Small Business Week 2019 takes place on October 21-26. It presents a welcome opportunity to celebrate Canadian entrepreneurs and the impact they have on our economy and local communities. With celebrations occurring across the nation, Small Business BC, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, is joining the party by offering FREE access to over 15 seminars, webinars and Talk to an Expert sessions during the week.
To make the most of this offering, we’ve packed our schedule for the week with some of our most popular seminars. Places are limited, so we encourage you to book as early as possible. We will be activating a waitlist once sessions reach capacity.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology.
Demand is expected to be extremely high and places are limited, so book today to avoid disappointment. In order for as many clients as possible to be able to take advantage of the free offerings during Small Business Week, we ask you to limit your Talk to An Expert Series bookings to 3 per client.
Free Seminars During Small Business Week 2019
Financial Planning for Your Small Business
Monday, October 21
09:00AM to 12:00PM
Starting a business can be a lot like starting a family. Nurture it, put in the time and it can be one of the most rewarding things a person can do. Your first year in business represents the perfect time to nail down your financials and grow strong. Start with our Financial Planning for Small Business seminar.
Blogging to Promote Your Business
Monday, October 21
1:00PM to 4:00PM
Join Ashley “WriterGal” Doan, Writergal Marketing Services, and learn how to increase visitors to your site organically and keep them there longer by publishing great content. Takeaways from this interactive session include a workbook containing a content calendar, a content recycling planner, blogging tools and more to help you create a content strategy that will be easy execute.
Government Funding for International Growth
Tuesday, October 22
09:30AM to 11:30AM
If you are looking to expand your sales outside of Canada, there are government programs available to help you. This seminar will explore cost-shared programs for attending trade events, establishing new research and development collaborations with foreign partners, and conducting market research to find new international customers for your products or services.
Business Networking Skills for Success (In-Person Only)
Tuesday, October 22
12:00PM to 2:00PM
Social media, digital advertising and your own website provide an invaluable online presence, but good old-fashioned in-person networking remains the single most effective way to put your business on the map. Our Business Networking Skills for Success seminar provides an invaluable primer on building these face-to-face skills.
Negotiating Contracts: Get the Right Deal
Tuesday, October 22
2:30PM to 4:00PM
Contracts form the backbone of the business world. And, throughout your small business life, you’ll be faced with numerous client and supplier contracts. Understanding the common legal terms you’ll face, as well as the key strategies to employ, will help you in negotiating contracts for your small business.
Start Smart 1: Basics of Starting a Business
Wednesday, October 23
09:00AM to 12:00PM
Starting a business? It pays to have a plan. Whether you have a winning business idea, or you’re just fascinated with the idea of launching a business, this seminar delivers a beginner-friendly course on how to start your own business. As the first half of the Start Smart two-seminar package, this seminar will help you discover what’s involved in starting your own business.
Start Smart 2: Key Considerations of Starting a Business
Wednesday, October 23
1:00PM to 4:00PM
The business start-up phase is an exciting time full of opportunity and big decisions. Don’t let your potential business be derailed by taking unnecessary risks. Start Smart 2: Key Considerations of Starting a Business highlights the ways you can protect your business, your employees and yourself from harm.
Business Mapping: Developing a Smart Business Model
Thursday, October 24
10:00AM to 12:00PM
Struggling with the complexities of a business plan? Business mapping helps to deconstruct the formal elements of a business plan, simplifying a lot of the information into bite-sized pieces. It covers the same aspects as a more traditional business plan, without going into as much granular detail.
Social Media for Small Business
Thursday, October 24
1:00PM to 4:30PM
While it’s amazing for catching up with old friends, social media can also be a huge driver of traffic and attention to your small business. And, just because you know what social media is, does not mean you necessarily understand how to use social media to grow and develop your business. This workshop focuses on understanding social media for small business, what it is and how it’s connecting people.
TaxSense for Small Business
Friday, October 25
09:00AM to 12:00PM
Whether you are starting or looking to grow your business, the business structure you choose can have a massive impact on your profits and tax situation. Join a representative from Loren Nancke Chartered Professional Accountants and learn accounting essentials, responsibilities and dates involved with managing a small business. You’ll discover the deductions available to you, the tax benefits of each structure and discuss when it’s time for your small business to incorporate.
Marketing for Small Business
Friday, October 25
1:00PM to 4:00PM
You know what your small business has to offer, but how do you get that message across to potential customers? Marketing is the single most effective way to spread the word. Presented by Mary Charleson, Charleson Communications, Marketing for Small Business will help you focus on what your unique value proposition is and how to communicate your message effectively.
Free Talk to an Expert Sessions
Talk to a Lawyer
Tuesday, October 22
10:00AM to 4:00PM
Even if your business is small, there are countless legal hurdles you can face in the first few years. Why tackle them alone? Our Talk to a Lawyer service offers general legal advice about business structures, joint ventures, contracts or any other legal issues you may be facing.
Talk to a Technology Operations Expert
Thursday, October 24
11:00AM to 2:15PM
Running a business means optimizing your technology environment to support your organization, stakeholders and clients. Whether it’s your internal systems, website, or data environment, your business needs an integrated and useful technology and systems foundation. Come learn about how to make your technology systems useful and relevant to your business.
Talk to a Website Expert
Friday, October 25
10:30AM to 12:30PM
Having a website for your business isn’t just a good idea, it’s become an essential marketing tool. Whether you’re a traditional retailer, providing a service, or are looking to operate exclusively online, how you approach your business website takes careful planning and consideration. Are you ready to take your online presence to the next level? Let our website expert, Simon Rai, help you optimize your site for conversion and generate the revenue you need for your small business in a one-on-one consultation.
Talk to an Insurance Expert
Wednesday, October 23
10:00AM to 2:00PM
Insurance is often overlooked by small business owners. There are different risks your business may be exposed to, such as slip and falls, fire and water damage, professional error, theft, bodily injury, cyber crimes etc. Protecting yourself from liability isn’t just common sense, it’s good for business.
