Entrepreneurial Training
Intro to GROW
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A free orientation offered four times a month and open to anyone interested in learning more about GROW and its programs. Get an overview of programs and services.
Start Smart
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A business readiness course offered monthly. The Start Smart class focuses on the fundamentals of doing business. Once completed, Start Smart provides participants with the ability to understand what it takes to run their own business. Pre-requisite: Intro to GROW. Cost: Early Registration: $25, General Registration: $35
Small Business Growth and Planning Series (GPS)
(Small Business GPS - 3 part clusters)
2013 Programming Sponsored by 
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Small Business Growth and Planning Series (Small Business GPS) is designed to provide participants the information and resources to write a business plan. Pre-requisite: Start Smart if participant has never launched a business
Three clusters of three classes each will be offered quarterly. People can pick and choose any or all of the clusters. For example, someone may have a marketing background, so they may choose to only take the Business Basics and Financial Awareness Clusters. Note: people can pick and choose only clusters, not classes. Registrants need to take all three classes in a cluster. Cluster Cost: Early Registration: $60, General Registration: $70
• Business Basics Cluster, Cost $60.00 - $70.00
o Strategic Planning: creating a blue print for the business; includes identifying values; creating a mission and vision statement; goal setting and implementation
o Taxes and Legal - Session 1: specific information on business entities, such as LLC’s, S and C Corps; how to calculate profit, expenses, owner draw. Includes question and answer session
o Taxes and Legal - Session 2: Information on tax reporting, state licensing such as sales tax, registering with the state, etc. Includes question and answer session
• Marketing Strategies Cluster, Cost $60.00 - $70.00
o Marketing 101: presents basic marketing concepts such as target market analysis; competition analysis; prospecting and networking and reaching the target market
o Internet Marketing: creating a plan to develop a website; looking at website development options; marketing on the internet and how to create key term searches including search engine optimization (SEO) and basic customer tracking
o Branding/Selling: brand creation; differentiating a business; the difference between marketing and selling; sales basics
• Financial Awareness Cluster, Cost $60.00 - $70.00
o Basic Bookkeeping: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Break Even Analysis and Pricing are the areas covered in this session
o Financial Analysis 101: calculating basic business formulas such as cash flow, profit and loss; gross and net profit and more
o Financing Options: identifying financial resources and learning the process of how to apply for them
• Wrap Up and Implementation Plan, Cost: Free
o Upon completion of one or more clusters, a participant has the opportunity to create a customized implementation plan with the assistance of a GROW Business Counselor. Pre-requisite: Intro to GROW
UpClose Workshops
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Offered monthly, these evening seminars zero in on topics of interest to small business owners and give participants the benefit of straight talk from experts in specific fields. No Prerequisites. Cost: Free to those who have taken Intro to GROW and current AWE members. General Public Early Registration: $25, General Public General Registration; $35.
GROW offers QuickBooks on a quarterly basis. Cost for the 2-part course is $50 for one course or $75 for two courses purchased together.
On-line Training and Webinars
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In partnership with CEED (Center of Empowerment and Economic Development), the Michigan Women's Marketplace offers monthly, time and topic-specific webinars. These offer continuing education to busy entrepreneurs. Webinars are typically on Friday afternoons and cost no more than a call to the Ann Arbor, Michigan area.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Call us at (616) 458-3404 for assistance.