Exploring Small Business Ownership: Your First Steps - In Person & Online

Event description

You have a great idea, but "knowing where to start" is often the biggest hurdle to actually starting. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the transition from a dream to a functional business framework.

In this introductory webinar, we break down the startup process into a logical, 10-step sequence. This beginner-level session introduces the essential concepts you need to move forward with confidence, including how to:

• Evaluate your business idea beyond the product or service to see if it is financially viable.
• Understand target customers by learning the difference between primary and secondary market research.
• Estimate startup costs using a structured summary to plan for your initial investment.
• Navigate financing options, including an overview of the "Five C's of Credit" and SBA loan programs.
• Structure a simple business plan to turn your dreams into actionable goals.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear roadmap to help reduce risk and increase your probability of success. To keep the session interactive, I welcome your questions throughout the presentation as well as during a dedicated Q&A at the end. Participants will receive digital and physical handouts to help them begin their journey.

Notes:

1. This workshop focuses on foundational planning. For those ready to dive into the specifics of registering a business (LLCs or DBAs), the Michigan SBDC offers dedicated follow-up workshops.
2. This workshop has a hybrid presentation - Both as a webinar and in person event. If you are in Saginaw, MI, please join us downtown at 200 S Washington Ave in the SVSU Riverfront Building; otherwise, join us online at the link provided.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact sbdc@svsu.edu.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.