SCL Biz: Everything Business in Sonoma County

“Female entrepreneurs start businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts , and in this book they will find a practical compendium of everything there is to know about launching and sustaining a small business. Mears and Bacon emphasize building an individualized business plan and developing a firm foundation by establishing clear goals, frankly evaluating your skills and refining answers to the “Big Questions”:

• what are you really selling?
• Who is your target audience?
• How should you best package your business’s public image?

The authors cover the fundamentals of crafting a mission statement, developing branding, handling finances and legal issues, hiring good employees and expanding your business with admirable clarity, bolstered by success stories, helpful exercises and sample budgets. Women with dreams of owning their own businesses and looking for a place to start will find much to aid them—and much to enjoy—in this thoughtful guide.” Publishers’ Weekly, May 2008.

The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business, by Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears [Seal press, 2008].

“Bringing business people & educators together to recognize the contributions teachers make to our community”, hosted by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. Mike Hauser, President of the Santa Rosa Chamber, is the guest speaker.

August 12, 2008 • 7-9am
Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa
2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa

Information and registration or call (707) 545-1414, ext 15.

“Learn to develop your invention, product, idea or service and get it to market. Research and protection of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks and copyrights.” Presented by Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center Instructor, Steve Schneider.

The workshop is repeated on three dates:
August 13, 2008 • 9:00am – Noon
September 10, 2008 • 9:00am – Noon
October 8, 2008 • 9:00am – Noon

Participants MUST ATTEND Success Through Invention Workshop Prior to Attending Product Development for Inventors. It is repeated on these three dates:

August 27, 2008 • 9:00am – Noon
September 24, 2008 • 9:00am – Noon
October 22, 2008 • 9:00am – Noon

Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center
606 Healdsburg Avenue, Santa Rosa

For more information and reservations or call 1-888-346-SBDC

SCL Biz knows – an IRS newsletter? But this email newsletter, published once a week for small businesses and those who are self-employed can help save you money with this type of information:

• Important upcoming tax dates for SB/SE customers
• What’s new for small businesses on the IRS Web site
• Reminders and tips to assist small businesses/self-employed with tax compliance
• IRS News Releases and special IRS announcements that pertain to SB/SE customers

Subscription Information for e-news for Small Businesses

No B.S., Marketing to the Affluent: No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take No Prisoners Guide To Getting Really Rich, by Dan Kennedy [Entrepreneur Press, 2008]: “Here it is: no warm ‘n fuzzies-just hard-core strategies from real world trenches…for successfully repositioning your business, products, services and yourself to attract customers or clients for whom price is not a determining factor in their purchasing. The truth is it takes no more work to attract customers/clients from the explosively growing Mass-Affluent, Affluent and Ultra-Affluent populations eager to pay premium prices in return for exceptional expertise, service and experiences. This is the fastest and surest path to prosper in tough times (selling to those least affected by recession) and to get rich in good times!

• Understand the explosive growth of the affluent customer population-where there is LESS competition and much MORE profit
• Practical Strategies Revealed: Lamborghini, Disney, the famous J. Peterman catalogs, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, $2,995 lobsters, Cold Stone Creamery, gourmet pizza, fashion-designer golf bags, and over 50 other fascinating and diverse true-life examples
• E-factors: 10 surprising Emotional Buy Triggers the affluent find irresistible
• Million dollar marketing system: Step-by-step blueprint comparable to those developed for six-figure clients, ready for do-it-yourself use
• The magic language of “membership”: applied to any business for the affluent…from pizza shops and medical practices to retail stores and pet hotels”