9 Ways to Prepare for Growth and Success - Preparing for Business Growth - Entrepreneur.com

9 Ways to Prepare for Growth and Success - Preparing for Business Growth - Entrepreneur.com

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Writing an effective business plan, Monday, March 15 @ 6:30pm, Lamb Branch

Join Alfonso Garcia, small business consultant from Mi Casa Resource Center, for an instructional session on how to write a business plan that will be an effective tool for starting your small business.

For more information or to sign up for this free session that is open to the public, call 562-5670 by March 12 to reserve a spot.

Please participate in a survey

If you live in Pueblo County, please complete a survey through Zoomerang. We would like to know more about the types of interests out there, how to better serve the community, and connect with business and vocational experts to provide services and programs to members of the library community.

Thank you!

It's tax time! 2009 taxes for small business owners

Tuesday, February 9 @ 6pm
Pueblo West Library

Joe Chainey, a Certified Bookkeeper and Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, will present a session on the latest tax code changes and discuss the ins and outs of small business taxes. Please bring your note pads and questions!

Joe leads the Pueblo office of Your CFO, Inc. Joe received his Bachelor's in Accounting Degree from Franklin University, and he began testing for the CPA exam in October 2008. He is enrolled in the MBA program at University of Phoenix. Joe has held positions as a public accountant and payroll accountant, in addition to owning his own business and serving in the armed forces. In his position at Your CFO, Inc., Joe assists in tax preparation for individuals and businesses, monthly accounting, payroll, QuickBooks support and other special projects.

Reserve a spot by contacting Cindy Shimizu (719) 562-5667, Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org

Grow your business online, Tuesday, December 8 @ 6pm

Growing your business has been challenging in recent years, especially with the economy being hit so hard. Gone are the days of easy leads from Yellowpages ads, newspaper ads, and even magazine ads. Today, if your business can’t be found on the Internet, you are missing a lot of potential and profitable customers. It can be overwhelming to try to figure out how to get online and do it all yourself. You can pick up books, buy online courses, attend seminars to try to learn how to do it, but there is a steep learning curve and an overabundance of information. You are busy running a business, likely a lean shop, often working many more hours now than ever in the past.

That’s where Mel Hirsch comes in. She will teach you some of the inside secrets to getting found online, what you can do without spending a fortune or taking a month of your time on the computer and how to totally dominate your competition.

Mel has a lifetime of business experience, being born into a fourth generation grocery family in Pueblo, and she has been self-employed most of her adult life. She has been working in online marketing since 2004, and now works full-time doing online marketing for local businesses.

Please call or email to reserve a spot: Cindy Shimizu 562-5667 or Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org.

This session is free and open to the public.

November events: Jobseeking 101 and Money for your new business

Jobseeking 101 - Saturday, November 14th, 11am

Join Diana Martinez, operations manager from Express Employment for this useful session that will include information about the basics of job-hunting: how to search for jobs, how to prepare a resume, how to dress for an interview, and how to interview. She will also discuss how an employment agency works. Bring your questions and get some helpful hints on landing a good job.

Money for your new business - Tuesday, November 17th, 6pm

Bill Keathley, Loan Officer for the Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD), will discuss the Business Loan Fund loans available for small business in Colorado. The Business Loan Funds (BLF) are funded through the Colorado Office of Economic Development.

For more information or to sign up for these sessions, contact Cindy Shimizu (719) 562-5667 Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org

Sessions are held at Pueblo West Library and are free and open to the public

Green is the new black for business

There are many ways businesses can get on board the green revolution. As business owners, you can take big steps like going solar, which can be - believe it or not - nearly cost-neutral. In Colorado, the State authorizes counties and municipalities to offer property and sales tax rebates or credits to home and business owners who install renewable energy systems. And if you are customers of Xcel or Black Hills Energy, there are rebate programs offering up to $35,000. Add up rebates and incentives, and you can have a solar system up and running with very little out-of-pocket expenditure.

If you're not ready to take the solar plunge, there are other ways you can green up your business.

• Switch to energy-efficient computer use, including turning computers and peripherals off at night, installing and using only the essential programs for your business operations and avoiding - if possible - programs that use excessive graphics that require high-performance graphics cards, and buying greener models.
• Recharge batteries, recycle as much as possible, and reuse paper if possible.
• Use green cleaning products.
• Have an energy audit of your facility or offices.
• If you have a company car or fleet, consider buying hybrids or vehicles that get higher mileage.

For more details about these and other ways to green your business, the library has several excellent books: 101 Ways to turn your business green, by Rich Mintzer; Green to gold, by Esty & Winston; and True green @ work by McKay, Bonnin, & Wallace.