Business Round Table
"Ask The Experts"

The Crater Small Business Development Center of Longwood University will sponsor an “Ask the Experts” Round Table Discussion.

A Banker will answer questions regarding what to look for in the loan process for your business and distinguish the difference between personal versus business credit.

An Accountant will answer questions regarding your business taxes and types of accounting software.

A Small Business Attorney will answer questions regarding the legal structure of your business and how to avoid financial pitfalls.

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Crater Planning District Commission Board Room
1964 Wakefield Street
Petersburg, VA 23805

Free

To register call:
Crater SBDC at
804-518-2003 or email
hoodpa@longwood.edu

Pat Hood,
Director, Crater SBDC of Longwood University

Business Development Workshops
"What it Takes to Start a Business"

Develop your entrepreneurial skills and business acumen at a free, one-hour small business information session at the Crater Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Longwood University. “What It Takes to Start a Business” topics include:

1. What you need to know about financing your business venture
2. What lenders require in terms of collateral, credit and equity
3. Available resources to assist you as a potential or existing business owner
4. The opportunity to meet with business counselors

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Crater Planning District Commission Board Room
1964 Wakefield Street
Petersburg, VA 23805

Free

To register call:
Crater SBDC at
804-518-2003 or email girardijm@longwood.edu

1. Are You Ready to Start a Small Business?

The participant will learn about being ready to start a small business:

1. What it takes to own a small business
2. Ten key questions to ask before owning a business
3. Define and apply a business concept
4. Discuss market research strategies
5. Planning needs and budgeting for small businesses

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Fort Lee
1231 Mahone Avenue
Bldg. 9023
Fort Lee, VA 23801

Free

To register call:
Josephine Brady
at Fort Lee
804-734-7738
or email
bradyj@lee.army.mil

For questions or additional information call:
Crater SBDC
804-518-2003
or email
girardijm@longwood.edu

Pat Hood,
Director, Crater SBDC of Longwood University

Entrepreneurial
Training Program
(12 hour training program)
Offered Twice
a year at Fort Lee

2. Business Plan, Legal Issues and Information Resources

The participant will learn about legal issues and forms of business ownership:

1. Identify key components of the business plans
2. Discuss the concept of competitive advantage
3. Analyze and identify customer and market profiles
4. Research your market and target specific customer groups
5. Identify research tools, techniques and available resources

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Fort Lee
1231 Mahone Avenue
Bldg. 9023
Fort Lee, VA 23801

Free

To register call:
Josephine Brady
at Fort Lee
804-734-7738
or email
bradyj@lee.army.mil

For questions or additional information call:
Crater SBDC
804-518-2003
or email
girardijm@longwood.edu

Pat Hood,
Director, Crater SBDC of Longwood University

Entrepreneurial
Training Program
(12 hour training program)
Offered Twice
a year at Fort Lee

3. Financial Management and Record Keeping

The participant will learn about financial management, important record keeping issues and forms of business ownership:

1. How to develop income and expense projections
2. Financial information needed to operate a business
3. Pitfalls of poor record keeping and how to overcome this problem
4. Useful financial tools for running a small business
5. Explore the pros and cons of business structures

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Fort Lee
1231 Mahone Avenue
Bldg. 9023
Fort Lee, VA 23801

Free

To register call:
Josephine Brady
at Fort Lee
804-734-7738
or email
bradyj@lee.army.mil

For questions or additional information call:
Crater SBDC
804-518-2003
or email
girardijm@longwood.edu

Pat Hood,
Director, Crater SBDC of Longwood University

Entrepreneurial
Training Program
(12 hour training program)
Offered Twice
a year at Fort Lee

4. Financing the Business

The participant will learn about commercial loan requirements:

1. What you need to know about financing a business: the C’s of lending
2. Developing effective relationships with financial institutions and bankers
3. What are the available sources of funding?
4. Where do we go from here?

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Fort Lee
1231 Mahone Avenue
Bldg. 9023
Fort Lee, VA 23801

Free

To register call:
Josephine Brady
at Fort Lee
804-734-7738
or email
bradyj@lee.army.mil

For questions or additional information call:
Crater SBDC
804-518-2003
or email
girardijm@longwood.edu

Pat Hood,
Director, Crater SBDC of Longwood University

Franklin Covey: The 7 Habits for Managers: Customized for Small Business Owners and Employees
A 2-day intensive workshop that focuses on the fundamentals of great leadership

Skills you will learn include:

1. Conflict Resolution
2. Prioritization
3. Execution of Strategy, Business Plans and Goals
4. Collaboration
5. Accountability and Trust
6. Prioritization
7. Team and Employee Development
8. Performance Management

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Crater Planning District Commission Board Room
1964 Wakefield Street
Petersburg, VA 23805

$125

$100 for residents in the Cameron Foundation geographic region*

Those who take advantage of Early Registration will receive $25 off

To register call:
Crater SBDC at
804-518-2003 or email girardijm@longwood.edu

Pauline Leitch,
Franklin Covey Certified Trainer

Quickbooks Class

The Crater Small Business Development Center in partnership with the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce will offer a Quickbooks Class. By the end of the training you should be able to:

1. Set up a new company file
2. Understand your chart of accounts
3. Understand how to generate and read financial statements (Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss)
4. Practice creating estimates
5. Understand various methods for invoicing customers
6. Understand your job cost report

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Crater Planning District Commission Board Room
1964 Wakefield Street
Petersburg, VA 23805

$50.00
**($40.00 for those in the Cameron Foundation Jurisdictions and for those who are members of the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce)
SPACE IS LIMITED-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

To register call:
Crater SBDC at
804-518-2003 or email girardijm@longwood.edu

A Complaint Is a Gift
Recovering Customer Loyalty when Things Go Wrong
Janelle Barlow and Claus Moller

A complaint is a statement about expectations that have not been met. It is an opportunity to reconnect with customers by fixing service or products. Complaints are gifts that customers give to businesses. Everyone will benefit from carefully opening these packages and seeing what is inside. We must learn to listen closely and listen with an open mind.

Seeing the complaint through the customer’s eyes will make it easier to view the complaint as a gift.

1. If this was you, what would you be thinking?
2. What would you be feeling?
3. What would it take to make you happy?
4. What response would keep you from walking away?

Yes, there are customers who will try to rip you off. But you can’t punish all customers based on the behavior of a few. It is estimated that 1 to 4% of customers will cheat. The rest are just honestly looking for resolution to problems.

"How you THINK about your customers is how you will treat them."-Bob Ferrell

Program Objectives:

1. Identify how complaints can be beneficial to your business.
2. Identify complaints to create positive feedback.
3. Learn how to react to different types of customer complaints.
4. Lead by example.

1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Crater Planning District Commission Board Room
1964 Wakefield Street
Petersburg, VA 23805

$10.00 – Make checks payable to Longwood University

To register call:
Crater SBDC at
804-518-2003 or email girardijm@longwood.edu

Bobbie Walker,
Director of Education and Workforce Readiness for VA Tourism Corporation