Business Resources "Toolbox" 

GENERAL

LivePlan Business Startup Checklist: Liveplan offers a free downloadable business startup checklist. Additionally, it is one of the easiest platforms to build a professional business plan. If you enroll in our local WBC courses <Hyperlink to course page> this software is included with the price of tuition.

LivePlan Business Plan Template: Liveplan offers a free downloadable business plan template compatible with Microsoft word.

SBA Online Learning: The SBA provides a series of free video/written online courses covering each aspect of small business.

SBA Legal Requirement Checklist : Legitimizing your business is a process, use the SBA checklist to ensure you have satisfied all legal requirements of your business.

SBA Funding Checklist : The SBA reduces risk for lenders and makes it easier for them to access capital. That makes it easier for small businesses to get loans. To apply ensure you have fulfilled all requirements.

LEGAL

CA Franchise Tax Board Filing By Business Entity: Learn basic tax filing requirements in CA, business types, and tax rates through the CA Franchise Tax Board website.

Different Types of Business Structures : Learn about business entity advantages and disadvantages that will help you make the right decision for you and your business.

CalGold Business Licenses/Permits : "The Gold Standard for Permit Assistance in California". This website assists you in finding appropriate CA permit information for your business including permit/zoning clearance, permit to operate, seller’s permits, etc.

IRS.GOV EIN Registration: An Employer Identification Number (EIN) or tax ID can benefit you in more ways than one. An EIN gives you an alternative to help banks, IRS, etc. identify your business without having to disclose your SSN.

Cal Chamber HR/Labor Law : HR laws are continuously changing, it’s important to manage and protect your business appropriately. Download the newest on CA Labor laws.

How to Write a Business Contract: Tips on how to draft your own business contract. If you have the means to have it reviewed by a business attorney, we strongly advice taking preventative measures to protect your business.

USPTO Patent Process Overview : The US Patent and Trademark office will help you protect your invention, and/or intellectual property. Find out what your small business really needs before applying.

Dave Ramsey Small-Business Taxes 101: Just getting started? Know the basics of small business taxes.

Import/Export Laws

IRS.gov Tax Reform Provisions that Affect Businesses: Check this page for updates to learn how TCJA Affects business

SLOCAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Hall, Hieatt & Connely, LLP: Practice areas include litigation, insurance defense/casualty litigation, medical malpractice litigation

In Trust Legal: Practice areas include Business Contracts, Legal Document Help, Affordable Legal Documents

The Mobile Law Center: Practice areas include Credit Reporting Errors, Student Loan Debt, Debtor Rights & Protection, Bankruptcy, Tenant's Rights, Wills & Trusts, Consumer Protection, Lemon Laws, Defective Products & Warranty Law

Sierra IP Law, PC: Practice areas include patents, trademarks, copyrights

HUMAN RESOURCES

Human Interest Small Business HR Checklist: Diligent guidelines in preparing for employment development. Learn about recruiting, hiring, compliance/performance management and more.

Providing Affordable, Competitive Benefits for Employees: Competitive employee benefits are conducive to happy, retentive employees.  Learn how to be a likeable, resourceful small business employer.

QuickBooks Payroll Basics:  Find articles, videos and tools to help you hire employees and run payroll proficiently.

SLOCAL HR ASSISTANCE

Marcove Training: Marcove Executive Training offers comprehensive training programs including live and virtual sessions designed to develop the habits of success, and to cultivate a peer learning community to solve real business challenges.

MARKETING

SCORE Grow Your Business with a SWOT Analysis: Learn how to properly conduct a SWOT analysis to develop growth strategies for your new small business. Webinar includes SWOT template.

How to Create an Effective Survey:  Regularly conducting effective surveys that gather information about customer interest, satisfaction, product development and pricing is vital to your business’s growth. Learn how to ask the right questions and do it often.

SBA Market Research and Competitive Analysis: Market research can be overwhelming, so maximize your efficiency and learn how to effectively do your research.

Beginners Guide to SEO: Learn strategies on how to create a highly accessible website through search engine optimization.

How to Effectively Market on Social Media Marketing: Learn current small business trends and how to keep your business relevant through social media outlets.

Product Positioning: In 5 easy steps learn how to differentiate your product or service from other companies. Define and communicate your p/s clearly and precisely to win your customers.

What is Email Marketing?: Learn 7 email benefits to grow your business

Email Marketing Best Practices: Learn how to Skyrocket Your Growth In 2020, 26 ways to becoming an effective email marketer.

How to Build a Brand: Learn how to brand your business uniquely and effectively. Read what experts say about email marketing.

Constant Contact: Constant Contact is an online editor that makes email marketing easy to customize and professionally design, mobile emails that look great on every device.

Marketing Funnel Strategies: Learn 5 steps to increasing sales in 2020. Acquiring customers is a process better understood visually.

SCORE Marketing Calendar Template: Tracking your marketing efforts is fundamental to managing your budget, revenue and overall marketing success. Use this template to easily keep track of your marketing efforts.

YouTube Marketing: Learn 7 ways to grow your business YouTube channel.

FINANCIAL

Financial Literacy 101: Learn the basics of financial literacy. This financial guide provides videos that will show you the step-by-step process of managing your personal finances which is essential knowledge to have before managing any business finances.

SBA Fund Your Business: Learn various options available to you to help fund your business.

Financial Projections: Find out what Financial Projections include, and what they are used for. A free template and instruction is provided.

5 Key Elements of a Financial Analysis: Learn how to calculate the proper financial analysis for your business’s operations.

5 Cs of Credit: Learn the five C’s of credit a common system utilized in measuring the cred worthiness of entrepreneurs. Understanding the 5 C’s of credit will assist you in being accepted for a loan.

ACCOUNTING

Small-Business Bookkeeping Basics: Here’s what you need to know about bookkeeping and financial reporting- 9 easy steps. 

Financial Statement Development for Your Small Business Firm: Learn how to create the 3 most essential financial statements for your business, templates included.

SLOCAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Business Beyond the Shoebox: Business Growth Expert Lorna Whiteaker shares “real world” business expertise and savvy in an easy to understand way that helps business owners develop their skills and implement the strategies they need to create successful businesses.  

SALES

How to Make a Good Sales Pitch: Take. Advantage of these 8 tips that will give your sales pitch an edge.

How to Optimize Complementary Products: Learn how to optimize a complementary product plan to increase overall sales.

How to Sell Anything to Anyone by Telling Great Stories: The art of storytelling is essential when crafting a sales pitch that actually sells! Learn how to in a few simple steps.

Import/Export Basics: Find out what laws and regulations you need to learn if your business imports and/or exports.

SBA Basics on Federal Contracting: The US government is the world’s largest customer, if you are interested in government contracting find out what you MUST know.

SBA Pricing Model Worksheet: There are various ways to setting a price structure for your products and/or services. Use this worksheet to help you draft a price structure that suits your business.

11 Elevator Pitch Examples for Entrepreneurs: Your business elevator pitch expresses what you do, who you serve and why you are unique. Sales pitches and elevator pitches are similar but serve different purposes. Learn how to create your business elevator pitch

OPERATIONS/PRODUCTIONS

The Five Principles of Lean: Lean processes encourage the act of continuing improvement within your business. This idea of ‘lean’ originated from manufacturing practices, however, it is applicable to all areas of business. Learn the 5 principles to ensure your business is lean.

The Ultimate Guide to What us Manufacturing for Small Businesses: Learn the basics of small business manufacturing.