What are your reasons for being in business? Did you want to be your own boss, make more time for your family, have a better lifestyle or more money? If these benefits are taking longer than expected, then the SBDC can be the answer.

The purpose of working with our team of business counselors and instructors is to reduce the likelihood that you fall into common small business traps. A question we ask our clients is “Do you own your business, or does your business own you?” Our GROWsmart program will help get the income, lifestyle and time with your family that you're looking for.

Every relationship with the SBDC is different, but we offer four key services that will help you get the results you want from your business.

1. Business Assessment – Growth Resource Allocation: You and an SBDC counselor discuss how your business currently works and determine what needs to be done to rectify particular issues in the business. We will create a list of items to be acted on within a specific time frame and in a sensible order, and immediately identify specific federal, state and local resources. To make an appointment, e-mail sbdc@harford.edu or call 443-412-2237.
2. Earn More & Work Less with a "Business Game Plan": A 3 ½ hour session combining training and counseling to show you how to increase your profits by using SBDC's The 5 Drivers of Your Bottom Line©. Learn to work on your business while using the activity-based learning program "LEVERAGE." Invented by Australian billionaire and entrepreneur Brad Sugars, LEVERAGE, used by thousands of existing business owners around the world, gives you a hundreds of strategies and systems to build your game plan on how to be successful. To make an appointment, e-mail sbdc@harford.edu or call 443-412-2237.
3. Personalized Strategic Planning + Implementation Counseling: As the business owner, you can’t structure and facilitate strategic plan development and participate fully all at the same time! That's where SBDC comes in. We structure and facilitate your planning process to create a vision for change and guide you and your team to make key decisions about your small business' future. Resources are brought to you, including market research data, accounting, cash flow management, etc.
4. Comprehensive Training: To supplement our counseling, we provide the following comprehensive training to strengthen your business. See below for the comprehensive training schedule.

Current Schedule for Comprehensive Training

Click here or call 443-412-2376 for details about registration for classes at Harford Community College.

Sessions held at Harford Community College (See above for registration information):

Exporting 101: (POSTPONED) This program will review several important topics for those who wish to export product. Topics include: Cultural & Operational Aspects of International Trade, Export Assistance Center and Bank Programs & Services, International Payment Methods, and others.

Course: 26098
W 1/20 8AM-8:30PM, Edgewood Hall
Tuition: $20, Course Fee: $0
This session has been postponed until the Spring due to unforeseen circumstances.

Quick Books: Learn to automate business finances: how to enter invoices, cash sales, bills, track items bought and sold, resale items, and track expenses and income by job or client; track and pay sales tax, receive and deposit payments; print invoices, statements, payroll checks, and reports. Reports include profit and loss, balance sheets, trial balances, journals, and cash flow. Prerequisites: Knowledge of accounting and working knowledge of Windows. USB Flash Drive required.

Course: 25248
M 1/25 – 2/22 6:30-9:40PM, Higher Education Center, Rm. 125
Tuition: $219, Course Fee: $39

Course: 25249
M 4/19 – 5/17 6:30-9:40PM, Higher Education Center, Rm. 125
Tuition: $219, Course Fee: $39

Who Moved My Customers?: Learn the 20 strategies to find customers and increase your revenue. Capitalizing on the topic of changing for the future, this session is based on the best-selling book "Who Moved My Cheese?"

Course: 26100
T 1/26 9AM-12PM, Edgewood Hall
Tuition: $69, Course Fee: $0

Time Management: Time Management skills are essential for successful people. This course will review practical techniques to help you become highly effective and show how to identify and focus on the activities that give the greatest returns. The course will also explain how to use goal-setting to maximize your efficiency.

Course: 25552
M 2/1 9-11AM, Edgewood Hall, Rm. 222
Tuition: $59, Course Fee: $0

Course: 26208
T 6/8 4-6PM, Fallston Hall
Tuition: $39, Course Fee: $0

Motivating Your Employees: Create your own high-performance team by implementing some proven motivational methods. What motivates some on your team may not equally motivate others. Find out why and how to equally balance different motivators in the same team.

Course: 25553
M 2/8 9AM-12PM, Edgewood Hall, Rm. 222
Tuition: $79, Course Fee: $0

Using Social Media to Impact Your Business: An Internet business & marketing specialist will discuss how social media/social networking can have a huge impact on your business. Topics will include how to optimize online resources, review current social media outlets and how much time to put into your efforts.

