Event Notices From Sept. 30

Ann Arbor Spark Sets OpenCoffee Event: Ann Arbor Spark will hold its monthly OpenCoffee event from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Spark Central, 330 E. Liberty St., Lower Level, Ann Arbor. This is a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and those who work with innovation businesses, particularly in IT, cleantech and life sciences. The event is free. Registration ends 24 hours before the event. More at www.annarborusa.org/events/spark-events/ann-arbor-opencoffee-8.

Ann Arbor Spark Sets Marketing Roundtable: Ann Arbor Spark will host its monthly Marketing Roundtable event on the theme "Local Food - Marketing on a Napkin" event Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Spark Central, 330 E. Liberty St., Lower Level. Sure, everybody loves food. But do you ever wonder what it takes to start, manage and grow a successful food business? Join the Marketing Roundtable a panel discussion with four gastropreneurs with take home lessons for any startup. The event is free. The panel will include Tomm Becker, owner of Sunseed Farm LLC, Lesley Perkins, general manager of the People's Food Co-op, Dave Klingenberger, founder and CEO of the Brinery, and Susan Todoroff, owner of Juicy Kitchen. The moderator will be Marcia Luke-van Dijk of Move Communications. Registration ends 24 hours before the event. This event will be streamed live at www.annarborusa.org/live-events/index.html. You can watch the event and ask questions right from your computer if you can't attend the event. If you were unable to participate in the live webcast, visit www.annarborusa.org/events/video-library/ to view this and all recorded events. Final video should be available within 48 hours of the live event.

Macomb-OU INCubator Sets Coffee & Contracting Event: The next Macomb-OU INCubator event in the Coffee & Contracting series will be held from 7:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 10 at Velocity Collaboration Center, 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights. The theme is "Joint Ventures nad Teaming Agreements." The event costs $25 which includes a continental breakfast. Seating is limited. To register, email Leslie Dunbar at dunbar@butzel.com.

Macomb-OU INCubator Sets Coffee & Contracting Event: Another Macomb-OU INCubator event in the Coffee & Contracting series will be held from 7:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 27 at Velocity Collaboration Center, 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights. The theme is "Foreign Military Sales and ITAR Requirements." The event costs $25 which includes a continental breakfast. Seating is limited. To register, email Leslie Dunbar at dunbar@butzel.com.

Oakland County Sets October Business Workshops

Oakland County's Business Center Monday announced the following meetings for October:

Walk-In - Start-Up Thursdays Free Business Counseling: Thursdays, Oct, 3, 10, 24 and 31, 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m., One Stop Shop Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. Free event. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business but do not know where to begin can receive confidential, one-on-one advice from an experienced business counselor with no appointment necessary. Counselors will provide direct answers to start-up questions, suggest next steps and provide guidance on business planning tools. Sessions will be limited to 15 minutes and available on a first come, first served basis.

Oakland County Offers Marketing Your Business Event: Oakland County will present an event on business marketing from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. The cost is $40 per person. This course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to help small businesses grow. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330068

Oakland County Offers Know Your Numbers: Five Keys to Using Financial Statements: Oakland County will offer an event on understanding financial statements from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. The cost is $25. This workshop is designed for business owners and key staff who want to have a better understanding of how to use their financial statements. More at  https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330090

Oakland County Offers 'Starting A Business': Oakland County will offer an event on 'Starting A Business' Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. The cost is $30 per person. This course helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company, as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330070

Oakland County Offers 'Writing a Business Plan' Event: Oakland County will offer an event on how to write a business plan from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. The cost is $40 per person. Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment. This course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing and finance, legal and regulatory issues, operations, and information based planning and management are key components of the workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330088

Oakland County Offers Event on Financial Management Basics: Oakland County will present an event on the basics of financial management from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. The cost is $40 per person. Learn the basics of financial management including how to start an accounting system and how to apply the information to help you manage your business. Accounting language including debits and credits, preparation of the balance sheet and profit & loss statement are explained. More at  https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330094

Oakland County offers business research event: Oakland County will offer an event for entrepreneurs called "Business Research - Feasibility to Expansion" on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. Free event. More at  https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330067

Oakland County Offers CEED Microloan Orientation: Oakland County will offer an event for entrepreneurs on how to qualify for a microloan from the CEED program from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. Many small businesses face obstacles when trying to obtain a business loan. The recognition of the serious need for working capital for existing businesses, start-up or expansion, equipment purchases, and job creation is not the priority it once was. If you have a need for alternative financing consider the MicroLoan Program. Discover the requirements and process necessary to apply and obtain a microloan. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330069

Oakland County Offers Team SBA Financing Roundtable: Oakland County will offer a financing roundtable event from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Oct 10, at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. Before you apply for a business loan, we recommend that you first attend this Financing Roundtable. The roundtables are a free loan orientation conducted by a business banker, a business consultant from the SBAs network of Small Business Development Centers, and an SBA representative. During the roundtable, we'll debunk the myths and demystify the process of small business financing. You'll learn how the lending process works and what is expected of you and you'll understand how the SBA can assist with our SBA Guaranteed Loan Program. This session is best suited to those who have good credit, a solid business idea, and some money to invest in their business. Because the SBA does not provide loan guarantees to real estate investment firms, including purchasing and rehabbing houses for sale, this type of financing is not discussed at the roundtables. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330071

Oakland County Offers Event On Legal for Small Business: Oakland County will offer an event on the legal basics for small business from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, in Waterford Township. This workshop provides new and existing Michigan entrepreneurs an understanding of the "key" legal and financial considerations when starting and operating a business in Michigan. The program addresses "how to" select the best legal entity for your business, "how to" protect your business interests when dealing with customers, suppliers or independent contractors and important information and guidelines for establishing short and long term succession plans for your business. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330075.

Oakland County Offers Event On Health Care Reform And Small Business: Oakland County will offer a workshop on the effect of federal health care reform on small business from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Oct 29 at the Oakland County Business Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. Learn about health care reform legislation and how it will affect all business owners. The workshop will cover tax penalties, small business credits, small business wellness program grants, full time employee status compliance and all health care reform changes that will be implemented next year. We will also cover the health care exchanges, how to talk to your employees, the individual mandate, and what this all means for you as a business or as an individual. More at https://www.misbtdc.net/workshop.aspx?ekey=94330115