How to Start a Business
Got a great business idea? Dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur? This one hour webinar will walk you through the process of assessing the viability of your idea, creating your launch checklist, and accessing free and low-cost resources to help you on your small business journey. Whether you want to start a side hustle or launch […]
How to Write a Business Plan
A business plan can be the most important tool for a small business owner. Learn how to turn your ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success. This seminar teaches you the important components of a business plan and helps you lay the foundation for a winning plan. Find out how marketing, operations, […]
Facebook Shop and Instagram Shop Basics
Are you looking to create an online presence through E-Commerce? Whether you are an early-stage entrepreneur or a brick-and-mortar owner looking to transition online, we have the tools for you! In this introductory course we will dive into Facebook and Instagram shops while discussing their benefits and features. We will use real-life shops to demonstrate […]
Validating Your Side Hustle & Making Money
Learn how to turn your side hustle into a profitable small business within a few short weeks. Break out of the rut and learn how to turn your passion into a business that makes sense for your goals and aspirations. You will learn the art of analyzing your product or services profit potential, marketing the […]
Financing Your Business
If you are seeking capital to start or expand your business, this seminar will provide you with an insider’s view of how best to prepare when seeking a business loan or finding ways to self-finance your business. Learn the tips on the key ingredients for a successful loan package, and even more importantly, mistakes to […]
Pipedream to Plate: Starting Your NC Food Business
Whether you’re thinking about selling your famous jam or sauce, starting a food truck, or opening a cafe or restaurant, understanding how to start a food business in North Carolina can be a daunting task. This session is designed for current and aspiring food business owners, including culinary students, and will cover a wide range […]
Selling at a Festival/Farmer’s Market
Most small business owners don't spend a lot of time thinking about their booth for a festival, farmers market or conference, and they're missing out on sales and meaningful opportunities as a result. This session is for anyone who might have a table or booth at an upcoming live gathering, and is looking at some […]
Demystifying Small Business Franchising
Starting a franchise business is like starting your own business from scratch. The only difference is that you already have the standard way of doing business and a built-in business awareness, and in most cases, you have the benefit of a pre-existing customer base. This introductory seminar will walk you through the basic steps to […]
Capturing Artistry
Overcoming the challenges of photographing artwork can be daunting. You have to work with lighting, reflections, distortion, editing, and plenty of other problems. This class, designed for artists photographing their own work, will address those concerns and more. Commercial photographer Bob Mackowski works through these situations every day and in this class, he’ll teach you […]
Photography: How to Use It
You've taken that breathtaking shot that everybody needs to see. Now what? If it's a business photo, you need to get it in front of clients and potential clients. If it's a personal photo, you want to get it in front of friends and family. Local photographer and business owner Bob Mackowski will teach you […]
Hands-On Video Marketing
Let’s put fingers to keyboards and make some videos! In this intermediate-level, hands-on class, you’ll start by learning why creating videos for marketing is so important and strategies to tell your stories through video. Once you’ve learned that, it’s time to get hands-on and create. We’ll make one video from a template and at least […]
A Cup of Ambition: Dolly Parton, Entrepreneurial Icon
You may know about Dolly Parton's modest beginnings in east Tennessee and her remarkable journey to becoming a country music icon. Through ventures like Dollywood and philanthropic efforts like the Imagination Library, she has left an indelible mark. While her immense talent is evident, her accomplishments are not merely the result of luck or skill […]
