will enter the information necessary for the government to pay you for any goods or services you provide. If you do not have the information available, contact your bank or financial institution.

·         ABA Routing Number

·         Account Number

·         Lockbox Number (if applicable)

·         Bank’s Remittance Address. This information will be used to mail you a paper check in the event that an EFT transfer does not work. If you use a lockbox and want checks mailed directly to the bank, use the bank’s name and address.

4. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

·         Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Corporations, Partnerships, etc.

·         Social Security Number (SSN) may be used for Sole Proprietorships (refer to #2 on the next page for recommended alternative).

Instructed by: Kristan Ingebretsen, Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA 

Space is extremely limited.  If registration is full, please call Stephanie at 916.442.1729 to be placed on the waiting list.  Thank you.  

REGISTER HERE

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program can help your small business get bonded!  Please join us if your small business has:

• Limited Financial Resources
• No Prior Bonded Work Experience
• Been in Business Less Than Three Years
• Desire to Increase its Current Bonding Capacity

Join us for an AT&T Connect Webinar discussing:

Contract Bonds

• What they are and Why they are Required
• How to Get Pre-Qualified
• Working Capital & Bank Support

SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program

• Program Eligibility
• Required Information
• Application Process & Fees

Registration is required.  Please register online at http://events.sba.gov/eventmanagement/eventlisting.aspx?state=GA  Events are listed in date order.

Date:                    Thursday, April 17, 2014

Time:                    10:00 am – 11 am

Location:             VIRTUALLY 

Access:        https://connect16.uc.att.com/sba/meet/?ExEventID=87462470 (copy the link into your browser to attend).

Dial:            (888) 858-2144 & enter meeting code 7462470# to connect by phone.

Prepare in advance for the conference at: https://connect16.uc.att.com/sba/Prepare

For more information please contact Ms. Melanie Bryant at 404-331-0100 Ext. 603 or melanie.bryant@sba.gov.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is teaming up with Yelp to present a free, in-person event to help Georgia small business owners engage with online reviewers and manage their online reputation.  The event will take place on Wednesday, more about April 3rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kennesaw State University SBDC, KSU Center – Suite 400, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw GA 30144.  (Phone: 770.423.6450)

Media interested in attending should email mark.gibson@sba.gov to register.

Small business owners can register for the event at: http://events.sba.gov/eventmanagement/eventlisting.aspx?state=GA

The 90 minute event will include:

• An overview of how small businesses can join the conversations that are happening about their businesses online
• Panel discussion featuring best practices for getting started with online review sites with perspectives from business owners and reviewers
• Tips on how to handle critical feedback and respond to reviews
• Ways to generate more buzz by creating exciting promotions and monitoring customer leads.
• Informal networking with light refreshments

For more information about the SBA and Yelp partnership, visit:  www.sba.gov/onlinereviews.

WHAT:          “Success With Online Reviews”

WHEN:          Wednesday, April 3rd from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE:       Kennesaw State University SBDC, KSU Center – Suite 500,

                        3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw GA 30144. 

                        (Phone: 770.423.6450)

HOW:             Registration is free, but limited to availability.  http://events.sba.gov/eventmanagement/eventlisting.aspx?state=GA

Small businesses interested pursuing contracts with public agencies and private corporations are invited to attend the Southern California 8(a) Conference on May 7th from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Garden Grove, CA.

At the Southern California 8(a) Conference we’ll feature a variety of training formats and opportunities for you to introduce yourself to buyers.

Do you want to learn best practices that will help you make a better impression with contracting officers? We’ll feature a panel discussion with contracting officers from Federal, State, and County agencies.

Do you want the opportunity to pitch your business and its capabilities to the procurement community via one-on-one matchmaking? We’ve got you covered there with commitments from participating organizations such as Clark Construction, General Services Administration (GSA), Metropolitan Water District, Department of General Services., CalTrans, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, March Air Force Reserve Base, Siemans Industry, Inc., Port of Long Beach, and more.

We’ll also feature workshops on topics including contract financing, understanding Federal and State certifications, and more.

Don’t let the name fool you, this conference has plenty of information and opportunities applicable to HUBZone, WOSB, SBE, WBE, MBE, DVBE, and SDVOSB firms.

Cost of attendance is $75 or $85 if you register after April 20 and includes breakfast and lunch. Register today to take advantage of early bird pricing.