Course: 26099
W 3/31 8-11AM, Edgewood Hall
Tuition: $69, Course Fee: $0

Introduction to Social Media: Social Media websites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn offer many interesting ways for individuals to socialize with businesses, friends, coworkers, family members, and even strangers. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of each social media website, as well as how you can promote yourself or your business in a very positive light. Learn about viral marketing and the strategy involved when it comes to using social media websites as advertisements. You will also learn unique ways to keep you (or your children) safe while using social media websites. You may also learn that there is something you are doing right now that is putting you or your family in danger. Learn how to use social media responsibly, but also learn the many ways to have a lot of fun with social media. Prerequisite: Working knowledge of Windows XP or Vista and comfortable browsing the Internet.

Course: 25384
S 4/10 & 4/17 1-4:30PM, Edgewood Hall, Rm. 215
Tuition: $99, Course Fee: $39

Contracting with Federal Government: Navigating the federal procurement maze for the first time can be a daunting challenge. This class will provide the "map" you need to bid on government contracts. Become an educated bidder and solve the mystery about the manner in which government organizations purchase goods and services from the private sector. If you have never sold to the federal government and you want to enter the marketplace now, this class is the place to start. An 80 page booklet is provided to attendees.

Course: 25883
M 4/12 9AM-12PM, Edgewood Hall
Tuition: $29, Course Fee: $70

Sessions held at Cecil College (To register, call 410-392-3366, ext. 605 or e-mail training4success@cecil.edu):

Accounting with Peachtree Software: This course is intended to teach students the concepts of the comprehensive computerized accounting software program Peachtree. Students will learn to apply accounting concepts to the computerized records for a sole proprietorship. In addition, students will learn to maintain complete payroll records for a small business. Note: contact sprice@cecil.edu.

Course: CUF110-01
1/19 – 5/10, Online Course
Tuition: $305, Course Fee: $0

Introduction to QuickBooks: QuickBooks is designed for the small to midsized business owner who enjoys Quicken's ease of use but prefers a more traditional approach to accounting. Learn how to set up a chart of accounts; reconcile checking accounts; create and print invoices, receipts, and statements; track account payables, inventory, and receivables; create estimates; and generate reports.

Course: CAF100-02
M 4/19 – 5/10 6-9PM, Elkton Station, Rm. 227
Tuition: $190, Course Fee: $0

QuickBooks – Advanced: Apply more advanced accounting fundamentals to business finances after completing this 12-hour course. Pre-requisite: Introduction to QuickBooks or experience.

Course: CAF106-02
M 5/24 – 6/21 6-9PM, Elkton Station, Rm. 227
Tuition: $190, Course Fee: $0

Successful Contracting with the Federal Government*: Navigating the federal procurement maze can be a daunting challenge. This class will provide the 'map' you need to bid on government contracts. If you have never sold to the federal government and you want to enter the marketplace now, this class is the place to start. Walk away with an 80 page booklet on this topic as well.
Walk away with an understanding of:

1. Whether your company is ready to conduct federal government business
2. The size of the government market
3. What the government purchases
4. How to determine what agency purchases your products/services
5. How the government buys it products/services
6. What you need to do to get your ocmpany ready to work with the government
7. What paperwork is required
8. Special Opportunities for Small Businesses
9. How to meet the buyers, SADBU, OSDBU, program people

F 3/26 9AM-12PM, Elkton Station, Rm. 221
Tuition: $0, Course Fee: $125

General Services Administration (GSA)*: Did you know that in Fiscal Year 2008 the Federal government awarded contracts through the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) in excess of $25 Billion? This basic course helps you, the business owner, to determine whether to seek a GSA FSS contract and to evaluate if your firm is ready to apply.
Walk away with an understanding of:

1. What a GSA Schedule is and the advantages of being on it
2. How to Get Started on the application process
3. How to deliver the proposal
4. Specifics of products/training/services
5. Past performance evaluation
6. Labor categories
7. Pricing
8. Compensation expectations

F 2/26 9AM-12PM, Elkton Station, Rm. 221
Tuition: $0, Course Fee: $99

Responding to Federal Government Requests for Proposals (RFP)*: Responding to a federal government Request for Proposal (RFP) can be an extremely time-consuming and frustrating process. The typical federal RFP is usually a long, technically complex document filled with terms, conditions and specific requirements that are often confusing. As each RFP is unique and comes with its own set of requirements, responding to RFPs has become more of an art than a science.
Walk away with an understanding of:

1. How to decide whether to bid or not bid a solicitation
2. Federal government contracting guidelines
3. Proposal formatting
4. Proposal pricing
5. Evaluation criteria
6. The top ten tips for writing winning proposals

TH 4/1 9AM-4PM, Elkton Station, Rm. 221
Tuition: $0, Course Fee: $145 (includes lunch)

* For more information on these courses, contact Celeste Cassidy at training4success@cecil.edu.

“The SBDC kept me going and on the right track. In the beginning, it's hard to know what to do next. They kept me focused and kept pushing me. They became the friend you needed when you felt frustrated and all alone.” – Glenn Gustafsson